Proud Dog Salon

I had an extremely disappointing experience at this dog salon. Our usual grooming service was fully booked on Monday, December 23, 2024, so I searched for an alternative nearby. This was our dog’s first grooming appointment, as I typically wash and groom him myself. Our cocker spaniel’s ears had become heavily knotted after our recent holiday in the Karoo. Unfortunately, the experience at this salon was far from satisfactory. To begin with, the owner was unfriendly. Additionally, she showed no hesitation in speaking disrespectfully to her staff in front of me, shouting at them in the back of the salon as though I couldn’t hear. I had specifically requested that the groomer not trim my dog's facial hair. I also asked for the knots on the inside of his legs and ears to be shaved off. These instructions were written down by the owner in her invoice book. I had to assist in bringing our dog to the back holding cage, as there were other dogs that needed attention first. After two hours, I returned to pick him up, 20 minutes before closing time. The owner informed me that my dog had been washed but not yet shaved. She allowed me to look through to the back, where I saw him sitting anxiously, dripping wet and awaiting grooming. I immediately felt concerned about how long he had been wet and whether he was cold. The owner barely allowed me to wait on the couch, and I had to ask if I could sit while waiting for my dog. Our usual groomers in Midstream are very accommodating when we arrive early, offering a comfortable space to wait. While sitting on the couch, I overheard the owner shouting at her staff to hurry up with my dog’s shaving and yelling at a male staff member in a very disrespectful manner. She then left to drop off some pets, informing me that her staff would assist me if she wasn’t back in time. When my dog was finally brought out, he appeared anxious and immediately pulled on his leash to reach me. I noticed that his whiskers had been shaved off, along with other areas of his body, despite my clear instructions for only certain parts of him to be shaved. As a cocker spaniel with a thick coat, we love his fur and did not want it trimmed completely. Once we got into the car, my dog was restless, anxious, and constantly shaking his head and ears as if something were itchy or irritating him. We observed him the next day, and his discomfort did not improve. We had to take him to the vet on Christmas Day, as his condition worsened. He was experiencing severe discomfort, his ears were sensitive to touch, and he wasn’t reacting to treats, which he normally loves. His behavior after the grooming was completely out of character. We are very close to our dog—he sleeps on our bed and is constantly with us. The vet bill on Christmas Day was R1,322.72. We then had to take him in again on December 26 for sedation and a thorough examination of his ears, which cost an additional R900. The grooming cost at the dog salon was R300. The vet was shocked to see that our dog's whiskers had been plucked or shaved off, as this is both harmful and traumatic for animals. The loss of whiskers negatively impacts their sense of orientation. Our dog has an ear infection, and the loss of his whiskers seems to have caused him significant distress. He has not been the same since the grooming appointment and has shown signs of trauma. Given the poor experience and the distress caused to our dog, I will not be returning to this dog salon again.

Extremely satisfied with Dawn and her staff. Our dogs always looks happy and clean when they get back. Our little terrier is aways excited when Dawn stops at the gate.

I am delighted to share my positive experience with Proud Dog Salon.They treat my golden Retriever-Bailey, with such care and kindness. Every time she is dropped off, she looks immaculate and is visibly happy. The owner is exceptionally friendly and creates a welcoming atmosphere. I am a very satisfied customer and highly recommend their services!