Being new to the area, I had yet to find a groomer that I absolutely loved & was close to our house…read more- that is, until we found Barkly. I can confidently say that Barkly is unlike any other groomer I've been to, and in the best way possible. Barkly prides themselves in transparency, spanning from transparency in price & even transparency in your pet's experience. Upon entering the storefront I was shocked to find glass walls, allowing me to see the pets being groomed and being able to see the holding area they put pets in. Unlike most groomers who hold your dog in a cage for their entire visit, Barkly is the only groomer I've seen have a whole dedicated play room for the pups to interact with the other dogs and actually enjoy their time at the grooming salon. If your dog isn't social or is anxious that's alright too, because they made sure to ask me if it was okay for my dog to take part in that playtime before actually placing her there. I loved my interactions with the staff and also found those completely different from groomers I've had in the past. I was asked if my dog had any allergies, if I had any concerns with grooming, if there were any skin conditions/problems I wanted to tackle specifically - all questions that make sense, but I was never asked by any groomer before until my visit at Barkly. Their main concern is your pet's comfort, and for that I love them for. The groom itself was great - my dog walked out of Barkly smelling fresh for weeks and looking great. Being that my dog has a double coat, many groomers tend to leave my dog's fur damp and don't even attempt to deshed her properly. The dryness of my dog's fur is the first thing I check after a grooming and to my surprise, she was fully dry after visiting Barkly - another win in my book. They also did an amazing job at brushing out her undercoat to minimize her shedding. I had the privilege of speaking directly with the owner, who walked me through every step of the process and made me feel confident in their services. It's not often that a grooming intake slows things down for you and takes their time listening to your concerns, and for that I truly appreciate Barkly. I can't wait to bring my pup back and see what other services they have to offer. If you're in search of a new groomer, you should definitely give Barkly a shot!

I take my dog to the groomer every month, and since recently moving to the area, I was excited to…read moretry this new, beautifully designed salon. Unfortunately, our first visit turned into a complete nightmare. From the start, I clearly discussed the exact length and style I wanted for my maltipoo and even provided a few reference photos of her previous haircuts. We went over every detail together. Despite that, the groomer completely ignored my instructions. My poor girl came back looking nearly bald--her coat was shaved so short, you could see the skin, unevenly done, and nothing like the soft, rounded trim we agreed on. She has never looked so bare or vulnerable. The lack of care didn't stop there. Her ears were left visibly dirty and were not cleaned at all, which is a basic part of any proper grooming session. I specified to the groomer that she had some dry skin in one of her ears, and when we returned home, that dry skin was still there. Her eyes were also neglected--there was noticeable tear staining that hadn't been taken care of, making her look unkempt and uncomfortable. It was clear that little to no attention was paid to her face or hygiene. The entire grooming process took over two hours and the dog was not fully groomed. What upset me even more was her emotional and physical state afterward. For the rest of the evening, the dog was trembling, anxious, and shaking. She hid under the furniture and refused to come out--something she has never done after any previous grooming appointment. This level of stress is unacceptable and suggests she may have been left in distress during the process. When I saw the final result, I was so shocked and concerned for my dog's well-being. While the salon itself looks beautiful on the outside, the quality of work and basic pet care inside are severely lacking. I would strongly caution any pet owner--especially those with small or sensitive breeds--against bringing their furry family members here.

Jean-Marie has a fine establishment that she and her husband Ken (may he RIP) opened up in downtown…read moreSouth Amboy. Before even entering the shop, your eyes are treated to 2 beautiful window displays that change with the holiday season every month. The decorating is truly articulate and that alone is a positive indication that the groomers pay attention to detail, an important quality when looking for a groomer. Jean-Marie, Phyllis, and the staff are wonderful! I've been taking my dog to the shop for 9 years and from day 1, I've truly felt comfortable here. Jean-Marie was very accommodating to my request of checking out the shop first to make sure I felt comfortable taking my dog there. My dog always looks spiffy after his grooming. We go 2x per month even though the shop isn't located very near our house. The dog loves going and I know he is well taken care of. Any special requests I have are taken into consideration (such as using my special rx shampoo, etc). The entire staff is in the right profession. They are compassionate, warm, and loving toward animals. There is an array of dog clothing, as well as treats, toys, and other miscellaneous items available for purchase. I like to support the local shop for items. They carry a nice leash brand that has a great guarantee. Highly recommended!

My dog is a little difficult of a personality so I prioritized finding a groomer that works quickly…read moreand has the right demeanor with him. He loves the staff here, and I would not bring him anywhere else! I cannot say enough good things about this groomer.

Don't even hesitate! If you're unhappy with your dogs grooming by Lizz... I'll pay for it! She…read moreknows dogs. She has the patience of a saint. She cares deeply. The place is spotless. The prices are more than reasonable. We have traveled over an hour to have our dog groomed here by Lizz or Stephanie. Mike runs a tight ship... I couldn't find a complaint if I searched for one. Bravo!

My new mini poodle was in need of a wash and while I was in the area, I decided to take him here…read more The staff here was very friendly and everything was extremely clean. Despite that, my dog still didn't come out with the freshness I would've liked him too. In total, I paid about $45 for a wash and nail cutting. Sadly, my dog still had a weird smell after the wash (that seemed to only last 5 minutes) I'm already in search of another grooming place after this visit left me unsatisfied.

The owner, Christina, is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I've been going to her since her Bound Brook location…read moreand was so happy when she moved her shop to Manville. She is so patient and loving when it comes to my two stubborn dramatic pups. Making appointments can be done online which is so convenient for me. Very clean and prices are reasonable which is a plus!

Might be the worst place I've around. I should have listened to the people who said do not go…read morethere!!! They don't know what they are doing! Especially the owner! Poorly run and mistreat your animal. We have video footage of what they do. This is a major warning to all pet owners that go here! Let's work to shut this woman down!

Brought my dog here after a long trip overseas and had a really good experience…read more The space is clean and open, and you can see the grooming area, which I liked. They asked detailed questions about the haircut style before starting, so I felt pretty confident things wouldn't go wrong. Mika did an amazing job with the grooming. My dog's coat was pretty tangled from travel and lack of brushing, but she handled it well and gave him a shorter summer cut that still looked really cute. The owners/staff were welcoming, and they even gave a nice new-customer gift bag with toys and treats. Would definitely come back.

The shop is very clean and has a nice aesthetic. They have a lot of pet supplies for cats and dogs…read more We took our dog (Mini) for grooming and in 3 hours they had her ready. I was impressed as soon as I saw her from the outside of the shop, she looks clean and I love the hairstyle. She was also very calm when we took her back and she was not reactive to the shop keeper. I can tell they gave Mini all their love and attention. I was so pleased I book the appt for the next month in advance. I hope that she continue getting the same love that they would give to their own yorkies.

Tia Jana accommodated us with a last minute grooming appointment for our Chiweenie. She definitely…read moreexceeded our expectations when our little one came back looking cuter than ever! I would highly recommend this groomer and will be using her again.

Our Dogs always return beautiful and Smelling delightful. Tia Jana gives each dog special…read moreattention. I wouldn't allow my dogs to go anywhere else.

I had an appointment for my 2 dogs with Jessica for 1:30pm. 3 hours passed when I called her and…read morewanted to pick up my dogs. My dogs were not done. 3 hours my dogs had to stay in a cage and wait for theirs turn! Jessica was extremely rude and was yelling at me. She sad that she's not a machine and dogs has to wait . Now I'm asking you, everybody who's reading my review, do you want your dogs to sit half a day in the cage? you were given appointment for grooming for what reason? ok, I understand half an hour, an hour, but 3 hours and your dogs are not done! and she has a nerv to yell at me? horrible place! just horrible! who wants such a service ?!

I used to bring my 6 month puppy to these big known stores for the 2nd time -- told me that he may…read moreneed to be sedated for being anxious, mind you he's a puppy. After months of self grooming, I finally decided to look for a groomer nearby. Fast forward 1 year later, my dog doesn't bite when his face is touched, he let's me clean his eyes and Jesse has been telling me that my dog's been doing well every grooming session. She she knows how to deal with them! :) Pricing is reasonable. Highly recommend this place! This is my not so pup now, he's 1.8 years old!

Vicki does such a superb job caring for our dogs grooming. She' been grooming all our dogs for 20…read moreyears. These two have been with her since birth and whenever I say "Aunt Vicki," they get super excited and always love going to her. They always look amazing. The new facility is superb. Happy and open and great vibes. Kudos!

LITERALLY LOST MY DOG! 1 star is generous…read more This was my first, and absolute last experience with this "groomer." I dropped off my dog and was told she would be ready in a few hours. As promised, a few hours later, I got a call stating my dog was ready to be picked up. I arrived at the shop within 20 minutes only to find the front door locked, and no one answering the phone. After 10 minutes of waiting, she finally pulled up, with who I believe was her boyfriend, and informed me that my dog was missing! Apparently, her boyfriend took my dog for a walk, and she pulled out of her collar (which she has never done with me or anyone else), and took off running. She told me that she was just out looking for her, but couldn't find her, and that she had contacted that local police who were assisting in the search. But that she had been last seen in the vicinity of Park Ave. and E. Front St. Luckily, my story has a happy ending and after two hours of searching, my dog was found unharmed (just exhausted). However, she was over 1.5 miles from the "groomer" (near Brunner Elementary), and she had navigated numerous busy roads and intersections. I am extremely fortunate to still have my dog with me. Throughout the entire ordeal, the "groomer" appeared to be very unsympathetic, and just kind of an "oops" attitude. Bottom line: Completely incompetent individual and an unprofessional operation.