Frequently Asked Questions!
When should my puppy or kitten have its first professional grooming? It is important that your puppy or kitten receive its first set of shots before you think about grooming because it is vital that your new pet be protected from communicable diseases before going ANYWHERE that it could be exposed to other animals. Therefore, your first trip should be to your vet. After that, your puppy or kitten can be groomed, either at home or with a trusted groomer. Their first professional grooming should be with a calm and patient stylist who helps to teach your pet the right manners to assure that they will be comfortable with the grooming process. Be sure you pick a groomer who is patient and familiar with handling young pets, as they present more of a challenge than adults. Remember, everything that happens to him or her at this early age is part of their learning process, so good experiences as well as bad will stay with them through life. Your groomer should teach you the proper tools and methods to keep your pet well groomed at home, and make their professional experience more enjoyable. Starting early, these techniques will imprint on your puppy or kitten. The first six months of life for a dog or cat is like the first five years of a human. I recommend that you schedule professional grooming at least once a month until your pet is six months old, in order to establish a good relationship, and if possible, always schedule with the same person so that they come to know what to expect from the process. Once your pet is conditioned for grooming, regular grooming every 6-8 weeks for dogs and 3-4 months for cats is important throughout their lives. My dog or cat is a matted, tangled mess! What can I do? Let me congratulate you on taking the first step to making your pet more comfortable. Situations like this occur, usually unintentionally, but are easily fixed. That newly adopted pet comes to you in bad shape, your pet is left with friends or at a boarding facility and comes home in this condition, or sometimes life just gets away from us, and before we know it, Fluffy is a mess. Remember, one of the major responsibilities of owning a pet includes grooming as part of the pet's health and well-being. Trying to brush out matted fur is uncomfortable and painful for your pet and neither one of us wants to inflict pain on Fluffy. The easiest and most humane thing to do when your pet gets matted is to simply start over. Clipping your pet down short immediately eliminates the discomfort they have been feeling by having matted hair pulling at their skin. We usually follow this up with a soothing medicated bath because there are usually skin issues under all that matted fur. Please be aware that dealing with matted pets is more time consuming, and takes special attention, so there are additional charges involved. But rest assured, your pet will feel much better and be happier as a result of your thoughtfulness in having these issues dealt with. It is important that from this point on you schedule regular visits to your groomer every 6-8 weeks for dogs and 3-4 months for cats, and keep up with at home attention as well. How long does a grooming appointment with PurrFect Pets take? Depending on the condition of the coat, size of the pet, and type of groom performed, an appointment can last from 30 minutes for an extra small short-haired dog or kitten, to 3 hours for an extra large long-haired dog. The average time, however, is one to two hours. This is one of the greatest advantages to mobile grooming. In a normal salon situation, your pet may need to be away from home anywhere from three hours to all day. All this extra time away from home, and away from their pet parents, adds unnecessary stress to the grooming experience. How do I prepare my pet for the grooming appointment? On grooming day, be sure to take your dog for a walk prior to their appointment. Do not feed your dog or cat right before handing him over to the groomer. It is not abnormal for your dog to shake when he gets close to the groomer. Much of this is caused by the stress of knowing that their beloved pet parent will be leaving them for awhile, as well as fear of the unknown with a new groomer. It could also be anticipation over frightening sounds, or being in a kennel. Pets are smart and can anticipate what is coming. They love to put on a show for their pet parents making them feel guilty about leaving them behind. Once inside, however, most pets know the drill, and are quite content once their owners leave. It is best not to make a fuss over them if they show anxiety over leaving you. Our pets are extremely intuitive and will pick up on your feelings of worry or guilt, making it harder on both you and your pet. Mobile grooming is slightly different. First, as above, please be sure you don't feed your pet and give them time to relieve themselves just prior to an appointment. Make sure to have your pet ready to go, whether in a carrier in the case of cats, or ready to be leashed in the case of dogs. Because mobile grooming occurs right at your doorstep your pets shouldn't show any anxiety prior to their appointment. In their minds they are going on an adventure and they don't need to feel left behind by their pet parent. Please remember, our time is valuable, and it will delay the process and could add unnecessary charges if we have to wait for you to capture your pet. If this is your first appointment, we will ask to see written proof of your pet's rabies vaccination record. It is imperative that you have this information available when we arrive. We will refuse service to your pet if we cannot verify this information. Do I need to be there while you are grooming my pet? No. It will be easier on your pet if they cannot observe you while they are being groomed. Their natural instinct is to want to be with you. We require that you be available during our first meeting with your pet since we need to talk about your expectations and we will be offering suggestions to make Fluffy's grooming more pleasant. After that, if you have pre-arranged payment, it is not necessary for you to stay at home during the grooming process. We are licensed and bonded, and if you are comfortable placing your pet in a secure kennel for me to access if you are not at home, these arrangements can be made at the time you book your appointment. Do you need connections for electric or water for your grooming van? Nope! My grooming van is fully self-contained with its own water tanks, water heater and electricity, as well as heat and air conditioning to keep me and your pet comfortable during the grooming process. There is no need to plug into, or connect to anything (although in case of emergency breakdown of equipment, this could become necessary). My unit is powered by my van's diesel engine, so it does require that the van be running during grooming. It is only as loud as an automobile with a diesel engine, so there is usually not a problem with noise or pollution. Why can't I reach you by phone while you are working? Several things may be going on during my business day:
My business number, 615-707-9866, is available 7 days a week. I will strive to answer all messages, either voice mail or text, as quickly as possible during business hours. If you are calling to make an appointment, please leave a detailed message with yours and your pet's name, whether you are a new or returning customer, and when you would like your pet groomed, and I will get back to you as quickly as possible. If you are calling to cancel an appointment, a simple voice message will do. I will usually call to confirm the cancellation and see about rebooking that appointment for you. If you leave an email message, it is possible that I will not receive your message until that evening. What is your experience grooming cats? I have been grooming cats for approximately 20 years and really enjoy these feisty felines! Cats present their own set of challenges and there will always be the cat that is too difficult to groom. I groom approximately 150 cats per year and have had to turn away less than 5% because they have exceeded my skill level. I do require that my cat parents be at home and available until I am sure I am comfortable with your cat and your cat is comfortable with me. Though rare, there may be some instances where I ask you to help with your cat in an effort to keep them calm. The cat grooming services I offer are:
I use cat-friendly bathing products including medicated shampoo and flea shampoo. We have a minimum charge to make a home visit which would exceed what pet parents are willing to pay for a simple nail trim. However, we do have several pet parents who are on an as-available nail trim schedule, understanding that if I will be in their neighborhood, I will call and offer to stop by to trim their pet's nails AT MY CONVENIENCE. There is a minimum charge to make a visit to your home, so we are not able to offer any discounts which would place your charge under this minimum. I can, however, offer a multiple pet discount for households with more than one pet or neighborhoods that can get together and have their pets groomed on the same day. What are your prices for grooming? In the world of pet grooming no two pets are alike, even those in the same household with the same set of parents. One pet can be fully groomed in less than an hour while his sister, who squirms and wiggles and hates having her nails trimmed, may take twice as long. A pet who is completely shaved down will take much less time to complete than one with longer hair. Detail work, such as is performed on a Poodle or Bichon takes longer than more simple haircuts. Your pet may require the addition of a product such as Medicated Shampoo, Flea & Tick Shampoo, Deep Coat Conditioner, and so on, to make them more comfortable. You may also request that your dog have his teeth brushed while in my care. Therefore, grooming prices are rarely “cut and dried”. Our minimum charge to groom a dog is $60. Cat baths are a minimum of $60 and cat haircuts are a minimum of $75. Additional charges may occur for any of the above reasons. I will offer a price range when we speak on the phone for the first time and give you a firm price at your home before beginning the grooming process. My last groomer didn't listen to what I wanted, and shaved my pet too short. Sharing information during our first encounter is one of the most important aspects of our relationship. As your groomer I want to make you happy and make your pet look and feel fantastic. Clipper blades and comb attachments now come in over 20 different lengths so it is important that you be very specific if you expect your pet to look a certain way when they are finished. I will make suggestions based on the information you give me as to how I will groom your pet. If I feel your pet will be more comfortable with a shorter haircut, I will recommend this and that may not make you happy. But usually we can come to a satisfactory agreement on how your pet will look when done. If you are dissatisfied with the haircut when it is finished it is best to share your opinion as soon as possible, so I can make adjustments either right away or at your next appointment. If you are “picky” about how your pet looks please don't trust grooming instructions to your spouse, housekeeper or children, as they may not feel the same way you do. If you cannot be home when I groom your pet, please leave a number where I can call you before I begin grooming. In some cases, getting your pet's haircut perfect may be a learning experience for both of us. Do you tranquilize pets for grooming? We do not believe it is necessary, nor adviseable, to tranquilize pets for grooming, and we will not administer any kind of sedation to groom your pet. We do, however, use muzzles on hard to manage pets if the need arises. We also use aromatherapy in the grooming area to aid in calming down agitated pets. If you feel your pet will be difficult to groom, please have this discussion with me prior to the grooming process. I currently groom many hard to manage pets that have been rejected from other salons for behavior issues. I believe that a calm and confident attitude goes a long way and that your pet will respond better to the lower stress levels provided in a mobile grooming unit opposed to a high traffic grooming salon. If you have discussed your pet's behavior with your veterinarian, and you both agree that your pet would benefit from a mild sedative supervised by your vet, you may administer this prior to my arrival, but please advise me that your pet is sedated. I will attempt to groom it, but may offer alternate suggestions for future visits. What kind of dryers do you use? I, too, have seen the stories in the news about pets being injured, or worse, by the use of hot air kennel dryers. This is another advantage to mobile grooming as your pet is never left unsupervised, either in a tub or in a drying cage. I am never more than four feet away from your pet during the entire grooming process. I carry different fluff dryers to accommodate different pet's needs, and will never use any tools or equipment that will cause your pet unnecessary stress. What kind of shampoo products do you carry? Do you offer them for resale? I made a commitment to myself that the products and supplies used in this business would not be governed by price. I do not buy the cheapest or most cost-effective products on the market like some of my competitors. Instead, I shop for products that have stood the test of time and that I have personally used, or that are the most advanced products available. Based on my initial interview with you, and the condition of your pet's skin and coat, I will recommend the best product for your pet. I currently carry high-quality all-purpose shampoos and conditioners, hypoallergenic products, medicated products for various skin conditions, and products to kill fleas and ticks. We, unfortunately, do not offer shampoos for resale. I can however place an order for you if you want to use the shampoo at home to give Fluffy baths of your own. Just let me know after your appointment and I will set something up! Why does my dog itch, or lick itself, after grooming? Just like people, some pets just have an itch! If this behavior is consistent, however, your pet may have allergies which should be discussed with your veterinarian. Puppies and kittens often scratch after their first haircuts, especially around their face and ears, because this is all so new to them. Discourage the behavior by offering a diversion such as a treat or toy. If this behavior only occurs after grooming it's probable that your pet has some sensitivity to having clippers run over specific areas of its body, usually the groin area, or around their face. Discourage your pet from scratching at these areas and give me a call right away so that I can make some recommendations on how to address the behavior, and make notes on your pet's chart. Can you clean my dog's teeth while you're at it? Canine teeth cleaning should only be done by your veterinarian, under anesthetic. Plaque contains bacteria that can travel to your dog's heart, causing life-threatening conditions if it is accidentally swallowed by your pet. Therefore, plaque should never be removed from your dog's teeth without the supervision of your veterinarian. However, your dog can definitely benefit by the addition of toothbrushing to their regular grooming regimen. If you are not already brushing your dog's teeth, include this service with your mobile grooming, and I will assess your pet's current dental condition and make recommendations for future care. My toothbrushing service includes brushing with a pet-friendly, enzymatic toothpaste, and a spritz of breath spray to help with Fluffy's breath. Can you do anything about my white dog's eye stains? The only thing I can do to help the discoloration is to trim off the existing discolored hair, but keep in mind, it will grow back. Eye staining, as well as that nasty discoloration on your white dog’s paws and sanitary areas, is caused by the chemical makeup of your dog's saliva and tears. There are many products on the market that aid in disguising this discoloration, but I do not personally recommend any of them. There are other products on the market, such as Angel Eyes, which help to solve the problem from the inside out. These products are fed to your pet in their regular diet and help change the enzymatic makeup of these body fluids. These products can be expensive to use, and once started should be continued as long as you want success. For more information you can visit the Angel Eyes website. Where do you travel? What areas do you serve? I live 10 miles north of Lebanon, near Hartsville, Tennessee. I can accommodate customers in Hartsville, Lebanon, Watertown, Mt Juliet, Old Hickory and Hermitage. I currently have several customers in Antioch and East Nashville, and will continue to serve them, and possibly add a few select customers to this list. There is, however, a $20 service charge for distances over 50 miles. |
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