Frequently Asked Questions

When should I bring my puppy to be groomed?

You should be introducing your puppy to grooming from 12 – 14  weeks of age after their second set of vaccinations. Waiting until they’re older could mean that grooming becomes a stressful experience so early desensitisation is really important for your puppy. This should include even short-haired or smooth-coated puppies. 

You will find more information on our puppy grooms on our services page on our website. 

How long does it take to groom my dog?

Generally, groom appointments are between 2 and 4 hours. 

We offer a gentle relaxed experience, and quite often dogs will receive a break between bathing, drying, brushing, clipping or scissoring.  It’s important to us that your dog feels as relaxed as possible and has a positive experience with us. 

Please be patient if you want fast and furious were not the groomers for you. 

What do you charge for grooms? 

All of our grooms include a pre-health check, ear cleaning, trimming of nails, hygiene, pad trim, brushing, and combing before we start styling.  From bath to being ready to groom takes a minimum of 1 hour.  Styling can take from 30 minutes up to 2 hours depending on the complexity of the groom.

Our pricing is based on the complexity of the groom, and the length of time the appointment takes

We estimate our pricing based on the following:

  • The size and weight of your dog
  • The condition of their coat 
  • When their last groom was
  • The dog’s behaviour
  • How long their coat is
  • The thickness of their coat
  • How much undercoat they have
  • What  your styling requirements are 

Please be prepared to pay higher prices if you do not stick to the recommended/ regular grooming schedule. More work = more expensive on a sliding scale of severity.

You can find out more on our services page of our website. 

What is the difference between a mini-groom and a full groom?

Both services include:  include a pre-health check, facial & ear Cleanse,

de-shedding, nail trim & file, bath double wash including conditioner, a warm blow dry by hand, hygiene trim, eyes feet, and bottom tidy and anal glands & ear plucking (upon request).  Mini Grooms DO NOT include an overall length of the dog’s body. A mini-groom can only be done where there is no matting present.

How often should I get my dog groomed? 

The type of coat has will determine how often your dog needs to be groomed.  You can view our grooming schedule guide here.  

Will you groom my dog if it is nervous and maybe boisterous/aggressive?

We practice force-free grooming.  If your dog becomes aggressive or gets extremely stressed during any part of the groom we will not be in a position to cater to them.  A dog’s behavior can change from one appointment to the next due to a number of factors which could include but are not limited to underlying health conditions, or a lack of adequate training.  As per our T&C’s we have the right to refuse to groom a dog that poses a risk to themselves or our staff. We will not put ourselves in danger of getting attacked or bitten. We offer a gentle approach to grooming however some dogs may not settle or cooperate.  We advise that you seek advice from your vet who has an in-house grooming service. 

​How do I know if my dog is matted? 

Your dog is most likely matted if 

  • A comb will not go through their coat easily without getting caught. 
  • You can not part the hair to see the skin easily on their body
  • If it’s been over 4 – 6 weeks since their last professional groom 
  • You are either not brushing or incorrectly bruising your dog at home 

PLEASE NOTE

Mats pull against the skin restricting the blood flow to the skin which can have detrimental side effects.  Matting is VERY painful for your dog. 

Matting can hide: trapped faeces, debris, embedded thorns, grass seeds, skin conditions due to matting and parasites 

To remove matting we need to shave your dog’s coat close to the skin, this is a stressful situation for the groomer and your dog.  Please understand that we require sufficient time to do this. Your dog’s behaviour may delay the process.

When the matting is removed blood rushes back to the dog’s skin which gives the dog a pins and needles sensation. This can cause bruising to the skin, and sometimes underlying issues the with skin are exposed after shaving which is caused by the matting.  Your dog may behave differently, licking excessively, rubbing around, dragging its bottom, scratching and hiding away. This should go away in time, please be positive with your dog and refrain from feeling bad or speaking in a sorrowful tone to your dog as they will pick up on it. 

The condition of your dog’s coat is your responsibility, when we advise we need to shave your dog due to matting this is the kindest thing to do for your dog as per the Animal Welfare Act 2013.

If your dog is matted you will be required to sign our matted dog wavier as per our T&C’s 

Please note in some cases if we feel it is not safe to groom your dog due to the severity of the matting we will advise that you visit a vet. 

Can I stay with my dog during the groom?

We do not permit the owner to be present during the grooming due to insurance and Health & safety reasons. It also can be distracting for the dog, the groomer and other dogs within the salon. 

Can I get my dog’s nails trimmed?

Yes, we offer a nail trimming service from €10. 

​Do you groom older dogs?

Yes, we do.  Our staff are fully certified in handling geriatric dogs and we have experience in working with dogs with specific conditions for example dogs that are blind, deaf and have arthritis or diabetes.  You will be required to advise us of any medical updates regarding your dog and that your vet has given consent for your dog to be groomed. For further information please see our T&C’s  

What if I am unhappy with the groom? 

When you bring your dog in we will consult with you regarding your grooming requirements.  We will do our utmost to groom your dog as per your request however, your dog’s coat condition/behaviour will determine what is possible. On occasion, we may have to go shorter due to knots or matting.  We are happy to make any amendments to the groom within a 24-hour period. This excludes matted dogs. 

How do I make an appointment?

New customers are required to register with us, you can do so via the link below 

https://cutt.ly/j3RwfiB and are required to pay a €20 booking deposit. 

Existing customers can contact us by email, [email protected] or by phone at 086 0668427 . We do not take bookings via our social media platforms.

If you are happy with our work. We strongly advise that you book your next appointment upon collecting your dog.  Our schedule books up quickly as we have a low-volume groom policy 

What if I need to cancel the appointment? 

We require 48 hours’ notice if you wish to cancel your appointment.  Please read our full T&C’s regarding late cancellations and now shows.  Last-minute cancellations may result in House Of Hounds requesting a 50% deposit for any future appointments. No-shows will be charged 100% of the grooming charge and you may be required to pay a deposit for future grooms. 

Please contact us if you have any further questions not covered by our FAQ’s