Bows & Bones Pet Grooming

With Christmas being right around the corner, it's not uncommon for families to get puppies as a gift for their family member or themselves over the holidays. As wonderful as a gift dogs and puppies are, unfortunately, often times they are soon surrendered for adoption because not enough research was done to ensure the dog you are getting is a good fit for you and your family. Often times, important things to consider prior such as dog's breed, dog's energy levels, dog's temperament, dog's grooming and health needs, the time, attention, and training required, etc. are overlooked before bringing a dog home. For example, if you are interested in a low maintenance dog, a golden doodle, though adorable, may not be the best choice because they require daily brushing and regular grooming every 6-8 weeks to avoid matted hair (see blog post on matting ). Dogs are not objects, dogs are living, breathing creatures and most importantly, they are family. We encourage everyone

With the holidays rapidly approaching and new clients are rolling in, we wanted to give you some tips on what to expect for your first grooming appointment: Bring proof of rabies! We do not accept rabies tags. Anything that has the expiration on it or we can call and do a verbal verification from your vet Do not make your first grooming appointment if you're in a rush, as there is required paperwork to fill out and grooming instructions to give. If you drop your dog off in a rush, your energy is not calm and may cause your dog to act out, delay the groom, bite, etc. (see blog post on energy) You can expect anywhere between 10-15 minutes for check in to fill out paperwork and give grooming instructions Be sure to also to let your groomer know of any special needs, medical conditions, including behavioral issues or if your dog has ever had any issues at another salon, etc.  Expect anywhere between 2-4 hours for a full groom, if there are any delays, your groomer will call you

"Matting" is densely tangled clumps of fur in a pet's coat. If a coat is not properly or frequently brushed, loose and live hair become embedded in large masses. Sometimes "matts" can be combed out, but if left too long, it is impossible without seriously harming the animal. Matts can form in both the outer coat as well as the undercoat. Sometimes severe mats are unnoticeable because of a heavy outer coat. If left unattended, a pet's fur can become entirely matted to such an extent that the only recourse is to shave the entire coat. Dangers of Matting Severe matting can be extremely painful to your dog during brushing. Brushing only causes live hairs to be pulled out of the skin with excruciating pain. Even mild matting that to you looks not serious can be extremely painful to your dog. Matting can also cut off blood supply to extremities and prevent regular air circulation. Matting can also cause hematomas (swelling of clotted blood within the tissues)

With Halloween in the books, Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. At this time of year, grooming appointments are in high demand and book very quickly. We understand that everyone wants their pup to look snazzy for the holidays, so it is essential that you do not wait until the last minute to book your appointment, as there may be a long wait list, especially for weekends. During the holiday season, we will be unable to accommodate same day or walk in baths/grooms (only walk in nail trims will be accepted). Please keep in mind that even if your pet visits us every month, you will still need to schedule their holiday appointment in advance. Here we tend to each pet individually with care unlike other salons that run like an assembly line to get your pet in and out, which is why we have only a limited number of appointment spaces available. If for whatever reason you are unable to make your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that appointment slot