At Paws Fur Tails Pet Spa, we've done our best to create a Web site that anticipates and satisfies our    customers' needs. With that goal in mind, we've
compiled a list of frequently asked questions.
If you do not find an answer to your question here, contact us at 905-790-SPAS or info@pawsfurtails.ca.

Q:    How long will my dog be in the  shop?

A:    On the average day, you can expect  your dog to be with us for 1 hour to 4 hours.  The breed of the dog and the job  that is required will determine the amount of
time that they will be with us.

Q:    Why does it take so long to groom my dog?

A:    Each dog is bathed prior to grooming.  Then the dog is fluff dried. All mattes are split up, brushed and combed out.  Then they are styled. There is an entire body to groom, 4 legs, a head, chest  & a tail, nails to cut, ears to clean, groins to shave. It takes time,  skill and patience to do this. Remember when you go to the hairdresser you  have only one head and you sit still, dogs do not  always sit still. You do not try to bite your hairdresser. You don’t have accidents on the floor. It  is similar to us going to the salon and having a manicure, pedicure, facial  and massage. It takes time.

Q:    How much does it cost?

A:    The pricing depends on breed, style  and temperament. Please contact us  for a personalized estimate for your dog.

Q:    Can I stay for my dog’s grooming?

A:    We don’t recommend it. Dogs generally  do not behave better when their parents are present actually the opposite is often the case.

Q:    When can I bring my puppy in for his first grooming?

A:    As soon as your puppy has had his last rabies shot at the veterinarian they are clear to be around other dogs.  Remember this when visiting parks and pet
stores. Your puppy can become very  sick if not fully protected. Viruses in the air can kill a little puppy in a  very short period of time.

Q:    How often should I have my dog groomed?

A:    In our opinion all dogs should be  groomed every
4-6 weeks, 8 weeks being the absolute maximum. After 8 weeks  bacteria can start to build up in the hair
around the eyes, the bum, the  groin and feet. All breeds of dogs require grooming. By having your dog professionally  groomed this often you are taking
excellent care of the skin, the coat, the  nails, the ears and many other grooming requirements.

Q:    How often can I bath my dog?

A:    You can bath your dog once a week if  you want to. Be sure to use a very good quality shampoo and conditioner, many  of them are safe to use once a week. Or,  contact us, our Wash & Fluff program might be perfect for you.

Q:    What mattes…. my dog is not  matted?!

A:    Many dog owners have absolutely no  idea that their dog has any mattes or to the extent of the mattes. This is  very common. When we separate the top layer of hair that is often brushed and  combed out nicely, we then expose the matting  underneath. Owners are often  completely shocked at what they see before their eyes, which is  understandable as it is easily overlooked.

Q:    Why do groomers always shave my  dog?

A:    When dogs are badly matted groomers  will generally shave the dog. This is done for the sake of the dog. It is  painful and stressing to ask a dog to sit still for a lengthy period of time  and have a metal brush and de-matting comb repeatedly taken over his skin. It  causes brush burn in many cases. Most importantly we try to make the customer  fully aware that the dog will be shaved. Owners can expect to pay an additional  fee for severely matted dogs. Why the additional cost? It is a painstaking  procedure to shave a badly matted dog safely and properly. A dog’s skin is  thin like tissue paper. When the coat is matted the
skin becomes loose due to  the weight of the matting. When passing clippers over the body, the skin will  often slip between the blades of the clippers resulting
in a terrible cut.

Q:    How can this be avoided?

A:    Bring the dog in for professional  grooming every 4-6 weeks. By doing this we are able to get out any trouble  areas and maintain a clean and healthy coat. You will be able to maintain the  look and the style that you want by doing this.

Q:    The nails look too long, were they  cut?

A:    If a dog’s nails have not been  maintained with regular cuts, the “quick” will grow long with the nail. There  is a vein just beyond the quick. If the vein is cut
then the dog naturally  will bleed. Therefore, we can only cut to where that vein is. Regular visits  will ensure that the nails are kept short and  manageable.

Q:    The nails are sharp! Were they cut?

A:    After cutting a dog’s nails there is  a fresh edge on them and is extremely sharp. So  sharp it may cut your skin. A  short walk on the sidewalk should help to fix
this problem.

Q:    It’s too cold out we cannot have  the dog bathed or groomed in winter?!

A:    Weather conditions and temperature  have absolutely nothing to do with grooming. Keeping
a thick dirty matted  coat on a dog is not healthy. There are many different styles in which to choose from if you are concerned about the dog being too
cold. As long as it  is properly maintained there is no reason why owners cannot  have a beautiful  longer style in the colder months.