FAQ

Fear Free Commitment 

What does Fear Free mean?

Fear Free methodology incorporates the use of positive reinforcement techniques to help your dog feel more comfortable with the process of grooming. This science behind this method demonstrates that the old school way of muzzles, restraints and just getting it done is not just ineffective, in most cases it makes things worse. Sometimes, grooming is scary because they’re in a new place, with new people, but we do our best to create a calm, positive atmosphere to set them up for success. All staff are trained to pay attention to subtle stress signals and ensure that your dog is never pushed into a state of distress that learning becomes impossible. This builds trust between your dog and their groomer because the dog learns that they will be heard and respected. We have a ton of tricks up our sleeve for encouragement and will always do our best to get the job done!

So what happens when a service can’t be completed?  

It depends, but usually we use that time to work on helping them feel more comfortable about the service. In some cases we may recommend one of our Fear Free Memberships so that we can focus on overcoming this hurdle in a structured way that dedicates short visits to working on specific issues.

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 for some dogs that works just fine! We are low volume, carefully scheduling our clients in a way that keeps the vibes mellow. Also, our pricing is all inclusive; everything your dog needs is included in one price. We do not use bait and switch tactics or sell you on upgrades once you arrive. Our base pricing includes the full works; premium shampoo & conditioner selected by our Certified Canine Esthetician specific to their needs, ears cleaned, nails clipped & filed, toothbrushing, breath spray, paw balm, facial scrub, cologne and of course, a cute accessory to wear home.

We take our commitment to continuing education seriously. Not only is the science of pet grooming always evolving, so are the pets themselves! We are an AKC S.A.F.E certified salon, all groomers are Fear Free Certified and every single employee is Pet CPR Certified. Our groomers are encouraged to pursue their professional growth and we all attend at least one expo per year, and are always working on webinars, listening to podcasts, and networking with other pros in the industry to stay at the forefront of modern dog grooming.

Booking Appointments 

Do you take walk-ins?

In an effort to maintain a calm, predictable environment for the pets in our care, we are unable to accommodate walk-ins and require an appointment for all services.

Do you offer online booking?

We schedule our appointments very carefully, with the intention of providing the best possible experience for your dog. Every dog we see has their own personality and we like to honor their individual needs in a way that online booking simply cannot allow for. For instance, a dog who is very sensitive to noise would probably not have a great time if they were booked at the same time as a dog who likes to express themselves through the art of song. The best way to make an appointment is to call or text us at 401-259-2559. If you’re a new client, filling out our online intake form will help expedite the getting-to-know-you process.

Can I stay with my dog while they’re being groomed?

It’s our experience that most dogs have an easier time once their people have left the building, allowing them to settle in and relax. Our insurance prohibits clients from entering staff-only areas. It is possible to make arrangements for you to sit in the lobby while your dog is being groomed, and we do have an open floor plan. However this can be disruptive to the other dogs in our care and therefore, this is only available during certain days and times, and does carry an extra fee. Trust is critical to our client-provider relationship so if you feel like it’s unsafe for your dog to be groomed without you for any reason, we ask that you disclose that when booking.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept cash and all major credit cards. There is a 3% surcharge for all credit card transactions. We also accept Apple & Google pay, and offer Afterpay as an option!

Do you groom cats?

At this time, we do not perform any services on cats, but we know groomers who do!

Fear Free Cat Grooming: https://www.joyfulgrooming.com/

Veterinary Cat Grooming: https://warwickanimalhospitalri.com/

Mobile Cat Grooming: https://dtailsri.com/mobile-grooming/

AKC S.A.F.E Certified Cat Grooming: https://www.olivespetgrooming.com

Cats Only Salon: https://www.calypsopetsalon.com/larrys-lounge

Are you accepting new clients? 

We are! At this time, however, we are not accepting XXL Dogs over 125 lbs for haircuts, and behavioral cases are on hold until June 2026. We encourage you to plan ahead as we are usually booking 3-6 weeks out, depending on the time of year. Saturdays always fill up quickly. Once you’ve booked your appointment we can add you to our waitlist in case something opens up sooner. Most of our clients book at least two appointments ahead of time.

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 2pm. We do not accept walk ins, and we usually cannot accommodate same day appointments.

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.

What is your cancelation policy?

We totally understand that things come up, emergencies happen and plans change, however we do ask that you contact us as soon as possible to inform us. Our policy states that cancelations less than 24 hours will incur a fee of 50% of the groom price. Same day cancelations, no shows, and high demand days like Saturdays or Holiday weeks will be charged 100% of your groom price. Again, we understand that plans change but due to the nature of our careful scheduling, excessive reschedules can become a problem. After 3 reschedules within a 6 month period you will be asked to pay a 100% non-refundable deposit.

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.



Will I still be charged for services that cannot be completed?

It depends. Please remember that you are paying for our time, and that dogs can be unpredictable. We will always prioritize safety and our commitment to Fear Free grooming, and if a pet has a hard time with a particular aspect of the groom, for instance, ear cleaning, we would use the same amount of time working on building trust around their ears being handled in lieu of forcing them to get their ears cleaned. We will always inform you and work with you to make a plan to make them comfortable with ear cleaning during future visits.

What if my dog has a behavior issue?

We strongly encourage you to seek out the help of a positive reinforcement based trainer first!

A critical element of the client-provider relationship is trust. You are trusting us with your dogs, and we don’t take that lightly. We ask that you return that courtesy by informing us if your dog has specific triggers; be it other dogs, resource guarding, or certain parts of their body being handled. Some dogs just don't like certain things, and that's perfectly normal! If there is something specific you want to work on or if you’re just looking to help them build positive context regarding the grooming process, please check out our Fear Free Membership Programs. 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. Our primary skillset is grooming, we are not trainers, behaviorists or magicians, but 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!

We work best with dogs that are fearful, anxious or just require a little extra. If your dog has a known history of aggression towards humans, needs to be heavily sedated or muzzled for the duration of the groom, that is outside the scope of our practice, and we recommend seeking out the assistance of a behaviorist and/or a veterinary groomer. Failure to disclose these issues will result in removal from our client list.