Questions people ask me
If yours isn't here, just text me. I'd rather answer it than have you guess.
Booking
How do I book?
Call or text me at (786) 546-7796, or fill out the form on the contact page. Text is usually fastest. Tell me your dog's name, weight, and coat type, and what you're looking for.
How far ahead should I book?
Grooming is usually booked about a week out. Boarding is usually about three weeks out, and holiday nights go before that. Wedding day care gets booked months ahead. Daycare is the flexible one — walk-ins are welcome.
Do you take walk-ins?
For daycare, yes. For grooming, no — every dog on the schedule has a block of time set aside for them, and squeezing one more in is how a groomer ends up rushing yours.
What are your hours?
Grooming is Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday, 8 AM to 3 PM — closed Sundays and some holidays. Daycare and boarding run longer, 8 AM to 8 PM, and I can be flexible with drop-off and pickup if your day doesn't fit that. Tell me the day and time you need and I'll tell you what I can do.
Do you take a deposit?
For grooming, boarding, and daycare, no. Wedding day dog care takes a $100 deposit to hold the date, and that's refundable if you cancel more than 30 days before the wedding.
What if I need to cancel?
Tell me as early as you can and that's the end of it. There's no cancellation fee and no no-show fee. I also confirm every appointment the day before, so if something has come up, that text is your chance to say so.
Is there ever a deposit for grooming?
Only in one situation. If appointments keep getting canceled, especially on the day, or if one gets missed altogether, I'll ask for a 50% deposit on the next one before I hold the time. That time was somebody else's slot too.
How do I pay?
Whichever of these is easiest for you: Cash, Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, Apple Pay, or PayPal.
Grooming
How long does a groom take?
It goes by size, coat, and what your dog needs. Small dogs are roughly an hour and a half to two hours, medium dogs two to three, large dogs three to four, and an extra large dog can be up to five for a full groom. Those are estimates — if your dog needs breaks, they get them, and it takes as long as it takes.
How often should my dog be groomed?
It depends on the coat. Long-haired dogs usually need a groom every 4 to 6 weeks to stay ahead of mats. Short-haired dogs can go longer, though a bath keeps the shedding and the smell down. Text me a photo of your dog and I'll tell you what I'd do.
My dog is matted. Will you turn us away?
No. Mats happen, especially with Miami humidity. There may be an extra fee because they take real time to work out, and if the coat is too far gone, the kindest thing is a shave-down and a fresh start. Either way I'll talk to you before I do anything.
What is anal gland expression, and why is it in every package?
Those glands sit just inside the rear and can get full, which is why you'll see a dog scooting across your floor. Emptying them is quick, it's part of a normal groom, and it saves your dog a lot of discomfort.
Do you groom cats?
Not right now. Dogs only.
Do you groom senior dogs or dogs with health issues?
Yes, and they get a different pace. Breaks whenever they need one, and a belly strap to take their weight so they aren't standing unsupported for an hour. Tell me what's going on with them and I'll work around it.
My dog is nervous. Is that a problem?
No. Some dogs are nervous because it's their first groom and some are nervous because somebody rushed them once. Either way it's patience, treats, breaks, and letting them hear the clippers before they feel them. On a first visit I'm less interested in a perfect haircut than in a dog who'll happily walk in a second time.
My dog has bitten before. Will you still take them?
Probably, and I'd much rather know up front than find out at the table. Please tell me before you book — and tell me what specifically sets them off, like nail trims, having their paws held, the blow dryer, brushing out tangles, clippers near their face, or being touched somewhere in particular. Most of that is fear or a bad memory rather than a mean dog, and I'm glad to give one a chance to trust me. If we need a safety measure I'll try a grooming cone first. A muzzle is a last resort, and only when it's the difference between a safe groom and no groom.
Where do I tell you about my dog's behavior?
There is a question about it on the booking form, with a box for the details. Or just say it when you text me. It changes how I plan the appointment, not whether I take it.
Boarding & daycare
Where do the dogs actually stay?
In my home, with me. I run the business from the house, which is why the hours are flexible and why nobody is sitting in a run waiting for somebody to come past.
What vaccinations do you require?
Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella, plus proof of a negative heartworm test. A photo of the paperwork from your vet is all I need, and I'll keep it on file so you only do it once.
What should I send with my dog?
Their food, any medication with written instructions, a leash and collar with tags, and something from home like a blanket or a toy. Your vet's number too, and a number I can reach you on.
Will you send updates while I'm away?
Every day. Photos and videos, what they ate, potty breaks, how they slept, and how they seem in themselves. You shouldn't have to ask how your own dog is doing.
Do you charge more on holidays?
Holiday pricing can be different, so ask when you book. Holiday nights also fill up early.
Pickup & drop-off
How does pickup work?
$20 for the round trip. I come get your dog, bring them back when they're done, and you never have to leave work. It works for grooming, daycare, and boarding.
How far do you go?
Anywhere in the city of Miami. If you're just outside it, ask anyway and I'll tell you straight whether I can get there.
Wedding day dog care
What does wedding day dog care actually include?
I collect your dog from wherever they're staying and drive them to the venue. I get them into their outfit, take them out for a potty break, and keep them calm while everyone else is getting ready. They're in the parts of the day you want them in — the aisle, the photos, the first look — and I'm just off camera with the leash. After that they're fed, walked, and looked after.
Will you stay for the whole thing?
If you'd like me to, yes. Some couples want me there start to finish. Others just need the ceremony and photos covered and then the dog taken home. Both are fine — tell me which and it goes in the price.
Where does my dog sleep that night?
Your choice. I'll drop them wherever you want them, or they come home with me. The first night of boarding is included in the package, which matters if you're flying out the next morning. Extra nights are charged separately.
How do I hold my date?
A $100 deposit. It's refundable if you cancel more than 30 days before the wedding. Most people book several months out, so the earlier you ask, the more likely I'm free.
Should my dog be groomed first?
It makes a real difference in photographs you'll still have in thirty years. Book the groom for the few days before the wedding and the normal prices apply.