Effective August 1, 2026, I will be changing my payment structure and increasing my rates. This increase is needed not only because of the rising economical prices effecting the cost of my products, tools, maintenance, and utilities but also to correct previously undercharged services, to compete with my competitors, improvement in the quality of my grooms, and minimize my workload enabling me to focus on my clients.

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New Pricing Scale

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I will be moving to an hourly pricing scale for my services with additional charges as needed. My hourly rate for the remainder of 2026 and 2027 will be $50.40 an hour + sales tax. Sales tax is currently an additional 9.25%. January 1st 2028, will be the next price increase. I will no longer charge for extra services such as a Shed-less Treatment. Whatever a specific dog needs, they will get. Anything requiring more product and time will cost additional. This increase will be the largest I will ever do.

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What You Are Paying For​

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• Bath & Brush Service - includes bath with shampoo & conditioner, blow dry, nail trim (if able), ear cleaning (if able), anal gland expression (if able)

• Mini Groom or Face, Feet & Fanny - includes bath with shampoo & conditioner, blow dry, trimming around face, feet & fanny areas only, nail trim (if able), ear cleaning (if able), anal gland expression (if able)

• Full Groom Service - includes bath with shampoo & conditioner, blow dry, full body haircut or trim, nail trim (if able), ear cleaning (if able), anal gland expression (if able)

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*A full body trim requires the entire body to be cut, making it a full body haircut

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The clock starts as soon as a dog enters the salon and stops when you receive your text for pickup. Any breaks needed by the dog and cleaning after the groom is included.

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Additional Charges Include:

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• Full Body Shave Before Bath Due to Matting + $4.20 every 5 minutes until shave down and bath is complete

• Brush-able De-matting Requiring Additional Time and Products for Removal + $4.20 every 5 minutes until de-matting is complete

• Dirty Coat Requiring Additional Bathing + $5.00 - $15.00

• Heavy Shedding + $4.20 every 5 minute until majority of hair is removed

• Handling Fee Aggressive Behaviors + $5.00 and up

• Handling Fee Anxious Behaviors  + $5.00 and up

• Seniors, Overweight, Mobility Restrictions, or Medical Handling Fee + $5.00

• Defecating and/or urinating resulting in additional bathing or laundry + $5.00  

• Early Drop Off Greater than 1 hour + 5.00

• Late Pickup Greater than 1 hour + $5.00

 

The listed items require extra products, more time, tools, equipment and skills, kennel space, and  wear on my equipment, tools, and body. Appointments are scheduled with the expectation that the dog has been properly maintained at home between grooming (brushed, kept de-matted, bathed when needed, and shedding maintained). All dogs require routine maintenance at home, it is not the responsibility a groomer or fair to expect that level of tolerance of a dog to deal with weeks of an unmaintained coat in a few hours.​

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Levels of De-matting

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Full Body Shave Before Bath Due to Matting - When a dog is matted tight to the skin and will require a full body shave down, a groomer can not bathe them first for multiple reasons.

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1. The shampoo and conditioner can not properly clean the hair and reach the skin

2. The drying process will take twice as long

3. The matts will tighten more

4. It's a waste of time and product if the hair will be removed anyway

5. Most important, its less stress on the dog and me

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Shaving an excessively dirty and matted coat dulls clipper blades and shears, and can even break my tools. Debris like dirt, sand, mud clumps, grass and other plants, twigs, and even bugs-YES BUGS can hide in the matting. When the clippers hit the debris, the blade can be damaged causing it to no longer cut or the teeth of the blades to break. None of my shears and most of my blades were under $50.00. Sharpening and repairing shears and blades cost between $20-$30 a piece and since we don't have a blade sharpening company in Salina, I have to send my blades and shears out costing me extra for shipping.

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Coats that are dirty and matted to this extent are a result of inadequate coat maintenance by the owners at home. This type of matting happened over an extended period between the dogs professional grooming appointments and not suddenly because the dog "was in the rain the other day" or "we forgot to brush a few times". 

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Brush-able De-matting - If a dog is matted in areas like the tail, ears or legs, sometimes these mats can be removed by brushing and combing depending on how the dog tolerates it. Brushing the mats out requires de-tangling spray, special brushes, and additional time. If the dog does not tolerate brushing the mats out, they will have to be cut out using shears as long as the mat isn't down to the skin. The fee will applied if there are a significant number of mats and time needed.

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Behavior Breakdown

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• Aggressive & Anxious Behaviors - Aggressive and anxious behaviors include excessive panting, drooling, urinating and/or defecating, crying out or being vocal, pacing, excessive yawning and licking, avoidance, lowered tail, body stiffness that can lead to self choking on lead, falling or jumping of the table, snarling, growling, and bitting at tools, equipment, or groomer. These fees will be added to dogs with any of these behaviors that directly causes the appointment to take longer, increases the risk of injury to the dog or groomer, or leads to the groomer needing to use more body strength and equipment in order to finish the groom. Dogs who bite directly at me, will immediately have their restraints adjusted to restrict movements and a muzzle will be used. If the dog still makes me feel unsafe or I’m unable to finish them safely, the owner will be contacted immediately for pickup. I may recommend seeing your vet for medications or you may not be able to schedule with me for future appointments.

       

 

• Defecating and/or urinating resulting in additional bathing or laundry - This charge will be applied to dogs that routinely relieve themselves as soon as they are dropped off and the owner has been made aware. I have quite a few dogs who will urinate or defecate as soon as they arrive to every appointment. Please allow yourself enough time to let your dogs out at home to relieve themselves before their appointment. You can also bring your dogs to their appointment on a leash instead of carrying them to allow them time to use my yard before they enter as well. I would much rather clean up my yard then my salon floor or kennels. I have leads hanging on my fence if you need to borrow one for the appointment. Male dogs who mark on furniture in the salon will be restricted to a kennel or pen. This charge does not apply to dogs who leave a small piddle for nervousness

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Handling Fees

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• Seniors - Like us, as dogs get older they begin to have joint pain, dementia, flexibility loss, and body pain making them less tolerable of grooming. This also, causes the grooming appointments to take longer, requires more equipment for support, more experience from the groomer, and a lot for the dog to tolerate. If the groom is fully accomplished but your senior dog became aggressive, or increased the appointment time, or increased the risk of injury to themselves due to excessive movement, the fee will be added

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• Overweight, Mobility Restrictions, or Medical Issues - Dogs who are overweight, have mobility restrictions (amputations, ACL repairs, etc), and medical issues (seizures, heart murmurs, arthritis, vision and/or hearing issues) may require extra equipment, physical labor for me, more tools, and specialized knowledge and skill set to accomplish a groom safely. If a dog has any of these factors but it does not cause a significant amount of additional time to accomplish the groom, this will not be applied. 

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Why This Price Adjustment is Needed & How Will Prices Be Set

 

• I have to charge enough to keep my business running while making sure I am given a livable wage that reflects my 17 years of professional grooming and knowledge in pet industry

• I use high quality products, have equipment and tools that require regular professional servicing, and utilities that cost A LOT! All of them are needed in order to accomplish great cuts and happy pups

• Factors like our geological location, the economy, overhead cost of supplies, maintenance, utilities, etc., my competitors, my years of experience, and my exclusive, one-on-one grooming style set in a stress free one of a kind environment were taken into account      

• Time stamps from text messages, my security camera, a stop watch, and scheduling program will be used to determine the time each dog is being groomed

• I will include the final total by text when your dog(s) are ready for pickup

• Receipts for all transaction types are available on request

• If you prepay for the groom at drop off and your dog(s) groom includes additional charges that were not known at that time, you will be notified when the dog is finished and required to cover the additional cost at pickup

• A dogs coat that is not maintained properly at home and dogs with behavior or health issues should not be paying the same as a dog that is well maintained between appointments and have no behavior or health issues that cause a groom to take longer

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Because of the rising popularity in mixed breeds, specifically poodle mixes, a.k.a doodles, it has become extremely hard to set a price using the method I started with 17 years ago. Most dogs I saw were breed standards, meaning their coats, temperaments, and cut lengths were easy to predict. Doodles are completely unpredictable in every way. Dog breeding is not regulated, meaning ANYONE can breed dogs and say whatever they want about the "breed" to make more profit. This results in multiple breed mixes in one dog resulting in unpredictable personalities. People have been lead to believe doodles are a low shed and easy to maintain breed that has “standards “. In reality, some shed heavily, 99.9% of them need constant at home maintenance on top of regular grooming, they have unpredictable behaviors, are not recognized by the AKC, and have no standard at all. For Groomers, this can make pricing and scheduling very difficult.

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I am aware that this price increase is not ideal and that some of my clientele will not be happy, especially given the current state of our economy. I am also aware that I will receive fewer tips as a result of this increase. The new pricing structure is intended to ensure that my company and I are compensated fairly for the labor and care I offer to my clients. Unfortunately, tips are not guaranteed, and if I depend on the generosity of others, my business won't remain open. I greatly appreciate every tip I receive but I never expect them! Please do not leave a tip if you feel the price alone is sufficient or if it will create finical hardship for you. My main concern is your dogs well being and charging my worth for my services.

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If you were sent a notice that quoted a set price for the year at the beginning of 2026, I will honor that agreement, however the additional prices will be applied to your bill if needed!

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  Please TEXT me if you would like an ESTIMATE for the new pay scale. 

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 Policy Updates

All policies are located on the Policies & Forms Page

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• Pricing & Payments - updated to reflect new pricing scale

• Drop Off & Pick Up - Added: Please communicate drop-off and pick-up times during scheduling or 48 hours before appointment.

• Appointment Scheduling - Added: DO NOT ASSUME YOUR DOG WILL TAKE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME AND COST THE SAME EVERY APPOINTMENT! Different cuts and different times of the year (seasonal shave downs and all over trims for colder weather) can take longer! And not every appointment is the same. Sometimes dogs have off days and don't tolerate grooming as well as they usually do. Sometimes I have to stop an appointment to attend to pickups and drop offs or use the restroom; Touch ups are accepted within the first week after the initial groom-restrictions apply

• Aggressive Dogs - Section has been renamed to “ Aggressive and Anxious Behavior”.  Added: Dogs with extreme anxiety and display behaviors that can cause accidental injuries to the dog or groomer or result in a groom not being finished or well done. Behaviors include:  uncontrollable shaking, stiff while grooming, excessive panting, drooling, urinating or defecating, crying out or being vocal, pacing, yawning, licking, lowered tail, body stiffness that can lead to self choking on lead, falling or jumping of the table, snarling, growling, and biting

• Anal Glands, Ears & Nails - New Section please read fully **If you are referred to your vet by me to have any these procedures done and your vet says "it's a groomers job" or "not health related," that is 100% not true, especially for ears and anal glands. They have staff to assist with holding - I don't, I have no medical training for ear infections, I will not do gland internal expressions, and I have the right to refuse service if I can not complete them safely, or I feel I could cause more harm than good. Unfortunately through the years, vets have been quick to blame groomers for ear and anal gland infections. I take all medical advice from vets regarding medications, skin issues, mobility issues, etc. very seriously but vets do not determine what I am and am not able to do in my business.** ​

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Business Updates and Reminders

 

Report Cards - I will start sending digital report cards by text when your dog is ready for pickup. It will include the bill with the total. Because my schedule is extremely tight, I do not always have the time I would like to discuss the groom sessions or honestly things slip my mind at pickup. Report cards will allow me to communicate behaviors, health concerns, and more easily.

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Bandannas, Bows & Fragrances - If you do not want a bandana, bow tie or fragrance please let me know. All finishing products do not cost anything additional and are completely optional.

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Owners Supplying Products - Unless your dog is prescribed a medicated shampoo for skin issues, I will supply the shampoo and conditioner. If there is a demand for a specific product, I will add it to my inventory. I currently have clients who bring their own shedding shampoo for a discounted price or clients that require a fragrance free shampoo who bring their own. Now that I am moving to an hourly rate, I will not except shampoos and conditioners for a discount. The products I use are listed in the products section of this website

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Pickup - Please DO NOT physically come back to the shop to see if your dog is ready for pickup! This distracts me, causing me to lose my place and forget things, and all good behavior and standing still from your dog, goes out the window as soon as they see you! They become anxious and wiggly then I have to try to finish them safely like that. Grooming is completely unpredictable and no session is ever the same. DO NOT ASSUME THE GROOM WILL TAKE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME EVERY TIME! IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL OR TEXT, YOUR DOG IS NOT DONE!  If you want to check, text me.

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Scheduling - I have had some issues with clients dropping their dogs off for appointments and then asking me if I can get them done sooner so they are able to make it to other appointments or something. Rushing me and your dog puts us both at greater risk of injuries and additional stress. As stated, grooming is unpredictable. I ask that everyone respect my time and my craft by scheduling your appointments accordingly. Also, if you need to reschedule an appointment, please keep in mind that I am typically booked about 6 weeks out in advance. Plus over half of my clients book out for the whole year. I will work with everyone the best I can but I will not overbook myself to squeeze your dog(s) in ASAP. With proper at home maintenance, your dog should be able to go extra time if they are booked out further than normal. Otherwise, you may need to try to find anther groomer that can get you in sooner if you are unable to deal with a scruffy dog.

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Communication - My hours are Monday through Friday 8:00am - 5:30pm. If I get done with all my appointments by 3:30pm, I leave my work cell in the salon. In order to have a better work/life balance, I will no longer be responding to any text or calls when I am not “on the clock”. Any messages will be returned the following work day. Texting is the fastest way to get a response from me during working hours. Texting allows me to respond in my own time. I don’t have to stop a groom, shut off any equipment, and put the dog away to text. Most questions and concerns in grooming are not emergent and can be dealt with though texting. Also, please read my list of dates I will routinely take off through the year listed in the Policies section under Scheduling.

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Facebook - Please follow my Facebook page for up to date communication involving the business, tips about grooming, and to access your photos taken at the end of each groom.

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New Clients - For the foreseeable future, I will absolutely not be accepting any new clients of any kind! Once a month, I wanted to give myself an extra day off during the week for appointments and day for myself. However, that hasn't happened. I overwork myself because I can't say no to people. I currently schedule 160 dogs on a regular basis in addition to others that come in as needed. I usually have to double book myself if someone needs to reschedule, making it difficult to take breaks between appointments to eat or use the restroom.

 

Due to my years as a groomer, I also have severe carpel tunnel syndrome in both of my wrists, as well as pain and mobility problems in my right elbow. I've been dealing with them for years, but it has gotten worse over the past year, and I will eventually need surgery to fix the carpel tunnel syndrome. This procedure takes five to six weeks to recover, which is another reason I can't take on any more dogs. As of right now, nothing is planned, and I intend to carry on with business as usual as long as I can. I will keep you all updated.

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Salina unfortunately does not have enough groomers to cover the massive amount of dogs it has and even though I want to take all of them on, I’m only one person and there is limits to what I can do-especially as I reach 40. I highly recommend before anyone considers getting another dog, they check the availability of the groomers in town-deffinatley on breeds over 40 pounds!

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Please reach out if you have any further questions or concerns and text me if you would like an ESTIMATE for your grooms with the new pricing scale.