FAQ

Questions? We’d love to answer them!


General

What method of payment do you accept?

Harlem Doggie Day Spa accepts Cash, MasterCard, Visa, American Express & Discover at both locations

Where/How do I sign up?

You can fill out our Customer Portal. Make sure to upload your pet’s vaccination records or provide us with your vet’s information so we may have the records faxed over.

Where/How do I make a reservation/appointment?

After signing up, you may request a reservation/appointment through our Customer Portal. Please note your request is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email or call.

What vaccinations are needed for my pet to come to your facility?

Rabies, Distemper + Parvo and Bordetella

Are there any promotions going on?

Check out our Promotions page for more information!

Do you vaccinate dogs?

No, but feel free to send us an email for a list of vets in the area.

I think my dog has fleas, can he still come to your facility?

If your pup is staying for Daycare/Boarding, they will need to have a flea & tick treatment before their stay with us. We offer flea and tick baths as well as Quick Tabs (additional cost). Please note, we have other guest staying here as well, if you are aware your pet has fleas/ticks or think they may do, you MUST alert a member of our staff prior to your stay.

If your pup is scheduled for a grooming, please let the person who booked your grooming know, as we can choose the best time for your pet, to minimize exposure to our other guests.


Grooming

Do I need to make an appointment in advance?

Yes, we book by appointment only. However, we’re always happy to take walk-ins if we have the availability, so don’t hesitate to call.

How long will the grooming process take?

Grooming times will vary by appointment (due to breed and services differences) and normally take 2-3 hours for one dog. Being on time to your appointment, will help promote a seamless grooming experience

*Please Note: There is a grace period of 15 minutes after your appointment time. If you are more than 15 minutes late, your appointment may be rescheduled and you may incur a late fee.

Do you groom cats?

Yes! Please note that we only have one groomer who provides grooming services for cats therefore, the appointments are subject to availability and are on days where we have less dogs to groom. We’ve found that the process is less stressful for both cats and dogs when there are fewer pups around.

My dog really doesn’t like to be groomed and can become aggressive, will you still take him/her?

We will try our best! We want to make the grooming process as stress-free as possible for both your pet and our groomers. Our groomers are professionally trained to deal with the more difficult or nervous dogs and we’ve mastered certain tricks and methods to help the more troublesome pups. There may arise a few cases where the groomer and management team feels that the grooming process has become too stressful on the pet and concern for the pet or groomer’s safety becomes an issue. In these cases, we will contact you. We will try to finish the grooming as best as we can but our philosophy is safety over beauty.

How often should I have my dog groomed?

Each breed varies but our groomers recommend every 6-8 weeks. This is to promote a healthy coat and to lessen matting of the fur.

What type of shampoos do you use?

We use hypoallergenic shampoos for all our baths, unless otherwise instructed by you! We have a vast options of different shampoos as add-ons, a list can be found on our spa services page.

My dog is shedding like crazy, is there something that can help this?

Yes! We have a de-shedding treatment that consist of a special shampoo and de-shedding tool.

Can I stay with my pet during their grooming?

Unfortunately, no. We want to make sure your pup and our groomer can bond during the grooming process and your pup will become too distracted and focused on you. We’ve notice the pups are more well behaved and we’re able to have their full attention without the parents present.

When is the best time to get my puppy groomed?

As early as 8 weeks if they have their second round of vaccinations. It’s never too early to help your puppy get accustomed to grooming. We want to keep it as short and simple as possible, so your puppy’s first visit with us will be a bath, blow-out, nail trim and maybe a little trimming on the face to help introduce them to grooming. We want to avoid stressing them out and ‘turning them off’ to grooming.

My dog is matted but I don’t want him shaved down. Why won’t you brush him?

Because it hurts A LOT. We will try our best to save as much of the coat as possible. If your dog’s fur is matted, then the coat is already damaged and won’t have the same healthy look or feel as it did before. If your dog has a matt or two, that’s a different story. We will do our best to remove the matt and continue on with the haircut.

What is your cancellation policy?

If you must cancel an appointment, please give us at least a 24 hour notice


Daycare/Boarding

I’ve never been there before and I’d like my dog to stay there for the day/night. Is there a process?

Yes, if you haven’t already, please sign up through our customer portal. We must verify your pet’s vaccinations for Rabies, Distemper + Parvo and Bordetella. If all vaccines are current, we will then set up an Assessment Test.

What is an Assessment Test?

We assess every dog who comes into our facility for Daycare or Boarding to ensure they are a right fit for us. An Assessment Test is a trial day of daycare, where you’ll bring your pup in from 11am-4pm. We meet your pup and have them spend a few hours in our daycare facility getting to know the other pups and staff members. The trial day of daycare gives the staff a chance to get a feel for your pup’s personality and helps us gauge if we’re the right fit for him/her. The fee for the Trial Day is $30.

My dog is not spayed/neutered, will that be a problem?

Dogs will be dogs and with that being said, there’s a pack mentality that comes into play at Daycare which is why we recommend spayed/neutering your dog by the age of 8 months. Dogs who are not spayed/neutered become targets in a group environment and can endanger themselves and pups around them. If you’re wanting continuous Daycare service, then your pup will need to be spayed/neutered by the age of 9 months. If you’re using us for Boarding services, please note that for the safety of your pup and the others in our facility, your pup will have limited play time. We want the experience of each pup to be special, so we will ensure that your intact pup gets outside playtime, stimulation and lots of love from our staff.

Why is my dog always thirsty/tired after staying with you?

It is quite normal for your dog to drink more water than normal and sleep a little more when returning home from us. Although we keep water down all day and are constantly refreshing, some pups just aren’t completely comfortable drinking in a pack or are too busy playing all day to think about water. If you do happen to notice your dog comes home extremely thirsty, please notify a member of our staff, so we can ensure your pup gets separate water time. If your dog tends to pass out and sleep the night or next day away after a stay with us, don’t be too alarmed. On average, a healthy dog should be receiving about 14 hours of sleep a day and although we have nap and quiet time here, it’s a different kind of rest then when they’re at home. So, they’re just trying to catch up on those extra z’s they missed here!

Do you feed my dog while they’re there?

Only daycare dogs are fed by the request of the owner and must bring their own food. Overnight dogs are fed twice a day (7am-8am and 5pm-6pm). We recommend bringing your pet’s regular diet since they have sensitive tummies and can be prone to having diarrhea if their diet is changed suddenly. Because of this, we no longer offer complimentary house food.

Where do my dogs play/sleep?

Seeing as how we’re a Cage-Free environment – your pup will never be kenneled. We have different areas of play as well as a backyard.

Our upstairs play field that is connected to the backyard is for our more playful pups who are almost non-stop playing! We also have an area upstairs dedicated to those who may need some downtime away from all the other pups.

Who watches my dog?

During the day we have trained Handlers who look after and play with your pup during business hours. At night, there is an overnight staff member who stays with the pups. We’re staffed 24/7 to make sure your pup is well looked after. 

What time is check-in and check-out for boarding?

For our cage-free boarding, you can check in anytime between 8:30am-3pm. After 3pm, you will be considered a no-show. Our pick-up window is based on a 24-hour time frame. For example, if you drop-off at 11am, you must pick up by 11am the next day, otherwise, you will incur a late checkout fee of $32 to make up for the rest of the day they’ll be spending at Daycare.

Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? Feel free to contact us