Grooming

We would like to introduce you to Dora's Grooming and answer some commonly asked questions that clients have about their pet's grooming.   TOP DOG GROOMING is owned and operated by a member of Ontario Dog Groomers Association, Dora Smolik. Having been trained at Warsaw University of Veterinary Medicine, as a Pet Care Technician, Dora's experience spans over two decades in Europe and Canada. Dora has groomed in Poland, Toronto and Calgary and most recently here in London. As well as grooming she has also worked as a dog trainer and was involved in Search & Rescue with her dogs. We offer: Grooming for all breeds of dogs and cats Custom scissoring Clipping to the breed standard De-matting Flea treatments Medicated baths Discounts for puppies Nail clipping Early or late pick ups Only biodegradable products Why should you take your pet to the professional groomer? A professional groomer will do more than keep your dog looking its best. We are also trained observers. Very often we can spot potential problems that can affect your dog's health. We literally go over the dog from nose to tail; we may find anything from a loose tooth to a thorn imbedded in a paw. We brush and comb a dog right down to their skin where we are able to see parasites and skin problems. We also clean and check your dog's ears and can detect infection before it gets serious. We are as concerned with the general health and well being of your dog as we are with their appearance. We also attend many hours of continuing education every year. Can Dora tell me what is wrong with my pet's skin, ears, etc? No. Dora is not a veterinarian and is therefore unable to diagnose or treat a medical problem. She is however, very adept at picking up skin conditions such as rashes, infections, and fleas. We will inform you of her concerns, and at your request, have the doctor examine your pet and prescribe any necessary treatment.(Additional charges will apply) What time do I need to bring my pet in to be groomed? Any pet that has not previously been groomed at Northdale should make an appointment the morning of the groom to meet with Dora. This way, you can discuss what type of haircut you would like for your pet. Regular grooming clients can drop their pets off any time between 7:30 & 9:00am. It is important that all pets arrive on time so that we can start on schedule and have your pet ready for you to pick up at the end of the day. Why does my pet have to stay all day? Your pet is groomed in stages so that they do not have to stand on the grooming table for long periods of time. This process is easier on your pet and results in much less distress. Starting in the morning, each groom for the day is precut, then bathed and dried. Special baths and conditioners need to stay on the skin in order for them to be effective. The dryers are set on a low temperature to avoid overheating your pet and excessive drying of the skin. This requires 30-40 minutes per dog just for the bathing and drying period. The haircuts themselves take varying amounts of time depending on the breed and how long it has been since your pet was last groomed. Some breeds require meticulous attention to detail and are hand scissored. This type of grooming requires lobger grooming times (and may require many rest periods for your pet). Will my pet be sedated? We will never sedate your pet without your permission. In some circumstances, grooming without sedation is impossible.  If this is the case, we will contact you before proceeding or have you sign a permission form when you drop off your pet. (Please leave a contact number with us in the morning in the event we need to contact you). Unfortunately, if we are unable to contact you for permission we will not use sedation and will be unable to groom your pet. Why must my pet be up-to-date on vaccinations to be groomed? There are several reasons for this: 1)  To protect your pet: Un-vaccinated pets are susceptible to a variety of infectious diseases. 2)  To protect other people's pets: If your pet is un-vaccinated, it may carry infectious disease and may be a risk to our hospitalized patients. 3)  To protect our staff: Pets not vaccinated against rabies for example, can be a public health threat. How much is all that going to cost me? The cost of having your dog groomed depends on a variety things: the breed of dog, the condition of the coat, and the amount of time it takes to thoroughly groom a certain breed. A basic price is set for every breed including mix-breeds. This basic price is determined by the amount of time it takes to do a certain breed when the dog is in reasonably good condition. The price will increase if the dog's coat is matted. What forms of payment are accepted? Top Dog Grooming accepts Cash, Debit, Visa and Mastercard.