Finding a Good Groomer in Newport News
Alright, let’s talk about getting my dog groomed here in Newport News. My buddy, Buster, a scruffy terrier mix, was starting to look less like a dog and more like a walking carpet. Seriously, the shedding was getting out of hand, and he had some serious tangles behind his ears that I just couldn’t get out myself.
So, the mission began: find a decent groomer around town. I didn’t want just anyone hacking away at his fur. I started by asking a couple of neighbors I see walking their dogs. Got a name or two, but nothing really jumped out. Then I did some basic searching, you know, just looking up places nearby. Found a few options popped up.

I decided to call one place that seemed kinda promising. The person who answered sounded friendly enough, not rushed. I asked about their experience with terriers and their general grooming process. You know, the basic stuff: bath, haircut, nail trim, ear cleaning. They seemed to know what they were talking about, which was a good sign. Pricing seemed okay, not super cheap, but not crazy expensive either. Booked an appointment for the following week.
The Grooming Day Experience
Dropped Buster off in the morning. The place was clean, didn’t smell overwhelmingly like wet dog, which I appreciated. A couple of other dogs were waiting, seemed calm enough. I gave the groomer the rundown again: keep him relatively short but not shaved down completely, pay attention to those ear mats, and please be gentle with his nails – he hates that part.
They said it would take about three hours. Went home, tried not to worry too much. Buster isn’t terrible at the groomer, but he definitely gets anxious. I always feel a bit guilty leaving him.
Got the call a bit earlier than expected, saying he was ready. Went back to pick him up. And wow, he looked like a whole new dog!
- The Cut: It was great, exactly what I asked for. Short, neat, and they managed to get those stubborn tangles out without leaving bald spots.
- Cleanliness: He smelled fantastic, not perfumey, just clean. His coat felt super soft too.
- Nails & Ears: Nails were short, ears looked clean. The real test was he wasn’t scratching his ears constantly when he got home, so they must have done a good job.
Most importantly, Buster seemed okay! A little tired, maybe a bit subdued like he usually is after grooming, but not traumatized or anything. He trotted out happily enough and jumped right into the car.
So, yeah, the whole process was pretty smooth. Finding a place took a little effort, just calling around and checking things out. But this spot in Newport News worked out well for us this time. The staff seemed competent, the place was decent, and Buster came back looking sharp and feeling good. Will definitely be going back there next time he starts resembling a floor mop.