- Do you have to plug into my home to power your vehicle? No! My van is equipped with a generator to run all of my equipment, as well as my heater, water heater, and air conditioner.
- Will you need to hook up to my house for water or dump the used water in my driveway or street? No worries! I have a 50 gallon fresh water tank and a 50 gallon gray water tank that I fill up in the morning and empty at the end of the day. My goal is to only use all natural products so I can water my garden with the water from your dog's bath!
- Do I need to be home when my dog is being groomed? That's the beauty of mobile grooming - no! Well, once we've met and we're on the same page as to what you would like for a haircut, THEN you don't have to be there if your schedule requires otherwise.
- Will I have an exact grooming time? You will have an "ish" time! I will usually give you a 30 minute estimate of my arrival (i.e., "12ish") as I can never fully account for the traffic, weather conditions or how long the dog at my previous stop will take to be pampered. However, I WILL contact you en route to give you an updated ETA.
- What if I have more than one dog? The more the merrier! I will be happy to groom all of your pups, as long as I'm scheduled to do so. We can discuss what is best for the dogs - taking them separately from your house or having them hang out together in my van during the groom.
- Do you muzzle dogs? Muzzling is a last resort when I groom because, in my experience, it seems to stress dogs out more. I try and create a positive environment. I prefer to sing a little tune to distract your dog (trust me, sometimes they get very confused and its enough to distract them from the nail clipping) or to use an "E collar" (AKA the cone of shame). This keeps their teethies away from my hands and arms if they try and turn around. There are breeds that I will not muzzle due to them being prone to breathing difficulties. Some of these breeds include, but are not limited to, shih Tzu, lhasa apso, pug, bulldog, boxer, & chihuahua. I will also not muzzle puppies under 5 months of age or senior dog (depending on size the age is approx. 8-10 years old). I try my best to understand if the dog is being a diva vs a dog that is so stressed out where it can become a safety issue. In that case I stop what I am doing. I always try to get the services done, but I won't push to the point of creating a bad experience.
- How do I schedule? Give me a call, text, or e-mail! Before the first groom we’ll have a conversation so you can tell me about your dog and what you're looking for in grooming services in order to figure out if Meraki will meet your needs. I try to book appointments in the same general area each day, so we will need to schedule for a day when I am in your area.
- How long does it take? Depending on your dog's coat you can usually expect it to take 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours for a haircut and somewhere between 30 min to 1 1/2 hours for a bath. When your dog is on a regular grooming schedule, or just getting a bath, it will be quicker. However, I do acknowledge that I take longer than most groomers! I give EVERY dog very individualized attention, I want to make sure your dog looks it's best and that the process is as easy, safe, and stress free as possible! I always adapt the dryer to the level that your dog can tolerate without becoming too stressed; so drying times can differ dramatically depending on the day (as well as the condition of your dog's coat).
- What will you need from me? Just a good sense of who your dog is, and what you're looking for in a haircut or the groom. I also will need your dog's rabies information. Oh, and given that I travel and work with running water, I MAY need to use your bathroom when I arrive or before I depart - so feel free to offer!
- What goes into figuring the cost of any additional charges? A lot! Pricing is based not only on the general amount of time it takes to complete the groom, but the utilization of skills and the physical demands placed on my body (as well as my van)!
- What's the difference between knots and mats? Long haired dogs tend to get knotting or matting issues. Mats will be more obvious to the eyes and usually will need to be shaved off so skin issues don't develop. Sometimes shaving off these mats can be dangerous if they are tight to the skin. I will let you know if I feel I can safely remove the mats during the groom. It should be noted that removing mats can sometimes expose skin issues that have developed as a result of the mat and the lack of circulation to the skin. Knotting can be less obvious as the knots can be very tiny. A comb needs to be able to get through the dog's hair/fur easily no matter what type of coat the dog has (just like on people). Sometimes in the grooming process this is difficult to achieve in the time allotted, depending on how the dog is kept between grooms. If your dog has knotting or matting tendencies, we will work together to develop the best strategies as to what tools to use and to develop a helpful grooming schedule.
- What if I have a short haired dog that only requires a bath? Bath dogs are more than welcome! Bath rates are 75/hr, (an hour minimum charge) with additional half hour increments.
- How do I pay? I accept cash, checks and credit cards, whichever is easiest for you. Afterall, this IS about convenience!
- What vaccinations do you require? Glad you asked. All dogs MUST be current on their rabies vaccination. I will either need to talk to the vet directly or view the rabies paperwork.
- What types of shampoos do you use? I choose which shampoo to use on each dog based on the needs of their skin and coat. A few that I typically always carry are oatmeal, hypoallergenic, exfoliating scrub, deodorizing, color enhancing, skin relief, organic/natural, lavender aromatherapy, crème rinse (helps detangle minor knots and mats while also moisturizing the skin and coat), & flea & tick. Additionally, I use the Best Shot shampoo and deshedding conditioner which can be incredibly helpful during shedding season, and various natural oatmeal-based shampoos from Hydra, Quadruped, B3, and iGroom to round out my products selection in order to give your dog the most personalized spa treatment available!
- Will you use my pet's regular shampoo? Absolutely. Although I use the best products available (at no extra cost to you), I realize that you may be confident in a product that you've been using, or have a prescription shampoo from your vet. Therefore, I am more than willing to use that product, as long as it's in its original container and has not expired.
- Do you use a cage dryer in your van? Nope - I don't own one! I use a hand-held high velocity dryer and/or a fluff dryer. I will most likely use both on your dog at some point. The high velocity dryer can be very helpful in exposing the condition of your dog's skin. It's usually while drying a dog that I uncover an embedded tick or see a rash or sensitive spot in the skin. However, some dogs are beyond frightened by the noise of the dryer, so I will use a fluff dryer (which is lower volume and velocity) on them instead.
- What is the cost of your service? **That's hard to quote in a couple of lines on a webpage...Fees are based on the breed/size of your dog and the condition of its coat. In general the cost is categorized as follows for haircuts:
- small dog $90-105
- medium dog $110-125
- large breeds $130-150
- XL breeds $160-400
- *There are no additional charges for toothbrushing, conditioner, nail grinding etc... However, if your dog requires extensive brushing/deshedding/dematting there will be an additional charge of $10 for each 15 minute increment. Finally, there could be an additional charge if your dog is overly nippy during the groom or requires an incredibly slow pace to get through the process.
- Can I bathe my own pet and you only provide the haircut? I am okay with this if your pet has heath/behavioral issues during the grooming process. I do not prefer this because I am particular about shampoos and products that are used on the pet's coat. Not only have I been trained to be able to provide a thorough bath to get your pet's skin and coat clean, but there are products that leave residue on the coat that can damage my grooming tools.
- What if my pet has fleas/ticks? I do not willingly groom pets that have ticks, fleas and/or worms. If you are aware that fleas/ticks/worms are present please let me know and we will have to reschedule until that is taken care of. If fleas/ticks/worms are found present on a pet once we have them in the unit and in the middle of a groom an automatic charge of $180 will be added to your service charge. This is because fleas are EXTREMELY hard to eradicate and can be passed onto other pets. This would mean I would have to cancel the rest of my appointments for that day to thoroughly fog, clean & sanitize the unit after your pet is completed. To avoid this fee inspect your pet for signs of fleas/ticks/worms and have them on flea, tick and worm preventative. Speak with your vet to get a recommendation on prevention. Fleas have become immune to many different treatments found online and in stores.
- What areas do you service? I work in the Carolina Beach, Monkey Junction area, and in between in NC. I am not currently taking new clients outside of this area. I am not taking new clients in Wrightsville.
- What if I have other questions? I'm sure you do! Feel free to email me at [email protected] call/text (910)742-4402. Please know that I do NOT answer the phone when I am driving or grooming a dog (because that wouldn't be individualized attention)! Text or email to get a quicker response as it is easier and quicker for me to respond in between appointments.