We offer three Full Service Appointment types: Full Service Bath Breeds like Labrador Retrievers or Boxers typically only require bathing, brushing, nail trimming, and ear cleaning, which we classify as a “bath.” Full Service Tidy For double coated breeds, such as Golden Retrievers or Bernese Mountain Dogs, after bathing, typically a haircut is limited to a perimeter trim. This includes areas such as leg feathers, belly, sanitary area. We call this a "tidy". Full Service Groom Certain dog breeds require full haircuts as part of their regular grooming routine, such as Labradoodles or Shih Tzus. This type of grooming service is referred to as a “groom.” When scheduling an appointment, please be sure to specify which service your dog requires to ensure we can provide the appropriate care!

How often you bathe/groom your dog depends on their individual skin and coat. Most healthy dogs need a bath every 1-3 months to minimize odor and oil buildup, but this can vary! Let’s go over some of the factors to determine what schedule you may need: Coat Type - Thick, double-coats shed constantly, which means bathing is required less often—every 2-3 months—but daily brushing is top priority! These pups most often do not get full haircuts, but you may want regular trimming services (such as on the sanitary area, or the ‘feathers’ on the backs of their legs). Short, single, or wiry coats are also relatively low maintenance, typically needing a bath every few months. For haircutting, it will depend on their activity level and what length/style you wish to keep. Soft, curly coats and non-shedding coats collect dirt faster, and are at higher risk for matting, so bathing monthly is ideal. For haircutting, keeping them on a regular schedule is key, especially if you are looking to maintain a longer haircut. Dogs with oily coats may need a bath every few weeks to reduce odor, and will benefit from daily brushing to remove hair and distribute oils. Indoor vs Outdoor - Dogs who spend more time outside may get visibly dirty and develop odor faster. Depending on their activity level, and coat conditions as already discussed, they may need up to weekly baths. Skin Conditions — Allergies, skin infections, and excessively oily or dry skin increase bathing needs. Refer to your veterinarian recommendations for frequency if there are skin issues like these. When in doubt, give us a call! We can go over these factors and come up with a schedule to keep your pup looking and feeling their best!

At Muddy Paws, we aim to keep your dog’s visit as short and stress-free as possible. The time needed for grooming depends on your dog’s breed, size, coat type, bathing/grooming needs, and how well they cooperate during the process. Pups that are regularly groomed tend to be in better condition and more comfortable with the grooming process, which often results in faster grooming times. Brushing and blow-drying are typically the most time-consuming steps. The more hair your dog has, the longer the grooming session will take. On average, grooming appointments, including haircuts, last between 2 and 3 hours, with larger breeds often taking longer. The average time for a bath appointment, with no haircutting, is between 1 and 1.5 hours. To minimize your dog’s time in the kennel and reduce anxiety, we kindly ask that you pick up your pup within 20 minutes of the appointment being completed.

Bathing and grooming rates are determined by their weight and coat type. We have a set price list, that you may use to calculate your service cost, here Additional charges may be assessed if your dog has matts, is shedding, or struggles with the grooming process in a way that requires extra care, time, or hands.

Soon after your puppy has received all of their initial vaccinations (usually about 12 weeks old), is a great time to begin introducing them to the grooming process. Since our goal is to give your pup a positive experience, we suggest the initial appointment include a bath, blow dry and brush out, limiting the trimming of the hair to around the eyes, paws and sanitary only. We refer to this service as a "Puppy Groom". If your pup enjoys themself, they’ll want to come back next time for more!

At this time, our cat groomer has limited their cat clientele, and is not booking any additional appointments for bathing or grooming. We are accepting new cats for nail trims a la carte only.

An appointment is required for Full Service Baths and Grooming. Wait times for baths typically range from a few days to a couple of weeks, while grooming appointments may be booked up to a couple of months in advance, depending on the season. We recommend planning ahead, especially around the holidays! Self-wash and nail trim appointments can be booked in advance to secure a spot, but we also welcome walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis.

For the safety of every dog in our care, we do not let dogs come into direct contact with one another. Please keep your dog on a leash the entire time while visiting Muddy Paws. You are responsible for supervising and controlling your own pet. Your dog may be friendly with other dogs, but not every dog is friendly that visits Muddy Paws Bathhouse.

Unfortunately, we can’t groom dogs with lice or fleas at Muddy Paws. To ensure a safe and clean environment for all pets, please treat your dog before scheduling an appointment. We're happy to help once your pup is clear! If we find suspected lice or fleas on your pup, we will complete what we are safely able to do for the appointment, and call you for immediate pick-up.

If your bather or groomer finds a tick on your dog during the appointment, we will try to contact you using the phone number provided at check-in. If we're unable to reach you, we will assess the situation and decide whether to remove the tick. If we do remove it, a $10 removal fee per tick will be added to your total appointment cost.

We will only externally express anal glands and do minimal ear hair plucking, upon client request during a Full Service appointment. We do not offer these services a la carte. For gland expression, we recommend seeing your vet if you believe there is an issue with your pup expressing them naturally and independently. Vets can provide an internal expression, which is a more effective, natural and complete function. Vets also are able to recognize and immediately treat any potential issues. For ear hair, we will only pluck a minimal, maintenance amount of hairs. If there is thick or matted ear hair, we may recommend shaving, or visiting your vet for further assistance.

In our experience, dogs do better during the grooming process without their owners present. It is harder for your furry friend to focus on their groomer if their owner is within view, or even earshot. Dogs will often try to escape the groomer’s control and get to their owners if they are present. While it's natural for some dogs to feel anxious during drop-off, we have found that most dogs settle in quickly within a few minutes. We prioritize a smooth, efficient check-in process to help minimize any stress.