‘The groomed’ city pooch
Overall wellness…
“Apart from soothing, energising, revitalising… providing relief to various problems – grooming helps in general cleanliness and hygiene of the dog. A well-groomed dog will have decreased chance of various problems and it also helps in monitoring the dog’s health,” sums up Ashish Anthony of Just Dogs, Ahmedabad.
“Grooming is not just necessary for the pooch to look good, it is important for their overall wellness,” told Ashita Mathew of Wags & Wiggles, Bengaluru. “Pooches love massages. And the pets feel like a puppy after the massage,” added Raajjhesh of SmaartPetsZ, Pune.
As per Ashita Mathew of Wags & Wiggles, Bengaluru, “At Wags & Wiggles Pet Salon & Spa, we understand that pets are more than just animals… they are our cherished companions who truly deserve the very best!”
Here are a few pet therapies to groom your pooches:
Unwinding the stress areas….
Full body relaxation with basic grooming: According to Aditi Sharma of Nails n Tails, Hyderabad, “We first massage the pet for 30 minutes and leave the oil on the pet’s body for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, we start with basic grooming which includes aromatherapy, conditioning, etc.” Talking about the benefits of this service, she replied, “The massage helps with blood circulation, hair fall, dandruff problem and dry skin. The reason why we leave the oil on the pet’s body is so that the skin can absorb the oil and work as a moisturiser. And the basic grooming keeps the pet clean and fresh.” The rates for this service range between Rs 700 and Rs 1,700, depending on the size of the pet and should be given to pets every month.
Touch and go for the high speed hound: ‘It’s a Dog’s Life’ salon in Mumbai offers this service at Rs 300 which is perfect for the dogs who are suffering from arthritis, recovering from surgery or an injury or for ageing pets. Warm massage remedy focuses on specific areas where dogs hold tension, which aids in the circulation of blood, which speeds healing and helps to oxygenate the body and releases muscle tension. The warm smell of the cinnamon encircles, refreshes and relaxes while Arnica and rich botanicals soothe and heal.
Relaxing massages: “Our groomers are certified, experienced professionals and will consult with the pet parents prior to the massage to make certain it’s an incredible experience that leaves the pet smiling inside and out. Aromatherapy bath can make your pooch feel extra special and relaxed,” told Raajjhesh of SmaartPetsZ, Pune.
“Canines like human respond well to this kind of service. It leads to deep relaxation, aids wellness and recovery from dry skin and itchiness removing out the dead skin,” he added. Rates vary from complete body oiling to oiling of joints for old and aged pooches to full body massage. The rates also factor the breed type and size and require 10-30 minutes for this grooming service.
Bling that shines…
Luminosity treatment for dogs with light-coloured coats: ‘It’s a Dog’s Life’ salon in Mumbai offers this service at Rs 600-800 which is perfect for any dog whose coat is light-coloured or whose coat is fading or yellowing with age. “Your pooch can lose these tell-tale signs of ageing with a combination of yoghurt and honey that soothe and condition the skin while special pearlescent brighteners add luster to the coat. After the dog is dried, she’s spritzed with shimmering mist which moisturises, texturises and repels dust and dirt while adding that extra touch of bling,” said Aanchal Malhi of It’s a Dog’s Life.
Aromatic spa experience: Companion Pets, Ahmedabad offers special spa shampoo with aromatherapy properties in four variants – Lavender Magic, Lemongrass, Flowering Bamboo and Kava Kava. “Each of these Spa Shampoos have their own aromatherapy benefits and will do things like ‘soothe’, ‘energise’ and ‘calm’ the pet depending on which spa shampoo is being used,” told Nirav Khandhadia of Companion Pets. He added, “Then comes the turn of applying a conditioner or advanced conditioning treatment depending on the condition of the hair of the dog.” The rates for this session vary according to the type of grooming a customer chooses from, starting from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 and it takes minimum of 45 minutes to about maximum of 3 hours.
Luxurious spa…
The ultimate soothing spa experience: It is a two-hour session of Rs 3,000 at ‘It’s a Dog’s Life,’ Mumbai that includes herbal elixirs, a massage, bath, pawdicure, aromatherapy and breath freshener. The experience is heavenly and the results healing. Starting with a luxurious massage and bathing, the dog is given a pawdicure. “Dry cracked paws are drenched in butter balm to soothe irritated skin and prevent further drying. Then, the dog is given a relaxing aromatherapy application to nourish, detangle and a mesmerizing shine,” added Aanchal Malhi.
Wagging coat care & hair styling…
Dress your hair: “Our fundamental goal at Wags & Wiggles is to ensure that every pet has a positive grooming experience,” told Ashita Mathew of Wags & Wiggles, Bengaluru. “Apart from basic grooming package, we offer deep conditioning to improve luster and smoothness of the coat, hair colouring, nail painting, hair colour enhancement (for fur that is faded, especially in older dogs), paw treatments (for cracked paws) and oil massages with essential oils. We also give a free goodie bag with treats after every grooming session. All pets who come to Wags & Wiggles also get a free name tag which can be put on their collar,” mentioned Ashita. The whole grooming package costs Rs 800 for short-coated dogs (like Labs, Pugs, Basset Hounds, Beagles) and takes around one hour while that for long coats costs Rs 1,500 as it includes trimming & clipping as well and takes around two hours for the whole process to complete.
Bye dullness, hi smoothness package: Shweta Munjal of Prince of Tails, Bengaluru offers a three step process: Step 1 includes giving the dog a thorough massage with a blend of essential and carrier oil (olive oil) that acts as an antioxidant, antibacterial and natural healer. Step 2 involves giving the dog a nourishing bath with a shampoo consisting of hibiscus petals and essential oils blended at therapeutic levels. Step 3 involves providing the dog with deep conditioning treatment based out of wheat proteins and rich fatty acids. This service helps in nourishing the coat thus making it silky and smooth. It also helps in reducing breakage, shedding and detangling. It costs between Rs 800 and Rs 1,200 depending upon the breed size and takes between 60 and 90 minutes.
Itch free, flake free treatment: ‘‘It is a two step process at Prince of Tails, Bengaluru. Step 1 includes giving the dog thorough massage with a blend of essential and carrier oil. Step 2 includes giving a bath to the dog with a premium shampoo based out of a natural ingredient. This service helps in reducing dandruff and any sort of dander in a dog’s coat. It costs between Rs 700 and Rs 1,000 depending upon the breed size and takes between 45 and 60 minutes,” said Shweta Munjal of Prince of Tails.
Revitalising, deshedding, carding, degreaser: “(Revitalising) A special formula shampoo is used to revitalise skin and coat and relieve dry, itchy and flaky skin. Enriched with essential oils, it gives special reconditioning massage. The process requires two sittings of 1.5 hours each at Just Dogs, Ahmedabad; (Deshedding) Special shampoo and conditioner is applied, and forced air is used before and after the bath to loosen dead hair and massage skin. The process requires 1.5 hours in one sitting; (Carding) It helps remove between 60-80 percent of unwanted hair and is very helpful when given with deshedding process. It requires just one sitting of two hours; (Degreaser) For oily coats, it removes oil residue and deep cleans the coat. It requires one sitting for one hour. The rates vary for different breeds and condition of the dog and range between Rs 350 to Rs 2,500,” told Ashish Anthony at Just Dogs, Ahmedabad.
Breed specific style/clip: Hair cut/clip to the exact style any particular breed is supposed to carry. “Different breeds have different styles laid down by professionals/experts abroad over years and they should be styled in that fashion to look their breed type,” told Sanjeev of Scoopy Scrub, New Delhi. The service costs between Rs 600 and Rs 1,800 and takes around 45 minutes to two hours, depending upon the breed size.
Just be natural…
While Dr Lochana Baney of Gordon- Just FUR Dogs shared, “We give veterinary and grooming services for the health and beauty of the dog’s skin and coat. Our techniques for grooming include only natural methods with appropriate tools and 100 percent safe and pH balanced grooming products for the enhancement of the coat. Our concept of grooming is unique and oriented towards the kind of grooming a dog would have received when living in his natural habitat many years back. We focus on natural grooming through procedures that maintain the texture and colour of the coat, taking care not to damage the sensitive skin.”
Making pet parents proud and happy…
Grooming not only makes the pet look good but also makes the pet parents happy and proud. Ashita Mathew of Wags & Wiggles shared, “Pet parents love how their pet smells after a grooming session. And if a pet gets a haircut, he looks very chic and the pet parent obviously feels happy.”
While, Dr Lochana shared, “Pet parents are glad that we never ‘shave off the coat of their dog’ even if it is severely matted, or in the heat of summer. Our techniques and products can take care of this problem. They are glad to be in an ambience that is clean and relaxed and that they and their dogs feel so comfortable and calm.”
“The feedbacks of pet parents post a couple of sessions have been that everyone notices the change in the look and feel of the pet’s coat and that they themselves have received a lot admiration for taking care of their pets so well,” told Shweta Munjal of Prince of Tails, Bengaluru.
“We even get calls days after the pet has been groomed thanking us on the compliments the pets and pet parents get while walking the pets or from visitors/guests at their place,” told Sanjeev of Scoopy Scrub. And all those who have indulged their pet in this grooming sensation would nod in approval.
“Pooches feel relaxed, rejuvenated and shiny. Some pet parents have made it a practice to combine aromatherapy bath with massage which has resulted in reducing the scratchy and itchiness on their pooches,” added Raajjhesh of SmaartPetsZ, Pune.
“The pet parents who have tried our service are so happy and satisfied. That now we make sure that their pet is pampered with this service at least once a month,” shared Aditi Sharma of Nails n Tails, Hyderabad.
Groom them healthy and beautiful…
For a happy, healthy and good-looking pooch, pamper him with the grooming services he deserves. Every dog should have his day!