(503) 284-9274
HAIR OF THE DOG
Salon Information
Welcome!
Mission
At Hair of the Dog, we believe that grooming does not have to be a chore for your dog. We attempt to cultivate a one-on-one relationship with each dog we see. This means we design each grooming session around the individual needs of your pet. Our passion (and we would say our specialty) is creating lasting bonds with the dogs in our care. Grooming lasts the lifetime of your dog, they should enjoy it!
Arrival
When you arrive, please call the number on our door for service. This is our drop off and pick up line. Please only use this line for drop off and pick up of your pet. For appointments or general questions call our main line at 503-284-9274. Please leave a voicemail, and we will return your call within one business day.
Pricing
Our pricing structure is based on the time, size, behavior, and the coat of your dog. We will gladly discuss these variables with you, and give you a price estimate over the phone. In order to determine the exact cost of service, we will need to see your pet in person. We will be able to give you a price estimate over the phone and once we assess your dog in person, we can then give you an exact cost of service and move forward with your consent to the service.
Time
Average appointment times vary from pet to pet. Appointment time frames can be discussed prior to booking. Age, coat condition, requested services, as well as size and personality all factor into determining appointment times. Typical appointment times are 1 to 4 hours depending on the factors listed.
What we do
Our services are all-inclusive. This means everything is included in your visit. What does that entail? A bath in skin and coat specific shampoo and conditioner, various coat treatments, de-shed treatment, facial, nail trim and file, ears cleaned, breath freshened, glands expressed (if needed). These services are automatically included unless specified by the pet owner. We feel that a complete groom should include, well, everything!
Comfort
Water, blankets, and bathroom breaks are all available to your pet. Please note we do not provide treats to pets in our care, as so many dogs have special feeding requirements. However, pet owners may bring treats for their individual dog.
Products
At Hair of the Dog, we only use high-end, professional grade products such as Chris Christiansen, Envirogroom, Quadruped, Igroom, and Hydra.
We do have hypoallergenic options. Please feel free to request a hypo treatment if you, or your pup, have allergies.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Common Inquiries
DO YOU GROOM CATS?
We do not groom cats. We suggest finding a salon that provides cat grooming as a primary service, as it will be a calmer environment, thus a more enjoyable experience for your cat.
DO YOU ALLOW SELF-SERVE BATHING? WHAT ABOUT WALK INS?
We do not offer these services. Due to high foot traffic on our street, we do not allow customers to enter the salon without an appointment. Please call us to schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained staff. Note: we have not offered self-serve bathing since 2020 and have no plans to reinstate this option.
DO YOU REQUIRE PROOF OF VACCINATIONS?
Yes we require current proof of vaccinations. Vaccinations must not be expired. This can be the paperwork from your vet, or the digital copy from your vet via email. Call us for more information.
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WHAT IS YOUR LATE FEE POLICY?
Dogs over 15 minutes late will incur a $20 late fee per pet, or, rescheduled depending on the discretion of the salon. If you think you may be late, please call us prior to your appointment to make sure we can still take your pet. Please note that our salon closes at 5:00 PM and any dogs not picked up by 5:00 PM will incur a $25 per half hour fee. We do not offer boarding or daycare for pets, we are a salon only.
CAN I BOOK ONLINE?
We do not offer online booking. We prefer to customize appointment times to the specific needs of our staff as well as your individual pet. We also prefer our version of old fashioned customer service which means you talk to a highly trained staff member who knows you by name (or at least... by your dog's name!)
We do not typically answer our main phone line during appointment hours. This is because we value the artistry of our craft, and prioritize the safety of pets in our care. For this reason we return calls at the beginning and end of our shift, and not while working on pets.
TEETH, NAILS AND EARS AND.... BUTTS
Although we do include these services, we may not always complete them if we think your pet actually needs vet attention instead. We will assess all areas of your pet and attempt to complete all services. In the event we cannot, we will refer you to your veterinarian.
WHY A FOUR DAY WORK WEEK?
The culture at Hair of the Dog puts the needs of our workers at the forefront. We believe a four day work week offers a better work-life balance for all. Happy and healthy staff equal a happy and healthy salon environment.
HELP! I CAN'T FIND A GROOMER WITH OPEN AVAILABILITY. WHY IS THAT?
Grooming services are in extremely high demand. Dog grooming is a highly specialized niche trade and simply put, there are not enough of us to go around.
WHY DO YOUR SERVICES COST WHAT THEY DO?
Our pricing structure is based on the needs of our individual business. We do not attempt to compete with the pricing of other salons. Some may be cheaper than us, some more expensive. Competing to be the cheapest is a race to the bottom, and does not benefit the industry. Grooming is a skilled niche trade in high demand. Our pricing reflects the amount of work we put into each pet. We take care of our staff. This includes a living wage for all of our employees, a full benefit package, retirement, and a shorter work week. A stressed-out and exhausted groomer is a burnt-out groomer. A burnt-out groomer will be more prone to sickness, injuries and shorten the longevity of their career. Burn-out is an epidemic in our industry. One way to combat that is to charge accordingly. A healthy staff equals a safe staff.