I heard good things about Soco pet lounge, so I decided to call them to schedule baths for my two dogs. After beginning the scheduling process, I was informed that they do not accept pit bulls or pit mixes due to "insurance reasons". I would have really appreciated knowing this before I called and would have expected it to be clearly (and largely) labeled on their website. I have a pit/lab mix who has been going to doggie daycare his whole life and is very comfortable around all dogs and people. It seems to me, especially in such a pet friendly city, a dog wouldn't be discriminated against based on breed. I didn't even ask for him to be around other dogs--all I wanted was a simple bath service! I was very disappointed to hear that my dog would be turned away solely due to breed bias without even going through any kind of temperament test. read more

This review is not for the boarding services but only for their grooming services. I have a doodle that I purchased a spa package for. On a positive note, it is reasonably priced. However, I was very specific in explaining exactly how I wanted my dog trimmed and not shaved. I showed ther CSR with my fingers how much I wanted off and listed several examples of what I did not want the dog to look like. She agreed and I left confident believing that someone had listened. As I was still out of town, I had a relative pick her up. When I was informed how short my dog's hair is, I was very upset. When I saw my dog I was in tears. She doesn't look like a poodle or a golden- she simply looks awful. My review is not even really about the fact that my dog's hair has about 6 months to grow back to looking normal. My review is about the shocking customer service I received when addressing this problem. When I called to complain at the earliest possible chance I could (next day), the manager informed me that it was not the fault of his staff as there were personal problems ensuing during the time she was groomed, but that it was my fault for not being explicit enough. He did not offer me a refund or comped services, just instead raised his voice, refused to listen to my concerns and I ended the phone call to prevent any further escalation. I should also note as above reviewer did, that my dog was so thirsty when she came home that I do not believe she was give enough water while staying there. In any event, I'm extremely disappointed and waiting for her hair to grow. :( read more

The people were extremely nice and polite and tried to help my anxious puppy out. Two stars... I took my puppy for her bath yesterday and she has been scratching non stop, and her coat is flaky. It is getting really bad and I had to leave town and couldn't take her back. I don't know what to do!!! This is starting to worry me. I haven't seen any fleas on her so I don't think that's it. I updated my review to five stars... My puppy was horribly allergic to the perfume or something scented that they had used. I was contacted by the groomer and she had me come in to give Lali a hypoallergenic bath. She immediately stopped scratching. She has been so much better since her bath and is now happy. I was really pleased with the fact that they took their time to figure out what was wrong and make it right. I'll definitely be visiting them again!!! read more

I Own 3 dogs and been using boarding services for a long time. I am never trusting and never at ease when I leave my dogs with stranger and can honestly say that I had bad experiences before. I had to board my 9 yr old chihuahua for a couple of days and was very unease, like some of the reviews here say, the person behind the counter didn't seem very interested. I am so happy I didn't let that initial impression make my decision, while I was away I called a couple of time to check on my dog, the staff was super nice, they didn't have to check before answering my question and the first person who answered the phone knew exactly how is my dog and while they told me he had a bit of anxiety which is normal and they were very well aware of him and did everything to make him feel comfortable. Normally, picking up my dog from boarding is a very emotional sight and my dogs will greet me anxious to leave. Not this time!! I will definitely be back the next time I need someone to take care of my K9 child. Thanks read more

My guys loved Soco. They remained their normal selves. Like at home. The staff showed genuine concern and only asked questions that would make my guys more at home . Kudos everyone. read more

I didn't even get a chance to board my sweet six month pit mix because of their policies against bully breeds. Really, SoCo Pet Lounge? We live in Austin and it's 2017 - quit contributing to the stigma. A stigma that harms countless animals every year because of ideologies like yours. If other pet boarding places in town can take bully breeds, you shouldn't be an exception. Get with the times and change your policies. read more

I took my Dogs here for boarding over Christmas break after having used them prior for grooming services. I was told that they would be in supervised play groups during their stay and I thought they would be in good hands. Unfortunately I was wrong. One of my dogs was attacked by another dog during these "supervised" play groups and I was called hours after dropping them off explaining that "something just happened very fast" and that they would have to take my dog to the vet to be treated. Upon getting him checked up I was informed that I would have to pay a nearly $500 vet bill de to THEIR negligence in supervising my pets. My dog had to have multiple stitches and was traumatized by this. The owner of the establishment called an left me a message that they were sorry but all they could do was give me a $100 credit for my stay. They then proceeded to charge me $40 for taking my dog to the vet AGAIN DUE TO THEIR NEGLIGENCE. A stay that should have been $200 turned to nearly $700, mind you days after Christmas. I cannot advise enough to not use the services of SoCo Pet Lounge unless you want unexpected bills and a whole lot of headache. read more

I've used them for full pet grooming service twice (medium sized Aussie doodle) and twice I've had to take him back for a recut. I was clear prior to the first visit about what style I wanted to avoid. When I picked him up, they did exactly the opposite of what I asked. I went back a second time because they were the only groomers within reasonable distance and could more importantly accommodate my schedule....unfortunately I had the same experience (for example they only trimmed one of his eyebrows and eye lashes). I am by no means hard to please when it comes to grooming my pup, but unless your number one priority is scheduling, I can't recommend this place. read more

Doodle Owners beware! Terrible experience this morning at SoCo pet lounge. Groomer admitted to only have worked on two doodles her entire career. This owner has lost his best groomer as before this morning I was a happy customer having used the prior groomer who is no longer employees here. After waiting three weeks to come in, a 8 am and 11 am appointment was made for my two goldendoodles. No confirmation text came as it had in prior appointments. Upon booking today's appointment the request was made for 1/2 inch puppy cut w/ no mustache or shaving around the eyes. Examples were offered but they did not accept anything via email. It's like starting over with a new hair stylist when you have to start from scratch so I figured more details were better upon booking. They confirmed they could perform this trim three weeks ago and the appointment was confirmed. As I showed up at 8 AM to drop off my first doodle, I again explained the requests I had previously communicated upon booking. She acknowledged that she could do this, however the appointment wasn't on the books until 11 am, so I returned home in rush hour traffic to come back at 11 am. At 8:35 am the groomer called to inform me she is unable to perform her job as she didn't feel comfortable with the simple and same request I had provided this place with in prior visits & upon booking three weeks ago. It's surprising someone with very little experience is at the helm here. I'd highly recommend avoiding the pitfall of wasting time and having to scramble to find a groomer w/o a waitlist. Extremely unorganized and unprofessional all around since my last visit. Don't waste your time, energy, or money at this poorly run business. read more

Very happy with our experiences here. Our pup Julep has been going here consistently for two years and we are impressed more and more with every cut. The staff is friendly and easy going. Always the same groomer so they know what our dog's cut is. Highly recommend!! read more

**After reading Todd's response (see below), I decided to amend my review slightly since my limited experience with the facility might not have given me a full picture of the amount of supervision they provide for the dogs. My edited review is below** I typically don't write yelp reviews, especially less-than-positive ones, but I thought that I should share a little about this place for others who might be shopping around for a doggie daycare. I took my dog here for a trial day and was a bit surprised about the setup. I have taken my dog to other doggie daycares in the past and go in expecting that my dog will be supervised by a human at all times (of course, if they have to turn away for a few seconds to attend to another dog, that is completely reasonable) and that they will be entertained and have lots interactions with other dogs and humans. When I dropped my dog off, I asked to see the area where he would be playing all day. Although there may have been more supervision at some point in the day, it appeared that the dogs were kept largely unattended in the fenced outside play area. The staff person said that they come out to "check on them" from time to time and that they will bring them inside if it gets too hot. Todd (the owner, I believe) has since responded to my initial comments and it seems like I might have been misinformed about the amount of supervision by the staff person I first met. It was my impression that there is no one consistently outside supervising them. Also - in response to Todd's comment below about their observation period and policy of grouping dogs with similar play styles: The person at the front desk never asked any questions about my dog's play style nor did she mention (or seem to conduct) any temperament test. If you're looking for a place to drop off your dog for the day, it's probably fine and they would be adequately taken care of. However, if you're looking for a place where your dog will get lots of play and attention from humans, there might be better options out there. read more

Morgen is a great groomer. She has been grooming my havanese dog, Nikki for over a year now, and Morgen has her looking, and feeling a million bucks! Even when Morgen had a broken hand she did a great job. Nikki means the world to me, so to know I can trust Morgen 100% gives me peace of mind. Thank you, Morgen!!! read more

Our dogs stay here weekly for daycare and we have left them for boarding several times. The staff is phenomenal. They truly care about our babies and our babies care about them too! I always recommend SOCO Pet Lounge for anyone who has a dog or cat. read more

Our sweet lady dog Hovi has been going to Soco Pet Lounge for daycare 3x/week for almost a year, and we are so incredibly pleased with the genuine care and attentiveness of the staff. This being her first daycare experience, we were naturally neurotic/curious about every detail when we first came on board. It's now become a second home for her. The place is clean and well-maintained, and the staff has been stellar since day one. They are wonderful and caring, and they take a genuine interest in your pet. I can't tell you how excited Hovi gets in the mornings knowing she's on her way to see her friends, and she always comes home happy after a well-balanced day of playtime and rest. She's also shown growth in her social skills. Thank you for everything! read more

Honestly, this place is awesome! I have had my pup groomed here and boarded here twice! Scheduling the dates to board her was a very easy process... they are very clear about what requirements they have when scheduling. They require certain up to date shots to ensure the safety of all the dogs/people there, so if you were turned away for not having a dog with up to date shots, I do not pity you in anyway!!!!!!! Same with breed restrictions... they are there for a reason! The first time my pup was groomed here (was her first time being groomed) the lady who groomed her called me throughout the day to keep me updated on her progress and how my pup was handling everything. Was an excellent turn out, I was very pleased. The first time my pup was boarded here, the guy that took her in made sure we had a comfortable conversation in front of my pup to ensure she felt calm and good about being taken into the lounge. It helped ease both of our nerves. When I picked her up she was of course excited to see me and was still a very happy pup. Don't listen to the crazies who gave this place not so nice reviews, trust me. This place is reliable and delivers... I highly recommend! :) read more

We have boarded our boxers with them many times over the last few years. The facility is nice because it's smaller than a lot of the boarding places near us. Our dogs can play with others but do better in smaller controlled groups so we like this about SoCo Pet Lounge. The facility is also clean and the kennels are a good size to have them together. The main issue we have had is that twice now upon picking our dogs up they have had to pee so badly that they either peed In the parking lot or in the car. They're 7 & 8 years old and can go 10+ hours without a bathroom break so I'm concerned that they're not let out frequently. Both instances occurred during a Sunday afternoon pick up so I would imagine they would have had a morning potty break and at least 1-2 play times so it doesn't add up. The staff were very busy with pick up so I didn't ask questions at the time but wish I had. On the fence about using them in the future. read more

I have taken my dog in for grooming and the first time she was cut great. I have a 51/2 # maltese. I was charged $64.00 and was ok because she looked so good. I have had her groomed there several times after that. I didn't bring her in during Dec. as they were too busy and had to wait til Dec 27th. Her hair was a bit longer than normal and I was concerned she might have a few mats and told the desk that if she had mats not to shave her.(I coudnot feel any mats and she gets brushed daily,but just in case) When I picked her up the girl at the desk informed me that the next time I brought her in my charge would be $75.00 as she has to be all scissor cut by hand and it was too much work. Well SOCO you have lost another customer as I can get her done cheaper and without the snotty attitude. read more

I toured SOCO Pet Lounge earlier this week and I am in love with this place! The girls at the front desk were super nice and the facility is beautiful. The dogs all seemed so happy outside playing together and there was this sweet pup in their playroom lounging on the bed like she was the center of the universe! Check this place out, you won't be sorry! read more

Bailey is now 8 years old and LOVES her trips to Soco Pet Lounge - almost too much! She comes home a bit depressed from leaving all her friends! The staff at Soco Pet Lounge are so friendly, responsive, accommodating and keep you posted on what is going on with your pet. Their prices are great too! read more

We have taken our two dogs here about 5 times, all for stays of a week or more. I have never noticed anything amiss. When they get there they trot in happily. When we pick them up they go crazy from missing us, but everything seems fine. The cages were clean on a surprise inspection. We have been using a boarding place closer to home that has a bigger play yard, but whenever we were in a pinch Soco has always been there for us with availability. The staff has always been friendly and remember us even when it has been awhile since we have been there. Our dogs have short hair so we have never done any fancy grooming, but we have had them bathed before being picked up and that was fine. read more

I take my two dogs to Soco Pet Lounge every time I'm out of town and they are always excited for their stay .The staff is very friendly and always remembers my dogs and I got compliments after grooming them here. read more

This review is for the daycare portion of their business. I moved to Austin recently and needed a doggie daycare at the last minute because of apartment issues. I took my two small dogs in, drove to work with a horrible feeling and then immediately turned around to pick up my dogs. Here's the reason I couldn't leave my dogs: - The worker never showed any interest in my dogs. Didn't pet. Didn't ask me if they were friendly with other dogs. Didn't ask for names or which one was which. - The worker DRAGGED my 10 pound puppy by his leash. I had to tell him to please stop -- clearly my dog is scarred and to please either carry or comfort him. The worker seemed a bit annoyed, picked up my dog (who was shaking) and carried him away. - I was not asked to fill out paperwork. I had to prompt SoCo so I could fill out my contact information -- it was forgotten - I asked what they would be doing while at daycare -- no real answer. Told me most of the daycare clients get there at 12 so they will have playmates then. So what are they doing before that? - I was not allowed to see the facility -- I asked the worker if I could tour the play areas. I was told no. - The dogs were left in a room alone. The staff did not appear to care they were distressed and might need some human interaction before being locked into a room. My puppy doesn't ever "scream" and he was "screaming". It brought tears to my eyes to see my dogs through the window of the room (they couldn't see me) as they paced by the door, panted and screamed. I left my dogs there. Drove 15 minutes up the road. Broke down. And returned to pick them up. Upon my return, - The food I had left for my dog was still sitting at the front desk with no label or note on it. - My dogs were still stressed in their room. It took my puppy hours to start acting like himself again. - I reached out to the Facebook admin of the page asking to speak with the owner. I was given a generic info line. Disclaimer to this review: My dogs have been to daycares in Dallas before with no issue. The staff at those establishments have always been head-over-heels for my dogs (I swear my pups loved them more than they loved me!). My dogs did not stay in the daycare beyond maybe 25 minutes tops. I was not comfortable with the situation. My dogs are my family -- family isn't treated like that. read more

We brought out two small dogs to be groomed and they did an amazing job. They both came back looking amazing and happy as ever. Great experience all around read more

I didn't even get to make an appointment. They refused my services because "Our groomers don't work with chow mixed breeds".

I had a death in the family had to fly to California. I had to board my puppy, he was current with his shots and Kate assured me that I had nothing to worry about. I planned my trip I even called her to confirm she sounded so sweet, NOT!!!!! My husband dropped off the puppy for boarding and they wouldn't accept him because he needed another shot which she assured me he was to young to have, and that wouldn't be a problem. I had to fix this HUGE problem while in California. I will never recommend this place to anyone. Anderson Mill vet took him in short notice and was much cheaper!!!!!!!!!! Go to Anderson Mill they are incredibly nice and are so helpful read more

Sent my 7 month old puppy to stay for about 5 days.. he came back with a bacterial infection under his arm.. it's impossible to know where he got the infection (not implying it was SoCos fault) but it would have been nice to have been told! No one mentioned it to me the many times I called to check up and no one said anything when I went to pick him up. I'm assuming they didn't realize but it seems like something that should have been noticed... read more

We've been taking orson, or 8 year old lab, to daycare for over 6 months twice a week. The staff is always friendly and knows orson, he is always excited to go and exhausted when we pick him up. A tired pup is a happy pup! read more

I love SOCO Pet Lounge and recommend it for all of your grooming and boarding needs! They staff is extremely friendly and has always been willing to help in any situation. I have found that SOCO Pet Lounge is affordable, always on schedule, and satisfies all of my pets grooming needs. You are asked to fill out a sheet explaining exactly how you would like your dog cut. This worked out so nicely for me that they kept my description on file and when I go in, it makes the process both easier and faster! The groomer is extremely nice and is always willing to talk to you about any questions or concerns you may have. She also makes sure you are 100% satisfied at the end of your visit. Also, they are affiliated with the vet across the street and can administer any shots your pup may need during their visit. Much better and way more convenient than waiting at the vet it you ask me. read more

Best groomer in Austin! They actually listen to my requests and trimmed our little 6lb poodle/yorkie mix perfectly. They didn't keep her all day and their prices are reasonable. Bean never looked better! read more

I would recommend SOCO lounge to anyone who asked. I have never boarded my dogs before. We were leaving town for the weekend last minute, and when we asked our usual dog sitters, they were battling a rattle snake infestation on their property. With them worrying enough about keeping their own pups safe, I didn't want to add to their stress, or mine, about our dogs being safe. I had seen SOCO lounge while driving up and down Congress before. So I googled them for more information, and then of course, checked out the online reviews. I usually try to read through the bad reviews first to see if they seem legitimate or made out of unreasonable frustration. The negative reviews I found, all centered around grooming services not being done to the owners preference. In my case, the only times I groom my dogs is to combat the Texas summer heat. I am not at all picky as long as the dogs are happier and cooler in the summer - so for me, those reviews didn't influence my decision in the slightest. When I called SOCO, the woman on the phone sounded very sweet and sincere, and they were able to accommodate my dogs at the last minute. I did have a total first day of kindergarten moment after dropping them off, and worried if they would be okay, if anything bad would happen, and worst of all, if they would get along with others. I'm sure this is typical for first timers. When we arrived on Sunday, promptly at 3pm when SOCO opens, the staff was already there and ready. The same woman that checked us in, handled our check out. She told us our dogs were great, got along with others, and were super easy all around. When they brought them out, they were of course, absolutely thrilled to see us, but also in really good spirits overall. I half expected them to be whimpering and running to the car, but they were just being happy dogs - comfortable around the staff and on the property. I am definitely a newbie when it comes to boarding my dogs, but I will absolutely be a return customer any time that I need to board my dogs. Thanks so much SOCO, I'm a fan! read more

*UPDATE* My dog has been experiencing some regression with his separation anxiety and crate anxiety issues since his recent stay at the lounge. Upon calling, I was told that the dogs are crated from 6:30pm to 7:30am (13 hours?!). This was surprising, to say the least. Not saying the prolonged crating caused his anxiety to return, but I'm sure it didn't help him and other anxious dogs. read more

Silly me, I bought a coupon for a hair cut for my dog with this "outfit". I called and made an appointment for a day when I had lots of other appointments scheduled. I took my dog into the "joint" and the receptionist had no record fo an appointment and made no effort to help with the situation. It was one of those really, really hot days and I did not want to leave my dog in the car while I did my errands. The receptionist called the owner and they offered to allow me to leave my dog----for a huge fee---no offer to reschedule the hair cut appointment but your typical "bait and switch" program. It seems to me that the coupon groups need to screen these companies and make sure that they are on the "up and up" and not just another scam!!! read more

I took my dog to get groomed recently. When I picked her up at first glance everything looked good. The groomer made sure to tell me that they accidently brushed off a scab on her paw when brushing her. Being a guy I don't pay super close attention to the details of my dog so I didn't know my dog had a wound on her foot so I said whatever and went on my way. Over the course of the last few days my girlfriend has found four different scabs on my dog. We have a very prissy girl dog. She doesn't wrestle or fight other dogs so there is no way she would have four separate wounds on her body. I might be making assumptions but everything adds up to the groomer cutting my dog multiple times. Add to this the fact that it was just a very poor grooming job. There was a lot of long missed strands of fut on my dog's paws and legs. For $50+ dollars I can get a thorough dog grooming elsewhere where they won't injure my dog. No thanks. read more

Friendly staff, but the $90 dollar service I ordered lacked. The haircut was uneven, awkward, and all around bad.

I took my Bichon and Maltese here for a summer cut. It was an easy job, I keep them short and I'm not overly picky. They didn't clean the hair out of their ears at all. They skipped their belly and sanitary area all together. That is just basic grooming. My Bichon had nicks on her legs. Never going back. read more

i have been having a great experience with SOCO pet lounge. i've been taking my dog there for day care and highly recommend it. i know my dog is playing outside, compared to other daycares in the area where they spend most of their time inside in caged in areas. the staff is friendly and bring their own dogs in, which i like a lot. also very reasonably priced. read more

We got our dog Lagio groomed here and they did a fantastic job!! We really can't say enough about what a great experience AND grooming job they did. We also left Lagio there for some play time afterward- and he loved it! The staff is VERY friendly and all of the other dogs looked really happy. The place is clean, easy to find and parking is not an issue. We highly recommend SOCO Pet lounge!! read more

I had to go out of town at the last minute and the great people here made it very easy to get my dog in to the kennel. The staff was great and very nice. I have been back twice since then and every time I pick up my dog she seems happy. The grooming isn't the best, I had my dog bathed and her nails trimmed and you couldn't tell if they washed her at all. I could have done a better job bathing her. But her nails were trimmed just fine and my dog was happy so I can't complain! read more

I left my dog here over the past weekend when I was on vacation, and I was highly impressed with the service. Their staff was super nice and my dog looked liked he had a great time. The staff was calling him by his name Kobe when he was leaving. I couldn't have felt more comfortable. I would highly recommend to anyone out there. read more

I took my pup in for a bath and haircut. Everyone was super nice and they got me in quickly! Her haircut was what I asked it to be and she seemed happy when I picked her up! read more