Announcements & FAQ

A “Puppy’s First Groom” appointment is typically booked at around 10-12 weeks of age and only after your furry companion has received his/her first two sets of vaccinations.

Long-haired, curly-coated and double-coated breed puppies should visit the groomer closer to 10 weeks to prevent matting. De-matting is a process and depending on the severity can result in the need for a full shave of the coat. This is not what we want for a puppy’s first grooming experience. Short-haired breed puppies can be scheduled for their Puppy Grooming Orientation closer to the 12 week period given there is no risk of the coat matting.

Proper grooming & maintenance are vital components of responsible pet ownership. A well-groomed puppy not only looks beautiful but also benefits from improved hygiene, comfort and overall health. The unique coats, lifestyles and specific grooming needs of various breeds make professional grooming a crucial aspect of their overall care.
Grooming a puppy requires special attention and patience. It’s important to use age-appropriate grooming tools and be mindful of a puppy’s delicate skin and the puppy’s attention span. We do not recommend that a puppy be given a full hair-cut during their first groom; this appointment is meant to introduce your puppy to grooming gradually, making it a positive experience for them.

At Posh Paws Fur Cause, we will introduce your fur-baby to a warm bath, and a soft blow-dry and brushing of their coat, using a soft brush. We will gently handle their paws, ears, and body, allowing them to become comfortable with the grooming process and the groomer. We will clip their nails and give their coat a slight tidy. By establishing a positive grooming routine from a young age, you will set your puppy up for a lifetime of good grooming habits.

Remember, professional grooming is only one part of your puppy’s introduction to grooming. At home, we ask all puppy parents to continue the journey with their puppy by combing their fur throughout the week, and handling the puppy’s ears and toes. By embracing the grooming journey with patience, gentleness, and dedication, your puppy will learn to enjoy their lifetime of grooming for years to come.

Yes, you can! At Posh Paws Fur Cause, all of our pups have their very own kennel and we do not associate dogs during the grooming process, so “intact” pups are always welcomed.

All breed coats are different and the requirements for grooming services differ and the lengths of time in between appointments will vary.

Puppies need an early introduction to grooming, to ensure they are set up for a positive experience from a very early age. We recommend puppies be seen for a “Puppy Orientation” at approximately 10-12 weeks (after receiving their second set of vaccinations).

For adult dogs, maintenance grooming is the key to a clean, shiny and healthy coat. This requires regular visits with a professional groomer, or a commitment from the owner to maintain the coat in between their pet’s regular grooming appointments.

Longer, double and curly coats need regular maintenance to keep them in top condition. These coats have a tendency to matt, which if left unattended, can have very serious health implications. For these breeds, we recommend a full groom at 10-12 weeks, with a maintenance groom (Bath & Tidy) in between at 4-6 weeks.

For short coated breeds, a full groom is usually unnecessary and a Bath & Tidy every 6-8 weeks will keep these coats clean and healthy. Owners will need to monitor the length of their dog’s, as an occasional nail trim will be necessary.

Kennel cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease in dogs, that is easily spread at places where large numbers of animals congregate, like boarding kennels, daycare facilities, grooming salons, dog parks, dog training groups, and dog shows. Like the common cold may be caused by many different viruses, kennel cough itself can have multiple causes. One of the most common culprits is a bacterium called Bordetella bronchiseptica, which is why kennel cough is often called Bordetella.

Dogs can spread kennel cough to one another through airborne droplets, direct contact (like touching noses), or contaminated surfaces (including water or food bowls). While it is highly treatable in most healthy adult dogs, it can be more severe in puppies younger than 6 months old or in immunocompromised and senior dogs. Due to the high risk of spreading kennel cough, we ask that you reschedule your pup’s appointment and recommend waiting 7 days after symptoms have completely resolved.

Please note our groomers do not perform anal gland expressions, this is considered a medical procedure and in the province of Nova Scotia can only be legally performed at a veterinary hospital.

Matting is the dense tangling and knotting of a pet’s coat, which cuts off the air flow in the coat and traps moisture. It can lead to other health concerns, such as irritations and infections, and may also mask more serious health issues and parasites. While mild matting can be painful, severe cases can cut off circulation to the skin and cause hematomas. If left unattended/untreated, matting may become so severe that urgent treatment by a veterinarian may be necessary.

Some coats require more maintenance because they are more vulnerable to matting. While any long-haired breed’s coat may matt, certain breeds and coat types are more prone to matting. Poodles, Portuguese Water Dogs, Cocker Spaniels, Bishon Frise, Shih Tzu’s and all double-coated breeds and any mixes of these breeds have a very high risk of matting. That said, long silky coats such as that of Yorkies can also get matted if not regularly maintained.

The key to preventing matting is regular maintenance of your pup’s coat at home and with your grooming professional.

When temperatures rise, an owner might think that a good, close shave will help their furry companion cool off – but, think again. Depending on the coat type, shaving can have the opposite effect and make your dog even warmer.

Double-coated dogs have two layers of fur. They have an outer coat (or guard hair), which consists of the longer hair that gives a dog its’ color. The second layer is a soft, inner coat that is close to the skin and serves as an insulating layer. It is this layer that helps keep them warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather. In the summer, double-coated dogs will shed a lot of their undercoat and very little of their outer coat. What remains will help capture air between the two coat layers, allowing the dog to keep the heat at bay and regulate their body temperature. The remaining coat also protects them from sunburn and insect bites.

Shaving a dog’s coat to reduce shedding or to keep the dog cool, eliminates that insulating layer of fur, and makes the dog susceptible to heat stroke. It can also result in improper hair growth and the possibility of follicle damage. A dog’s coat protects him from sunburn and thus decreases his risk of developing skin cancer. Shaving a double coat can also do long-term damage. When it is shaved down to the skin, the undercoat hair will grow back faster, and sometimes will crowd out the slower-growing guard hairs. This can change the texture and color of a dog’s coat and make it appear patchy and unattractive.

FYI – single-coated breeds can have long or short, and wiry, smooth, or curly coats; these breeds have even-looking hairs with no soft undercoat. Certain types of single-coated dogs may benefit from having a professional groomer clip their coats occasionally to prevent matting and to keep them cooler; however, the coats should not be shaved down to the skin. It is best to leave at least one inch of hair to protect them from sunburn, skin cancer, and bug bites. These dogs don’t have the added insulation of an undercoat, so they need to keep at least one inch of hair for warmth and protection.

We take the safety of our staff and our fur-baby clients and their owners very seriously. Unfortunately, this means there may be days that we close the spa due to weather and road conditions. When this happens, we will text or call all clients impacted by the closure by 8 am to advise of a closure (or a delayed opening). At that time, we will work with you to rebook your appointment at our first availability.

Demand for grooming services is high and our experienced and professional groomers are typically booked an average of 4-6 weeks in advance. As a result, we ask our customers to provide at least 24 hours notice if cancelling an appointment. By doing so, we are provided an opportunity to book a client on our waiting list in, to fill that spot.

We take the time to remind our customers of their appointments via text, Email and follow-up phone calls, so late cancellation/no-show fees will apply to cancelled/missed appointments. A client who cancels without providing 24 hours notice, or simply does not show up, does not give us the opportunity to fill that appointment spot. As a result, the staff scheduled to pamper your pup may be sent home early. It is also unfair to those clients on our waiting list, who may miss out on an opportunity for their pup’s groom because of a late cancelation or no show.

Customers who provide less than 24 hours notice, will be charged a $25 cancellation fee, which will be applied at the time of their next groom. A customer who provides no notice and does not call, will be charged a $50 no-show fee and will require this fee and full pre-payment of their next appointment in advance, before the booking will be accepted.