Why has it taken me so long to write a review? We have been taking our dog here since they opened. We live in Westlake and we drive her all the way over to Mud Puppies because we believe in them. The owners are huge dog people in the community. They want the best for dogs. Our girl is a bit of an odd duck. She doesn't get how big she is, 60 lbs. She prefers to be with smaller dogs than the larger dogs. The Mud Puppies team recognized this from the start and have worked to make sure she is comfortable. They do not let you make an Play Date appointment without first checking their shot records. Our girl comes home so tired, which is a wonderful thing. She is a boarder collie mix and some days it is impossible to wear her down. She has unlimited energy. We have only done the boarding one night at Mud Puppies and there was no issue there either. They have packages that can reduce the day rate of play care. About once a quarter we let them give her a bath and do her toe nails, a full pup spa day. We have nothing negative to say about Mud Puppies and highly recommend them. read more

We absolutely love Mud Puppies! We send both of our dogs here - one dog goes every day and the other dog only goes once per week. Our dogs have very different personalities and needs and both love coming to day care every time. I've been holding off on leaving a review until we had a few months under our belt. We've been sending our dogs here for about 3 months - since we moved to Austin. The staff is really what sets this place apart. Each staff member knows both of our dogs - and they know more than just their names. They know how their days went and who their friends are. One of our dogs can be a little grumpy and requires a bit more one-on-one attention. Mud Puppies was extremely understanding and accepted our grumpy pup when other dog day cares refused to even consider him (and they love him!!). When our other dog went missing, Mud Puppies went above and beyond to help (posting on multiple large social media accounts and putting up signs). Edward and all of his staff are phenomenal. When we moved to Austin, we never thought we would find a replacement for the day care that we left behind in Dallas. However, Mud Puppies has exceeded our (already fairly high) expectations. I highly recommend Mud Puppies to anyone looking for a new day care / boarding facility in Austin. read more

I went in to get my dog groomed. I am not too familiar with dog coats or what my dog should have as far as grooming goes, but then again I didn't think I had to know as I am going to a "professional groomer." We talked about the cut and she offered only a 1/8 and 1/4 cut size. Not knowing better, she convinced me to get 1/8th because according to her a 1/4 cut makes the cut look choppy. I thought 1/8 was going to be how much hair she would cut, not how much hair he would have less. Regardless, When I spoke to another groomer, she said that they should have never even offered those cuts for dogs with double coats. They were shocked by the fact that a groomer would even think that's okay. Clearly, they are not training these people. If the groomer knew about double coated dogs and their norms then she would have never even offered that - period. What she should have said is, "We don't normally cut the hair on these types of dogs. I recommend (fill in the correct recommendation here)" Ultimately, i can't change what happened to my dog, however if you are reading this, PLEASE take my advice and look elsewhere. Unless you want a Pomeranian with a cut like a chihuahua or a poodle with a buzz cut. read more

I feel very comfortable bringing my 6lb Yorkie here. He always comes back really happy. Every time I bring him here I can't even recognize him because they do such a good job at making him look the best he can. I recommend Mud Puppies to everyone I know. read more

I am leaving a one star review for mud puppies on riverside because today was the last straw. Not only did they cut a chunk of my dogs paw and not tell me about it but they canceled my appointment without me knowing. So I move my day around I wake up 3 hours earlier just so I can make this appointment only to walk in there and have them say they canceled it. If you're gonna cancel appointments you need to let the client know so they can change their day accordingly. If you cut someone's dogs paw you should inform the client so they know to take extra precautions. I will never I repeat never go there again! And I warn Everyone who decides to take their beloved animal to mud puppies to check them after they pick them up. My dog was traumatized after being sliced by one if the techs. she was cowering in the corner and was not herself for 2 days after they cut her pause. If you decide to take your animal there please make sure that you have an appointment before you leave your house because they might just cancel it like they did me with out informing you. read more

Mud puppies is awesome! I've been taking my dog Kodak there for several months now for day care and boarding. The staff there is universally friendly, always happy to see my dog and most importantly have worked hard to ensure that Kodak is with dogs that he enjoys playing with. My dog can be reactive with certain breeds and definitely can be a bit of a handful and Mud Puppies is one of the few Kennels that accommodates his exuberant personality! They always respond to messages and Kodak is clearly tired out when I pick him up after a full day of play. Mud Puppies is definitely not the most convenient for me in terms of location, however the drive is well worth it for the care and environment that they provide. As other reviews noted, they obviously care a great deal about their customers and delivering great service. read more

I used to enjoy their services. I was never dissatisfied with any of the services until the dreaded day there was an incident with my dog. I arrived to pick up my dog with dried blood in his coat. I get home to learn it was worse, his skin was so dry it was cracking open. I call Muddpuppies and immediately got the defensive line of immature front desk help. My call was not to point fingers, but to determine what happened. My dog had been here 10 times prior and was a 10 year old; therefore, unlikely an Allergic action as was suggested by front desk. The best I could get was take him to your vet.......NO SHIT, duh! I would have at least liked to be able to tell the Vet what happened. My Vet says, he was put in a dryer with temperatures that dried out his skin and caused cracking. Of course, the defensive business says, "our dryers are room temperature!" .... so basically, you sat them in a room and let them dry???...btw, I have a flat faced dog and any licensed groomer knows it's taboo to put them in a dryer for respiratory concerns. Integrity goes a long way, and accountability is a must. I wasn't looking to blame anyone, nor did I want anything from them. A simple explanation and help me with a solution. After all, that is what creates customer retention. Business 101. They really disappointed me. It's been a several weeks and my dog is just now healing 100%. No remorse from this place. read more

I love Mud Puppies!!!! I initially took my pup to their self service grooming stations, but ended up taking her to daycare/playcare as well. I'm so glad I did!! She comes home with the perfect amount of energy - not hyper but not dirty/beat up either. The employees show her so much love & I know she's in the best hands! I've tried a lot of different doggy daycares around Austin, and am typically a pretty harsh critic when it comes to my young pup. I have never felt as relaxed as I do leaving her here! read more

I absolutely love this place! Every time I come in the staff and owner are so welcoming, friendly, helpful and take the most wonderful care of the pups! Here you are treated like family! I love that they have a self-bathing station too! The facility is large, is in a great location, smells fantastic, and if you're ever in the mood for a quick photo op- don't worry they have murals on the side of the building (HOW COOL!!!) My 7 year old Boxer, Baldwin Edward, and I love Mud Puppies! read more

This is an updated review. I've been a loyal customer for about a year, and the previous three grooming appointments have lead me to write this. Not only have their prices almost doubled in the last 2 months, but their staff isn't knowledgable! I gave specific instructions on how to groom my dogs, and they came back with exactly everything I told them not to do. Not only that, but my two teacup dogs were there for 5 hours, and still not groomed. As if the time/poor haircut wasn't enough; I had to take my dog to the vet because her glands were expressed wrong. I called to speak with an owner/manager to express my concerns, and they "didn't have time to speak with me, and were unsure when they could call back". I want this to work, but after 3 sad visits, I guess I'll look elsewhere. read more

Please, do not take your animal here. This owner prioritizes greed over doing the right thing. My wife and I were sad to find out our normal place of boarding was fully booked for the thanksgiving holiday, so we decided to give this place a shot as it had good reviews. We got a call that our dog was hurt during playtime, the story was she was sniffing a puppy while another dog thought she was being too aggressive and came behind her and attacked. We were confused and angry, but decided to be rational, ask for pictures and we got an email showing a very deep bite mark which led us to change our flights to come home early to get our little family member home. When we got there, we asked to speak to a manager as we thought it was fair they at least waive our injured dog's boarding as we had incurred additional flight expenses and veterinary costs, but they refused saying she had started the altercation (which they had never mentioned before). Side note: we had two dogs there and had no problem paying for the other dog. Additionally, her condition was completely downplayed.. they said she had two minor cuts on her ear and a broken nail but was acting normal and being herself. What she actually had was and extremely deep bite mark on her side, she was lethargic and not being herself, and they also failed to mention she was limping, having difficulty walking, and was regirgitaing. Listen, we understand boarding places are "high energy" environments as the assistant manager put it. Our dogs are around other dogs all the time, we know sometimes playtime can go south but in the 5 years we have had our dogs we have put our trust in multiple kennels, and an injury like this has NEVER happened. And it's very telling that at their first stay here, something did happen. This isn't just a pet to us, it's our family member, our child. All we asked was the owner have the decency to at least waive our pup's stay for everything our family had been through, we would never come back and move on. However, good customer service seems to be lost on them. I repeat, please do not give this place your service!!!! We really do hope this review helps people avoid the same mistake we made in putting our trust in these people. read more

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I would highly recommend taking your pets to another groomer. They have shown to me on multiple occasions that they do not care for the customer or your pet. I took Kase in for his second grooming appt at mud puppies south Austin location. When picking him up it didn't seem like much was done. I contacted the store and spoke with the Co-founder Edward who mentioned that the groomer that worked with Kase was not very good and he would cover the charge to get him fixed by another groomer. When I came to MudPuppies to pick up Kase from his appt to get fixed I was given a lot of trouble by shirley the manager and she demanded that I pay for the appt or else I could not have my dog back and i would be charged for boarding as well. I kept telling her that this was an appt to get him properly groomed since the last groomer did a terrible job. After 30 min of arguing with the lady she finally connected with Edward who agreed to covering the cost and she said I was "good to go" without even apologing Edward also mentioned during our conversation that he would discount my next grooming. So on 1/13/15 I bring Kase in against everyones recommendation for another grooming session. As I am driving in to pick him up I let them know that I was told I would get a discount for this grooming and to talk to Edward to figure things out before I get there. I had to do this in order to avoid any confrontation at the store again as Shirely was the manager there that day. I was told over the phone that she had it written down and it was going to be a 15% discount. When I arrive at the location Shirley is at the desk and the first thing she says is "there was a error in communication" she went on to describe how she was not going to give me the discount since I had previously made an appt the week before and did not show for it. I did not fight it, i simply said ok and paid my bill. My intention was to find another groomer and call it quits with MudPuppies. The grooming itself at first glance looked just fine and I took Kase home. He started to whine and cry while shaking his head and rolling on the ground trying to get at his ears. He wouldn't even let me near them which is a rare thing on its own. Once I finally got close and was able to see his ears they were red and inflamed. I called the Vet and setup an appt to get it fixed as it was clearly bothering him. I called MudPuppies in the morning and expressed my concern to Edward about everything I have had to go through with MudPuppies and that this topped the list. For my dog to come back in pain and agony is extremely uncalled for and there is no good reason for it. I told him I would call back once i got the results from the Vet. The Vet called and agreed that the dog was in a lot of pain due to his ears and that it was a result of the grooming session. She was sending me home with some ointment and wanted to follow up with Kase in a few days. I called Edward and repeated the results to him and explained that it was fair for him to cover my Vet bill and refund me for the grooming visit as none of this would have happened if the grooming visit was done correctly. He said he would not do anything but offer me $10 off my next grooming visit. I expressed to him that would not be an adequate offer as I want nothing to do with MudPuppies ever again. He expressed to me that he would only do the $10 off my next grooming and I could call him back if I wanted to accept and then hung up on me! In response to the comment below made by Edward: I want all readers to know that my above review on Yelp is not for a discount but yet to help other dog owners know how much Mud Puppies does not care for their animals based on my personal experience. I love and care for my animal like my own child and would hate to hear that anyone went through the same experience. Its shameful that someone would hurt a defenseless animal for any reason let alone carelessness. My choice is to never step foot into a Mud Puppies again for the sake of my own animal not my pocketbook. Thank you read more

I was excited to take my dog here and get him a summer shave. They did a fine job on the groom, but he had to do an extended stay. When my wife picked him up, he had to urgently use the restroom and drink water. I do not thing they let him out to do his business or gave him water all day! I also had to go back and get the special shampoo I left with him for his allergies, which I do not think they even used. Bad job. read more

I took Gizmo to get groomed on Xmas eve. When I picked him up the groomer said he had a bacterial infection on his bum. He had never licked there before but when I brought him home he was insanely licking there. He was miserable. He was in pain and totally obsessed with licking it. I had to take him to the vet and it wasn't a bacterial infection it was the clippers that rashed him. She also didn't cut his nails close enough or his claw nail at all. They quoted me 45-50 on the phone for a Yorkie cut and charged me $60 plus I had to have an emergency vet visit. This isn't the place to go. The groomer wasn't honest. Kera read more

I previously took my puppy to another boarding facility he came back with MAJOR RUNS - PROJECTILE LIQUID. I LOVE Mud Puppies! My puppy spent a day for evaluation and he was passed after 5 minutes after I got him in the car. Being a playful puppy, he has TONS of energy and if he's worn out... he played A LOT! I had to leave town for a few days and dropped him off. Picked him up and he was totally worn out! I also requested that that he got bathed. The soap they use worked great on him. He didn't have any flakey skin and smelled nice - wasn't perfumey. The last place I took him they also bathed him. He was a flakey mess. I just wish Mud Puppies were a bit closer, it takes me approx 30 minutes to get there. I would take him there for play time often. Staff were really friendly. I DEFINITELY recommend this place. read more

I went here a few weeks ago for the self service dog wash. I will caution on using their shampoo!! Shortly after the bath my dog started itching severely to the point that after a week she developed bald spots of hair on her inside legs and rump. She has never had fleas and is up to date on medications. No change in environment other than it is now summer but she is 4 yrs and has never had issues before. All signs pointed back to mud puppies... Also, a friend I was with washed two of her dogs with me using a different shampoo container but still the "mud puppy" shampoo provided and 1 of her dogs (different breed) started severely itching as well. We both had to wash our dogs again (this time using our own shampoo) and started giving them nutritional supplements... Her dogs itching has since been relieved and I just started this regimen on mine... It seems to have helped but it's only been a day since I bathed her again. I hope she stops or I will have to take her to the vet. She has developed large dull red hive- looking breakout along her legs, rump, and belly. Perhaps ask them how diluted their shampoo is, or what kind they use. They said it was diluted but I'm wondering if we got a bad batch? It seems to have dried out the natural oils of our dogs skin though! Which is concerning, you would think a dog washing service would have fancy organic like oatmeal shampoo but maybe not. Other than that the people and supplies/services seemed good. read more

They were amazing! To start, when I scheduled my appointment they simply asked where my dog had vaccinations so they could call to get the records. We had taken my dog camping the weekend before, and she was covered in burrs/stickers. She also had multiple big mattes in her hair. Allyson, our groomer, took a lot of time listening to me about exactly how I wanted her cut. When I picked her up, she was the happiest and most relaxed that I've ever seen her after grooming (she usually is kind of upset after). Our experience with Allyson as our groomer at Mud Puppies was amazing, and we will surely be going back for next time! read more

Mud Puppies - Riverside - Pet Groomers Near Me - Austin, Texas

My dog absolutely loves to play with other dogs but does have toy aggression when other dogs are trying to step into his territory. I met one of the owners at a dog expo my apartment complex was having and she was extremely helpful and laid out all the rules they abide by which included having no toys in the yard when all the dogs are together. This was a breath of fresh air for me as this finally seemed like a dog boarding and play facility where I could take my dog without issue. He has been to Mud Puppies for playcare to wear him out during the week as well as for extended stays while I have work obligations in other cities where he has stayed for an entire week and always comes back happy and dirty from having so much fun. Each time we pull into the parking lot he gets so excited about being back and can't wait to jump out of my truck. We've been to other playcare facilities and he has come back beat up and bruised but never once has Mud Puppies been detrimental to him. The staff always loves him and everyone truly seems to care about dogs instead of just simply ushering them to the back to 'deal' with the dogs throughout the day. Some of the other reviewers mentioned that their dogs come back skinny, but if you understand they are running around all day they'll need a little more food intake to stay the same size. I've upped his food intake by a 1/4 a cup so he doesn't lose quite as much weight. Overall i'm so thankful to have found this place even if it is a few dollars more expensive than other places because you truly get what you pay for. read more

I've been bringing my bichon poodle here for grooming services for a couple years now and could not be more pleased. Everyone is always so nice and they are super efficient. Typically if I drop my dog off he is ready within 2-3 hours which is great because my dog gets anxiety being made to wait around with so many dogs barking around him, etc. Prices are also reasonable and the place has an easy to find location and is always clean. Definitely recommend for grooming! read more

I take my 2 year old dog there, they have always done a great job. When you do walk in it does smell pretty strong and the pricing is a bit high. My dog is 15lbs and it cost $60 with tip to get a full groom. read more

Made an appointment with this place for my pup seeing as it is merely a block away; making the appointment was nothing special. Jasmine was easy to work with as far as being flexible for getting copies of my dog's shots. The grooming itself was great, my dog seems to not like it when I turn on the faucet nor does he like being near bathtubs. I expressed that bathing him could be dramatic the groomer (whose name eludes me) let me know that she would take things as slow as necessary with him and usually they would need 2-3 hours. An hour and a half later I get a call saying my boy did great and no troubles at all. He looked clean; ears, nails, coat, and teeth all looked fantastic! That goofball did not want to come home. Affordable prices, friendly knowledgeable staff, close location, and early morning appointments. Top notch operation read more

Mud puppies is the best! My husband and I moved to Austin last year and since then I've taken my dog lucy to them for boarding and grooming. They always do an awesome job on her haircuts and they take really good care of her when she stays there. They go above and beyond to make you feel okay about leaving your baby with them while you have to go away. I wouldn't take Lucy anywhere else! :) read more

Came across this place on my drive home and stopped in to make an appointment. From the start they were super friendly. They gave me a tour and explained all of the services they provided. The facility is brand new and very clean. I was super excited to bring my fur baby in for a spa day. The day of his appointment, once again great stuff with wonderful customer service skills. The groomer, Lori, AMAZING!! I left my baby in her hands and picked him up looking "Fresh to Death". This place gets 10 stars in my book! read more

I started taking my rescue poodle to MudPuppies about 3 years ago after adopting him. The staff has always been so caring towards my dog, which was especially critical because he was hyper-sensitive to humans and not yet adjusted to a normal, loving environment. Because he is a poodle, he requires tedious grooming, all of which has always been perfect. I have also had exceptional care given to him when we have had to board him, including administering medication and adhering to his feeding regimen. The staff is very caring, and always listens to my needs, even though I'm sure I sound like a crazy dog lady. I can tell they really love the animals and for that, I love them back! read more

Went in here to get my dogs nail cut. Love the local business with local items to buy. Edward was sooo helpful I could write a review on every site! It's $10 for a nail cut. We started chatting about a local business and he went above and beyond to get me information and even called me with a follow up for more. That customer service is what every business needs! read more

Our two furbabies love mud puppies! We have used the self-service dog wash stations, the play are, and the grooming. The dog wash stations are supplied with everything you need for a quick clean. Our dogs always come back happy and looking great from play care and grooming! The staff really loves our furbabies! read more

I just moved down the street from Mud Puppies three months ago. I was excited that such a highly rated place was right down the street. Had my yorkie groomed there and was very happy with the job they performed. Called in March about their dog boarding. I was pretty surprised at how high the rates were. I board my dog up North so I was hoping I could have a one stop shop, but for now they work great for grooming! read more

We bring our dog here for boarding and washing - great service and very sweet employees!

Today was my first visit to bathe my lab . It was great experience, but the only suggestion I would give is they should play soothing music to block out the other dogs barking. read more

I absolutely love this place, the staff is very friendly, and helpful. We've been here twice already and we definitely keep coming back. They cut my 8 moths schnoodle's hair they way we like. And he looks really happy afterwards. He looks absolutely cute. Great job. read more

Mud Puppies is fantastic. We just took our two dogs, Coco and Beso, in for a full groom. Called the day prior and they were able to fit them in. Dogs came back in great shape with an excellent cut and bath. Would highly recommend Mud Puppies. read more

Love this place. It's obvious they know and care about my dog...I feelgood leaving my dog here because I know she's in good hands. They're great with grooming, as well. read more

We have brought our Great Pyrenees mixes here a few times now. Every visit prior to this week, Christina groomed our dogs for us. Typically, we bring them in together, but the last few times have had to be one at a time. Jesus did exactly what I asked of him, even though I was a bit vague on exactly what I wanted. He did a great job, and our dog looks amazing! However, she was not as relaxed and happy when I picked her up as she is when Christina grooms her. Maybe there's just a different vibe with Jesus- our dog didn't exhibit any behavior that would make me think Jesus mishandled her, she just wasn't her usual 'I'm clean and happy and feel great!' self after grooming. I did find out when Christina is typically available, though, and will likely be bringing our dogs to her on those days instead. The prices are really reasonable for what we get- our first appointment was nearly $200, but that was for 2 dogs who had some mats and needed a thorough brush-out. Since then, every appointment for both has been below $100. Jesus did a great job. I also highly recommend Christina, as she does great work and seems to have a way with dogs. The 4 stars (vs 5) is only because I realllllly don't like having to be there so early in the morning with my pet, but still not getting my dog back for several hours. Most groomers operate this way, though, so it isn't enough to make me stop going. read more

Ashlea always does an amazing job on my dog! She is patient and so sweet with the dogs, she genuinely cares for every single one of them. Give her a follow on Instagram @grooms.by.ashlea read more

Amazing staff and the facilities are clean. I love the selection of high quality food, treats and toys. These people really care about your pets. When I did day care the staff was very thorough about how my dogs did for the day and even posted a picture of them on Facebook! read more

I always come for the self wash. I love the fact it's actual tub sized to fit my dogs in. They raised it so there is no back bending while I scrub my girls who do not enjoy the bath themselves. They even have a ramp for your furry ones to walk into the tub without having to lift or wheel stairs up for them. The tubs are in individual rooms which make it so much easier if you have more than one pet to bathe. While I clean one I don't have to keep track of the other, knowing they're staying in the room with me. They do have one room with two tubs which my boyfriend and I use when wepm come together. Our girls just stare at each other whole they endure this "torture" we put them through. read more

If i could give them a 10 i would. great people, prices are very reasonable, and my dogs never are running out in a rush. I take my labs there for baths when we go for long walks and they get messy - which happens no doubt. The ladies who work here are the best. Always smiling,very helpful, kind as can be. I am grateful that i can bring my dogs there and happily tip the ladies for cleaning up after us, which no matter how much i try not to be messy, these are labs and they shake what can i say..... read more

Staff was nice and attentive, plenty of space for our babies to bathe!

Staff is awesome. Still very clean! We've been coming regularly for a good while and the treatment is consistent the best we've experienced in town. If you're dog is big and fuzzy ask for some extra towels they are happy to provide them. Haven't had an issue with being turned away since my last review. However I've made sure I have been here with plenty of time to be done before they close. read more

I stopped in for my first visit this morning to give my dog a bath since it's too cold outside to use our yard. Edward was super helpful on my first experience using a facility with a self serve dog wash. He walked me through the equipment and reassured me when I felt badly about leaving all the black dog hair that he'd seen much worse. Check it out! I will definitely go back! read more