About

Frequently Asked Questions

Gentle Paws, a single groomer home salon owned and operated by a longtime local Frederick dog groomer and rehabilitation specialist, was made for your dog first. Our goal is to provide high quality grooming services in a safe, comfortable environment with exceptional handling and care. Grooming can be a stressful time for many pups and dogs need to build trust to feel safe & comfortable while being groomed. Building a relationship with your pup takes time and experience. Gentle Paws is dedicated to using our extensive dog handling and grooming experience to build a one on one trusting relationship with your pup while providing grooms of the highest quality. Every dog should be able to receive thorough and thoughtful care when it’s time for them to get their groom on.




In order to give your pup the most comfortable grooming experience...

we do our services:

One on one,
Straight through

Most salons stack overlapping appointments, with each groomer working on multiple dogs at a time. This means groomers are rushed, can only give minimal personal attention to each dog and dogs are kenneled for significant periods of time. At Gentle Paws having an appointment means that time is set aside for just you. This means your dog’s groom can be done in a timely manner without sacrificing quality and with 100% attention on just them.

with the same groomer

Your pup can’t build a trusting relationship if you’re always being juggled between groomers. Being owner run & operated with one groomer means your furry friend can build trust and comfort by seeing one person consistently. We strive to be a familiar and comfortable part of your dog’s routine.

thoroughly

Quality of product and labor are not secondary when considering the comfort of a dog’s groom. Drying low quality shampoo, no conditioner, product unrinsed, moisture trapped, bulky undercoat left, unsanitary tools, poorly trimmed nails and more. These affect your pup’s quality of life. At Gentle Paws all bath & haircut services include all à la carte services other salons charge as add-on packages. Only your dog pays when corners are cut thru parting out services. Your appointment always includes a personalized selection of products and services tailored to fit your dog’s needs.

in a small home salon

Your dog is groomed in a loving and comfortable environment without the chaos and unsafe distraction of tons of other dogs, other clients, loud unexpected noises and bustling stressful energy. This also allows bonded pairs to remain together during grooming, providing a fuller sense of safety and security. We are passionate about creating a thoughtful space where dogs can tackle their grooming anxieties and difficulties in a safe and supported way.

with consideration for your groomer

Groomers in the industry often face challenges such as working without breaks, working while ill, overbooking, unsanitary conditions, broken infrastructure, and more. This significantly effects the way your pup is handled and cared for as well as the quality of their groom. Gentle Paws is a small owner run & operated team. You never need to worry if your groomer will be harsh with your furry friend because they haven’t eaten, if your appointment will be rushed and poorly executed because your groomer is overbooked, if your dog will be groomed in unsanitary conditions because no one was paid to clean. We care for our family so that we may care for yours.

Frequently asked questions

Gentle Paws is a small home salon off W 7th street in Frederick, MD.

Prices vary by service, size, coat & temperament. Please get in touch for a personalized price quote. While all services are included in the base price, a small additional fee may be charged for matting.

Appointment length varies by service and dog. Stand-alone services normally take between 10-20 minutes. Full grooms normally take between 1-3 hours.

Recommended time between full grooms is 4-8 weeks depending on coat type and maintenance needs. Nails are best to do monthly for upkeep or every 1-2 weeks if the quicks are long and need to recede.

Currently Gentle Paws does not service cats.

While we do not offer full hand stripping sessions, hand stripping methods will be utilized when appropriate in the course of grooming.

While this is evaluated on a case by case basis, the focus will always be on the healthiest and most humane groom. We will always try our best to meet your aesthetic preferences but will never torture a dog just to keep neglected coat long. By utilizing high quality product and tools, light to moderate matting can usually be painlessly taken care of. However, matting that is too tight to the skin will need to be shaved for safe humane removal.

Typically, no. However this is evaluated on a case by case basis based on the dog’s coat, lifestyle and needs. The focus is always on what is healthy and humane.

That’s okay! Gentle Paws caters to dogs who struggle with grooming. We just ask that you be up front and honest about any issues your pup deals with.

Yes! Whether you need your pup taken to and from their grooming appointment or just dropped off back at home when finished, we’re happy to help. Just let us know when booking and we’ll quote you a small fee based on your location.

Boarding is not always offered but may be available for a limited number of grooming clients.

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Please note, we do not accept checks.

Ready to book?

Request an appointment online, send us a text, shoot us an email.

Reach out however you are most comfortable.

Get in touch

Ready to book?

Request an appointment online, send us a text, shoot us an email.

Reach out however you are most comfortable.

Get in touch