My experience at this establishment was highly disappointing even though I did receive a full refund, which was greatly appreciated and I felt was deserved. I entrusted my dog's grooming to an employee named Henry, whom I believe misled me regarding his capabilities. When giving specific instructions, Henry admitted he wasn't a professional groomer, but assured me he could handle the job even though I offered to pay a cancellation fee. He said he didn't want his time wasted and was very persistent that my dog get groomed. He said he would prep my dog for the certified groomer who would be doing the trim at the end. Upon picking up my dog, I was shocked and upset to find that she had received a full haircut instead of the requested trim, which was completely unsuitable for her breed (a woolly husky). The cut penetrated her undercoat which allows her to regulate temperature in the summer. Henry, rather than taking responsibility, argued that I had requested a haircut which was "appropriate for a husky", which is untrue. Fortunately, the groomer, Karyn, who understood the situation apologized sincerely. Upon closer inspection at home, I discovered that my dog still had matting, had a very uneven haircut, was unexpectedly covered in oil (which was not the case when I dropped her off), and her feet were still dirty,--issues Henry had claimed he would address but did not. Following my initial concerns, I had a phone call with the owner of the Dirty Doodle, which further highlighted their unprofessionalism and unwillingness to accept responsibility for the poor service. In conclusion, I cannot recommend this establishment, particularly for owners of long-haired dogs. It appears they may be better suited for grooming short-haired breeds. I had to get my dog groomed elsewhere same day. read more

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A couple of hours at The Dirty Doodle was just what my beloved Goldendoodle needed after having surgery and a week of radiation (the various shaved areas for IV's and incisions were starting to grow in, and the rest of his nice hair was long), and I found them after searching for a place with GOOD reviews that could get him scheduled soon. I talked to Sarah (one of the groomers that shares space with them) and she completely understood the situation, as well as how "needy" he would be since every time he had been dropped off somewhere lately, surgery or something scary had happened. Sarah was able to schedule him in just a few days, I dropped the boy off first thing in the morning and he was definitely soothed by her calming personality. When I picked him up a couple of hours later, he looked terrific and wasn't as crazed as he usually is after he has been without me! Sarah is in a room by herself, so it was just a one-on-one with music, so he wasn't freaked out by a lot of dogs running around and barking. Sarah understood the situation of a sweet pup who is just getting older with medical issues (cancer and arthritis), and that made me feel so much better. She operates her grooming business as All that Jazz Grooming, you can reach her there or connect through Karyn at the Dirty Doodle (love that name!!). Woof Woof!! read more

Shout out to Karyn and Henry at the Dirty Doodle!!. My Skipper enjoyed a fabulous SPA session today. He's was groomed, beautified and given the BEST TLC!! His skin is soft, his coat is shiny and he smells wonderful!! Very special time for my boy I highly recommend the Dirty Doodle!! read more

The Dirty Doodle - Pet Stores Near Me - stoneham, Massachusetts

I had recently took my Yorkshire terrier to be groomed at the Dirty Doodle for the first time. when we picked him up he seemed fine until the next day when I noticed a large circle of fur under his neck removed and very red I called the groomer and she said she looked him over when she was finished snd saw nothing then she immediately said it must of been a hot spot It has been one week and my dogs neck is still raw and red. I will be taking him to the vet tomorrow. I will never return to this place and I suggest no one else go read more

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Absolutely the best in the business. Karyn and her entire team take care of our sweet boy Charlie for all of his grooming needs. You say her name and he runs to the car! Knowing Charlie is in good hands when we drop him off means the world to us. Thank you for all that you do for the community! read more

So, I am going to sound like a snitch, but here it goes. I would avoid getting your dog groomed here at all costs. We just moved to the area and I reached out inquiring about an appointment. They referred me to a woman named Aris and they told me to give her a call. This woman works at the salon, but is perhaps a contractor? I am not sure about the situation, but it seems that they loan out space to other groomers. I arrived and the woman gave me attitude immediately saying he was matted. I understand why groomers do this, but we just moved here and drove our asses across the country to get here. If it's problematic - cut him a 1/4 inch. I told her I was fine with it. I provided her a picture of what we wanted and told her to be careful cause he gets really bad ear infections (so keep ears dry, use cotton balls, etc). When I picked up my dog I cringed, he was a patchy MESS. I had her re-do him two times and honestly, she could not get it right. Also, his ears were wet, fur in his eyes, long beard, I was alarmed. I asked her if he was a quarter or half-inch and she couldn't tell me. I am not sure if this woman is new to the profession, needs new clippers, or was having a bad day, but my dog looked BAD. His fur was also dry and fried. I am not sure if the heat was too hot or she used bad products. By the time she finished my dog, she had two other dogs waiting to be groomed by her. I think she rushed through the job and honestly didn't give herself enough time. She kept telling me he was still wet and that's why he looked patchy. However, he shouldn't still be wet when you start cutting him. Also, she let him totally loose in the salon with no collar, harness, leash, anything. The worst part? When I had her re-do him, she was rough the second time. He even yelped...I was literally standing there watching so I shudder to think what she would do when people aren't there... My pup is usually the one our old salon would train new groomers on so he is pretty easy to work with. There is 0 reason she should be manhandling my pup. Last but not least - she charged me $160 and we are used to paying $120 in CA. I would be fine paying more if her work reflected it. Honestly, this was the worst grooming experience we have ever had and we will never be going back here. read more

Our doodle was rejected from another grooming service that said they don't have the expertise to work with a pup that young who's reluctant to grooming. We found the dirty doodle and couldn't be happier. Sarah is patient and gives our guy as many breaks as he needs. She cares how he feels during the process which means a lot to us. He comes back looking his best self and always with a themed bandana to match the season or holiday. Prices are reasonable and the quality/care is unmatched! read more

The Dirty Doodle - Pet Stores Near Me - stoneham, Massachusetts

I have a rescued cat that needed her nails to be clipped. My vet told me she probably would need to be anesthetized to do it. I took her to this place and the groomer clipped my kitty in less than a minute. no muss no fuss. read more

I left a message on The Dirty Doodle's answering machine after receiving my rescue dog from the country of Estonia 2 days prior. Jack, one of the owners called me back. I think could tell that I was overly concerned about the condition she was in. Her hair was overgrown, and she was full of painful mats. I'm so very thankful that he fit her in the schedule the next day! Thank you, Jack!! A huge thank you to owner Karyn, Sara, and Robin for being so gentle and patient with Nevada during the grooming session! 8+ hours of work. We weren't sure what her temperament was going to be like...guess what?....she's still the sweetest, gentlest girl! read more

Love this place for so many reasons! They offer all the things. Grooming to accessories to helping you put your dog on a diet! They know what they are doing, truly animal lovers, have even rescued dogs from overseas! Support this amazing business. You will NOT regret it! read more

Karyn Is Patient With My Molly Who Is A Rescue That Was Abused I'm So Glad I Found Her She Even Had Me Bring Her Back To Do Her Paws When Molly Was Done During Her Initial Appointment.... read more

My four year old Husky LOVES Sarah (All That Jazz). She does a wonderful job deshedding him and giving him lots of love. He will only sing for her and we wouldn't think of bringing him anywhere else! read more

The Dirty Doodle - Pet Stores Near Me - stoneham, Massachusetts

I realized when I got home that they did nothing to my dog--his fur was still knotty and he clearly had not been bathed, nor groomed in any way. The price was insanely high to begin with, let alone that I think they just had him there for the hour. His nails also were not trimmed. He was the same as when I dropped him off. Total fraud. I should have known when they had an appointment available right away that something was up. Also, very agressive house dog that barks at you loudly as soon as you enter. Thanks for charging me for no service rendered. They also only take cash or Venmo, another red flag. Stay away. read more

I just had a very concerning experience with this business. I walked-in without an appointment to see if they could fit my dog in for grooming. The owner was very nice and said it was not a problem and would only take 90 minutes. I returned 90 minutes later to pick up my dog. I walked in right after another customer who was also there to pick up her dog. As we walked in there was a woman with platinum hair who worked at this business ranting and raving about how she wouldn't be working there anymore. How it was not safe and she couldn't work with people who made it unsafe. She expressed that she wanted to help dogs not hurt them. She was pacing back and forth clearly upset and saying that it was not safe and certain groomers shouldn't be there. As she was ranting there was a man's voice yelling loudly from the back room. This yelling was not clear so I cannot say if he was yelling at a person or dog or what was being yelled. The ranting employee then went and got the dog of the other customer who walked in right before me. The other customer and I then looked at each other in shock and concern and looked around at the grooming spaces that were visible from the front-of-store area to make sure the dogs looked ok and no dogs were harmed. The other customer's dog was brought out and ran into the store front area unleashed. The ranting employee continued ranting and saying she should call the police and that she had cameras installed but that they didn't do much good. I asked if I could have my dog. She poked her head into the grooming area and asked for my dog to be brought out and said my dog was fine because the owner had groomed my dog himself. At this point a third customer walked into the storefront. I then asked the ranting employee "Should we be concerned about the dogs? Should I call someone? If you're saying the dogs are unsafe or someone is hurting dogs I think we should call someone." The ranting employee then said that she had been threatened by one of the groomers but that the dogs were safe because the owners were good but that the groomers were not. As I was asking these questions the owner came out of the grooming area with my dog on a leash and said my dog did fine with her bath. (My dog dislikes baths and she was in fact fine) The owner inquired about what was happening, clearly confused by my questions of dog safety and whether we should call someone if there was a concern about the dogs. I told him his employee was ranting like a lunatic about the dogs being unsafe, that she had been threatened and that she had been saying that the groomers shouldn't be allowed to be around dogs. The owner apologized and said the dogs were all fine. No dogs had been hurt. I walked out with my dog as quickly as possible at that point. I do not believe from what I saw that dogs were harmed. They all appeared happy and normal from what I saw when we looked around in the grooming spaces. My own dog is fine. If I had seen any dogs that looked hurt or even scared I would have called the police. But clearly something happened between this employee and a groomer that caused such a concerning outburst in front of customers. I will not being going back, I let the owner know as much and that he should be concerned. read more

Everyone at the dirty doodle is so friendly. We love it there. I have been bringing my boxer Harley there for over two years. She always comes home happy, clean, and manicured. They also sell the best treats and birthday cakes! read more

My very large, and often dirty, doodle Parker loves Dirty Doodle! The staff know him when he bolts in; they are so loving, kind, and accommodating. I'm not picky about how Parker is groomed so I usually hand him off with some general requests and trust them do the rest. They also have awesome treats and local dog-related goodies. So easy to get to off Rt28. read more

We have brought our yellow lab here a couple of times and she always comes home clean and happy! The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming and the prices are reasonable. Definitely recommend. read more

If you want your Fur Baby to be in good hand & feel loved when they are getting groomed this is the place to go!! I loved seeing how excited my Lucy was when I would tell her she was going to get a bath. She loved going to The Dirty Doodle & everyone treated her so good every time she went. Today I brought Lucy in for her last time as I knew she would not be with us much longer & I wanted to pamper her. They were so compassionate & even cried with me when I picked her up. I am highly recommending The Dirty Doodle, they are amazing & caring people. read more

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Henry is great, our dog absolutely adores him and she's a dog who's always intimidated by men and groomers. He does a great job and we feel confident leaving her with him every time. read more

Pepi is the most wonderful groomer. She always knows exactly how to cut my pup and has very reasonable prices! She always gives him love and attention (he never wants to leave!) Max just got his first "summer cut" and I was a nervous wreck. I thought I'd come back to a naked dog! But, I came back and he was so handsome I didn't recognize him at first! Keep up the good work, Pepi! read more

The Dirty Doodle - Pet Stores Near Me - stoneham, Massachusetts

Best place in town for grooming and a great boutique to pick up food and other supplies! Highly recommend - a wonderful family-owned business who takes great care of our furry friends! read more

Do not recommend this groomer as their skill level is very low, they do not follow directions and the operation is overall disorganized. I made an appointment at this groomer a couple weeks in advance, and when I arrive there is no record of the appointment. The store is a haphazard mess, so frankly the fact that no one wrote down my appointment in the book was in keeping with the theme of the messy storefront. I happened to write down the name of the groomer, Karen, so it was clear I had in fact been given a slot that day. I showed photos to the person (not the groomer) and explained how the cut should be done. I gave specific blade numbers to use, and offered to text the photo for reference, but he said that wouldn't be necessary. Before I left I asked what is the price, to which he said the groomer quoted a range - how can you not give me a set price? When I came back to pick up my dog I could see the groomer is not very skilled or careful with her cutting. The ears were very choppy and not cut nicely, it looked like a novice hair cutter had taken dull scissors to them, leaving uneven hair lengths on her ears and face. The left and right sides of my dogs face were not even, so I can tell this person doesn't pay much attention to their craft or finishing touches. What was equally frustrating was the fact that they did not cut my dogs legs at all, just the back. I had asked for a blade #7 to be used on the legs, and the hair was just as long as it had been when I dropped her off. Lastly, her beard had been cut short which I had specifically asked to be left alone. I said do not cut the beard. To pay $85 for this cut is just annoying because I did not receive a quality cut and it was clear the groomer was just trying to rush, or does not know how to do detailed grooming. Edit: In regards to the owners response, it is not possible to grow back hair, so there was nothing that could be done to fix the fact they cut my dogs beard (when I specifically asked them not to). read more

Went there for dog grooming first time. They did not shave my dogs legs and other parts. I had to give him a trim when I came home. Was not worth it read more

My 13 1/2 old yellow lab had always gone to another groomer, but I decided to take Denali to the Dirty Doodle after reading reviews about how gentle and caring they were in reviews. When I called I was so pleased to hear they never put the dog in kennels and they had a ramp for him to use to get in the tub. They didn't just put a blower on the dogs to dry their hair. They did it by one of the groomers. When I arrived to pick Denali up he was peacefully asleep on the floor instead of barking and frantic! I was so pleased with the job they did in grooming him and trimming his nails. Their prices were less than the other place and I had a relaxed, handsome happy dog. I would recommend them to anybody with a dog -young or old. Thanks to all of you. You have my business going forward. read more

AMAZING PLACE!!! They guided me throughout the process, gave me tips on how to take better care of Rocky, made me feel welcomed. The staff are extremely friendly and I cant wait to go back. read more

Ariel is an awesome groomer. Our dog Maddie loves her and always looks adorable when groomed. Keep up the good work Ariel. Patti R. read more

Karyn and Henry are the best in the business. They treat Charlie as their own, and he comes home looking and smelling great! They take their time and call if there is an issue during the session. Seriously, if you have a doodle of any kind, they are the ones to go to. Highly highly recommend. read more

I will not take my pup anywhere else! He is the first dog I've had that had long hair rather than fur. I was nervous that he was going to look like a shaved rat but she did AMAZING and he always looks so handsome! read more

The Dirty Doodle - Pet Stores Near Me - stoneham, Massachusetts

All the staff at The Dirty Doodle are great! I was in the other day with me two dogs for a self wash. While trying to get one of them in the tub, I hurt my back (chronic). They told me not to worry and the groomer washed my dogs for me. Going that extra mile is what this family run business is all about! read more

i had heard about the dirty doodle a number of times but never got around to trying it. Wanted to get out of the house for a bit today and my dog needed a bath so we headed over..Cute store and loved the ease of washing my dog in a tub that was high enough so i didn't hurt my back bending over and the drying tables so i didn't have to chase her around the kitchen were perfect. Jack recommended some shampoo and conditioner and my little girl is all fluffy and white again. Look forward to going back in between her regular groomings! read more

My fiancé and I have 3, yes three dogs all 50 pounds each and are so grateful to have found the dirty D. Keren has been very helpful, always calls when our pups are ready and they come back looking and smelling amazing! Have reccomend them to close friends in Reading already. read more

I drove from the South Shore to the Dirty Doodle on a Sunday morning as part of a fundraiser taking place there. So, considering the fact that I drove over 45 minutes to get there, a 5-star rating says a lot. It's really easy to access off 95/128. There is make-your-own parking off to the side. The store is located in two parts -- a boutique and a grooming salon. I brought my dog, Flower, there. Once she realizes she's about to get a bath, she puts the brakes on. Regardless, the staff helped me get her in the tub and get her washed up. Of course, Flower played the sympathy card and whimpered until someone held her paw while I gave her a bath. The boutique was very clean and and very well kept. There were a lot of shampoos and conditioners available along with cologne. As for the actual boutique, they offered a lot of toys and cute leashes and collars for dogs. The staff was fantastic and it was very clear that they generally love animals. They helped me get FloJo into the tub and helped me wash her down. Plus, they were so personable and I can't thank them enough. If I lived closer, I would be back for more. But for the next time I'm up on the North Shore and my dog needs a bath, this is the first place I'm going to go! Definitely check it out! You won't be disappointed. read more

Great self-wash salon, best we have experienced in the area. Employees were very helpful, clean wash area. Their tubs are huge. Tate seemed more comfortable than during our previous baths at other self-washs. read more

I'm new to the area and was so nervous about finding a new groomer for my baby. I get nervous about leaving him for long, but when I called, their groomer Robin explained that she is a holistic groomer and that she does not cage or restrain the dogs while they are in her care. This was all I needed to hear, no other place I called had this type of service. My dog has health issues, and is easily stressed with grooming, vet appointments, etc- so I knew this would be the place for me. When I picked him up, he had an adorable plaid bow tie, and he was calm as can be- not the usual panting with his tail between his legs. He even kissed Robin before we left! I've never seen him like this! I'm happy I found the Dirty Doodle and Robin, they are amazing!!!!! read more

The place has only two tubs for self wash. I get my dog in the tub and The sprayer pops off startling my dog who usually doesn't mind a bath. Then I ask for flee shampoo and I'm met with a blank stare. She states they are not licensed for flees. Huh? Ok whatever you have is fine. So I get watered down shampoo and an inflated price. Pass on this place. read more

After one year of trying to find the best groomer for my Goldendoodle... the search is now over. Cannot say enough good things about the Dirty Doodle. Ariel really listened to what we wanted. She was caring and did a wonderful job. And the cost didn't break the bank. High recommended! read more

Highly recommend the Dirty Doodle. Karyn and Henry are wonderful and take excellent care of the pups. So glad I found them!

This review is not about The Dirty Doodle Boutique but about an unpleasant experience I had with one of the groomers they rent space to. I apologize if this turns into a lengthy review. I needed grooming for four Labradoodles (two belonging to me and two belonging to my cousin). We do have a groomer that we love-she's never shaved our dogs because of matting as some groomers do and our dogs are never crated when at her salon. Due to a scheduling error on our part and my need to get my 15 year old groomed sooner rather than later I called the Dirty Doodle. I spoke to Robin who kept me on the phone for 30 minutes about how she was "different" from other groomers- she was trained by a holistic grooming school in N.H., doesn't crate the dogs, doesn't believe in shaving them down as other groomers do and several times mentioned how horrified she was when she saw how " other groomers" treat the dogs they are grooming. I thought ok she's passionate about what she does and since a coworker has her dog groomed by her and was satisfied with her I decided to bring the 4 doodles there. My coworker did suggest booking a "one on one" which I had never heard of. I told Robin all four dogs did not need to come at the same time but the most important one was my 15 year old- her paws needed to be trimmed because her hind legs are weak and the hair was causing her to slide more when trying to get up and she needed her private areas trimmed (she has an incontinence problem and I am very diligent about keeping her clean in that area). Robin said four would not be a problem as she had an assistant. I dropped the dogs off on Saturday and at that time went over what needed to be done to each Doodle. Six hours later they were ready and I went to pick them up. The boutique was closed and their were no customers in the store. At first glance the dogs looked fluffy and cute with silk ties on the boys and bows on the girls. Robin tells me she couldn't do the ears of the 5 year old - that's ok, I had warned her she was a little sensitive about her ears being touched. Then I notice that one of the boys moustache has been cut off- she says because "he had dried food stuck underneath it"- she won't shave a dog because of matting but she'll cut his moustache off because of dried food?? I let that go and I ask her how much I owe her. She tells me $300 but when I ask her to break it down per dog she starts to hesitate and throw different amounts out then finally settles on $70 for the two older dogs (which she happens to mention is less than she usually charges for their size) and $65 for the two younger dogs. I did not do the math in my head until I get home and needed to tell my cousin what she owes me - and then I realize the individual prices add up to $270! I had also given her a 20% tip of $60. Now I'm upset but I plan on calling her the next day. Then I notice that the 13 year old paws were never trimmed AND her private areas never trimmed! To top it off her coat is the same length as when I left her- looks like she only had a bath and blowout and her face was somewhat neatened up. My cousin tells me the next day her two dogs paws were never trimmed and the dog who had his moustache cut off actually had a cut on his face and he also looks like he wasn't groomed other than a bath. All of this has set me over the edge and off I go back to the Dirty Doodle to talk to Robin. No matter what I said to her that's all she could say was "I'm not like other groomers" and "your 15 year old was upset". Apparently she is not anything like other groomers and I don't mean that as a compliment. If she didn't realize she couldn't handle 4 doodles even with an assistant and that caused her to not be able to properly groom at least two of them then she should have been honest with me when I picked them up. I realize four doodles can be a handful but I did give her the option of splitting them up. And I should never have been charged $300 for a job that wasn't adequately done. She never offered even a partial refund for the services not rendered. Now having read Christopher C's review from a few months back Robin and the woman with the platinum hair are one in the same and she seems to have some serious issues. I will also not be going back. read more

Ariel is the best groomer around. The dogs love her and she loves them.wouldnt go to anyone but her!!!she awesome.my dog loves seeing her.

If I could give zero stars, I would. I've never met a more arrogant bunch of staff. I am a dog trainer and thought I'd give a local business a try, but I am not giving them another. They are aggressive with their pet clients, everything they tell you is BS, they don't actually know their products. Also, while I was their, I waited for at least 15 minutes while the lady (who I swear seemed drugged out) talked to her family member. From what I gather listening to their conversation in front of me, most of the customers are family members or friends of family. They're just dog lovers with money to start a business. I asked what credentials they had to train or groom dogs...NONE! I will not come here again, and I urge anyone who actually loves their pet not to. Go to actual professionals (who will probably charge cheaper by the way.) read more