Top Paw Pet Spa

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

Did I get your attention? Great!! Now for a quick policy reminder as we head into summer!

*Drop off is 7-8:30 unless other individual arrangements have been made with us directly.

*If you are running late it is YOUR responsibility to let us know. We will no longer be reaching out to you to find out if you are on the way. If it’s 8:30 and you are not here and we have not heard from you, you will be considered a no call/no show.

*Same day cancellations and no call/no shows will be charged a $25 per dog cancellation fee.

*Invoices are sent the day of your service and those not paid within 48 hours will be charged $10 per day. We will no longer be texting you to remind you to pay.

*All pets are required to be current on their vaccinations and parasite free. Dog’s exhibiting signs of illness or found to have fleas at drop off will be refused service.

Lastly, please plan in advance and get those summer appointments scheduled early! I am traveling to several dog shows and industry events this summer so availability for those not on a set schedule will be very limited.

And before you ask, yes, this is part of an upcoming Photo Booth plan😉

06/04/2026

Why does your heavy/double coated dog always smell better longer after we groom them vs when you groom them at home even when you are using quality products? What is the groomer talking about when they say my dog needs a blowout?

It all boils down to the process, a huge part of which is thoroughly drying your dog. At home most people towel dry their dog and call it a day. While this might work on short coated or shaved dogs it can cause serious issues in heavy or double coated guys such as huskies, goldens, Aussies and doodles among many others.

A heavy coated dog that is left to dry on their own is much more likely to develop skin issues such as skin infections and hot spots because the moisture takes an exception amount of time to dry when it’s trapped against the skin. Furthermore, when we bathe and don’t properly dry and brush the coat, the undercoat becomes packed down against the skin increasing the risk of skin issues even more as well as increasing the risk of the dog overheating. Think of it as wearing a down jacket in July vs a light cotton shirt.

When they get wet naturally, like in the rain, their top coat tends to act as a protective layer, keeping the undercoat dry, but when we bathe them we are intentionally soaking them all the way down to the skin. The top coat dries quickly, the undercoat not so much.

When we blow them out we are drying them all the way to the skin as well as removing a large amount of undercoat passively without stressing the coat or dog with excessive brushing. Yes, they will still need brushed afterwards but significantly less than if we let them air dry.

As for the musty smell you notice when they are bathed but not completely dried? That can actually be bacterial overgrowth, yeast, mold and mildew. It’s like a load of laundry left in the washer for multiple days. Moisture leads to unwanted things growing where they shouldn’t.

So, long story short, don’t skip the drying step! It’s messy but so incredibly important to the overall health and happiness of your dog and your sense of smell. And tread lightly around so called professionals who consider drying your dog an optional part of the process or an add on service you have to pay extra for. A true professional includes drying in the process 100% of the time, not as an afterthought.

06/02/2026

Truth😂 if it weren’t for Facebook telling me who you are when you comment on your dogs pictures, most of you would be in my phone under your dogs name!

06/01/2026

How cute is this little baby bedlington terrier, Xeno?! Did you know that despite being black at birth, once he is full grown he will look almost white?

05/29/2026

Meet Bella and Charlie, the Spanish water dogs. We’ve done these guys their entire lives, and their predecessor Reka before them. These guys are unique in that they have what’s known as a rustic coat and their grooming requirements are very different than other curly coated breeds and yes, they are halfway done in these photos and they will be completely naked when we are done and it is intentional.

Here at Top Paw we specialize in breed standard grooming, then tailor the trim to match the lifestyle of the dog. We understand that each breed has its own unique coat types and grooming requirements and knowing how to handle this uniqueness is vital to the dogs health and happiness, as well as their owners.

The rustic coat is a hallmark of this breed and any brushing, sc******ng, aesthetic trimming or
sculpting of the coat destroys the look of the breed. The hair is a single coat, always curly and a wooly texture. So crazy as it sounds, despite being similar looking to a poodle or a bichon because of the curls, a Spanish Water Dog's coat should never be brushed, combed or blown out to be straight. Instead they are clipped short from nose to tail 3-4 times a year to keep their skin healthy and coat correct for the breed.

Are there any other breeds you’d like to learn about when it comes to the nuances of their special grooming needs?

05/24/2026

Just a reminder that Top Paw Pet Spa is closed on all major holidays. As Tuesday is our regular day off we will return to the shop on Wednesday. We do not monitor the business line when the salon is closed so all calls/texts received in off hours will be returned on Wednesday. Enjoy the beautiful weekend but don’t forget that this holiday is about more than a bbq and sleeping in.

"Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it."

05/24/2026

Most of you only know my boy Ricky Bobby as the loudmouth when he’s at work with me (clue, he’s the one in the back who sounds the alarm when you walk in, which is why he only comes to work a few times a month). Well I thought you’d like to see him in his element! We are spending the weekend dock diving. What are you up to with your pups today?