Q: At what age can I bring my puppy to you?
A: As long as they've had their puppy vaccinations and are clear to go out for walks we can accept them for grooming, this is usually from 12 weeks of age. The sooner you can bring your puppy the better.

Q: How long will it take to groom my dog?
A: This will depend on your dogs breed, size, temperament and condition of the coat. On average it takes around 2 hours.

Q: I do not show my dog, should it still be stripped?
A: Yes, if a correct coat it's always beneficial to strip over clipping, regardless of whether they're pets, show dogs or working dogs. A wire coat has a continuous growth cycle and the dead hair needs to be pulled from the root to allow the adjacent new growth to come in, clipping at one level leaves all the old hair in with the new with no room for the new to break through hence it becomes softer, more dense and clogged up and subsequently doesn't allow the skin to breathe properly. The original purpose of a wire coat is to protect that dog whilst working, any excess coat would naturally be pulled out by undergrowth or by vermin depending on the breed and the job they do. If they are not working on a regular basis we have to remove that hair for them.

Q: At what age should should my dog have it's first strip?
A: Your dog should be stripped from about 8 weeks old, it should be started by the breeder and then continued on a weekly basis when you bring your puppy home.. Professionally speaking, you should bring them as soon as they have had their puppy vaccinations - the sooner you start the better coat you will get. Leaving it until your dog is 6 months or older makes the whole process more difficult, their undercoat will be patchy and the coat will not be even. When this is the case you just need to bare in mind it will usually take quite a few full strips to bring the correct coat in - depending on the individual dog of course.

Q: Can my dog be stripped if it has been spayed/neutered?
A: Yes. Most groomers tell their clients that you can't hand strip after neutering/spaying or if they've previously been clipped, this is nonsense in most cases, so please don't be afraid to ask for this service if this applies to your dog.

Q: My hand stripped dog is not very hairy, can I just get a tidy up?
A: I often get asked to just "tidy up" a hand stripped dog, or if I will offer a discount because their hair is not very long. I always try to be as fair as possible but with hand stripping the length of coat doesn't make a difference to the work involved. I still have to strip every hair, regardless of whether it's 1cm or 10cm long. A shorter coated dog may not look like a big transformation when it's finished but that does not mean the same amount of work hasn't been put in, because, believe me, it has!

Q: Is stripping an older dog the right thing to do?
A: This depends on the individual dog & their coat but stripping is often much quicker and much less stressful than the bathing and clipping process. I can strip a dog quicker than most groomers take for a normal grooming session. If you have a groomer who is taking significantly longer than 2 hours then they do not possess the correct technique and shouldn't be offering the service.

Q: Will you bath my stripped dog?
A: No. Aside from the fact that correct wire coats never need to be bathed, bathing after stripping can cause furunculosis which can be fatal. It is so dangerous and if you ever see a groomer who is willing to bath a strip then run away and run away quickly!! It's one of the obvious tell tale signs that a groomer has no idea about stripping and should not be offering the service. If you wish to bath your dog after their appointment please wait at least 2 weeks so the hair follicles have fully closed.

Q: My dog is in season/ just been neutered/pregnant, can they still be groomed?
A: Bitches in season can still be groomed as long as they feel comfortable and you have informed me prior to arriving. Neutered dogs/spayed bitches must wait at least 2 weeks post-op to allow the wound to close and tenderness to reduce. I will not groom any pregnant bitches as there can be a substantial risk to the unborn puppies. I will happily groom your bitch once the puppies have been weaned.

Q: Can I stay with my dog at the salon?
A: No sorry. Dogs tend to settle a lot easier when their owners have left. When you leave the dog with us we will take a contact number and call you when your dog is ready for collection.

Q: Do I need to make an appointment?
A: Yes, appointments are required as all dogs get one to one attention.

Q: I have been quoted cheaper elsewhere, will you match their price?
A: No, sorry. I am City & Guilds qualified which many cheaper groomers are not. I am also a hand stripping specialist, many other groomers say they will hand strip but they cut corners using tools, ruining the coat and this then allows them to charge cheaper prices as it takes much less time. My prices reflect the quality and pride I take in my work. They also allow me to use the best quality equipment and products.
As the saying goes "you get what you pay for".

Q: Do you do anal glands/dentals/ear plucking?
A: Sorry, no. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has now deemed all these as veterinary procedures and therefore under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 we, as groomers are no longer recommended to do so.

Q: Is there parking at the address?
A: Yes. Please pull onto the drive to drop your dog off.

Q: Can I book my next appointment in advance?
A: Yes, by doing this we can guarantee a day and time to suit your needs.

Starbarks Dog Grooming
Located in Brantham, Suffolk
Please contact us for directions

Email: helen@starbarksdoggrooming.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/StarbarksDogGroomers
Instagram: www.instagram.com/StarbarksDogGroomers