***Updated in response to the owner's reply: The owner's response reinforces our concern about how this business handles customer issues. We are extremely disappointed by our most recent grooming experience at Cali Pets. We had used this business twice before and previously had positive experiences grooming our two wooly-coated huskies, which is why this outcome was so upsetting. Our dogs have long, thick coats that can mat quickly during seasonal changes, especially in spring. Our male husky, Arkin, is particularly prone to matting around the belly and sides. Because of this, we sometimes trim down problem areas at home before bringing him in, with the goal of preventing larger sections of the coat from becoming impacted while still preserving as much of his fur as possible. That is also what we expected from a professional grooming visit: help managing difficult areas while saving as much coat as reasonably possible. Before this appointment, we had already trimmed much of the fur on his belly and sides, while most of his back remained intact. When we picked him up, we were shocked to find that he had been shaved down almost entirely, including areas that we did not believe required that level of removal. In our view, this was an unnecessarily extreme result, especially in April and especially for a senior dog. Equally concerning was the lack of communication throughout the appointment. Both of our dogs were scheduled that morning. After waiting about 30 minutes, we were told our male dog would need to come back later. We adjusted our day and returned him at approximately 2:30 pm. Around 3:45 pm, we were told he would take longer than expected and would miss the originally quoted pickup window of 4:30-5:00 pm. After that, we did not receive a proper update. The shop closed at 5:30 pm, our calls later went to voicemail, and by after 6:30 pm we were concerned enough that we drove there ourselves to make sure everything was okay. When we arrived, we were told the staff had taken a break and were still finishing up. When we finally saw our dog, the result was far more severe than anything we had expected or would have agreed to had it been clearly explained in advance. We also disagree with several points in the owner's public response. In particular, it is not accurate to say service was refused. Both dogs were scheduled, and we were instructed to bring our male dog back later due to how the appointment was being handled. We also do not agree that this exact outcome was the only possible option. For reference, the three photos we included were posted to show context. One shows our pup before his appointment to give a sense of the length of his coat even when cut down significantly already. Another shows the result after this grooming visit. The third shows an example from a prior at-home trim, included to demonstrate that in the past we have been able to cut down problem areas while still preserving substantial fur rather than taking nearly the entire body down to the skin. That comparison is exactly why this result was so upsetting to us. If such an extreme shave was truly the only humane option, that should have been communicated clearly and directly beforehand. Had that been explained to us in plain terms, we would have declined and made a different decision for our dog. We are sharing our experience so other pet owners can make an informed decision. We have included before-and-after photos, as well as examples of prior trims done at home for comparison. read more

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A solid five stars for Destiny at Cali Pets! She did a fantastic job clipping our beloved dog Bear. Bear's coat never looked better. The grooming was perfect. And... We are always nervous about clipping Bear's nails but Destiny did a great job on that too! Five stars for Destiny! read more

New dog, new groomer! I have a 4 month old maltipoo puppy and have taken him to cali pets twice now. He's a lot and has very thick curly fur, but Ashley has been amazing with him and informs me how to keep him mat free between grooms. I highly recommend Cali Pets to keep your pets fur looking fresh :) read more

Cali Pets - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

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I was nervous to try a new groomer because one of my dogs had a bad experience at the last salon we went to (almost had his toe cut off, infection, emergency vet, faced potential amputation, vet visits 2x a week for a month, cone for over a month, lies from the owner, had to take to social media to get them to contact me to be reimbursed... bad bad bad) and I was worried not only about how they would be as a new salon to us, but also how that dog would do at his first grooming experience after being mutilated last time. We were recommended to come here from a current employee who was a former employee of that last salon where he was injured. Happy to report we had a great experience!! My dogs are very big (100 and 150 pounds) which comes with a lot of work (sometimes they sit down due to getting too tired to stand, neither likes water, neither loves being brushed, one has thick wiry fur that has a tendency to get impacted) and they look GORGEOUS! It took 3.5 hours start to finish (the last place only took 2 hours, yikes, and would return them to me a little damp, which is terrible for their skin and skin allergies). I didn't know my white dog was so white. They are silky smooth, glistening, smell good (even days later!), and are so soft. They took the time to listen to my concerns about our last experience and were knowledgeable about their fur textures and breeds. They also offered suggestions for next time to help with future maintenance (we've never had haircuts but opted to schedule some booty trims next time to help with tangles). The lobby area is small and the location itself is in a random spot, so I wasn't sure what to expect at first when I walked in, but they know what they are talking about. I was watching a standard poodle get groomed when we walked in and although Im not a fan of the breed itself, the haircut was gorgeous and I was so impressed with how good it looked! When I picked them up, they even had on Halloween bandanas, which we've never gotten anywhere else before. It was adorable. They also have cookies and baked goods for sale which we obviously got! One FYI is credit card sales add a 3% charge so if that's not your thing, cash or debit! read more

Terrible experience and false information in response to reviews of customer experience. We've taken our huskies here a few times before they moved locations. This last visit they completely shaved our older male husky. He was matted on his sides and belly because he has thick malamute fur, we had already shaved off portions that were bad and was trusting that the groomers could help us. They did not. Instead of just shaving his sides they shaved him completely and are now claiming he was brought in severely neglected and matted all over. Considering we pay for him to get groomed, get physical therapy, spend a lot of money on supplements, brush him, make sure his teeth are in good condition, and trim him when it becomes necessary, saying he is neglected should tell you everything about their inability to take responsibility for their actions. The photos they include in response to our review shows his sides matted (which we acknowledged in our post) yet the photos also show no matting on his back and other areas. They even shaved his paws down to the skin, never seen that before and there is really no evidence to support that his paws were matted (or his back). I specifically asked them to not shave his back. They did not refuse service as they claim. If they had, I wouldn't have taken him there. At the very least it would have been appreciated if they had called us to let us know they intended on shaving his entire body, there was no communication from them and they didn't ask permission, just did what they thought was best for MY dog who they don't care for and have no clue about his history. One call. That's all they had to do, it's the bare minimum a groomer can do before shaving a husky to the skin everywhere. The normal groomer who has done him in the past does a great job, she understands his fur gets matted and has never shaved him. He was not brought to them in a more matted condition than any prior time. This time he was groomed by someone else and the owner. If you disregard my post or don't believe I'm being honest about why they didn't need to shave his entire body, please look at his paws shaved down to the skin and his back shaved down to the skin. Compare that to their photos and you'll see only his sides were matted. I don't leave bad reviews because I try to give businesses the benefit of the doubt. This I couldn't disregard. Do with this information what you will but putting this out there. Please also look at other reviews with similar concerns and complaints...and the owners response that never takes responsibility. The photos I've included show him after they mutilated him and a photo from a week ago showing what his fur normally looks like. read more

Cali Pets - Photo after his grooming yesterday - look at his paws. - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

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What a great place for your dogs! It's a different setup but I really like it! Ashley does the best job on our two dogs and we are so happy we found Cali Pets. read more

I recently took my Shih Tzu to Cali Pets and I love the results! My fur baby is strutting in her new summer do....Thank you Ashley Perez! read more

Cali Pets - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

Our mini-Aussies, Maddie and Cooper, always look forward to their visits. Before we leave the house we tell them, "We're going to see Jackie" and they are excited before they get in the car. They know Jackie well and when we get there they usually are so interested in going back to get groomed that the seem to forget about us. When they get home, they're soft and fluffy and smell good. Thanks for taking such good care of our pups! read more

This was my 3rd time booking here and I will continue to keep booking here. Ashley does an amazing job!!! read more

Cali Pets - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

I absolutely love bringing Luna to Jackie! She is always treated with so much love, care, and patience, and you can truly tell how much attention Jackie puts into every little detail. One of my favorite things was the adorable idea of putting color on Luna's nails to match mine -- it was such a cute and thoughtful touch! Luna always comes back looking beautiful, happy, and well taken care of. It means so much to have a groomer who not only does an amazing job, but also genuinely cares about the pets and their owners. Highly recommend Jackie to anyone looking for a groomer who goes above and beyond! read more

Cali Pets - Luna - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

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I recently took my dog to have Ashley Perez groom him at Cali Pets. I love the results and will be taking him back to her regularly. read more

Cali Pets - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

A wonderful family owned business, the staff are very knowledgeable and the groomers are absolutely top-tier. They care about more than just a haircut for my pet, they do a thorough review of the condition of his skin and coat, teeth, ears, nails, such a thorough crew of animal lovers! read more

Cali Pets - My pup after his bath! - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

I want to leave a specific review for Keeley. I've been bringing my dogs to Keeley for5 years. Every visit has been consistently great -- my dogs always come home looking amazing, smelling fresh, and most importantly, happy and comfortable. Keeley is incredibly caring, patient, and attentive, and it's obvious she truly loves animals. She takes the time to understand exactly how i like the grooming done and always delivers. read more

Great ladies doing amazing work! My dog is happy to come here and she comes out cute as a button. My friend reccomendEd this place and it did not disappoint. read more

Ashley P. Did an amazing job, with my little dog( Sofia). She is an older dog, so she is a little more sensitive, Ashley could feel that, and took great care of her. I recommend Cali pets to anyone who is looking for a wonderful place to take their fur babies. Elva read more

After 9 years of my bonded pair German Shepherds being groomed, we were dismissed today because they "disrupt their" business. I am so very sorry that my BONDED PAIR of rescues (previously abused before I rescued them), have been such an inconvenience to you over the last 9 years. Thank you for bringing this to my attention the night before their appointment that I had prioritized two weeks prior. My babies won't ever be a burden to you ever again. Maybe you could have brought this to my attention before I spent thousands of dollars at your business and saved for a groomer who can understand how to comfort dogs that cope with separation anxiety. read more

The lovely people at Cali Pets ALWAYS do such an amazing job! They are so professional and put the animal's comfort first while providing professional service for trims/ haircuts and baths, which is such a green light in a pet groomer! They provide these services to dogs AND cats. Their new location has a cat room to keep cats separated from dogs, in order to keep them as calm and happy as possible throughout the process. All the staff has also been so friendly, welcoming, and professional to us and our fur baby. A special-out to Jackie who is a sweetheart and a rockstar with our cat! I would recommend them to anyone who needs a bath and haircut for their dog and/or cat! 10/10! The photo is our long-haired cat after a bath and haircut at Cali Pets, ready for summer :) read more

Cali Pets - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

If you care what your dog looks like when you pick them up, don't go here. I tried this place 2 times and both times my dog came back shaved to the skin. It took 8 months for his fur to grow back. This time I specifically asked them to not shave him to the skin. It's winter. They shaved him to the skin and left uneven patches. This cost me $136 and I will need to take him somewhere to fix this cut. It's a horrible job. I would give them 0 stars. read more

Lori pampers and gently cares for my sweet 15 year old Maltipoo. She consistently grooms her to perfection. She is usually at the salon for 2 to 2 1/2 hours (not all day). Very pleased!!! read more

Ashley P and all the staff always give Cora, my black golden doodle, a great cut. They have moved, have a lot more staff, and she is in and out, in 2 hours for a mini. Cora loves it there! read more

Took my dog Milo for the 2nd time here and it was by far the best service we've had. Yoza did amazing with my boy and helped keep him calm when she was trimming his nails since he usually freaks out but not this time. Milo left looking like a a little knight in shining armor. Thank you Yoza for taking the best care of my boy! read more

I've known my dog for 7 years as a patient but he became mine a week ago. His owner who I loved died, and his brother took over watching him. He neglected and hurt him. He scheduled euthanasia but relinquished him to me. After the doctors approval of TLC I was able to get him groomed and man, Courtney did wonders I appreciate her SO much. She took patience, understanding and time and listened to what I was saying with his issues. JB came home happy since I can pet his skin instead of matting. She was tender with him and the mass in his ear. My boy was in AWFUL shape. Everyone here seems so sweet! Courtney we Appriciate you immensely. read more

Cali Pets - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Nora is a true miracle worker! My rescue dog Roxy is extremely reactive and anxious -- we've never been able to successfully groom her at home without her trying to bite. This was her first professional grooming appointment ever, and I was terrified of how it would go. But Nora handled her like a total pro. Roxy actually listened, let Nora carry her, trim her nails, bathe and blow-dry her -- with only a few minor snaps. I was shocked. She came out looking calm, clean, and beautiful. Nora made her feel safe, respected her limits, comforted her when needed, and somehow earned her trust on day ONE ! If you have a reactive or rescue dog who needs extra patience and skill, book with Nora. She's the real deal!!! read more

Cali Pets - Roxy's before ... - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Thank you so much! We all love cali pets as whole in our community, they always go above and beyond for our furbabies!

Went there once at new location. I went in for a bath ( he didn't take his calm meds) I told them when I dropped him off. I said at that time I could reschedule when he's on them. They ensured it's no problem. Said I'll wait till he's done so they won't have to leave him unattended for him to cry. Tipped well spoke with owner made haircut for following month, rescheduled work for day of appointment. DAYS BEFORE HIS APPOINTMENT I get an email no call saying because he was barking they cannot do his haircut WTH? DO NOT GO HERE POOR COMMUNICATION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. They are cheap but you get what you pay for. read more

My mini golden doodle has been going to Ashley regularly since she was very young. We've always been happy with the service and how cute Gemma always looks after seeing Ashley. She stays looking great and smelling fresh for a while after getting groomed. You can tell they use quality products! Thanks Ashley for taking great care of Gemma! read more

Cali pets has been taking care of my bernedoodle for since he was a puppy. I found them when I was desperate with his matted unmanageable coat. They took pitty on me and got me in quick. I have only had one other groomer cut him, and he looked so ugly afterwards I cried. TBH my friend's doodle looks a little meeh after the groomer. My boy always comes out happy and handsome from Cali Pets. Ashley is the absolute best. I could not recommend a groomer more! Make an appointment with her you won't be dissapointed! read more

Cali Pets - Huckleberry Hound - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

My neighbor got her poodle bathed and groomed here and she has the best haircut I've ever seen on a dog. They did fantastic! I was so impressed! read more

I am absolutely disgusted by this place. We have been loyal customers since April of this year, so excited to find a great groomer for our sweet girl. We scheduled an appointment for November 30 at 11:45. This was in October when we scheduled so WEEKS in advance. They called my husband the DAY BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT, asking to move it to 10:45 AM. Already so unprofessional given we scheduled it weeks in advance. But we obliged and brought her in an hour early. 1:30 PM rolled around and we had NO UPDATES. My husband called and they said they were running behind. She wasn't done until 3 PM. Mind you, her groom only takes two hours so that means my dog sat there for almost THREE HOURS getting nothing done and not a single phone call was made to us. And the groom looked absolutely awful. Never go here. We will not be back as they clearly overbook and are greedy about how many dogs they can get in rather than the quality. Disgusting. read more

love this groomer and how they treat my fur baby ! I drive all the way from Oceanside just to take her here. I know she's in good hands. The staff here is so welcoming . read more

Cali Pets - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

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We looked all over for a good groomer. The last one we took her to did a really subpar job so we called several places before choosing Cali Pets. They were knowledgeable and caring. They understood what we wanted and they clearly know how to make the dog feel at ease. Everything we asked for (nails clipped, anal glands expressed) was included. They really did an excellent job and this will be our regular groomer from now on! Thanks Cali Pets! read more

I made my appointment for Tracy as my neighbor had referred me to her. When we showed up, she didn't acknowledge that we had an appointment with her. As she finished one poodle, we thought we were next. But another poodle walked in and she took that dog. We were then greeted by a lovely lady name Lori. She was very sweet and took care of our dog. The grooming took a bit longer than we're used to but our boy looked great and seemed happy. I made an appointment with Tracy for next month. Let's see what happens then. read more

Cali Pets - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Our golden doodle Piper has been groomed by Ashley for a while now and I want to say she absolutely amazing. Piper is one of the most difficult dogs to groom, she has anxiety and does not cooperate and Ashley has stuck with her. I know our pup is a chore and every time she comes back looking fabulous. I highly recommend Cali Pets and most specifically Ashley she is the best and she has skills and patience like no other. read more

Really clean and friendly. Hercules comes out happier here than any other place. Has a good vibe to it. Booked out though. Get your appointment 6 weeks early!! read more

Cali Pets - Fresh cut! - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

Best place ever thank you Nora for taking care of my beautiful Roxy I absolutely love the Mohawk thank you for taking care of my baby customer for life we found our groomer thank you a million times for taking care of my fur baby read more

I'm appalled to see my dog with a shaved patch on him. He seems scared when he was picked up and brought home. I'm a generous customer who always pays for full service and 20% tip on top. I will not be going back to this business ever again. Protected your dogs--do not take them here. read more

Cali Pets - Cali Pets really sucks!! - Pet Groomers Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Wonderful to watch as dogs went in waging their tails! Amazing staff that take such great care of your fur baby ... Defiantly ....highly recommend read more

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I had scheduled an appointment for dental cleaning. When I got there, I wasn't on the list and wasn't able to get in. So I traveled there for nothing. It's also a very small place with loose dogs and customers who don't keep their dog on a short leash. Making it that while I was waiting to be told I drove there for nothing, my pup almost got into a fight with another dog. The staff was very nice and polite tho. read more

Well East coast dogs are hip I really dig the breeds I swear But our Aussie dog which I endlessly train Cracks me up with both his charming ways and the costumes we make him wear. The Mid-West farmer's Aussies we know that they're alright (AussiesOnly.com) And they're also known as Spanish Shepherds, a small known fact They herd the southwest packs all night. The West coast has the sunshine And our dog is quick to dry We dig our groomer Peyton And the all the Cali groomers, they work real hard with pride We've been all around the North County grooming world And we've seen some scary styles But, we trust this family at Cali Pets to make our dog look less than wild It's time to get in with these award winning groomers at Cali Pets... Kindle likes the the biscuits at Cali Pets... Thanks for making Kindle look his best at Cali Pets... Kindle loves the spring water at Cali Pets... We support small businesses at Cali Pet... Inspiration from the Beach Boys and "Pet Sounds". #SanMarcos #CaliPets #AwardWinning #KindlesRedHot #BeachBoys #AussiesOnly.com read more

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TEXTS FROM THE EDGE (of the grooming table) ________________________________ [SAT 10:10 AM] DOG: why am i here? BITCHES PLEEZE. i thought we were going to the beach to chase seagulls!? ME: you're getting a bath and haircut. we're gonna grab lunch DOG: how long have u been gone? it feels like FOREVER! ME: 5 or 6 minutes DOG: i can't remember what u look like [SAT 10:27 AM] D: will i be writing the review, then? M: nah, i'll do it D: why can't i post a TIP!? i would recommend covering the floor with a layer of prosciutto and other cured meats... M: that's why [SAT 10:42 AM] D: payton massaged behind my ears, did u guys tell her to do that? M: we might have mentioned it D: u revealed my WEAKNESS to the enemy? M: she's not your enemy, she's your groomer D: i've been betrayed by my own servants M: we're not your servants [SAT 11:32 AM] D: i'm still wet. gonna shake M: do not shake D: gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake it off M: please DON'T shake D: WOAHH. some fool completely soaked the room!! [SAT 11:58 AM] D: come back, quick! M: why? you aren't done yet! D: they said i have "updog"! M: what's updog? D: lol gotcha!!! LOL [SAT 12:14 PM] D: u should be posting on my yelp every day M: alright D: u can't keep me from telling my story M: okay D: people need to be updated on what i'm doing M: fine... what did you do this week? D: found a bug, retweeted some dogs barking, laid around [SAT 12:49 PM] D: are u back yet? M: nope D: take your time!!! M: we're on our way D: there's a cavapoo here. she sings like a NIGHTINGALE! M: unbelievable... we're almost there... D: this puts me in a definite 'hit it and quit it' situation read more