Prancing Paws Ottawa offers a private, one-on-one grooming experience designed for dogs who benefit from extra time, structure, and emotional support.

Fear Free Certified & Private Care:
Tailored sessions designed to keep pets calm and comfortable.

Premium Products:
Quality shampoos and supplies to protect skin and coat health.

Constant Communication:
Updates from start to finish, including any concerns we notice.

Specialized Handling:
From puppies to seniors — including our “big feelings” friends — we take every precaution to support safety and comfort.

Photos:
Every groom ends with a keepsake photo for the family.

This boutique approach means more time, more attention, and more individualized care — and that’s something we’re proud to offer.

When should pup start the grooming process? That's a simple answer:

As soon as possible!

Anyone who tells you to wait for an inordinate period of time (i.e. 6 mos-1 year) before having your fur kid groomed, is giving you some serious misguided advice.

Why it's not safe to wait that long:
Your pup's coat won't grow healthily, they will be fearful of the process and will be more difficult to teach and overcome any fears they incur.

You can absolutely introduce the comb and brush to your fur baby as early as you bring them home. They will need to get used to the sensations of being combed and brushed and of you handling them gently. When in doubt, reach out to a groomer for pointers! Schedule a meet and greet before you bring pup home or contact your veterinarian for how to’s. The more professional information under your belt the better.

Your pup may not take to the comb and brush right away and may mouth, nip or complain and rightfully so. They don't understand why this is happening and patience and a quiet environment and feedback from a professional groomer or veterinarian goes a long way.

Maintaining Realistic Grooming Expectations for Your Dog and Groomer

Every dog is unique, and so are their grooming needs. No two pups are the same, and their coat type, health, and lifestyle all influence how their coat should be maintained.

Daily Maintenance is Essential

• All dogs require regular daily grooming, including brushing and combing, even “non-shedding” breeds (which still shed).

• Combing reaches the root of the hair, removes tangles before they mat, and helps distribute natural oils. Brushing alone is not enough.

• Waiting a week—or longer—between grooming sessions makes it harder to keep coats healthy and tangle-free.

Coat Considerations

• Dogs with double coats are especially prone to matting, hot spots, and unhealthy skin if not properly groomed. Daily brushing and combing with the correct tools is critical.

• Bully breeds like Rottweilers, Bulldogs, Mastiffs, and Boxers may not need combing, but they still benefit from brushing to stimulate the skin and coat. Specialized brushes help massage their fur and distribute oils.

Shaving Isn’t a Solution for Shedding

• Shaving a double-coated dog will not reduce shedding and can damage the coat, cause uneven regrowth, and disrupt temperature regulation. Shedding will continue with sharper hairs, even after shaving.

Choosing Your Dog’s Look

• If a specific style is achievable, your groomer will let you know.

• Always consider your dog’s coat type when selecting a look. Not every Poodle, Shih Tzu, or Mixed Breed has the "ideal" coat type you might expect.

• Bringing photos or previous grooming notes helps your groomer understand the look you want and set realistic expectations.

Key Takeaway
Daily maintenance (i.e.Combing and Brushing) , realistic styling goals, and understanding your dog’s unique coat are essential to keeping your pup healthy, comfortable, and looking their best.

Grooming (Haircuts):

• Every 2–4 weeks → Fluffy coat

• Every 6–8 weeks → A little fluffy

• 10+ weeks → Very short

Quick Touch-Ups (Genital & Rectal Maintenance):

• Every 4 weeks

Nail Maintenance:

• Every 4–6 weeks (maximum 6 weeks)

Why it matters:
Regular grooming and nail trims keep your dog healthy, comfortable, and mobile. They prevent infections, painful nails, matting, and behavioural changes caused by discomfort—while keeping your home clean and safe.

Cost & Considerations

We understand that grooming is an costly. The average cost for a small dog groom is at least $80 + HST, with pricing varying based on breed, coat condition, hairstyle, behaviour, and overall time required. This is a realistic number to factor into your budget approximately every 6–8 weeks.

If your total is higher, it’s typically due to added services or, more commonly, significant matting that requires extra time, skill, and care to address safely.

There’s no avoiding the cost of coat care — even at-home grooming adds up quickly when purchasing quality shampoos, brushes, combs, clippers, and other tools. Professional grooming reflects far more than a haircut or nail trim; it’s an investment in your dog’s comfort, skin health, mobility, and long-term well-being.

Consistent at-home maintenance makes a significant difference. The more regularly you brush and maintain your dog’s coat between appointments, the better chance you have of keeping them fluffier, more comfortable, and avoiding additional matting fees. Ultimately, that consistency plays a major role in overall grooming costs.

Grooming Terminology: A Quick Guide

Q: What is shaving/clipping?
A: Shaving (or clipping) is a technique groomers use with clippers and blades to safely cut your dog’s hair to the desired length you’ve chosen (except on a matted coat*). To safely cut a dog’s coat, clippers with a blade—and sometimes a guard comb—are used. Groomers may also use scissors for shaping and polishing the haircut. Most groomers have a dog hair length chart to help you visualize what will remain on your dog’s coat after clipping.

If your dog’s coat was shaved very short to the skin, this was likely for health and safety reasons. It is not your groomer’s fault, nor your dog’s.

Daily combing and brushing with the correct tools will help reduce matting. Brushing once a week or just before a groom will not prevent mats. Consider using the term "clipped" instead of "shaved" when describing the look you want—this helps your groomer understand you want a shorter style without going all the way to the skin.

Q: What is matting?
A: Matting is tangled fur (sometimes severe, forming pelts) that occurs close to the skin due to lack of combing and brushing. Brushing alone does not prevent mats—combing is required to reach the hair’s root.

Important facts about matting:

• Combing must be done daily, sometimes multiple times per day.

• Matting does not happen overnight, in a week, or "on the way to the groomer". It develops over time from neglected grooming.

• Groomers can tell how long a dog has gone without maintenance by examining their coat.

Matting care:

• Mats cannot be brushed or combed out.

• Mats must be shaved out—this is the only safe method.

• De-matting is painful, stressful, and is not a recommended technique.

• Severe matting adds time to grooming appointments (small dog appointments typically 2.5–3 hours; mats can add extra time).

Home remedies do not work:

• Honey, coconut oil, aloe vera, rubbing alcohol, or other DIY methods will not fix matting or coat problems.

Q: How can I prevent mats and maintain a healthy coat?
A: Daily combing and brushing with the correct tools keeps mats away, reduces the need for shaving, and maintains your dog’s comfort and coat health.Item description

Haircut Lengths & Styles for Your Floof

Q: How can I choose a haircut length?

A: Ask your groomer to show you their haircut charts. There are typically two charts; however, they both depict the same lengths—except one is sleek and the other is layered. At Prancing Paws Ottawa, we call them the "Ross" (Sleek) and "The Rachel" (Layered):

• Ross Chart: Tighter, more defined clip (think early 90s Ross from Friends).

• Rachel Chart: Flowing, choppy look (think Jennifer Aniston’s 1995 hairstyle).

Q: What are the common haircut styles?

Real Haircuts:

• Body Contour: Haircut on body with shaped head, ears, and tail.

• Heavy Style(for some double-coated breeds): Shorter belly and bottom, trimmed feathers, pad shave, foot shaping, thinning excess hair, shaped ears.

• Light Style(for some double-coated breeds): Light belly, feathers, and bottom trims, foot shaping, shaped ears.

• Shave: Very short haircut from head to tail. Usually not for double-coated breeds unless medically required.

Made-Up Haircuts:

• Puppy Cut

• Teddy Bear Cut

These terms aren’t standardized—different groomers may interpret them differently. Bring a photo of what you want.

Q: What should I know about my dog’s coat and genetics?

• Don’t Poodle my Doodle: Your poodle mix will inherit traits from the Poodle side. You can’t avoid its genetic predisposition.

• Don’t make my Poodle look like a Poodle: Your Poodle will naturally grow hair that conforms to its breed traits—traditional Poodle cuts follow this pattern.

• I want my dog short but not shaved: Unfortunately, this isn’t realistic. Haircuts work with clippers (Ross chart) or scissor styling (Rachel chart). You can choose the style, but “short but not shaved” can’t defy how the hair grows.

Q: Can I always choose the Ross or The Rachel?
A: Not always. Different dogs have different coat types. Sometimes the hair type dictates which chart/style will work best.

Tip: Always bring a photo—visuals help your groomer understand exactly what look you would like.