PRINTThe Guide: Pet groomers
Where to go in CoMo to get Fifi bathed, brushed and pedicured
JONATHAN STEPHANOFF
A new About Paws customer, Cassie the golden retriever, gets a bath at the full service pet spa inside Mudd Puppies Self Service Dog Wash.
March 31, 2011 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Pets and their owners are itching to play outside now that it’s getting warmer. Unfortunately, the nice weather also brings more opportunities for Spike and Sassy to roll in the mud, become covered with skunk stink and discover old roadkill. Vox offers a guide to getting your dog or cat clean and fresh-smelling this spring.
Best DIY dog wash:
Mudd Puppies Self Serve Dog Wash
When: Monday through Saturday (except Wednesday), 10 a.m. to
7 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to
5 p.m.
Where: 1605 Chapel Hill Road, Suite F
Cost: $16 for one dog; $8 for each additional dog
Call: 573-446-4070
At Mudd Puppies, dog owners don’t have to worry about making a furry mess at home. Instead, each customer receives a bucket filled with shampoo, conditioner, towels and a rubber brush, the arsenal with which they bathe Fifi in a raised nonslip tub. Mudd Puppies even offers a low tub for big breeds and dogs with creaky hips. Clean dogs get the once-over with an unheated dryer that won’t scorch their skin.
Maria Toliver works with Ellie, a yorkie mix, at About Paws, a full-service pet spa ...
Best parental supervision:
About Paws
When: Monday through Friday (except Tuesday), 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. All services are by appointment only.
Where: 1605 Chapel Hill Road, Suite F (located inside Mudd Puppies)
Cost: Starts at $37 for small dogs; $50 for cats. Pricing varies depending on size and coat condition.
Call: 573-268-0678
Number of groomers: Three
Located in the storefront of Mudd Puppies, the staff at About Paws pampers your pal out in the open so there’s no wondering what goes on in that mysterious back room. Your four-legged friend gets the whole kit and ka-poodle: shampoo and conditioner, filed nails, depilated ears, paw-pad-fur trimming, expressed glands and more. Owners can also choose between a haircut or shed-reducing treatment. The low-key environment makes dogs and cats feel at home.
Most spectacular spa treatment:
All Dogs-N-Cats Pet Salon
When: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; every other Saturday by appointment
Where: 805 E. Nifong Blvd., Suite F
Cost: $37-65 for dogs, depending on size and coat condition; $50 for cats; $12 for a la carte dog nail trim; $5 for nail polish; $5 for tooth brushing
Call: 573-874-2362
Number of groomers: Four
If your dog is a diva (or just deserving of some major pampering), this is the place to go. The staff at All Dogs-N-Cats bathes, grooms and perfumes each dog, and little extras such as nail polishing and tooth brushing give your pet that added oomph.
Best fragrance for Fluffy:
The Pet Fair Boarding & Grooming
When: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: 1706 I-70 Drive SW
Cost: Pricing varies by breed
Call: 573-445-7783
Number of groomers: Five
Get that just-groomed fragrance at home. The Pet Fair sells shampoos and colognes that smell delish compared to whatever your dog has been playing in. Choose among the fresh apple, raspberry or sugar cookie scents to spiff up Spot between grooming sessions. For the royal treatment, the Pet Fair groomers also bathe and style your dog, express its glands, clean its ears and trim its nails.
Best duds for Dino:
Groomingdales
When: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday by appointment
Where: 3601 Buttonwood Drive, Suite C
Cost: $25-65 for a bath and brush-out; $40-80 for a full haircut and bath
Call: 573-443-5936
Number of groomers: Three
Your pup will want to strut his stuff in a new collar and leash set from Groomingdales. The shop is also filled with adorable fleece jackets, sweaters and tag accessories for dogs of various sizes. The best accessory, though, is a clean coat, and the Groomingdales staff helps your dog get one with a bath, cleaned ears, expressed glands, trimmed toenails and choice of a haircut or a brush-out.
Most convenient transportation:
A+ Boarding and Grooming
When: Monday through Saturday, opens at 8 a.m. and closes based on pet owners’ schedules
Where: 2531 Bernadette Square
Cost: $38-65 for dogs, depending on the breed, disposition and coat condition; $45 and up for cats
Call: 573-446-3647
Number of groomers: Five
You’re a busy parent. To lend an extra hand, A+ Boarding and Grooming staff members literally come to you (for an extra fee) by offering a pick-up and drop-off service for on-the-go pet owners. While your pet is away, he or she will get a good sudsing up, an ear cleaning, nail trim and a haircut or brush-out.
Best for choosy moms and dads:
Pet’s Pride Grooming & Training
When: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday by appointment only
Where: 6480 Mexico Gravel Road
Cost: $30-80 for grooming; $5 for half a day of day care; $10 for a full day of day care
Call: 573-214-2205
Number of groomers: One
At Pet’s Pride, owners can be as particular as they’d like about Fluffy’s new ’do. Groomer and co-owner Kim Wingate, who operates Pet’s Pride out of her home, offers customized just-how-you-like-it cuts for dogs and cats. She also offers doggy day care filled with playtime, treat time and all-tuckered-out time.
Best for high-maintenance fur care:
Four Paws Grooming
When: Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 705 Big Bear Blvd., Suite C
Cost: $40 and up for dogs, depending on breed and coat condition; $45 and up for cats
Call: 573-449-1459
Number of groomers: Three
Conveniently located for northern Columbia residents, Four Paws Grooming offers the total beauty treatment: bath, toenail trim, blow-dry, gland expression, brush-out and haircut. The business offers a wide variety of the newest shampoos and conditioners to suit your dog’s or cat’s particular needs, whether it’s a good de-skunking, a silky hair treatment or shedding treatment.
Best for bashful pets:
Cool Dog Grooming Studio
When: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with flexible pick-up and drop-off times
Where: 3300 Greenridge Road
Cost: $35-75
Call: 573-474-0235
Don’t be fooled by the studio’s name — owner and groomer Deb Frankenberry makes cats look pretty cool, too. Frankenberry, who operates Cool Dog Grooming Studio out of her home, offers flexible pick-up times for busy dog and cat owners. Her home is quiet and low-key, so even shy animals won’t mind hanging with her while their owners wrap things up at work.
Best for plumed and purse pets:
Your regular veterinarian
Exotic pets require special attention best given by a veterinarian. At Noah’s Ark Animal Hospital & Bird Clinic, for example, you can get Polly’s beak and nails filed starting at $12. Bunnies’ and rats’ teeth can also be filed starting at $7. (Strange, but sometimes necessary.) For iguanas, rabbits, guinea pigs and other exotic or pocket or purse-sized pets, the most important grooming tip is just to keep their environment clean. Your vet can tell you exactly how to keep your particular pet healthy and happy.
