When the owners of Dog Wash Cedar Park tell customers, “It’s all about you,” they are actually referring to their canine clients, said co-owner Sondra Milovich.
“We do this because we love and respect dogs,” Milovich said. “It’s not a production line. It’s all about that dog.”
Milovich said she often develops a special connection with the dogs and wants each one to have a good experience when they come in.
“If there’s something that [a dog] doesn’t like [in] the way that it’s done, we just find another way to do it,” she said. “I think that’s [our] maturity and the fact that we’ve worked with so many dogs.”
Milovich previously owned two similar businesses in California before opening the shop in Cedar Park in 2008, she said. In 2012, Faye Toll came to work at the dog wash as a groomer and became an equal partner in ownership the following year. The owners, who do all of the grooming themselves, said they have about 50 years of grooming experience between them.
When customers bring in their dogs they can request a variety of services that range from full-service grooming to a self-serve wash, Toll said.
“The word ‘grooming’ does not [just] mean [a] haircut. They’re not equal. Grooming means whatever that particular dog needs to be clean and in good shape,” Toll said.
Toll recommends that customers follow a regular grooming schedule to ensure their dogs become comfortable with a routine.
One popular option is a bath and brush appointment, which includes a nail trimming as well as working with the dog’s coat to reduce shedding, Toll said.
The self-serve washing option is becoming increasingly popular for pet owners who enjoy the convenience of bathing their own dogs with professional equipment, Milovich said. When a self-serve customer comes in for the first time, the owners teach him or her how to use the equipment.
“Be very patient. If you dry your dog properly, he’s going to stay cleaner longer and won’t hold an odor,” said Toll, who said she has more than 10 years of experience as a grooming instructor.
Toll said she and her German shepherd, Tex, volunteer at Cox Elementary School once per week as part of Austin Dog Alliance’s Bow Wow Reading program. She also teaches in a job skills training program for special-needs adults offered by ADA.
The program is for adults interested in careers working with dogs, ADA Executive Director Debi Krakar said. The students typically have employment challenges such as autism, bipolar disorder, anxiety, a traumatic brain injury, attention deficit disorder or a learning disability, she said. The program includes an evening of hands-on instruction hosted by the grooming shop, Krakar said.
“Faye’s involvement is very valuable,” Krakar said. “Several students have decided to pursue grooming as a full-time career based on Faye’s involvement. All of the students are better prepared to enter the workforce because of the training [she provides].”
Self-serve dog wash
In addition to the groomers’ services, customers can use the grooming equipment and supplies for a fee of $15 per dog at Dog Wash Cedar Park.
Amenities include:
- Waterproof apron
- Leashes to secure dogs to the tub or drying area for safety
- Combs and brushes
- Stainless-steel bathtubs with access ramps
- Tearless shampoo for the dog’s head and face
- Professional-grade, all-natural shampoo is delivered through an automated sprayer
- Shampooing twice in one bathing is allowed and often recommended
- Ear cleaner
- Unlimited towels
- Four high velocity-air dryers, each suited to a different breed or size of dog
- Nail trimming is available for an additional fee
