Update: We took my dog to Paw Alley in Clairemont a few weeks later to fix up the horrible hair cut. She texts me ( see the attached texts ) saying that she "did a good job" and it wasn't nice that I wrote a bad review. She did a HORRIBLE job, didn't listen to our requests, and has the audacity to criticize me. You can literally see in my photos how uneven the hair cut, that we didn't ask for, was. This salon is more like a chop shop. Very mediocre. We had called this groomer because she was located near by and we were hoping someone could take him on short notice. We had explicitly asked to keep our Westies hair long b/c he had recently had a shave and we are taking a trip to the east coat in the middle of winter. She had said about 1 or 2 hours. 3 hours later and my boyfriend picks up our dog and his hair is very short. We told her EXPLICITLY not to cut his hair short. His hair is also choppy. She said she was gonna trim the belly hair, which was fine, but she ended up taking almost all of his hair off!!! He doesn't even smell good. Usually my dog returns smelling wonderful, hair soft, and beautifully white. This was definitely not the case. I do not recommend this groomer. Now I have to pray my dog will grow his hair fast enough to be warm in the snow or else I'll have to force him to wear a sweater. read more

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Karen has been a really great groomer for my dog. She is always really kind to us when we visit. She is easy to book. Her prices are also very reasonable. My dog's hair also looks so cute when she is done grooming him too! read more

I strongly recommend never going to Exotic Pooch. The woman, whom I assume is the owner, wrapped the leash around Squid's neck, because she was scared and not moving forward and then dragged her for a few feet while clearly choking her and terrified, flailing, trying to pull away. I first reacted by telling Squid in a soft voice that it was "ok" then, very bossy, she told me not to say that. I was like, wow ok, she's choking my dog and telling me what I can and can't say to her within the first 30 seconds of being there, and she didn't even take a moment to introduce herself or meet us in any way. Then she told me to back away and I didn't so she opened the doggy door and handed her back to me abruptly, obviously refusing the service I came in for. All I said was that I didn't like the collar around her neck and she handed her back to me with an attitude pointing to her training certificates on the wall, stating that she knows what she's doing... Not sure why I didn't just leave immediately but I said, "this is my first time here... I don't know you at all, I just don't want her to be scared" she firmly said "so, you want me to do it still?" And I was like, yes! (Hoping she would be more understanding and sympathetic to what Squid needed). I was calm and did not raise my voice at any point but definitely had a questionable look on my face, until the end when she refused to take the leash off around her neck and continued pulling without any type of comforting words or touch, I said "screw you, give me my dog back" where she responded "screw you too" and then slammed the door after I left. NOT OK to make the dog and the owner nervous and then being condescending and extremely unprofessional. If your occupation is working with animals and you think dragging a distressed puppy across the floor AND then being RUDE about it to the owner is okay, you need to retire. ALL she had to do was get on Squid's level, speak kindly and meet her before just dragging her to an unknown place. Common sense. Clearly she is not who you want handling the dogs you consider your best friends. All this happened within less than 5 minutes. If she was in such a rush to not even get to know a new potential customer then she doesn't deserve anyone else's business either. Glad my dog didn't make it back to the table with her, she was angry and cold. I'm so upset that this happened. Oh and for anyone that cares, she wasn't wearing a mask. read more

Wanted to go to this place based off of the reviews and how "good" Karen is at grooming, as I read, which I do trust of Yelp reviews. Was excited. I left a message on the phone and she responded the price of getting my cats nails clipped via text - totally cool. Told her that my cat is timid and temperamental and sometimes hisses when her paws and nails have been cut before because of her being scared. (Many of groomers have known this - because I always make it known prior - and with their grooming expertise have cut my cats nails no problem.) Most of the time my cat has some sort of the connection with the groomer or vet anyway and it's not an issue. I was just warning her. She asked her age (3) and if a soft muzzle would be ok. I said muzzle would be fine and we made an appointment. She hasn't even met my cat and canceled on me the day before via text because she "lost her nerve" and said sorry go to vet down the street. Don't really want to even try this place in the future of grooming of dogs or tell friends to go now. Didn't respond to my text when I asked why she lost her nerve or if something happened because I was worried. Honestly just a bit disappointed with no reasoning. read more

Wow, what a rude owner. We picked up our pup and was chastised over the fact that our dog didn't like to go in the crate. She tried to lecture over the fact that all dogs need to like the crate and that we should have given proper obedience training. Our dog is extremely well behaved and we have never needed to put her through obedience training. She also made some sort of comment about how she was hoping she didn't "pull something" getting our dog into the crate. My husband had heard something similar from her when he was in there last time to get the dog's nails trimmed. That time she had made a comment about how she pulled a muscle with a big dog a few weeks prior. Weird - is she looking for a potential insurance case?! We got the last laugh though when she tried to show my husband a "well behaved dog." She let the dog out of the crate and it ran past it's owner and nearly out the door before my husband caught it. read more

If you need a place to board your beloved canine overnight this is a great place! The lady (I forget her name) was awesome with my pup; she actually took her to her house where she was able to play with other dogs outside. When it was time to pick her up she was groomed and furiously wagging her tail. I would definitely recommend The Exotic Pooch. : ) read more

Love them!! I called for a last minute appt today after finding out my old dog groomer left where she was and couldn't find her. Karen was so nice and accommodating. When I brought my pup over I could see she was a true dog lover!! I felt very good leaving my baby with her. She asked what I like and told me she would text me when he was done. An hour and a half later he was ready! No paying a $20 express fee like I use to at my old groomer not to have my dog sit in a cage all day til it was his turn and even then it took a few hours for some reason. He looked gorgeous and was a happy camper when I picked him up! There's something to be said for an owner operator when it comes to your pet. So excited we found Karen on Yelp! read more

The Exotic Pooch - Pet Stores Near Me - San Diego, California

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Called in early in the morning to set a last minute appointment. The lady said that she would take care of my westie, and cut his hair just a little bit, since we're moving to a cold climate in the near future. Pick the dog up and he has extremely short hair on the top, in a summer cut. What the hell... not only this, but when I specified to trim around his underbelly, the worker completely ignored my request. Not to mention, the hair that was cut at the length we desired was cut all over the place, with loose hairs all over the back of my puppy's head. Top it off with a $40 fee. Definitely avoid this place- sub par work, and the worker didn't listen to a single thing that I said when I dropped my pup off. We're going to have to get him groomed again in the near future thanks to this. read more

Karen was very nice, my dog was very happy when I picked her up and smelled lovely! She took my little one in last minute and kept her until it was convenient for me to pick her up! We also had a great conversation and the price was good! I will be back! read more

I went to Karen for the first time last week with my newly adopted dog Theodore. I had previously groomed him myself to save money but there where a few places that I didn't feel confident grooming. I let her know this and we came up with a very fair price that we both agreed upon based on my specific needs. She recommended her eyes, tail, and feet service. At $25 it was a great deal. It included a bath, touch up trimming in these areas, a nail trimming and she cleaned up his bottom and tummy. I was a very happy mommy. Today when I bumped into a lady who mentioned her dog needed a bath I recommended this service to her and gave her Karens card. I hope she is as happy as I was. If your looking for a place that dose an awsome job for a fair price the exotic pooch comes highly recommended by me. It's been about a year since I have had Theodore and I still see Karen. I have given up on grooming him myself. She does a much better job. read more

Best dog groomer ever! I always took my dog to Petco or Petsmart and wasn't happy with their service. I moved to PB and found Exotic Pooch. Even if you're not in the area it's worth the drive. Karen is extremely helpful and caring. My dog felt so comfortable with her right away and so did I. She calls or text when your dog is ready to be picked up. You can tell she cares about what she does. I have called for a last minute appointment and she has made room for us. Customer service is key to a successful business. Great customer service and grooming at a reasonable price. read more

Karen was amazing and took such good care of my papillon Jewels. It had been months since her last grooming due to the lack of groomers during quarantine. I am so glad we found Exotic Pooch. I will definitely be going back there:-) read more

Karen is amazing! My first time going to her, totally worth the 20 minute drive! I've had multiple groomers in the past but Karen beats them all! She knew exactly what I wanted, first time my dog was groomed to what I've always requested but no one got it right. Bonus she was fair and competitive in her fee. Thanks again! read more

Went for the first time, and was more than HAPPY with the service received. Samson was a happy boy...... DEFINETELY will go back! Will recommend Exotic Pooch to anyone and everyone. THANK YOU, SAMSON read more

Glad to hear it's not just me. Wish I'd read Amanda T's review earlier. Specifically requested one of our (rescue) poodles not be placed in a crate and was told she wouldn't be. On picking them up was lectured about how she was "crate shy." No kidding... Then after that she didn't want to be picked up. Again, no kidding... Likely traumatized by the crate experience. Then rudely lectured about sand in their coat dulling her clippers. Maybe being in Pacific BEACH isn't significant. And the comment "Maybe you need a brushing lesson," was taken better by their Mom than I. Two stars instead of zero because they came out looking good with a nice job on the inside of those poodle ears. Good groomer, but there are others (Camp Run-a-Mutt Point Loma; should have gone back.) that are friendly, polite and didn't traumatize the pups. read more

I only gave it a star cause it's by the ocean. This lady is rude her prices are not consistent and everyone I know who's dogs come back sketchy after she is done with them. Very very rude read more

We have taken our Pom-chi Penelope to the exotic pooch for a few years now...and we have always thought Karen does a great job. Karen has remembered to the T how we want Penelope cut every visit. My girlfriend loves the scraggly hair on our dog's ears; and Karen always knows to leave it be, in all its glory. She knows Penelope and our names by heart; and always makes us feel welcome when we drop Penelope off. She will text both our phones when the dog is ready, which is always convenient. And Karen ties a little bow on the collar which my girlfriend loves. Its always a new, vibrant color. read more

It can be rough to leave your pet in a strangers hands, but I can vouch for the care thy will receive at this dog grooming salon. The staff is energetic and willing to play with your pet prior to grooming to ease their nerves. I could literally see the tension leave my pets body as she became more comfortable with the groomer, much to my relief. A short time later. I picked up my pet and she was a showpiece, never has she looked so put together. The next time we left for grooming, I could see her get super excited as we pulled into the parking space, good people make it all better. read more

I have been going to Karen for almost 2 years and she is wonderful. She has super reasonable prices!! I have a long haired CAT and feel bad for her when it is hot out, so I take her to Karen for a hair cut. She gives Miss Eva a flea bath and shaves her. Every time I pick up my Eva she smells good and Karen is always so friendly when I pick her up, she always has a smile on her face. I will never ever go back to Petco again. Last time I went to Petco my cat came home covered in fleas, after i paid for a flea bath..gross...Karen is awesome! read more

Karen makes scheduling a breeze with a simple text message. I can go to the beach and she sends me a text when she's done grooming Carley. My dog Carley, really likes Karen and her two pooches. She's always a happy camper when I pick her up. read more

The Exotic Pooch - Pet Stores Near Me - San Diego, California

Karen did an excellent job on my two shihtzu poodles today. They came out happy, fresh, and very nicely groomed. I thought her price was very reasonable (45$) for full groom service. I will be returning read more

Karen did an amazing job! She is very kind an knows what she is doing. Prior to taking my newly adopted dog to her, some other groomer gave up on my poor pup. Not Karen, she was sweet and took great care of my dog. read more

I've been bringing my Cocker Spaniel, Ben, to Karen at The Exotic Pooch for over a year now, and Karen does such a great job! Ben looks great after being groomed, and Karen is always so sweet and caring of him while he is there. I highly recomend The Exotic Pooch to any pet owner who is looking for a friendly and afordable pet groomer! read more

Karen does a nice job with grooming my dog, who is a poodle-schnauzer mix. She's always accommodating with scheduling, too. You can tell she's loved by the Pacific Beach community by the amount of locals that visit her. read more

Karen has been grooming for 30 years and knows the ins and outs of grooming beyond anything you'll find at one of the pet store grooming places - I've worked at those and I know how those work...they basically hire most anyone, regardless of training or experience, whereas Karen has run this place since her 20s, attends conferences and trade shows and subscribes to industry literature to constantly ensure she is at the top of her "grooming game." I notice that every review admits that even in their "worst" experience with her, their dog still looked fantastic. Perhaps the "bad" experience is partially a result of people expecting a home-grown and independently run small business to be the same anonymous corporate entity like PetCo. Karen is like family to many of her customers and the pets adore her - but remember that this is her own business, not a chain with expendable employees. read more

this was the first place i took my puppy to get groomed when she was 6 months old. i got referred by a friend so i made an appt with karen. i took the puppy in and she glances at me and tells me to go walk my dog so that no accidents happen. so i take her out and the puppy is nervous and won't go. what can i do, right? i take her back in, give karen my info and whatnot and she said it would be about 2 hours. so i say bye to the puppy and karen yells at me and tells me i cant do that. so at this point, im not liking her very much. she calls me and tells me i have to pay an extra $5 because the puppy had an accident in the cage. i dont mind the charge but the way she said it. wow. i give her astar because the puppy looked good. and she gave her a toy. 2nd visit.. after the petsmart fiasco, i took my dog back to karen. i wanted a specific cut and i wanted to show karen a picture. and she looks at me, turns her back and walks away, and says " i dont have time to stand around to look at a picture. ive been a groomer for 18 years. i'm going to do what i want". at that point, i was speechless. absolutely speechless. if i were a confrontational person, i would have demanded my dog back and left but i'm not so i left and picked her up later. granted, she made the dog look good but customer service there is horrible and karen is plain rude and condescending. thats why i never went back after that. not worth it. read more

I agree!! Never, ever bring your dog there. I had my dog's hair cut and whoever was working there was so rude and abrupt I was nervous she would be mean to my dog because he wasn't the "perfect dog". Never again!! If could give a 1/2 star I would!! Petco, La Jolla or Clairemont, are much friendlier!!! read more

Don't go here! Karen, the owner and only worker there is beyond rude! I called to ask if my dog was ready (after he was there for 3 hrs). She said "ok, come in 15 minutes". I showed up and was told that she calls when the dog is ready and that "people need to be more patient, I am busy you know". She snatched the check from my hand and walked away without saying goodbye. She was so mean and has no idea how to treat a customer. I did not pay $50 to be treated like garbage by a dog groomer. I will not be leaving my little boy there again! read more

Excellent service! My little guy was past due for a full grooming. He was a little anxious, but the staff was able to keep him entertained. Karen did a great job clipping his thick poodle hair. My dog is much happier and so am I!! read more

My family has been taking our poodles to Karen for nearly 30 years. All six of them have adored Karen and can't wait to see her. Karen does a fabulous job, even when we've let them get a little too overgrown! I just moved to Chula Vista but we still take our poodle to see Karen. She is worth the trip! read more

Karen is amazing ! My dog always leaves looking and smelling great . She always accommodates her clients . It's hard finding a place that your dog likes going to . Look no farther you have found one . read more

Karen does a wonderful job of grooming our cockapoo, Sammy, and her rates are very reasonable. Sammy always looks and feels great after a trip to The Exotic Pooch. Karen is very knowledgeable in her field, and has made recommendations that have helped improve Sammy's allergy problems. Our experiences with Karen and The Exotic Pooch have been very positive, and we highly recommend their services to our friends. read more

I just picked up my three dogs from Karen at the Exotic Pooch. They are not only beautiful but happy. I have been going to the Exotic Pooch for 15 years and Karen always does a great job. She has always been very accomodating with the day and time that I ask for appointments. She also provides information on how to maintain their "do" between visits and tips on taking care of their health. If you are looking for a new dog groomer, I can highly recommend the Exotic Pooch. read more