Your Pet’s First Visit

1. Let’s Get to Know Your Pet

Call 301-317-4554 to discuss your pet’s grooming needs and arrange a first appointment.

Please tell us your pet’s breed, age, approximate size, coat condition, previous grooming experience, and the service or style you have in mind. We’ll help you choose an appropriate starting point.

2. Bring Current Rabies Proof

New clients must provide proof of a current rabies vaccination.

You may email the record to acrackerslaurel@gmail.com or bring it with you to your scheduled visit.

If you have questions about your pet’s documentation, please call before the appointment.

3. Arrange Your First-Visit Deposit

A deposit is required for all first-time appointments. Your deposit is applied directly toward your pet’s grooming service.

Call us to arrange your first appointment and deposit.

Cancellation Policy

Please cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment to avoid losing your deposit. Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice result in forfeiture of the deposit.

Before Your Visit

• Share health and comfort needs. Tell us about medical conditions, allergies, sensitive areas, recent procedures, or mobility limitations that may affect grooming.
• Share grooming history. Let us know about anxiety, handling sensitivities, previous difficult experiences, or any specific procedure your pet finds uncomfortable.
• Discuss your preferred style. Bring a reference photo or explain the length and finish you would like. We’ll discuss what is suitable for your pet’s coat and condition.
• Provide a reachable phone number. We need to be able to contact you during the visit and when your pet is ready.

If your plans change or you are running late, please call so we can discuss your appointment.

Comfort Comes First

Puppies, senior pets, nervous dogs, and pets with mobility needs may benefit from a different pace or additional assistance. Please discuss these needs with us when scheduling.

We consider physical support needs separately from behavior concerns and approach every pet with patience and compassion.

If your pet has tangles or matting, let us know before the visit. We will assess the coat and discuss a suitable grooming approach with your pet’s comfort in mind.

Grooming Time & Pickup

Most appointments take approximately 2 to 4 hours. Timing varies with your pet’s size, coat, service, and individual needs; some pets require additional time.

We will contact you when your pet is ready for pickup. Please remain reachable during the appointment.

At pickup, we can discuss your pet’s visit and a grooming schedule suited to their coat and lifestyle.