HOUSE CALL
DOG GROOMING
Save the drop-off and pick-up time.
Have your small to medium sized dog groomed in your home.
Having been trained at Australia's oldest Professional Dog Grooming school, Dog Diversity, Parker & Paw's books are open for House Call Grooming Services; offering Full Groom services for your pooch, in your home.
I'll come to you, whether you're home or not, and get the job done.
The only requirement? All I need access to is a safe-to-use wall outlet, a bath or appropriate sized sink, ideally with a mixer sprayer, and a clear space to set up a table.
Size requirements: Small to medium, 15kg max.
How Do I Become a Client?
Please read the following information and pricing PDF before hitting "Become a Client" below.
From here, a meet and greet and first appointment will be scheduled.
Pricing
Prospective clients are welcome to email me for a quote, with an up-to-date picture of their pet from all angles. Please be advised that the dog's behaviour and condition will be taken into account in your final price after the first appointment.
The following PDF provides some information on house call grooming, my values as a groomer, equipment used, pricing and common questions.
What is Most Important to Me?
I'll take it slow with your dog.
I'll use a gentle approach throughout the entire grooming process. This means handling your dog with care, particularly older dogs with joint sensitivity, and nervous dogs who are not accustomed to the many noises and sensations of grooming. Being able to clip at least one nail and providing positive reinforcement is much more effective than forcing the dog down and attempting to clip them all.
I care about equipment hygiene and maintenance.
I will not use blunt or soiled blades on your dog. Every blade, scissor and brush that I use will be properly sanitized and oiled before touching your dog to avoid cross contamination. This routine can often be overlooked at busy salons. My clippers are serviced once every 6 months, scissors and blades are sharpened every 3 months to assure a perfect clip each use.
_edited.jpg)
.png)
I'm force free.
What does "force free" actually mean? Grooming your dog without aggressive physical handling and verbal communication. Forceful grooming only sets up your dog to fear the process of grooming. It is much more effective to reward positive behaviour, step by step. The only restraints I'll use is a standard grooming loop, a belly band for dogs who enjoy to sit and a muzzle for dogs that show some aggression, for their and my safety.
Prep Work - On the Table
Before bathing, I prepare the sanitary areas on the table - the eyes, ears, paw pads, pits, groin, anus and nails, and de-mat as necessary, and brush out hot spot areas like the ears and tail. Proper coat preparation is key to allowing bathing products to deeply and effectively penetrate the coat down to the skin. By removing unnecessary coat and debris, this also allows for quicker drying. I do not offer anal gland expression; this is best done at the vets where they will express the glands internally, rather than externally. External expression can be painful and involves squeezing around the anus, a bit like a pimple.
Bathing - In a shower, tub, or large sink
Customers will be required to provide a bathing space, ideally with a shower head sprayer and their dog's towel. I'd be using roughly the amount of water it takes during a quick 30 minute laundry cycle. I'll wash your dog thoroughly using 2 shampoos; a cleaning agent and a secondary treatment shampoo that will bring out the best of your dog's coat. I'll pay close attention to dogs with very oily ears, using a gel cleanser. I'll lightly condition the coat to rehydrate and help to release dead coat. I use Epiotic ear cleaner to gently clean the inner ears. ​I'll then safely lift your dog onto the table, and use a high velocity dryer to achieve a nice, fluffy finish. I'll dress your dog in a "Happy hoodie" that will cover their ears, during the drying process. Due to the the nature of house-call, I can only take on clients whose dogs do not experience severe anxiety with high velocity dryers.
The Clip - On the Table
Once fully dried, I go over the sanitary areas once again, and clip the body to the desired length. Common summer cuts are cut with a #7F or a #5F for a slightly longer cut. I'll match the head and scissor a basic 'teddy' cut, around 3 lengths longer than the body (or 2, or 1, for a tighter head). I'll pay attention to clear out lip and nose hairs that can easily become soiled with saliva.
If a longer coat is desired, the coat must be completely mat and tangle free - if the coat is matted, I cannot use a comb attachment, which allows that nice, fluffy length to be achieved. It's much like trying to use a shower comb on your hair after you've been to the beach on a windy day. If a dog is in a matted condition - I will not brush it out, for the comfort of the dog. I'll shave the coat short, and, with effective combing and at home maintenance, we will be able to achieve a beautiful, fluffy cut at your next appointment. I'm very enthusiastic to show pet owners how to 'line brush' their dog's coat with the correct tools.
I'll spritz the coat with a pleasant cologne at your request, and provided you're home, get your feedback on the final result and make any changes.
#7F All-off, head to toe
Ideal for matted dogs, easy maintenance cuts, or summer cuts
13mm body comb, 16mm head comb, basic head tidy to length of body.
Keeping some length, and still appearing soft.
Clean up
All equipment will be removed and hair will be swept away. I'll use disinfectant spray on all surfaces and the bathing space. I'll leave your pup's personal bathing towel in the washer or sink.
What Products will you be using on my dog, and in my home?
Heiniger Clippers and Mini Trimmers that will safely clip small areas like the paw pads and mouth region. These clippers are very quiet and non invasive.
Progroom Shampoo and Conditioners: a 13 year old Australian company that are the leading provider of professional-grade pet bathing products that target a vast variety of coat types and conditions.
.png)
H42 blade and scissor cleaner, and Heiniger Protect disinfectant spray for all surfaces.
.png)
A high velocity dryer that must be plugged into a wall outlet, and a portable grooming table.