I've been using City Pooch for my two shuitzu/poodles for the last 7 months and have had nothing but positive experiences each time. The first time I brought my girls here the groomer noticed that their dew claws hadn't been cut at all. They were almost grown in a complete circle, which would have started stabbing into their pads. The last groomer we had (Pet Smart Marine Way), which we'd been using since April (8 months), hadn't even noticed they HAD dew claws!!! She told me that most small dogs have the dew claws removed when they are puppies but she always checks, just in case, and thank goodness! Every time I bring my girls in I know they are in excellent hands. She clearly adores dogs and treats every animal as if they are her own. She is extremely flexible with your schedule and always lets me leave both of my girls there, even if only one is being groomed, as they don't like to be separated. My dogs always look fabulous when they leave City Pooch Dog Spa and are always very relaxed and happy. I've never found any cuts or bald spots on my girls, even though one is very wiggly. I love my little dogs more than anything and I completely trust this groomer. Not only is she gentle, patient and calm with my dogs, she's the same with me. I highly recommend them and suggest taking the previous review with a grain of salt. Mistakes can be made, it happens to everyone but I would never hold this against this groomer. I have never had any problems, big or small. BTW, her prices are extremely competitive. Definitely worth every penny. read more

If "No" star is an option, I'd choose it! Warning! Do Not go here! I took my pom in for a pre-booked grooming appt. On the day of, she seemed surprised and can't find my appointment. Then, I specifically gave her instruction on how much I want her to cut (Poms can't get their under coat cut regularly or it will harm their coat and skin). She said ok. 3 hrs later, she forgot - like the 1st time to trim his whiskers, no bandana Again, and she practically shaved my dog! I was not pleased and got even more upset with her mouthful of excuses: "Most owners prefer to have their poms cut short.... it's in style....I thought that's what you wanted...blah blah blah...". She dared to charge me for it and said: "I used a shaver so you don't have to pay so much vs using scissors!" This didn't sit well with me. I called back the next day. Asked her how dare she gave the wrong cut, ruined my dog's coat, potentially not having it grow back properly... I asked if she knew what would happen if she cut into a pom's bottom coat. She said of course! Then I asked why did she do it??!! Her excuse again was "Most owners like their poms short...". I was not impressed: "Excuse me! I gave you instructions, didn't I? And just because other owners like it, it doesn't mean you could go against my instructions and do it the way you "'assumed" should be done! You've got my phone #, why didn't' you call?..." She offered 2 tidy-ups to compensate and reassured me that my dog will have no problem even when I told her it took me months of constant brushing and massage to get his patches of fur to grow back. She insisted it will be ok. 3 months later, as expected, my dog's fur had patches that were not growing out. I called her back to advise of condition. She said she offered to give him unlimited baths until his fur grows back to normal (she offered 2 tidy-ups before). I asked why she dared to charge me for a screw up. She said: "why didn't you tell me on that day? I wouldn't have charged you?!" Ok, so it was my own responsibility and not something that a responsible business person would offer even when they are at fault! The next day, I went in to get the refund and showed her the result of her shaving my dog. She kept brushing me off by saying,"it's growing back, it's growing back...". when it's obvious that there were patches that didn't grown! This time she had another excuse of why she shaved him. It was because she got mixed up wither another customer's dog. I asked if she's still going to offer the baths. She said: "No, it's either one or the other. I've given you your refund and that's it!". Seriously, a refund doesn't compensate for damages! I will never, ever, go back to such business with poor practices, lots of excuses, irresponsible, bad management and doesn't care attitude! read more

We brought our dog today to the City Pooch Dog Grooming Spa. Our dog is a rescue and had some bad experience with Pet Smart Grooming where an attendant injured him. This experienced became a challenge as he doesn't want to be touch. I've taken my 2 dogs before at City Pooch when they were still in New West and I am impressed how Pat was an efficient and experienced dog groomer. She got my dog groomed in an hour or so and no injuries. Thank you, Pat I will see you again. read more

(Edited for space, incl an update in response to the owner's comments below.) We took our 2 cockers there today for the first time as our wonderful groomers had closed end of August and City Pooch had taken over their space. Our appt was for 9:30am - got them there on time. Detailed discussion about the cuts we wanted for both dogs. She kept repeating "cocker cuts" and "scissoring costs more". It was very clear with both of us how they were to be done. We were told to pick them up at 3pm. I called at 3pm to see if they were ready - just voicemail. Left a message to call me. 3:30pm both ladies were at the end of block having a smoke break. Shop was left unattended! We parked and got inside my dog was just going on the table! Excuses - "we were very busy today!" (why take appts if you over book?) "there is only 2 of us and they (previous groomers at this location) had 5" (they had 3 groomers). She asked us to give her 45mins. We walked out and I glanced back as the girl was walking away from my dog, leaving her unattended on table, with the lead around her neck. Never heard of dogs hanging themselves?? I was quite upset. We went back 50mins later, our 2nd dog was on the table. Pat came out and told us 'just a bit longer'. We waited another 50mins in the reception area. No chairs, just standing there with my 82 year mother for 50mins. Then I see thru the frosted bottom of the door our larger dog. He was shaved. He had a gorgeous coat and fluffy legs. No more skirt, no more fur on his legs, his ears much shorter. I was very upset before he even came out the door. Then they got my 13yo out. Again, shaved. In 12 years she has had a cut like this once and it was at the SPCA before I adopted her because she was totally matted in the shelter, but was still not even close to this short. The 5yo bigger dog, we've had him for 2 years and his fur has NEVER been even close to this short. The excuse for THIS - "his legs were all matted". Um. no they weren't. I brushed him last week, he had a full bath & tidy last month, they managed to get a brush through his fur. We also said DO NOT TOUCH HIS BACK. So what did they do - SHAVED!! His paws were cut so close his pads and in between that they are bright red and started bleeding later. They were too rushed and just used the clippers on them both instead of the dreaded scissoring. Emma had very thin fur to begin with, no matts at all and Ben had matts in his arm pits - I told them that. I had just brushed them both thoroughly in the week leading up to our appointment. They are groomed every 4-6 weeks and I have NEVER had a complaint from previous groomers. They always took the time to make them look pretty. I spend more on my dogs than myself, I will gladly pay $120 or more for someone who knows what they are doing to groom them properly, not just shave them because they can't be bothered to brush them. If there was a problem with the dogs, or if they were too busy to take the time to groom them correctly, then City Pooch should have called us to tell us and we'd come back to pick them up. Oh, that's right, they were too busy. Outside smoking. And you would have lost $126 that day. I told them the breed of both dogs, and the length of their coats when we first spoke, in my email AND when I booked the appointment. You book your days accordingly, not trying to cram as many dogs in as you can. It's not even about the money. And how much time really did CP spend on them when Emma didn't even go on the table til 3:30 (I saw very clearly through the door, still uncut and just being placed on the table when we came for the allotted pick up time) and Ben was on the table when we came at 4:15pm, and they still weren't ready. He was yelping as his bum was being shaved. I have since found bald spots on Emma where she was shaved to the skin. I saw for myself my dog being left unattended on the table - the black cocker - remember?? The other girl had turned her back and walked away from Emma and was more than 20ft away. Emma, who looks like a shaved poodle, her hair will probably never fully grow back in due to the meds she is on and her age. I told Pat her fur does not grow. She's had to wear a sweater inside and out, 24 hours a day, since Nov 16th as she has been shivering ever since. Emma hates wearing anything but she is freezing. Ben, who currently looks like a Beagle, his coat will take at least 6 months to get back to the way it was. Oh, and I forgot to mention that their nails weren't touched. I have to take them to vet to have them done this weekend. Seriously, I don't write reviews, but I was so upset over what happened to my dogs I had to write this one. I just added photos to my profile - before of both dogs, and after of just Emma so far - so people will see MY side of the story. The truth. read more

I thought it worthy of an update on the situation below after my wife received a threat of legal action should my review not be removed immediately. I eagerly await City Pooch,s challenge of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. About a month prior to this threat of legal action I had my two cocker x's booked for a 10 am shave. After dropping them off at 10 and not receiving a call by 2pm I started trying to make contact with the shop. It took until 3 to get someone on the phone. I was then told it would be another 1-1.5 hours to pick them up. Something seemed fishy so I jumped in my truck and drove down. I demanded to see my dogs. I found one in a crate with only a bath and one in the table with a fist size ball of hair under her. She had obviously just been started when I called. When I expressed my dissatisfaction with the time I was rudely told I could just take them right now. Half done. I said I would wait in my truck. To my suprise after being sternly educated about it taking 5-5.5 hours to cut my dog I got a call in 20 mins...they were both ready to go. I picked them up and had to pay full price. One dog had plenty of uncut hair on him...they both spent the whole day there probably in a crate and the cuts were amatuer. I was met with a lot of attitude she was rude and accepted no accountability for being overbooked. A month later after I moved on with my life she called my wife and threatened legal action should this review not be removed. Had she called back and offered a refund and apologized I probably would have removed it. But now pending a court ordered removal it will remain for eternity. read more

TERRIBLE! We took our dog earlier today and when we received him, he had several red wounds. These wounds are making the dog scratch himself to death. Not only was he shaved so much that half of his skin is showing, but he is red from several bleeding wounds. On his foot, tail, upper body, lower body, lower back and worst of all his head is redder than the 5 stars the stupid owners gave themselves. The service we had was so tremendously awful, we would have sued, but we received no receipt as evidence. Avoid this place at all costs, it is a better idea to let some random stranger on the street cut your dogs hair, than it is to come here. Our dog is now in intensive care with a vet and he is getting checked for infection. DO NOT COME HERE! read more

Well I've been here twice the lady seemed really nice and sweet and was really nice to my baby charlie ! He seems really happy we loved his cut ! So I give a 5 star ! read more

This shop was a let down. As they are nearby to me, I thought I would use them as my back-up groomer when I cannot get into my favourite groomer (PetSmart). The ladies that used to have their shop in this location were solid groomers and did a good job. The current groomers are terrible. They are deceptive and don't want to cater to the client AT ALL. read more