Frequently Asked Questions

Mobile Grooming

Why use Fresh Paws Spa’s® mobile grooming service?

·        The #1 benefit is the time it will save you!

·        Your dog will also have a more relaxed experience because stressful car travel is eliminated. 

·        Your car will be cleaner – no more dog hair to clean up!

·        The risk of spreading germs and disease is much lower because no other animals are present. 

·        Your dog’s health and your time-savings are worth the investment of Fresh Paws Spa® grooming services, owned and operated by this professional groomer.

·        View pictures of the mobile salon, and some of its happy clients on our Photo Gallery page.

·        Read some of our clients' testimonials.

Do I have to be home?

·        For the first visit, Fresh Paws Spa LLC® requires that you’re at home and available.   After we’ve met and established a relationship, you do not need to be home. 

·        This means you’ll be coming home to a clean, groomed, happy pet! 

Do you use my home’s electricity or water?

·        No. The mobile salon has its own power and water supply. The only thing you need to provide is a spot for us to park and a dog for us to pamper!

·        The salon is equipped with warm running water and a tank that stores used water.  Plus, it’s heated in the winter and cooled in the summer.

·        The salon is battery-powered.  This makes it quiet and safer for the environment because it doesn’t use a noisy generator that emits harmful exhaust fumes.  There is ample fresh air circulation from roof fans.

How do we handle COVID -19 (Coronavirus)?

·       We clean the entire grooming area between grooming sessions by using an EPA-registered disinfectant that is safe for animals called Bark2Basics 256.

·        Our high-quality, biodegradable shampoo also kills any existing COVID-19 virus.  That’s one reason why we always wash your dog first to begin a grooming session. 

Are cages used?

·        No. Cages are not used. Your dog is never put in a cage for drying. 

·        Your dog is hand-dried using absorbent towels and then blown dry with one of three different strength hair dryers.

·        Fresh Paws Spa® also puts cotton in your dog’s ears and/or will put a hoodie on their head if the dryer’s noise bothers them. 

·        The salon is equipped with three different strength dryers to tailor the drying to your dog’s needs and temperament.

What if I have multiple pets? 

·        No problem.  We will be happy to groom all your dogs on one visit.  No more trudging back and forth to the groom shop or juggling two pets in the car. 

·        If your pets get anxious when separated from each other, we can bring them out to the van together to be groomed.

What kind of shampoo will be used?

·        We use a high-quality, biodegradable shampoo and conditioner that is formulated for your dog's coat. These premium products shorten drying times significantly. 

·        If your dog has a skin condition, medicated shampoo can be used that will have a soothing effect and shouldn’t aggravate skin conditions. 

·        If you have a shampoo that is prescribed by your vet, bring it along and it can be used during grooming.

Can I stay with my dog?

·        No. You may check out our facilities when we arrive, but once we begin grooming, owners can’t be present. 

·        Your dog’s safety is our top priority.  This means we need to minimize distractions for your dog.  (When an owner is present, this usually results in increased excitement and movement that makes grooming more dangerous.) 

·        Occasionally, we’ll ask for an owner’s help with very large or very elderly pets.

·        We always maintain a calm and relaxed demeanor, which allows your pet to do the same.  

Dog Grooming

Why have your pet professionally groomed regularly?

·        Regular grooming is not just about looking good, but also about your pet’s health and comfort. 

·        Severe matting can be painful to your pet and can easily become a health issue. 

·        Without regular grooming, nasty ticks, stickers, and foxtails can make their way into your dog’s coat and skin without being noticed. 

·        Dogs who are prone to shedding and dogs with double coats can be uncomfortably hot without having their coat professionally deshedded. 

·        When we groom your pet, we examine every inch of your dog’s skin and check thoroughly for problems. We’ll also alert you to new or changing lumps and bumps, moles, and other skin issues that we observe. 

How often should my dog be groomed?

·        That depends on your dog’s breed, lifestyle, surroundings, and your preferences. 

·        Most Fresh Paws Spa® clients have their dogs groomed on a regular schedule, usually every 1-6 weeks. 

·        Dogs with hair that tangles or mats easily need to have their coats kept at a reasonable length, and be brushed and combed out regularly to prevent the dreaded “shave-down.” 

·        Dogs with allergies usually need to be bathed more often to get allergens off their coat.

·        Your dog is important to us and we’ll schedule enough time for grooming based on the cut requested and your dog’s personalty. We can also recommend a regular grooming schedule tailored for your dog’s needs.

What if my dog is incredibly anxious?

·        We recommend walking your dog prior to grooming or arranging some play time to help eliminate excess energy. 

·        Some dogs are prone to shaking during the entire groom.  So, please let us know if grooming tends to create excess stress for your dog. 

·        To help calm your dog, we play comforting music, talk in a calming tone, and stop frequently to give your dog a break.

·        To minimize noise for your dog, we have 3 different strength blow dryers that can be used.

·        We also never use cages when grooming any dog.

What if my dog has fleas?

·        We can remove these pests by using the appropriate shampoo.

·        We strongly suggest you treat your pet with a medicated formula that protects them from fleas and ticks.  

·        A $20.00 fee will be applied to cover the time and cost of disinfecting the grooming van.

What spa treatments are available for my dog?

·        see Pricing and Salon Services

Grooming Puppies

When should I bring my puppy for its first grooming?

·        The best time to start is after they have had all their puppy shots, usually around 13 weeks of age.

·        Grooming can be delayed until the puppy is 6 months, but familiarity is key to having a happy, stress-free groom.

What is included in the first puppy groom?

·        Cuddling, (can’t resist a good cuddle!) bathing, drying, clipping, and nail trimming are included in the first groom. 

·        Your puppy’s first groom will be done so the experience is a positive one. We begin with ear cleaning and nail trimming, slowly introducing the clippers, dryer and other tools used during the grooming. Each instrument will be shown to the puppy to allow them to scent the device before use. 

·        The tools are fairly quiet, but still can be a little scary to puppies.  Introducing them slowly and patiently allows them to feel safer. 

·        If at any time we feel it is too much for your puppy, we will stop the process and work with him until your puppy is relaxed and confident before moving to the next step. 

Appointments

Do you accept any breed of dogs or cats?

·        Fresh Paws Spa® has experience with almost all recognized breed clips and owners’ requests.  At this time we are only accepting dogs under 40lbs.

·        No. Due to cat allergies, we’re not able to groom cats. 

When are appointments available?

·        Appointments are available Monday through Friday, 8-4

·        We provide 60-minute appointment windows with our estimated arrival time.  This ensures our service’s safety and quality by not making us speed from appointment to appointment.

·        We will call to notify you if something unexpected happens that causes us to arrive outside this window time. 

How long does a typical groom take?

·        Grooming times depend on the size, breed, and condition of your dog’s coat. 

·        Typically, smaller short-haired breeds will take about an hour, and large dog breeds will take about 2-3 hours.

Will I receive appointment reminders?

·        Yes.  Upon booking, you’ll receive a text or email.  Then, two days before your groom you’ll receive a text or email reminder.

What if I need to cancel an appointment?

·        We ask that you give us 24-hours notice of your cancellation so that we have an opportunity to fill your space in the schedule.

·      Failure to cancel in advance or missed appointments may be charged a fee.

Do you groom all year long?

·        Yes. Our mobile salon is climate controlled; so we groom dogs during all four seasons.  If snow or ice make driving dangerous, we’ll contact you to reschedule your appointment.

Fees and Payments

How much does it cost?

·        Mobile grooming is all about convenient, one-on-one personal attention at your doorstep.  So, it may be somewhat higher than bringing your dog to a store-front groomer.

What forms of payment do you accept?

·        We accept Visa® , Mastercard®, Discover®, Amex ®, Venmo®, or checks at the time of service ($35 dollar fee for returned checks.)  Our groomers do not carry cash on board, we cannot break for change.

Can I tip my groomer?

·        Absolutely! You can conveniently add gratuity when paying by credit card, Venmo, check or cash. Again our groomers do not carry cash on board, we cannot break for change.

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