
Bubbles and Bows
Pet Spa
FAQ


Are your groomers certified or professionally trained?
Both. All of our pet groomers are professionally trained AND certified at the state level, or above. These certifications include extensive testing in order to become certified. Our groomers regularly attend grooming shows and seminars to upgrade their expertise, handling and knowledge of pets.
Do you have any age restrictions in place?
Your pet's safety is our number one priority. Senior pets can easily become stressed and overwhelmed by a high-volume salon such as ours. We have found that older pets thrive in a quiet, one-on-one atmosphere. For senior pets over the age of twelve, we recommend grooming be done at a vet clinic or with a mobile pet groomer. Puppies must be a minimum of twelve- weeks old and have completed all of their puppy vaccinations before their first appointment with us.
Do you groom cats?
We love grooming cats. If a cat has full-body matting, the cat must be shaved down.
Cats are much harder to groom than dogs and the risk to the groomer is much higher. Please note that we may not be able to groom all cats. Some cats cannot tolerate the grooming process and may need to be anesthetized prior to grooming. If this is needed, this can be scheduled next door at the Rathdrum Animal Clinic, where, while being groomed, they will be supervised by a veterinarian. If we are unable to groom a cat for any reason, we will call you right away.
Do you use heated dryers?
After a dog is bathed, they are dried by hand using towels, and followed by a force dryer (this blows water from the coat). Your pets health and safety is our main priority, we never use heat to dry unattended dogs.
Does my dog have to be cut short if he has matts in his coat?
If the hair is allowed to knot or develop "matts", this is unhealthy for the dog's skin. Matting becomes worse if the coat gets wet. Before washing the dog, it is necessary to brush, or shave out all the knots. If your dog is matted, we will advise you what can be done. If the hair can be easily brushed out without causing pain to the dog, it may be possible to save the coat. De-matting is very time consuming and takes a great deal of skill and caution to do safely. If the hair can be de-matted, there will be an additional charge. Depending of the severity of the matting, we may recommend cutting the hair short, which means applying the clipper under the matts. If the hair is matted, we recommend talking with one of our groomers beforehand so we can discuss your options.
Can I stay with my dog and watch?
Our grooming areas are visible from the waiting area. However, if your dog can see you, this usually leads to the dog trying to be with you, and can result in a dangerous situation. The stylist is working with very sharp tools and looks to avoid additional stress and excitement. For safety reasons we need to have your pet's full attention. We do not offer "owner-stay" appointments.
Do you cut the nails?
Yes, We are able to cut the nails on most dogs. If a dog becomes too stressed out or agitated during the nail-trimming process, we will not continue. If we are unable to cut your dogs nails, this can be done next door at the Rathdrum Animal Clinic. With nail cutting, there is always some risk of bleeding. Inside the nail is a blood vessel (the "quick") which grows with the nail. If the nail is allowed to grow long, then cutting the nail even slightly may result in bleeding. If the nail bleeds, we apply styptic powder to the nail. Regular nail trimming can minimize the chance of bleeding, but not eliminate the risk completely. It is also helpful to avoid walking on the sidewalk immediately after the nail trim. We also offer nail dremeling, (sanding down the nail). This can be beneficial to pets that have high anxiety about nail trims.
Do you treat fleas & ticks?
Our policy is to give a flea & tick bath to all pets that have fleas and/or ticks, to avoid spreading them to other pets in the shop. If you know your pet has fleas and/or ticks, please tell us as soon as you come into the shop. If we discover the fleas and/or ticks after you leave, we will attempt to contact you, but will proceed with the flea & tick bath even if we can't reach you. The additional charge for a flea & tick bath is $20.
What if I don‘t like the groom when its finished?
Please tell us. We want you to be happy with your groom. We strive to find the perfect clip for your dog, sometimes this takes a few grooms to perfect. On the occasion where a haircut is not to your liking, and it is a matter of a little more trimming here or there, the groomer can usually do it right away. In some instances, we may ask you to come again on another day in which case we can start again. If there are two or more people responsible for the dog, it is important that they first agree on a style before giving the groomer instructions. It is our policy to follow the instructions of the person dropping the pet off for his or her appointment. Some dogs are naturally jumpy and just cant stand still. Some older dogs will tenaciously resist any attempt to trim their facial hair, trim their paws, or cut their nails. Under these circumstances, we will do the best we can, and when you pick up your dog, we will explain how he/ she behaved and what we were or were not able to complete.