Land o' Paws
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Do I need an appointment to
have my pet groomed?
A: Yes, all grooming
services and visits are by appointment only.
Q: How soon can I get an
appointment with you?
A: Due to the high demand of
grooming services, Land o'Paws is generally booked 3-6 weeks in advance.
Occasionally, an appointment may become available sooner due to cancellations
or changes in schedule. Please call 530-343-4729 or email to check availability. Spring, summer and the holiday
season are the busiest times, so please call well ahead of time! Booking a
regular, standing appointment is the best way to ensure your pet gets the
grooming he or she deserves, without the wait!
Q: Do you have an appointment available today?
A: No.
Q: Should I show up early for my appointment?
A: No. Please check in at your scheduled
appointment time. When we are expecting
appointments, we will be available. However, the rest of the day we will be
busy attending to other pets and may temporarily close the gates for security. If you happen to arrive early and find the
shop closed, please be patient—we promise to be there at the agreed time!
Q: How much does grooming cost?
A: Check the sample
price list for
your breed and type of grooming desired. Please understand that these are
sample prices only, and not an actual quote. Regularly groomed animals should
fall into the range given unless there is more extensive work required
(dematting, handstripping, show clip, special handling).
Q: Do you do cats?
A: Yes,
we do! In fact,
we specialize in feline grooming. And yes, we can give your cat a haircut.
Short clips on Persians and other longhaired cats are often desirable,
especially if the hair has become matted. Contrary to popular belief, many cats
do benefit from an occasional bath, and most cats tolerate this process
surprisingly well. Click here to see how cats are groomed at Land o' Paws. Tranquilizers
are very rarely needed, but if they are deemed necessary, you must consult with
a Veterinarian. It is illegal for a groomer to administer drugs to your pet.
Q: How long do I leave my pet?
A: We generally need to
allow 3-4 hours for the grooming process, sometimes longer if there is
extensive work to be done. We will work with you to schedule a pick-up time
that is convenient for you. In special
cases, we may be able to finish your pet in less time. If your pet has special
needs, please let us know.
Q: Should I stop in before my
scheduled pick-up time, to see if my pet is done early?
A: It is not a good
idea. If we are still grooming your dog
and you walk in the door, your pet may become very excited and wiggly, which can
be dangerous when we have sharp scissors!
For your pet’s safety, please plan to arrive at the agreed-upon pick up
time. We can work with you to arrange a
pick-up time that is convenient for you.
Q: What is your cancellation
policy?
A: If you must cancel or
change an appointment, please give at least 24 hours' notice. Pets arriving
more than 20 minutes late may need to be rescheduled. Please call if you are
running late, so that your appointment is not given away. No shows will be
charged $15. Clients who miss more than two scheduled appointments must pre-pay
any future appointments. If the pre-paid appointment is missed, no refund will
be given. Clients who no-show three appointments may no longer schedule
appointments with Land o'Paws.
Q: Can I stay with my pet
during the grooming process?
A: Our liability policy does
not allow non-employees to enter our work area. And, believe it or not, pets
are usually calmer and better behaved in the grooming shop when their owner is
NOT present. It is important for the groomer to bond with the dog, and develop
mutual understanding and respect. When the owner is present, the dog is so
focused on the owner that it disrupts this process. I have considered setting up a webcam so that owners can log in
from home or work and watch their pet being groomed. Let me know what you think!
Q: I don't want my dog around
other dogs. Do you have other dogs there while my dog is there?
A: Demand is such that there
will almost always be more than one dog in the grooming shop at any given time.
However, unless they are from the same family, dogs are not allowed physical
contact with each other. They are each handled separately and given
their own personal space. Dogs usually
behave very differently when they are not on their home territory, so even if
Fluffy is a holy terror at home, she probably won’t bat an eye at other dogs
when she’s at the salon.
Q: I don't want my cat around
dogs. Do you have cat-only grooming
days?
A: I will gladly arrange a
dog-free grooming day for your cat if she is deathly afraid of dogs. However, it has been my experience that cats
will NOT freak out if they are in a secure carrier and placed on higher ground
where they feel safe. At Land o’ Paws,
dogs are managed in such a way that they do not appear threatening to cats (and
vice versa).
Q: I don't want my dog in a
cage. Can you accommodate this request?
A: Cages are necessary for
the safety and security of the pet. While we hand-dry most animals after the
bath, we also utilize cage drying to finish the process; the animal is placed
in a ventilated cage with clean, dry towels and warm/room temperature air is
circulated through. There will also be some "down time" before and
after the groom, where a pet will be placed in a cage to relax. Most animals
accept our roomy, comfortable cages very well. In very rare cases, a dog will
experience extreme stress when confined. For these individuals, we will do our
best to arrange as little cage time as possible.
Q: Do you use hot cage dryers?
I have heard horror stories!
A: Land o'Paws does NOT use
hot dryers on pets. Land o'Paws uses
dryers that circulate large volumes of room-temperature air to dry animals. To prevent chilling and to ensure your pet's
comfort during the winter months, we may use warm-air dryers. These are NOT like the blow dryers you use
on your own hair. Warm-air dryers
provide about the same temperature as your home's central heating vents.
Q: Why does my dog's haircut
cost more than mine?
A: Click
here to find
out!
Do you have a question not listed here? Email me or call 530-343-4729.