Gone To the Dogs

We’ve brought our Shiba Inu here several times — originally through a groupon. I really like the people who work at Gone to the Dogs and I felt that they did a really good job. I feel like the price is very fair. The fact that they got our Shiba to stay still long enough to trim her nails was worth the money we spent. But we got her back clean, smelling good (as good as a dog can smell), ears clean and terradactyl claws trimmed back to normal dog paws. We’re returning, of course.
I was saddened to hear others didn’t have good experiences. I really, really did. And I hope others do too. And I hope they post reviews — I don’t think all the reviews here are a good reflection of the caliber of this place.
Give them a shot!

I just moved from close-​in Portland to Lake Oswego, and wanted to drop my 7.5 lb 8 year old Yorkshire Terrier at the groomer for a grooming and boarding day while I was dealing with the movers. I drove past this groomer on the way to my daughters day care which is right up the street and I thought, how convenient! I’ll give them a shot. I went in a couple of days before, took a look, and felt ok about my choice. I dropped my dog off around 7:15 AM, picked him up about 6 PM. There was no groomer or owner on premises. I had received no phone call to let me know he was ready or to let me know of any issues whatsoever with his grooming.
When I dropped him off he was long over due for a grooming. His fur was long, and this should allow for a lovely shaping up in a classic, standard, NORMAL Yorkie cut. What I saw when they brought him out was literally a hack job. Choppy, uneven, inconsistent CHOPS taken out with no blending whatsoever. His face was cut incredibly short & lopsided & his fur was still not clean, with dirt that was on his muzzle when I dropped him off still there. His nails were not trimmed. I question whether or not his anal glands were extracted at all. He looked ridiculous. Since there was no owner or groomer there to discuss this with or fix this trainwreck I stated that I would not be paying today. Please have the owner or groomer contact me so that I can drop him off in the morning on my way to my daughters day care to have this fixed (as much as it could be) and I would more than happy to make my payment at that time. I left my phone number with the (very nice) young girls who were there at the time. They wholeheartedly agreed that the grooming job was very poor, saying «She really is more of a poodle groomer so maybe that’s why this didn’t come out so good. We totally agree you shouldn’t have to pay for this.» I asked that they call me before they close to let me know that the groomer would be there between 8:30 and 9:30 am the next day. They open & close at 7.
Shortly, I did receive a call from the girl, and she said the groomer couldn’t guarantee she would be in at that time and she would call me to let me know when she could take my dog. I found this rude and disrespectful as my time is valuable and she had a mistake that needed correcting. After 7pm, I did get a phone call from the groomer but I couldn’t hear a word she said. The following day I got a call from the owner (female). She was apologetic and asked if I would be willing to bring my dog back in to give them the opportunity to fix his cut. I told her I appreciated her effort and that I would bring him back in. That ideally, I’d love it if they worked out as a groomer for me as I am new in town and their location is so convenient.
When I brought my dog back in the woman I had spoken to was there, as was the groomer. I showed them both the uneven cut — the long pieces that were missed, the dirt that was still there, the lack of shape… everywhere. I showed the groomer a picture of my dog with a proper yorkie grooming. She literally said «That’s the same dog!!!» and I was like, «Um, yes that’s the same dog so you can imagine my shock at what he now looks like.» She then went on to make excuses, saying my dog was «attacking the brush» and that is why she had a hard time. I literally responded with: «I’ve taken him to groomers for 8 years and never had anyone claim they were unable to groom him. If you found yourself having issues, you really should have called me to pick him up rather than doing a poor job and leaving him this way to be picked up without a word, presenting this as good work that deserves full price compensation». As this was being uttered, the husband/​other owner wanders in, I have never spoken to him or seen him before. He overheard literally that one line and steps in and tells me I am being rude and why don’t I either let them fix the cut or leave. I was shocked. I said, Sir I am not yelling or cursing I am simply having a conversation about the caliber of work that was done here and really, as a new customer whose dog was butchered I feel entitled to say as much. He walked off as I said this. Rude! The groomer took my dog in the back & I heard her say to the guy «She wasn’t really being rude.» No apologies issued.
I picked up my dog later that day. The owner says «Well it’s a bit better but not what you want». She took him from a crate where I assume he was left all day. She was perfunctory and condescending to anything I said to her about my experience.
After a couple hours at home I see him licking his paws. The front paws were bloody, the nails cut to the quick. They did not notify me of this. I left a voicemail about it, they never contacted me back. THEY ARE A POOR EXCUSE FOR A GROOMING FACILITY. I also find it funny/​not funny that they are soooo great at poodles yet their other (poor) review here is about poodles.
Rude, poor service, horrific grooming skills. NEVER bring ANY animal here.

I will not be bringing my dogs back here, brought them here twice. Groomer and girls are nice. But did not get what I paid for. 2 poodles one toy one teacup big size difference, but charged the same, $ 95 later it looked like they were washed and trimmed (barely) nails not cut, didn’t do anything I asked for. My dogs were not pimped out like they should be. It’s good if you just want a wash and have big dogs.