We have gone sporadically to The Barking Lot for a couple of years now. There was a miscommunication with the preference card recently and I was less than pleased with the grooming service provided. However, when I called to discuss it with the owner, he was more than happy to help. He went through and investigated the situation/preference cards, did not blame it on staff, all while trying to provide the best customer service he could. They were able to fit my two dogs in last minute which I appreciated and they did an excellent job. Even if it was a sub optimal groom, having an owner who works with customers to try and navigate problems and make them right makes this business stand out. Thank you! read more

I took my cat in for a lion cut. He has very long hair and it was getting matted. Luke greeted me at the door. He listened to me tell him about my kitty, who had never been groomed other than at the vet's office, and assured me everything would be fine. Luke did a wonderful job! Ozpin looks great! They also tried to bathe him but he wasn't having it..lol! Price was very reasonable, too. Luke and The Barking Lot now have a customer for life! read more

The owner is a really nice guy, he is great to my dogs. They always look great after

Our dog had numerous cuts. We were not told that she had been cut by the razor. We will not return. read more

Amazing experience, very kind staff, highly recommend. Will be back for sure!!!!! My puppy was so happy

Corey the front desk clerk was extremely rude. He called me to let me know that there was a matting fee charged and that they went ahead and de matted my dog and charged me an extra $35 for the service. When I asked him why I wasn't notified before they did the service he replied, "Well I am telling you now!" I didn't appreciate his tone or demeanor on the phone. After it was all said and done the owner took off the matting fee and I only paid for the actual wash and shampoo. Corey needs to be coached on how to talk to customers because he is going to come across the wrong person one day and it may not go so well for him. He is extremely immature and unprofessional! I have always loved my experiences with The Barking Lot. I actually like them better than Pet Smart and everywhere else I have taken my dog. They have always been very nice and extremely friendly. But after today I may need to consider going somewhere else if I am going to have to deal with rude employees such as Corey. He is unnecessary. Updated Review as of 06/19/2024: The owner Steve saw my review and we have since spoken and everything has been rectified. I am changing my review to 5 stars! Thank you, Steve for taking the time to speak with me :-) read more

I took my american eskimo and corgi here once a month between November 2022 and May 2023. The objective was to tidy up my dogs, cut their nails and bath them. Scheduling with Steve was relatively easy since I scheduled appointments 6 months in advance. Steve was kind enough to call and remind us of each of our appointments. There's several issues which have stopped me from using this establishment: 1. Pricing: Steve's cozen practice of stating "oh I don't know how much this is going to cost since there's so many factors at play here" without disclosing how much different services were resulted in the bill totaling $120 for both dogs some occasions and other times $170+. 2. Method of payment: Steve prefers cash but states he's open to accepting cards, however, when prompted about how much the card fee is, the response was "oh I don't know". Interesting coming from the business owner himself. This inane practice coupled with the first grievance resulted in inconvenience having to go out and procure cash for the sake of supporting this small business's aversion to credit card fees. 3. Health & safety: Out of the several months we used this service, the last three resulted in ear infections within the week of service which after the second time became a pattern. 4. Quality of haircut: my corgi was mangled by a previous groomer, however, upon leaving Steve's place, she often looked like a patchwork quilt. Further instruction and clarification were not met with subsequent groomings at this practice. 5. Time: Drop off is between 7:30am-9:00am and pick up isn't available until 3:00pm or 4:00pm so you have to plan a whole day around this affair. 6. Non-communication: I had called to cancel my last two appointments with this business with one of the employees but they didn't remove their appointments off their calendar so I was repeatedly called by Steve prior to their appointment times and the day of the appointment itself. There are better groomers out there in RVA who are consistent with their pricing which are cheaper, faster and they take cards with no extra fees. read more

Penny the Hound Dog said this place did a great job grooming her. She will visit again. read more

The Barking Lot - Right after grooming. - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Everything went very smoothly. Staff was very friendly and nice. Sasha looked and smelled great and the staff said she behaved very well.

This is in response to Steve's comment: No one was rude to you. I spoke to you on the phone prior bringing her in and you were all reassurance. You became impatient and rude when asked questions as my dog is 14 and had recently been treated for an ear infection and to leave her for 8 hours is a long time. I requested to pick her up sooner than 3-4 pm. Other reviews have also stated this is a long time to have a dog in for grooming. Having scheduled appointments can be a benefit. You had little compassion for her and were rude to me because I asked too many questions of grooming vs trimming. In reading other reviews you have been vague in explanations as well to others. I did return to speak briefly with Luke who I have know since 2010 when he first worked with my dog. Knowing and trusting Luke I left her. When I returned, just remember what you say in the back room can be heard in the front. You are a business owner and projecting your behavior in attacking a customer again in a public forum does not ensure trust. No worries, I'm not coming back. read more

I finally found a place with two great cat groomers. Luke was sweet with my ragdoll kitty who is 15 and not grooming well, would not let me brush her, and was getting large mats. Even took her to the vet tech to cut the mats out. She looked awful and uncomfortable. Even the vet did not have recommendations for a good cat groomer in town. Then I found Barking Lot. Did not have to wait long for an appointment. Affordable pricing. Fast service. Steve, the owner, is very nice, knowledgeable, and responsive to questions. Thanks, Luke. Lion cut was done in July. Her fur is growing out nicely. We will be back soon! read more

The Barking Lot - Pretty Beka. - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This was the most quick and easy way to get our dogs nails trimmed! We have one who is easy and loves to meet new people even if it is during a nail trim and one who is absolutely terrified of the idea. We brought them in on a Saturday afternoon(they take walk ins 10-4 for nails). Our easy pup who is also deaf and blind was taken to the back and nails were done in about 2 minutes. For our tough guy, they came out to clip his nails with us out front and it was simple and stress free. I tend to be extra stressed during these processes since I have a deaf/blind pup and one who panics so knowing this was such a quick and easy process made it great. You could tell they were friendly pet people and I really appreciate that! We will definitely be back! read more

This was our first time at the barking lot and we LOVE it!!! I've taken my dog, Pippin, to a few different groomers in the past who have shaved him completely down to the skin without leaving any fur around his face..etc,. Pippin is a Lhasa poo, so he doesn't feel like himself if he doesn't have some fur on him. The barking lot did an amazing job with his hair, even though pippin had some matting when he went in. :( they communicated very well and let me know they would unfortunately have to cut his hair pretty short. While his hair is short, they were able to still do a cute, styled cut around his face. Pippin was so happy after, as opposed to being sad/not feeling like himself after being groomed in the past. We will definitely be coming back!! read more

The Barking Lot - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Love it I recommend The barking lot to all my friends with animals when I went to pick her up she look amazing. I love The barking lot.

When I first called to get my Pomeranian his first grooming appointment when he turned 1, Steve took the time to explain how things work at the Barking Lot and how humanely they run things, and to keep the pups from developing a fear of groomers, and I really appreciated this! Pomeranians have unique coats you must be careful with. They do a great job shaping up my now 2 year old boy!! read more

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We came here based on the reviews so I want to make sure any potential customers read this. We took our 16 week Sheepadoodle puppy for a "puppy groom" which is only supposed to be paw trim, sanitary trim, and trim around the eyes. They ended up shaving his entire head down to the skin but left his body fluffy. It looks hideous. Unfortunately, that isn't the worst part. He is trembling and yelps/cries whenever he puts weight on his paws. I tried lifting him out of the car and he started howling. He is completely traumatized and scared of us. I'm taking him to the vet to look for injuries. What a horrible experience. read more

I have been taking my dog to The Barking Lot for several years and love their friendly service and fantastic groomers. Thank you, Steve, and your great team! read more

Super nice staff, extremely affordable. I didn't return after a bad experience about 15 years ago. My ex was so upset with a rude groomer that I went and got her Samoyed back. He must've been expecting me bc he didn't ask why. Anyways they do a fine job now. read more

Thank you to all of the staff at The Barking Lot! We are heading out of the country and needed one last really great grooming. Steve made an exception to bring our Finn in as a new boy! We absolutely love his new hair do! The staff are so kind and professional and our groomer Tammy ( I hope I remember her name correctly because we social distanced) did an amazing job our little mini Doodle. Thank you. Now Finn is ready for his trip across the pond. Ciao! read more

The Barking Lot - Mr. FINNEGAN - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

My Yorke/Bichon baby had a spa day at The Barking Lot today and went from overgrown and scruffy to designer puppy. The staff gushed over my Penny, and she seemed very happy to be spoiled with attention today. Thank you for beautifying my sweet fur baby! read more

The Barking Lot - Penny showing off her fabulous fur cut from The Barking Lot. - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

When a pup's in need of some TLC, Barking Lot's there to save the day. They spruced my shorkie up after she'd spent a couple of weeks with a babysitter who neglected grooming duties. Poor thing's beautiful brown coat was gnarled by mats and fleas. When I picked her up from the sitter I was in the midst of travels. As soon as I noticed the fleas I knew there was no way I could take her to my friend's house as she was. I called the Barking Lot late that Tuesday morning and they made space for her. With a Yelp discount, I paid $36 for a flea bath, sanitary trim, paw trim and bang trim. The owner, a kind human who clearly loves what he does, told me that in order for the flea bath to be effective they'd have to shave the mats, but that they could do it without having to cut her entire coat. Keep in mind that until I left her with the sitter I'd taken diligent care to comb her daily, so she had only a handful of mats. I really appreciated that they took such care to preserve her luscious locks. She was so happy after her Barking Lot pampering. They treated her well, and she looked (and smelled) fresh as a flower. Such spectacular service makes me wish I was still an RVA resident so I could bring her here regularly. read more

The Barking Lot - Cutie face - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

My dog always looks great after her grooming! The owner and staff are terrific- kind to the pups and me! They take good care of my dog while she is in their care, and her grooming is consistently good! read more

The worst place I ever took my Maltese too. Have u ever seen a Maltese with quarter inch hair. Not supposed to be. I combed and brushed her hair Thursday night and the reason they give is because she is matted. No way humanly possible. I wouldn't never take my dog in like that. Horrible experience. Suggest anyone that loves there dog as much as I do mine you will take your pet somewhere else. O. Top of that it is a very very dirty building I have proof from several different people who saw Bella. You make it sound like You couldn't get a brush or comb thru it . That is far from the truth. The truth is something u are off in your statement. I had no problem the first two time. I didn't complain on the third which I should have. She returned the way she was when I dropped her off that time. The fourth time is I couldn't believe my eyes what your staff did to her. I think you need to get your information straight. I told you I would never come back to your place before u told me not to come back. Yes you gave me my money back for which I told you I wasn't worried about. I was worried about how awful she looked. Point is I never got the phone call that was told to me, that I would receive before she was cut that. short. I stated to her "I didn't want her too short ". On top of that it was choppy with what little she had left. I have had her three years and is treated like a princess. My kids get after me all the time about that. I have had dogs all my life. I had miniature collies and never had that problem. The job was a disgrace. The sad thing about is you won't admit that your shop messed my Maltese up. Called rude. Sure I was hot when I was there. If your customers could have seen her they would understand. read more

The Barking Lot - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Brought my cat here for a bath and lions cut As soon as i brought him home he was purring and playing with his toys! I would recommend this place to anyone read more

Thank you for taking care of Bentley today! He looks great and loves his new cut :) Great service at an affordable price! read more

The Barking Lot - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

What happened to this place??? Let me start this review by saying that our dog groomer, Harley is fantastic! We've been taking our boys to The Barking Lot for years as their cuts are always great and the service is quick and mostly professional. We came to pick up our boys after getting the call and waited 5 or so minutes for someone to greet us. After being asked who we were picking up, the staff member went to retrieve the dogs when all of a sudden, my oldest Yorky is just wandering behind the front desk alone, unharnessed, and without a leash. We could hear staff asking "where is the other dog", To which I said jokingly "he's escaped, and up here wandering." After staff harnessed and leashed our boys, we were handed the first leash with a wad of dog fur the size of a softball which got all over us... there was so much of it that we had to wait until we got outside to get rid of it. Before we left, we were told by whoever was attending the front that we need to bring diapers next time because our boys "pee too much." ::blink:: I said, excuse me? She replied yeah, bring some diapers next time they just pee soo much. Aside from the content of what she said, her delivery was passive aggressively angry, as if she wanted to scold us. I mentioned that this has never been mentioned to us before and we didn't change anything in our routine before bringing them in. She once again said, just bring diapers because they pee a lot. Now, we've been coming here for years and not once has a bladder issue ever been mentioned, and that aside... I still don't understand how two 5 pound Yorkies that squat when they pee are getting urine all over them making staff have to bathe them a second time. I called and spoke to the manager Luke to which his response was yeah they pee over and over and over again in the crates and we have to keep bathing them so a diaper would help contain the urine. I'm not a rocket scientist, but I'm pretty sure that if you put a diaper on a dog and they're supposedly peeing all over each other constantly, they'll still be given back to us caked with urine butt. Just an absolute horrible experience, the place has gotten really dirty... dirt and fur all over the front waiting area as well as bugs... and God only knows what's going on in the back. I'm a very balanced person. I give everybody the benefit of the doubt... even to the point that if her delivery was pleasant and professional, that I would've at least entertained engaging in this "issue". Steve, I hate to leave this review as we have met a few times when bringing in the boys and I've witnessed your work ethic, business model and professionalism... none of that is being reflected by the staff (Harley aside). I have no doubt that the pet grooming business can be frustrating for staff sometimes but they presented themselves with zero pride for what they do and allowed us to leave feeling shamed. Shoutout to Harley, you're an amazing groomer and I'm sure you know who this is, so please find our number from your records and give me a call so we can hopefully set up a private grooming session for our boys in the future. read more

This place is amazing! Everyone that works in this fine establishment are so kind and helpful! I bring my two Persians in at least twice a year to be groomed and get lion cuts and they always do an amazing job and my cats absolutely love it! Their prices are reasonable as well. Since Covid they now do a curbside drop off/pickup which is super convenient too! read more

I have taken my Goldendoodle, Lady Bird, to the Barking Lot for her bi-monthly "spa day" ever since I was first able to get an appointment at the Barking Lot. The Barking Lot was the third groomer I had tried with Lady Bird after she joined our family. Following the first two attempts with different groomers, Lady Bird was very nervous, skittish, and overall unhappy. However, following Lady Bird's first appointment at the Barking Lot, she was much less nervous and visibly feeling more comfortable. The haircut and grooming quality Lady Bird receives has always been consistent at the Barking Lot, and the staff have always been easy to work with and very helpful. Staff have helped us improve Lady Bird's grooming habits between appointments to avoid the creation of matts and have also helped us identify what turned out to be an ear infection in the past. Nowadays, Lady Bird will get excited the morning of her grooming appointments when she knows she is about to see Harley -- she is fantastic with Lady Bird! I have recommended multiple families to the Barking Lot since joining and intend to continue to do so, particularly for any Doodle owners who are looking for a regular groomer who understands the quirks of the breed. read more

The Barking Lot - Lady Bird looking very happy and regal at the end of one of her grooming appointments. - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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so i was super nervous dropping my pup off for his first ever grooming appointment and i know milo was too but the staff made this experience so easy for us! they gave me some great tips and called me throughout the day to let me know how milo was doing and asked me my preferences as well! already booked my follow up appointment, we are so happy with the results! great customer service and really helpful every step of the way. read more

The Barking Lot - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I've been taking my pup Mookie here for years. I can't imagine going anywhere else. He comes home just the way I left him (except looking dapper and smelling great). I recommend this place all the time and the staff is wonderful. I feel like Mookie has built a great rapport with everyone there :) The hours make sense and having a Saturday option is also a bonus. This is a great business with fair prices. If you're looking for a compassionate staff who provides an exceptional service look no further than The Barking Lot read more

The Barking Lot - Mookie feeling good after his trip to The Barking Lot - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Our shelter adopted little dog is the product of a midnight romance between a Lhasa Apso and a Cairn Terrier. The beauticians at the Barking Lot put together a cut combining her parentage into sheer elegance. Now, as she struts her stuff in Museum District you'd never know that last year she was in a Greenbrier County WV shelter. Thanks to Steve and the whole staff! read more

Stopped by recently on a Saturday to see if they could trim by dog's nails as a walk-in. They were so quick and efficient! My dog is elderly and can be a diva about nail trims but I heard none of the usual protest yelping. She came out relaxed with shorter nails. I'll be back again soon! read more

Amazing! Communication was excellent. I have a very plump cat with extremely long hair. They did an amazing job. She was bathed and brushed and given a lion cut. She is so happy to be free from all that fur! She had a hard time grooming herself and had large hairballs daily. Now, she is prancing around happy and healthy. The ladies that groomed her were clearly very sweet to her. She looks amazing. Happy kitty and happy people! She will be back! read more

We just moved to the area and needed to have our pup groomed. After doing some research, I contacted The Barking Lot. The owner Steve responded very quickly, asking questions, setting expectations. I was blown away by the great communication. When we dropped Jackie off, she was greeted warmly and kindly. When we picked her up, she looked like a brand-new dog. They did a fabulous job with her bath, cut, nails, etc. Her paws in particular look so great! And that fresh smell!!!! In addition to what a wonderful job they did, the price was very reasonable. Thanks to everyone at The Barking Lot. read more

At first when I found this place I was excited based on some reviews and their communication leading up to the appointment. I dropped my dog off at 8am.. they told me pick up would be at 4pm. I was confused why he needed to be there that long, they said due to his matting they needed to take their time & didn't want any nicks etc. I understood that... still confused why he needed to be there for 8 hours. When I came to pick him up he was shaved, which I was anticipating as he was pretty matted around his head and ears and they told me that would be the case. It was also such a cluster when I came to pick him up, no one came out to talk to me and the groomers behind the door were so rude to eachother and the person at the front. When I got home, I was so upset to see his whole stomach, under his arms and legs, by his genital area, part of his ear all cut up. He got groomed 3 days ago and since, he's still been so skittish and scared, he's been hiding behind pillows, sleeping most of the day, and hasn't been himself at all. I understand dogs don't generally like going in for haircuts but this is different. He's completely traumatized. I called to make them aware of his cuts, and to figure out what I can do for him so they don't get infected and I got the person at the front desk. They said they'd let the groomer know and that they would call me back. Never got a call back so several hours later I called again. The groomer wouldn't get on the phone, so I talked to the person who answered and they said "I saw a note to call you but I threw it away" also that "he was matted and it's pretty hard to cut that area" and that they were "sorry we didn't call you to tell you, we usually do" rather than any sort of apology or understanding just that if it gets worse to take him to the vet...... she was short and rude and actually just hung up on me. I was so shocked at the treatment and lack of professionalism. A small nick I can somewhat understand, you have a razor to an animal. But you cut up my dog, it looks completely careless and at a minimum a phone call of empathy and how to best care for him for soothing should be the expectation. This is not how you run a business. He just turned 1 year old, so I really hope this traumatic experience for him doesn't cause long term effects. We will not be returning. read more

This place is AWESOME Steve, the owner, is absolutely FANTASTIC!!! He is always professional, courteous, friendly and HONEST Steve makes sure things are right. This is simply PAWS DOWN THE BEST PLACE!! read more

They are amazing! Decided to try after doing a fair amount of research, and after the place I'd been many times before didn't have any appts until late August. That being said, I'm so glad I found this place. The owner and his employee were so professional, genuinely nice, and assured me my 12 1/2yr old lab would be in great hands. After not being groomed all of quarantine, her coat was so thick and really hard to manage/ the shedding was unreal. They did an amazing job brushing, bathing, etc. Could not recommend them more. read more

The Barking Lot - So fresh and so clean! - Pet Groomers Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Decent spot to groom dog. Though they did only "trim" him. But they did good job. He was happy! read more

The are consistent and friendly. This is the second time my cat has been groomed and shaved there. Other places you can barely notice it. Here, their cut is 'purfect' for her. We have noticed less shedding and hairballs. We will be coming back. Thank you Barking Lot. read more

The Barking Lot is the best grooming business I have ever worked with over the years. Not only do they love the dogs but they are so knowledgeable about them and they have given me great advice on their care. I would never go anywhere else. Love this place!! read more