443-538-7785
What areas do you service?
I currently serve most of Howard County , the 21228 in Catonsville, as well as on Post at Ft. Meade.
Why don’t you service my area?
To provide the best service to my clients and spend more time grooming and less time driving, I have limited my service area to primarily Howard County and near by areas that I am familiar with.
Do you have a weight limit?
Yes. I specialize in smaller breeders that are under 30 pounds when full grown. Size does matter in the Mobile Spa as it can be difficult for me to maneuver larger breeds in a limited space.
Can you come out just to trim my dogs nails?
No, unfortunately it is not feasible for me to come out for nails trims alone. If you would like to schedule monthly bath services nails trims are included. Not only will your dogs nails be well maintained but so will their skin and coat.
Do you groom cats?
No, I do not. I love cats, I own cats, but I do not love to groom them. I find my talents best suited to dogs.
Is the water warm that you bathe the dogs in?
Yes. The van is equipped with a water heater similar to those found in RV's. It can run off or electric which is powered by the generator and is also capable of running off of propane, During winter months the furnace used to heat the salon area of the grooming van is also heated by propane. You may notice the funny looking set up on top of the van, that is the air conditioner and two fans. The van and water are kept at a nice comfortable temperature year round.
Do you have to plug in at my house or use my water?
No! The van is completely self-contained. I use a generator for power, but if the generator ever fails I do have the capability to plug in to finish the groom. The van has a 50-gallon fresh water supply, enough capacity for my grooming schedule each day.
About the water: Do you reuse the water from other dogs when bathing my dog?
No! Every dog gets bathed in warm, clean, fresh water. The van has two separate water tanks, one fresh that is filled each day and one grey tank, where all the used bath water goes. I properly dispose of the grey water at the end of the day.
Does it get hot/cold in the van?
The salon area of the van is climate-controlled: heat in the winter, A/C in the summer. Both your pet and I are comfortable at all times.
Will you be grooming my dog in my house?
No. The entire groom will take place inside the Mobile Grooming Van.
If you are looking for someone to grooming in your home, you are looking for a House Call Groomer.
Why do you give a one hour window for your arrival time?
Working with a variety of dogs of all ages, abilities and hair styles combined with the traffic in our area, timing can be a little unpredictable. This time frame also allows for me not to feel rushed and insure proper sanitizing of the grooming salon and my tools between dogs.
Because my clients are pre-booked for the year and I know the dogs well, I typically know how long each will take I generally arrive in the within 30 minutes of the beginning of your arrival window. Sometimes my day goes exceptionally smooth and I run a little early, other times I hit a snag and find myself running late. I always call or text to give you a heads-up and an ETA when I am actually on my way.
Do I have to be home when you groom my pet?
Only for our very first grooming appointment, so you and your pet are comfortable. After that, you do not need to be home. I will come groom your dog while you are out and about and leave you a card with your next appointment! Payment can be left within easy access of the door or dogs leash.
How do you get in?
Many of my clientele give me garage access codes, or house keys which I label with your dog’s name and keep locked in the van. It’s important that you know your address is never written on the key, only your pet’s name, so your home security is maintained at all times.
If your dog has the run of the house while you are out, you should close the bedroom and basement doors, limiting the area where your dog can hide. While most dogs happily greet me at the door, sometimes they like to hide, often deep under large beds or behind things in the basement. Time spent searching the house for them is time I can’t devote to their groom, and if I can’t find them to groom them, I’m obligated to charge a Missed Groom fee.
Why do you charge a fee if I don't give 48 hour notice of cancellation?
When I book your appointment, I have reserved that time specifically for your dog. I require at least 48-hour notice for cancellations and prefer more time if you know you cannot keep your appointment.
The sooner you let me know, there is a better chance for me to fill your spot with someone from the waiting list.
Please be aware that I may not be able to fit you in until your next scheduled appointment.
If I am not given adequate notice to fill your appointment a $65 cancellation fee will be invoiced to you which is due upon receipt. I understand that emergencies can happen, but if I arrive to your house and no one is home to give me access to the dog, the cost of your dogs grooming will be invoiced to you and is due upon receipt.
Chronic cancellations or no shows ( more than 2 in a calendar year) will result in you being taken off of my schedule.
Please understand that late cancellations and no shows directly affect my livelihood and are detrimental to a small business.
What payment methods do you accept?
I accept cash, checks, and credit cards via Square. Payment is due at the time service is provided. Late payments incur a fee on the original grooming every day that they are not paid. If for some reason a check is returned you will be held responsible for all fees incurred.
Why is mobile grooming more expensive than Pet Co or PetSmart?
Mobile grooming is a personalized luxury service that focuses on quality not quantity. I bring a full-service grooming salon right to your driveway and provide your dog with nearly 20 years of experience in a one on one setting. I take care of your dog myself from beginning to end. Your pet gets to know me, and many dogs enjoy seeing me and look forward to being pampered in the van. Most importantly, they are out of their homes only for about an hour to an hour and a half. They never spend time in a cage and can see their house from the van’s window so they stay relaxed.
Finally, this is the ultimate convenience for you: Why make two round trips to a shop to drop off and pick up your dog? We save you time and gas. And as previously mentioned, you do not even have to be home after the first groom.
Why can’t I get an appointment the same day I call?
I am only in certain areas certain days of the week and I plan my route to maximize groom time and minimize drive time. I have a roster of regular clients whom have standing appointments which are pre-booked for the year on regular schedules of 2-8 week intervals.
I require at least 48 hours notice, but most people let me know as soon as they know if they won’t be able to keep their appointment. Then I can call people from my waiting list and offer the slot to them.
Is the waiting list first-come first-serve?
Afraid not. I check the wait list for the person closest to the appointment cancelled or on the way to or from the area.
I don’t keep my dog on a regular grooming schedule, can you accommodate my needs?
The short answer is No.
However we are blessed to live in an area where finding someone that can accommodate seasonal appointments shouldn't be an issue for you.
The long answer is, Regular grooming is essential for your dog’s health not just their appearance. I believe dogs need to be kept on regular schedules — typically four, six, or eight weeks. Many dogs, especially long-haired breeds get matted and dirty, which can cause skin infections and issues as well as issues with their ears. Nails which get too long make walking and running difficult and painful. They can cause arthritis and micro fractures in their toes. Nails that are left untrimmed for long periods of time can curl under and actually grow into the pads of the dogs feet. Grooming on four, six or 12 month intervals is hard on your dog, on me, and my tools and are something that I no longer offer. Dogs that are not on regular schedules also make it difficult for me to proficiently route and plan the day. They are often unsure of the grooming process and not knowing what condition they will be in I don't know how much time is appropriate to set aside for their appointment.
Frequent grooming is a life long commitment when adding a dog to your family. I want them to be comfortable and to have a good experience. If they are constantly needing to be de-matted or shaved down they probably won't be super happy to see me and that is the last thing I want for them.
Do you charge extra for matted pets?
Although my services are (mostly) all inclusive, I do charge $1 per minute for de-matting . I will never tack on extra fees without discussing it you first or initially at the consultation. If something is found once I am in the Mobile Pet Spa I will take photos to text you. I often send photos of matting to clients so they are aware of exactly what I am seeing and working with.
If there is matting we have 3 options:
1. Light matting can be removed up to 15 minutes.
2. Moderate matting can possibly be de-matted if they are not tight to the skin and your dog does not experience stress during the process. If your pet starts to become stressed or it is unsafe to continue or there is severe matting your pet will need to be clipped down and their hairstyle started over.
3. We can rescheduled your appointment to a later date, giving you some time to work on brushing and de-matting at home,
* I will NOT de-mat a severely matted dog. This will cause physical pain, stress and possible skin irritations. This can also hinder your pets relationship with their groomer,
Keeping your pet on a regular schedule will prevent this from being an issue.
Grooming salons keep my pet sometimes all day, how long does mobile grooming take?
Often grooming salons take in a high volume of animals every day and to accommodate them all they are not groomed straight through. They are often bathed and dried and then crated until all the dogs have been bathed and then the groomer gets started on their haircuts in the order they were dropped off.
Mobile grooming is a one-to-one service. Your dog is never crated. They are bathed, dried, groomed and returned to you. On average it takes me an hour to an hour and half for smaller dogs and up to 2 hours for larger dogs. Dogs that require a lot of hand scissoring also typically take me two hours to complete.
How old does an animal have to be to have their first spa day?
An early start on a grooming regimen is helping the groomer and your best friend start off on the right paw. Grooming is something your pet will need monthly for the rest of their lives, so sooner the better! We recommend starting close to 12-16 weeks of age, after appropriate shots have been administered and puppy is weaned, and healthy.
Puppies are given an introduction to grooming at their first appointment which includes at Bath, Fluffy Dry, Face Trimming, Nails clipped, Feet neatened and Sanitary areas clipped. This gentle approach helps slowly introduce puppies to being handled for grooming, table training, and the sounds of the blow dryer and clippers. Grooming is a learned experience that we want to make a good one.
Do you accept animals that have been sedated or do you sedate animals yourself?
No.
While mobile grooming is a great solution for animals that have anxiety if you are still concerned that your pet may still need to be sedated or required sedation to be safely groomed then your pet should be groomed under a veterinarians supervision in case there are any ill side affects or adverse reactions.