FAQs

Do you groom cats?
At this time, I do not groom cats.
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Do you do nails only?
I offer full grooming appointments so I do not schedule appointments for “Nails Only”.
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Why will my mobile groomer not just do a Bath Only?
A “Bath Only” is just that. There is no brush out, no scissoring, no trimming between pads, no nail clipping, no sanitary trim, no conditioner, no hand dry. A dog with excess undercoat need to be raked out prior to bathing and nails clipped every 4 weeks. Without brushing out the coats prior to bathing, the dog’s coat will become tangled and tighter with the entire dead undercoat still there, which will cause skin problems. I will not take a dog in and just bath and dry it. I am a professional dog groomer and I am proud of my work, from start to finish.
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Why are prices not shown on the website?
Most owners are not aware of what blades will get through certain types of coats, what condition the dog is in, and what type of temperament the dog has. All these factors play a part in pricing, along with what type of style can be done on the dog versus what the owners want. Some owners will say he has a few knots but upon arrival, he is matted solid on his legs but the owner wants a longer style. This is impossible and very painful on the dog to even attempt to brush out. In order to do a long style the dog has to be completely brushed and combed out. The safest and most painless way is to clip down the dog short and start all over again but maintain the dog with proper brushing in between grooms. So without seeing the dog, and its condition of coat we can only estimate the cost and "up". Extra fees could be applied to the extra time taken to clip down a dog because of matting or behavior, or for a longer hand scissored style, if the dog is in excellent coat condition.
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Will I get a discount if I have two or more dogs?
The same amount of work goes into each dog and the fee is charged accordingly to the breed, the style, condition of the dog, and the time to perform a grooming on a dog. Therefore, Barks and Bubbles will not offer discount for grooming two or more dogs in the convenience of the mobile unit.
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Do you express anal glands?
Yes I do. Although pet professionals have differing opinions on the topic, I am trained to do so and I will if requested.
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Where do you travel? What areas do you service?
Although being a mobile groomer means I can travel anywhere, I focus on Sonoma County dogs! I travel to Windsor, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, and Rohnert Park, as well all Santa Rosa neighborhoods, including, but not limited to:
Annadel Heights / Bennett Valley / Montgomery Village / Montecito
Rincon Valley / Sky Hawk / Oakmont
Fulton / Mark West / Larkfield / Wikiup / Fountaingrove
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How long does a grooming appointment take?
Depending on the condition of the dog, an appointment can last from 30 minutes to 3 hours.
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I want my dog short but not shaved.
Blades come in all different lengths, from short to long. The longest blade made now is a 3/4 which leaves the coat over an inch long. The better maintained the coat is, with no matting or knots, the longer clip style a groomer can do. Longer clipped styles require more frequent grooming, every 4 weeks to maintain the style. Anything longer than that is hand scissored, and may not be practical for the dog and the family to maintain their coats. Everything is dragged into the house via long hair. If you enjoy the long styles and can afford the regular frequent grooming (every 4-6 weeks for hand scissored long styles) and are willing to put your time and effort into your pets brushing, a long coat style is absolutely beautiful.
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Do you groom all breeds?
I groom most breeds. I will not groom dangerous, vicious, or mean dogs for my own safety.
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How do I prepare my pet for the grooming appointment?

Do I need to be there while you are grooming my dog?
No, that is not necessary, but you are always welcome to stay.
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Do you connect to our home’s water hose?
Nope! My grooming unit is fully self-contained with its own water tanks, heat, and electricity, so there is no need to plug into, or connect to, anything. My service is truly a mobile convenience to you and your pet!
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Do you have special shampoos for delicate skin or skin problems?
Yes. I can use a delicate skin shampoo, oatmeal, medicated shampoos, tearless, hypoallergenic, or your own if you request it before the appointment.
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Do you tranquilize pets before you bathe or groom them? Do you use tranquilizers for hyper dogs?
No way. I never use any type of tranquilizers. I may use a muzzle if your dog is not happy about the grooming but Barks and Bubbles will not tranquilize a pet in order to groom it. Even then, if s/he becomes aggressive, I reserve the right to stop the grooming process. I am well trained to handle nervous pets, and treat every pet with tender loving care but if a pet is too agitated to be safely bathed or groomed, I will not attempt to force the service on the pet.
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Does Barks and Bubbles use heated drying cages in the van?
Never. I hand dry pets after they have been bathed. The process involves clean, fluffy towels and blow drying by hand (also called fluff drying) with equipment similar to, although larger than, the hair dryer you might use at home. The health, safety, and comfort of all of the pets in my care are of primary importance to me.
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Can you groom very large dogs?
Yes. My mobile unit’s tub and grooming table are large enough for breeds like Great Danes and Bernese Mountain Dogs.
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Do you take credit cards?
I take personal checks and cash payments only please.
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Why doesn't my groomer answer the phone?
A)I cannot answer the phone because I have my hands on a dog. The dog is on the table and I cannot move away from the table because it is unsafe for a dog to be left unattended. Also, I’m being paid to groom your dog, rather than take phone calls during the appointment.
B)If I’m not grooming, I may be driving to a customer’s home and paying attention to the road.
C)Please leave a message and I will call you back.
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When should my puppy have its first professional grooming?
Grooming on your pup should start at 10 weeks of age (after second vaccination), to let the pup become acquainted with the sounds of the grooming room environment, noises such as dryers, and other dogs etc. Your groomer will teach your pup and you the proper way to brush and handle your puppy. Starting early, these techniques will imprint on your pup. The first 6 months of life for a dog is like the first 5 years for a human. It is very important to start them early. We recommend a grooming session every month for the first 4 months. With both you and your groomer working hand in hand doing the same things at home as the groomer would in the studio the pup will take everything around him or her in stride and make it a pleasant experience and not a traumatic one, this in turn makes grooming your pet at home easy for your pup, you and the groomer. Once your dog is conditioned for grooming, regular grooming is required during its lifespan.
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Why does my dog itch after grooming?
Some dogs itch as people would after they have shaved or received a haircut. Another reason is the dog came in severely pelted (matted to the skin solid) and the groomer had to use a very short blade to get under that matting to be able to lift it away from the skin. Owners are responsible for the regular home brushing of their pets to maintain their coats so a dog groomer can do a cute clip. Sometimes puppies itch because it is their first grooming, or they have never had certain procedures done on them such as ear hair removal in the canal. Your pup will shake its head. Discourage your dog from scratching or shaking its head, as he or she will cause irritation and scabbing if left unattended. Also white or light colored dogs are more prone to scratching and ear shaking after grooming
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