FAQ

Fear Free Commitment 

What does Fear Free mean?

Fear Free philosophy kind of seems silly at first, when you're used to the old school, "just get it done" method.  The most modern research indicates that this is not only ineffective, in most cases it makes the situation worse, leading to heightened fear, anxiety and stress at every visit. 

Incorporating positive reinforcement techniques into our grooming practice aims to make grooming not just tolerable, but, dare we say it? Fun! 

So my dog will never experience fear in your salon? 

Of course we can't guarantee that they will never experience fear, especially if they've had difficult experiences in the past. However, we are committed to not pushing them to a level of discomfort that triggers dysregulation, a state in which learning becomes impossible. 

What makes you different?

Firstly, we operate mostly on a one-on-one model. Their timeslot is devoted to them entirely. Many grooming salons operate at a high volume, which is great for keeping their prices low and some dogs have no problem within that setting. We also do not guarantee that the time spent will result in a haircut, a bath, or even a nail trim. This might be a longer term project and it does require a commitment from you. We cannot fix most behavioral issues by seeing your dog once every 3 months.

Does it work though?

Most of the time! Sometimes, we do have to call for backup from another Fear Free Groomer, a trainer, behaviorist, or veterinarian. Sometimes we try our best and it's just beyond the scope of what we can do. However, we are not in the business of wasting your time or money. If what we are doing isn't helping, we will do our best to help connect you to the right people. 

Booking Appointments 

How far out are you booking? 

Generally, we are booked about 4-6 weeks out. Most of our clients adhere to a regular schedule to ensure availability that suits their needs.

What days & hours do you groom?

At this time, we are closed Sundays and Wednesdays. During the week, our first timeslot is 7 am and our last timeslot is 1pm. At this time the books are closed for Saturdays and existing clients can request to be placed on the waitlist should a time slot open up. 

What do you require in order to book an appointment?

We do require that your pet be current on their rabies vaccine and strongly encourage you to keep them current on all vaccines that your veterinarian recommends.  All clients are required to keep a credit card on file.

Grooming questions

Do you pluck ears and express anal glands?

Emerging science suggests that most dogs do not require these services, and if/when they do, that the safest provider is your veterinarian. Therefore, we do not express anal glands, and will only perform ear plucking on healthy ears with no signs of soreness or infection, at an additional charge.

Do you treat dogs with fleas?

We strongly encourage you to keep your dog current on the flea & tick preventative product that you and your veterinarian determine is best suited for their needs. We do not perform flea baths, flea dips or apply flea prevention at our facility. Should fleas or other contagious parasites be discovered during any point in the grooming process, you will be asked to pick up your dog immediately and return once they have been determined parasite free. A $40 cleaning fee will be applied to any pet that enters our facility with fleas. A reasonable amount of ticks will be removed if it is deemed safe to do so, but dogs with an excessive amount of ticks will be referred to their veterinarian for removal and health assessment before returning.



What if my dog has a behavior issue?

Please inform us of any specific triggers your dog has regarding being handled. Some dogs just don't like certain things, and that's perfectly normal! However, the staff at Underdogs is not only empowered, but encouraged to stop or refuse a service if it becomes unsafe for human or animal. We are prepared to accommodate an array of special needs and will do our best to help, even if that isn't with us. We network with many service providers in the area so even if we aren't the right fit, we will do our best to help you find someone who is!