The groomer comes out to meet you and your dog. The groomer will ask some questions about what type of haircut you would like, as well as any health or behaviour issues they should know about. The groomer takes a quick look at the dog’s coat condition to make sure your expectations are realistic.

You sign an agreement releasing your dog into our care for the next few hours. We’ll text or call you when they’re almost done!

Most dogs go straight in the bath, but in the case of severe matting; we need to remove the mats first so the water and shampoo can properly reach the dog’s skin. Bathing with severe mats will only cause the mats to become tighter.

A matted dog will be ‘pre shaved’ with whatever blade will pass safely under the mats. This additional step is a major reason for adding charges to severely matted dogs - it can take an hour or more to remove the matting safely.

The dog is placed in a tub and hooked up with a grooming loop to make sure they can’t jump out. The dog is thoroughly scrubbed from head to toe with one of our high quality, natural, biodegradable shampoos. Paw Envy mainly uses the brand Nature’s Specialty. The face area is washed with a tearless facial scrub to prevent eye irritation. The dog is thoroughly rinsed.

A conditioner is applied to the dog to promote beautiful soft hair and improved skin and coat health. A dog with small matted areas may be brushed with conditioner in to help loosen the mats. A dog with shedding undercoat may need a ‘de-shedding solution’ instead of a conditioner to release more undercoat. The conditioner is thoroughly rinsed and the dog is dried with a towel.

Most of the bathing products have a very light scent. If you have a scent sensitivity, high quality unscented products are available.

The dog is moved to a drying table, where they’re attached with another grooming loop. A high velocity dryer is used to help straighten the hair and dry them as quickly as possible.

Understandably, blow drying is the least favourite part of the process for many dogs. The noise and sensation of the air can be upsetting or overstimulating to them. Most dogs have areas - usually around the face and ears - that are ‘finish’ dried with either a fan pointed at their kennel, or a more gentle stand dryer. Long, fancy haircuts require a lot more time with the stand dryer, brushing while drying to get a perfectly straight beautiful coat.

Older, more frail dogs may not withstand drying well; and some dogs panic to the point that it’s unsafe to dry them. These dogs usually have to be dried almost entirely in the kennel. This is definitely an option, but the same level of perfection in the haircut will never be achieved without fluffing up the coat. These types of dogs will need to receive a more ‘practical’ groom.

Breeds that don’t require haircuts are now almost finished! The dog is moved to the grooming area and placed on another table. Next is brushing with a brush that’s appropriate to the dog’s hair type, removing any dead hair loosened by the bathing process.

Finally, the nails are trimmed with nail clippers, and buffed into a smooth shape with a nail grinder. Some dogs cannot tolerate grinding, but some prefer it. If the dog allows, it is ideal to do both for the shortest possible nails.

If the owner has requested any trimming, such as paws or sanitary area, that will also be done at this time. The dog is ready to go home!

Dogs like golden retrievers, bernese mountain dogs and australian shepherds, as well as spitz breeds like pomeranians and chow chows, usually get a kind of haircut called an outline trim. This involves tidying up the shape of the dog by trimming some of the feathering with scissors.

The groomer will shave the sanitary area and paw pads with a clipper, and comb out the dog to remove any tangles or dead undercoat. Once the dog is combed out, they will trim any areas you wanted tidied. Most commonly, this includes the bum, tail, paws, belly and the backs of the legs, as well as the chest/mane area. Some people want one or more of these areas left natural, or ask for an additional area such as ear feathering.

Finally, the nails are trimmed with nail clippers, and buffed into a smooth shape with a nail grinder. Some dogs cannot tolerate grinding, but some prefer it. If the dog allows, it is ideal to do both for the shortest possible nails.

The dog is ready to go home and will wait in their kennel for your arrival.