I couldn't be happier with the service at Ruff Is Ready. Best of all, as others have noted, you get a dedicated, 90-minute time slot, which means as soon as s/he is dropped off, your dog is attended to, with no sitting around in a crate for hours waiting her/his turn. I got a text giving me the 20-minute warning, and exactly 90 minutes after the drop off, my girl was ready. And man was she cute! Pomeranians are somewhat difficult to groom, since their major fluffitude makes for an all-or-nothing proposition. Aryan did a great job, he takes credit cards, you can book online, there truly is street parking just around the corner...there's nothing not to recommend. To the contrary, I've already referred several folks with small dogs to Ruff Is Ready. read more

Ruff Is Ready - Maudie mere minutes after a great grooming session at Ruff Is Ready - Pet Groomers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I brought Bruno my mini poodle to Ayran Athey at Ruff Is Ready for the first time today, and was thrilled with the great haircut that Ayran gave Bruno, and was amazed by the very reasonable price of $50! But the best part was truly that Ayran schedules 1.5 hr appointments and only works on one dog at a time!!! This means that Bruno is not locked in a cage for hours on end as has occurred with other groomers nearby, who wash all the dogs at once, then dry them, then do their nails, then cut them, etc, ultimately resulting in a very long day at the groomer and and unhappy dog. Instead, Ayran's basement location is truly a one-dog experience. It's not posh or fancy at all, but Ruff Is Ready gives personal one-on-one attention to the dog he's grooming at the time. Ayran told me that Bruno was kissing him throughout the grooming, which truly made me feel at ease and quite happy! When I arrived 1.5 hrs later to pick up Bruno, Ayran made sure that I was happy with the cut, and then even took out his clippers one more time to shorten Bruno's mustache to my satisfaction. I've just found a new groomer and couldn't be happier! One final note... Ruff is Ready only grooms "small" dogs under 35 lbs. read more

Ruff Is Ready - Bruno with his just-coiffed haircut from Ruff Is Ready. - Pet Groomers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We gave Ayran a tall order - it was our very fluffy puppy's first haircut, and he had one leg shaved due to surgery, so the rest of him needed to be groomed to match. Basically, Ayran had to shave down a very squirmy and skittish pup while trying to keep him as cute as possible at the end. The results were fantastic! Pickle looks sporty and has been much better at allowing us to touch his paws and ears since. Other pros, you can book online, the location and price are both super convenient, and Ayran is great to work with. read more

I took my 3 year old lhasa apso to Aryan and was very pleased. Before grooming, he asked me for the specific cut I wanted and even showed me different lengths before I decided on one. I really appreciate that he only takes 1 dog at a time as my dog has very bad anxiety and needs one-on-one attention. It was very quick - she was ready in about an hour! - and only $60 which is by far the cheapest I've seen for a "boutique" groomer. I will say that I was slightly sketched out by the basement drop off location, but the haircut was quality and convenientently located so I can overlook this. read more

I'm new in town and asked around for referrals. I was admittedly drawn in by the price tag of $50. The average prices i have found elsewhere in DC were closer to $80. I recently moved from Sacramento and I was paying $45 for a GREAT groomer and that was the high end of the 4 I tried there. I have a 10 lb Havanese. He has a beautiful coat and I wanted to keep it longer because of the weather. I thought I explained that, though the groomer said he didn't scissor cut and could do 3/4 at the longest. I explained i wanted the face cleaned up, legs as short as possible without making him look weird and belly pretty short, cause he picks up EVERYTHING like a sponge when i walk him. I came back to a decent cut on the legs, but the body was much shorter and the face was choppy and uneven. I've been told by more than one groomer that my dog is easy to work with, so I don't think it was an issue with a wiggly dog. I guess my biggest lesson is to ask if they scissor cut for the detail work. and to be MORE clear about wanting the body left longer. The groomer was nice enough and let my dog play with his (i ran a bit behind picking him up), but in this case, i guess you get what you pay for. read more

We really like Aryan, but more importantly, our dog really likes Aryan. Our dog is often skittish and anxious around anyone but us, but he happily goes with Aryan (who doesn't, btw, bribe with treats). He is one of the only groomers in the area who only takes one dog at a time. His basement studio does leave something to be desired, but this is a downtown location. We've gone to him for almost two years, and are happy with how cute our dog looks after-- but best of all, how our dog enjoys going to the groomer. read more

I feel the need to leave a glowing review, simply because I don't understand the hateful comments some people have left! We love Ayran -- and I mean, LOVE. Percy, my ten-month-old Poodle Mix, loves most everybody at first, but he's a smart boy and he remembers people who treat him well (or don't). We live at 9th and R, on the other side of Rhode Island, and I don't have a car most days so finding a groomer we can walk to was amazing luck. Ayran does operate his business out of his basement apartment, which occasionally means his personal space and work space coexist. I think it's outrageous to say that him eating in your presence is unprofessional -- he has a popular business, and he does it alone. Man's gotta feed himself. I have never had an issue with his studio being dirty *before* grooming, and after, the place is covered in my dog's fluff so what can you do? I will say that we have sometimes gotten our signals crossed in re: the actual cut. I like Percy to look like the teddy bear that he is, but I don't like the fan tail or shaggy ears. I do often trim his tail myself, as Ayran prefers not to do an enormous amount of nitpicking because he likes to keep to a schedule. This is mostly for the sake of the dog, since what dog likes to stand still for an hour and a half to get their tail clipped? Ayran always bathes Percy so he comes home smelling fresh and clean. His nails and sanitary are always neat, and his paws get cleaned out of all that fur that grows so quickly. Percy runs down the stairs to Ayran's door and jumps into his lap at the first opportunity. He wouldn't be like that if Ayran didn't care for him or treat him well. Last time we went, Ayran called me soon after the drop off to let me know that he'd have to clip Percy's body shorter than I prefer because he had some mats on his belly and chest. Percy wears a harness most of the time, and he does not like getting brushed. Ayran explained the issue and gave me several options of what to do, but also told me his opinion of what would be most comfortable and safe for him and for Percy. My puppy came out looking much better than I expected, and very happy due to the great care he gets at Ruff is Ready. All in all, we love this groomer and can't picture ourselves going anywhere else. read more

affordable? check online booking? check good results? check knowledgeable? check parking in vicinity? check i really can't think of a item that isn't on the list. it's well worth it. read more

Absolutely horrible experience. I agree with Sandra G's review completely. Not only did Aryan refuse service to us because our 25 pound Lhaso Apso mix was too big for his "preference" (even though the website suggests that he will cut dogs up to 45 lbs), he was extremely rude, sarcastic, and unprofessional. Even though I called ahead of time to get the details and left work for the appointment, we were turned away based on a "judgement call" at the scheduled appointment time. I am not sure who Aryan's clientele is, but I would discourage anyone from trying this place. read more

i took my pup here once! i mean it was not bad! i just didn't like the cut at all! i asked for one thing... The owner kept saying "OK OK" giving me that look like "Honey I AM THE GROOMER I GOT THIS" I totally understand that type of attitude. As a makeup artist there is nothing worse than someone telling you how to do your job. HOWEVER as a paying customer you know what you want. If the person doing the service does not see or agree with your vision or request its their job to make a different suggestion at that point it will be up to you what to decided! Don't just take my animal and do what YOU want to do! That isn't fair! read more

As an update to my previous note, when I had to take James (my dog) to get his legs trimmed yesterday to fix the horrible cut Aaron gave so he wasn't so disproportionate looking, the groomer said he constantly tried to bite him. James had never once had a problem with groomers beforehand, so Aaron really did a number on him. Really, really disappointing. read more

I took my minature schnauzer today the owner was absolutely professional, gracious, patient with me and my six month old puppy. This was my baby's first real grooming so I was sooo nervous leaving her. When picked up she was absolutely Gorgeous and she knew it!!!!! I'm am so happy with Ruff is Ready, I'm hooked there is no alternative for my little girl!!! read more

I thought we were doing ok, although the grooming was more generic than tailored to my dogs' breed. I was ok with that because I don't show them, and don't hesitate to touch a raggedy grooming. However I was disappointed about being fired because my dogs are too big (40 lb) read more

Aryan trimmed our terrier in the spring and I made an appointment yesterday for 200 today. Showed up, no answer at the door. Called and left a message asking for a call back - nothing. Called again around 240 and Aryan answered and said "I forgot to look at the schedule today. Sorry". This is no way to run a business. Does the $40 charge for missed appointments go both ways? read more

I don't typically write reviews, but after calming down and reflecting, I think sharing the experience that I had recently had is important for other dog owners in the area. For background, I had been taking my little Yorkie to Ayran at Ruff is Ready since I got her when she was two - so nearly 7 years. Until her last three appointments, everything had been fine and I recommended him as a groomer to many dog owners in the neighborhood. The first time there was a very small incident - he said that she accidentally got nicked on her tongue with the scissors when he was trimming her face, and showed me where and said these cuts bleed quite a bit but they heal quickly. These things are true, and he was upfront and honest with me and it was the first incident over a long period of time so I let it go. The second time, he said he accidentally nicked her hind leg a little bit with the razor - it was very minor and more like a scrape - not bleeding, so I was alarmed but not overly concerned. I kept an eye on it, kept it clean and she healed up pretty quickly. I thought I'd give him another chance. And this third chance - was by far, the worst. It was beyond traumatizing - which may sound overly dramatic but for any dog owner who has seen their dog in pain and bleeding all over you, I think you will understand. Per usual, Ayran texted me that she was ready and I said I'd be there shortly. 10 minutes later, my little one is so excited to see me as usual and jumped all over my lap. I handed him cash, and went to put her harness on. That's when I noticed that my hands and my pants and shirt were covered in blood. Covered. He said oh her tongue got a tiny cut but it wasn't bleeding before. I was emotional and kept trying to check it, but she was panicky and just wanted to get out of there. He apologized and offered to return the money but I wasn't concerned about that, and wanted to pay for the haircut she received and get out of there to make sure she was okay. He rinsed the blood off of my hands in the groomer sink and handed me a towel to wipe the blood off of my face (she had licked my face in excitement and there was blood all over the side of it). When we got home, I was in tears but quickly examined her injury more closely in the light and assess if she needed to go to the vet. That's when I saw that her face and underneath her mouth was completely red with blood. The cut on her tongue - while not serious enough to go to the vet (I FaceTimed a vet friend) - was serious. There was nothing a vet could do to treat it, but I am still horrified and monitoring the slice in her tongue to ensure it doesn't get infected. I'm not sure how it will heal or if it will heal properly - the damage might be permanent. I believe that he felt badly about hurting her. Of course, I don't think he intended to - but the severity of the cut/slice, and the fact that he did not immediately tell me about it was so, so wrong. I am still so emotional about it - but I want other dog owners to know that if you take your dog to this groomer, this could happen to you. I did end up asking for my money back after seeing the severity of her injury more closely - and he complied (no apology included). read more

I took my two babies, Shih-poos, here for their first hair cuts. I was very nervous to take them anywhere but Aryan really cares about dogs and does an excellent job. He did exactly what I wanted and they looked great. I will not take my dogs anywhere else in the city. read more

I took my 16 lb. shih tzu to Ayron for a grooming last month. Overall, an average doggie grooming experience. What I asked for was done, but there were a few things I didn't love. Pros: -Fast- In and out in 1.5 hours -Convenient- Booked online only a few days before the scheduled appt. -Followed directions- Ayron asked very specifically what I wanted--very short groom, ear plucking, and anal gland expression--and did everything that was asked -Price-$65 for full groom Cons: -As mentioned in another review, there wasn't very much scissor work done on the cut. I asked for a very short cut, but it kind of looked like a buzz cut without cleaning up any ragged edges. I'm also not sure the face had been trimmed, and ended up doing it myself the following day. -It also seemed like Ayron was rushing a bit. The previous doggie client was still there when I dropped my dog off, so maybe 1.5 hours really isn't enough for each dog? I don't know. -My dog didn't smell clean. I know this is sort of picky and maybe the type of shampoo Ayron uses isn't the frou-frou flowery kind, but I kind of like my dog to be clean smelling when I pick him up. -The location was a little sketchy--wasn't a huge fan of the basement drop-off in a row house. read more

My husband and I have been taking our Coton de Tulear to Ayran for 2 years. Our little guy has never been groomed by anyone else. Never having been a dog owner in the past and realizing that despite being small, our long haired little furball would need frequent grooms, I searched around for any place in DC or MD who was willing to take on a Coton and had reasonable prices. I stumbled across Ruff is Ready deep in a Google hunt. I had called numerous other groomers who would not touch Cotons (they get quite matted) or who were at least double the price. We figured we'd give Ruff is Ready a shot. Ayran is always very patient with our little mongrel, despite his poor puppy behavior (which sadly continues despite his maturity). Ayran was also very patient with us as new dog owners in the beginning and offered some useful recommendations on how to keep our little one looking fresher between grooms. Back in the early days when we were less experienced and our pup was particularly matted, Ayran spent excessive time combing him and helping him be healthy, clean and beautiful. We appreciate Ayran's patience and consistently positive attitude. Keep in mind that you will not be visiting a fancy doggie salon - the grooming is done in a basement apartment. The services, however, are top-notch and the prices are more than reasonable. We always enjoy the time during the groom as an excuse to wander the city and grab a nice lunch - there are some great restaurants nearby. All in all, we have enjoyed a consistently positive experience at Ruff is Ready and highly recommend it (although we request that you not take the particularly coveted Saturday appt. times away from us.) : ) read more

They did a great job on my puppy's first hair cut, and the most reasonable prices in town! Can't beat that!

Ayran groomed my dog June for the first time this week and did an excellent job. I couldn't have been more pleased. The location is great as is the price and the quality is top notch. And Ayran is nice as can be. We were very pleased by the entire experience. read more

My husband and I are new to DC and we have a 30lb Labradoodle (Lucie) that needed grooming. I found this place on Yelp and the reviews seemed pretty good so we thought we would give it a try. My dog is 30lbs and the website states they will groom dogs up to 39lbs. My husband brought Lucie in for her 11:30am appt today and walked in, to a person eating. Did he not check his appts? Then the person asked if my husband could walk the dog around the block so he could finish eating. Call me crazy but I don't think this is how someone in the customer service business should greet new clients. Anyway, my husband reluctantly returned to the groomer and the groomer said that he really did not like grooming large dog's and prefer's smaller dogs, even though 30lbs is acceptable according to their website. Is this person just a lunatic?????? Not to mention his totally unprofessional behavior and wasting my husband's time traveling across town. Consider our horrible experience, your warning NOT to bring your dog here, regardless of their size. In addition, it's a disgusting, dingy, dirty basement facility. One more thing, I also thought this was a very mean thing to do to my dog. This person cannot give a sh*t about animals! read more

I brought my Cairland Terrier (Cairn/Westie Mix) to Ayran today for his first professional grooming and I love the results. I actually planned on bathing my pup on my own then realized he needed a full makeover (hair clip, nails trimmed, bathe and blowdry) and I just wasn't up for it. I came across the previous review on the shop and decided to give it a try. I called him up and he was able to fit me in for an appointment right away. The shop is conveniently located within about a 15 min walking distance from my home. The prices are very reasonable compared to most places in the the area. Ayran was very attentive in the brief consult before the appointment during which he asked if I had any preferences or any areas of concern. I told him that I put my full trust in him and he did not let me down. I will be visiting Ayran at Ruff Is Ready again and would recommend this place for anyone in the area looking for quality groomer at a great rate. read more