The pups come first! Aiken County Mobile Dog Grooming (ACMDG), is as it states, a boutique styled mobile dog grooming service in the Aiken, SC area, so we drive to you! ACMDG is a self contained truck & trailer set up complete with water, power via a generator, heat, AC & our grooming tools. All natural products are used when possible to include however not limited to, Natural Groomers by Harco & Zuke’s treats.
CURRENTLY ON WAITLIST STATUS HOWEVER HAPPILY TAKING & ENCOURAGE WAITLIST APPLICANTS.
Waitlisting is strongly suggested as spots open sporadically and are typically booked from the waitlist from within 30 minutes of being offered.
***Text is the best form of contact, email 2nd & FB messenger 3rd. Phone calls are not picked up & voicemails are NOT checked.***
Currently ACMDG is a one woman show, from the marketing, online presence, rig maintenance, booking, schedule maintenance, sending reminders to grooming & more!
Trish has been mobile dog grooming since 2007 & moved to Aiken County, SC in July of 2019. She has extensive experience in both dog grooming & horses.
In 2006/7 she attended a grooming school in Tampa & started the mobile dog grooming business.
In the horses, she grew up in & started out as a working student at what used to be her family’s well known eventing facility in the NE, that offered up to recognized intermediate (2* today). Trish was fortunate to train with top Three-Day (back in the days when the endurance phase included roads & tracks & steeplechase @ preliminary & up), dressage & show jumping trainers & competed up to what is today the Olympic level of Eventing; Intermediate or known as 2 star. She also competed in the traditional old school 3-Day (endurance phase was about 1.5 hours vs 12-15 minutes) up through Intermediate as a 16 year old on an OTTB that was purchased for $1500 in 4th/5th grade (1980’s) from an employee at her family’s farm. This 15.1 hh spitfire, Kingdom Kirk (jockey club name), was known to previously flip over training level & up XC fences, so their success was a huge & welcome surprise!! She has been employed in the horse industry from both sides of her family (that includes the western AQHA/Appaloosa world too), to 3-Day olympic trainers to a top steeplechase trainer & more.
There were also eight years in the resort industry of Sanibel-Captiva. They were mostly concentrated in vacation rentals, unit photography/brochures & property management.
Muhlenberg College was attended after graduation from high school.
On her time off she can be found enjoying reading, cooking, photography, baking, gulf beaches, the ocean, gardening, visiting fun areas & events, horses, her household pets, brainstorming business ideas & more.
ACMDG specializes in pet friendly, easy maintenance cuts. Your pup/s will be lovingly bathed, nails trimmed, ears cleaned, semi to mostly dried & given a haircut. Our pups are required to stay on a methodically rotating monthly or every other month schedule. There is a $120 minimum. Email & text reminders are sent about a week out from your appointment date, typically on Thursdays. Due to the poor cell reception, communication is via text, Facebook messenger & email. As a courtesy, you will be texted or emailed if running more than an hour late or early.
Hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 am start time to 3:00 pm finish time. Friday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm with a 2 pup minimum & certain restrictions apply.
Currently, appointments are being offered in Aiken County, SC & North Augusta, SC. We are open to going to additional areas, such as Augusta, GA if we are scheduled to groom in or close to your area or can schedule multiple grooms in your area. Trip charges may apply & are typically only required outside of Aiken County.
***Experienced in horses & on a case by case basis may consider horse grooming, clipping etc on well behaved “ponies” ONLY. If items such as sedation, twitching or a helper are required, please do not inquire. Prices double+ if a second person is required. Body clipping starts from $200 & is typically referred onwards due to personal allergies.***
WHAT DOES A FULL DOG GROOMING PACKAGE INCLUDE?
The groom minimum is $120, which is includes up to the first hour for one pup & is dependent on breed, time, behavior & type of cut. After the minimum is met, the hourly rate falls back to roughly $100/hour. Prices vary dependent on time, breed, behavior, size, type of cut & any special requests. Trip charges may apply.
A pup getting a full grooming package will receive the following:
-deshed &/or haircut
-nails trimmed (filed with a dremel
&/or traditional nail trimmer used)
-ears cleaned
-pad hair shaved
-sanitaries shaved if desired
-bath
-towel & blow dry; semi to mostly
dry
***The groom minimum starts at $120 & pups are required to maintain a methodical monthly or every other month rotating schedule. Once the $120 minimum is met, items such as just nails or say a bath for a chihuahua start at lower rates. Prices are not final until the end of the groom & vary based on breed, type of cut, condition; matting, time & behavior.
FEBRUARY 2023 PRICING:
***For an appointment during the standard operating hours of Tuesday-Thursday 10-3 finishing time & Friday 10-2 finishing time, the groom minimum starts at $120, with one/the first pup starting at $120 including up to the first hour of that groom & dependent on breed, behavior & type of cut. After that is met, lower priced grooms & services are available. ROUGHLY the rate is $100/hour after the minimum is met & dependent on time/breed/behavior/type of cut etc. Pups are required to maintain a methodically rotating monthly or every other month schedule. In order to keep your spot on the schedule the zero tolerance cancellation policy (see policies) must be adhered to. Trip, weekend convenience fees, after/before hours, rescheduling fees &/or non-ACMDG business day rates may apply (see policies & rates). Once the $120 minimum is met, items such as just nails ($20+) or say a bath package for a short coated chihuahua ($45 & up) start at lower rates.
***Prices are not final until the end of the groom & vary based on breed, size, type of cut, condition; matting, time (roughly $100/hour after minimum is met) & behavior.***
The below pricing reflects typical groom times for a well behaved & groomed pup.
-Pit Bull/Basset Hound type: $80 & up ($80 rate is roughly 40 min or less & after the $120 minimum is met.)
-Yorkshire Terrier/Maltese/Havanese/Toy or Mini Poodle/Corgi types: $90 & up ($90 rate is roughly 50 min or less & after the $120 minimum is met.)
-Labrador deshed $100 & up. ($100 rate is roughly 60 min or less & after the $120 minimum is met.)
-Cocker Spaniel/Cairn Terrier/Westie/Mini Schnauzer types: $100 & up. ($100 rate is roughly 60 min or less & after the $120 minimum is met.)
-Golden Retriever/Borzoi/German Shepherd/Husky/Australian Shepherd/Border Collie/Akita/Labrador shave down types: $110 and up. ($110 rate is roughly @ 60 min or less & after the $120 minimum is met.)
-Airdale & Standard Schnauzer types in an all over same length, short, “puppy cut”, (1/2 inch & less, no matting anywhere, minimal to no hand scissoring & approximately a 60 min or less groom): $120 & up ($120 rate is roughly @ 60 min or less & after the $120 minimum is met.)
-Medium to large Doodle & Poodle/Afghan Hound/Airdale/Standard Schnauzer/Chow types: $130 ($130 rate is roughly 75 min or less @ approximate $100/hour, 1.5 hours or less $150+ etc & after the $120 minimum is met.) & up.
***AS OF APRIL, 2021, we will no longer be taking any pups much over 100 pounds.***
***Approximately, up to a large German Shepherd/Lab/Golden Retriever will be the maximum size taken.***
***RATES ARE ROUGHLY BASED ON $100 per hour after the $120 minimum is met.***
***Great Pyrnese & other larger &/or giant breeds will ONLY be considered on a case by case basis & MUST meet the weight qualification of 100 pounds or less. Due to the excess wear & tear on the equipment &/or groomer, half a day or more will be set aside for these types at $250 per groom to as much as $400.***
***For the pups optimum comfort, we try to keep grooms between 60 to 90 minutes & discourage going much over 2 hours per groom. Additional requested blow drying, etc will result in increased time, therefore increased fees.***
ADDITIONAL SERVICES & FEES:
-Poodle Feet: Pads, in between toes, paw tops shaved w a 10 which is extremely close to the skin. This is often done for multiple breeds to help with prickers, dirt, etc. $10 & up for smaller breeds. $20 & up for larger breeds &/or smaller breeds who are more “difficult” to do.
-Matting: $20 per 30 min
-Fleas/Ticks: Not only are we removing pests from your pup/s, we also have to “debug” the rig. Please have your pets flea & tick free. $30 per 30 minutes
-Brush teeth: $5 to $10
-Anal glands: Please note, most pups take care of this naturally. We encourage a trip to the veterinarian for pup safety reasons. Will discuss on a case by case basis. $10
-2nd bath &/or requesting Microtex Shampoo or using a provided shampoo that requires extensive soaking time: $5 to $10
-Walking &/or dealing with potty issues while grooming: $10
-Nails on additional pups not being groomed: $20+ per pup dependent on behavior.
-Just nails: Only open to current ACMDG pups on the grooming schedule. Minimum starts at $60+ & includes up to two pups. $20+ per additional pup. Rates vary dependent on behavior. Trip charges may apply.
-Reschedule fee: $40 & up. 2 weeks or more notice is required. The sooner the reschedule is requested, the easier it is to find an appropriate spot & chances are increased of having a lesser or waived reschedule fee. ***See policies for further explanation.***
-Cancelation of appointment for all or only some pups scheduled in lieu of rescheduling: In order to keep your spot on the schedule the regular groom fees must be paid via zelle or PayPal (5% fee may be required for PP) within 24 hours of the appointment cancellation. ***See policies for further explanation.***
-After & before hours groom convenience fee: $20+ per hour entered plus regular groom & trip fees. ($20 CF + $120 GM = $140+ minimum on one pup.)
-Weekend groom convenience fee: $150 convenience fee plus regular groom & trip fees. ($150 CF + $120 GM = $270+ minimum on one pup.)
-Horse items: begin at an $80 minimum, which includes up to the first hour of chores & dependent on the task. Up to 40 miles total round trip/hour total drive time trip is included in that $80 minimum. After the first hour, the minimum charge is $40/hour. Certain tasks are charged by task vs time. Trip charges may apply. ***Currently, if accepted, only available on non-pup grooming days.***
-Pet & Horse Sitting:
***Currently not available***
*** Minimum charge per visit w trip: With roughly 20 mile/30 min trip each way (roughly based @ $1/mile) & up to first hour of the sit: $80. Roughly based on: $40+ trip both ways plus 40+ hourly rate = $80. $40+ per hour after that. It may be a possibility that the trip charge can be split partly w other appts, however not guaranteed. Rates roughly based off of what current economic studies say the minimum wage should be; $30+/hour, plus costs associated w trip combined w government deduction mileage of $.65/mile. A $40 minimum visit MAY be considered if less than 10 mile/10 minutes each way trip &/or able to combine w other appt/s & if it’s basic items such as just drop feeds are being done for 30 minutes or less total time at a value of $20 which is based off of $40/hour. ***Wknd hourly rates (not trip) & holidays for basic tasks roughly double to $40/30 min. + trip & $80/hour + trip.*** ***PAYMENT DUE IN FULL (via Zelle or PayPal; additional 5% fees for PP) FOR TOTAL MINIMUM EXPECTED SERVICES 2 WEEKS PRIOR or you risk losing your reservation. Remaining due expected within 24 hours of last sit/task. 50% kept as a cancellation fee for any sits/tasks if cancelled 2 weeks or less out from start date.***
-Overnight Pet Sits: $250 & up.
***Currently not available***
$250 includes the first 40 miles/hour total drive time or less round trip (roughly based @ $1/mile) & two straight forward drop feeds @ 30 min and less each. Additional trip charges may apply. Additional tasks beyond the basic two 30 minute am & pm drop feeds will be charged accordingly. Overnights officially start 8:00 pm or later to 5:00 am for a total of 9 hours ($30 minimum wage suggested by current economic studies x 8 hours (1 hour+ taken out for potential food acquisition) = $240 + $1/mile trip) & more time may be spent, however not guaranteed. After any pm drop feeds etc, time may be spent off property to acquire food, etc. Holidays are double+ rates. Weekend rates are $300 & up per night & include Friday, Saturday & Sunday evenings. ***PAYMENT DUE IN FULL (via Zelle or PayPal; additional 5% fees for PP) FOR TOTAL MINIMUM EXPECTED SERVICES 2 WEEKS PRIOR or you risk losing your reservation. Remaining due expected within 24 hours of last sit/task. 50% kept as a cancellation fee for any sits/tasks if cancelled 2 weeks or less out from start date.***
***All are estimates & prices will not be final until the tasks or groom/s are completed & are subject to change at any time. Current photos help with grooming estimates.***
PLEASE NOTE: After the first appointment, in order to keep your pups on schedule, we ask that you provide access to your pup/s if you can not be there,. We do not tolerate frequent cancellations, no shows or last minute schedule change requests. Per our policies, a MINIMUM of a 2 week notice is required for non-emergency rescheduling requests. Your pups come first, if they can not handle any or all parts of the grooming services, we will stop. Minimum fees will still be expected for all pup/s scheduled. Severe matting will result in shave downs as this is cruel & unfair to put your dog through dematting. We need to be able to park a truck & trailer safely, either on the street or in your driveway (equivalent to a truck & 2-horse trailer length). Due to the finicky nature of generators, there may be times where we’ll need to plug in to your power, however this is not the norm. Due to the poor cell reception in Aiken County we may have issues reaching you while on the road. You assume all liability, vet bills, etc for your pup/s in the event something goes wrong.
***Text is the best form of contact, email 2nd & FB messenger 3rd. Phone calls are not picked up & voicemails are NOT checked.***
***Please join the FB page to get notices on updates to policies, pricing, holiday hours, just for fun posts, informative posts & more!
Please take note of the pertinent policies below. These are the most updated policies and you are liable for these policies from your first appointment onwards.
FEBRUARY 2023 POLICIES:
APPT TIMES: Allow for a 60 minute window prior to and after the scheduled appointment time. We will text or email if we are much beyond a 30 minute window.
SCHEDULES: Aiken County Mobile Dog Grooming will modify them through the year. Schedules are subject to change. You are responsible for keeping up with your schedule. At the end of each appt, your next appt is texted & emailed to you along with the approximate methodical rotation (typically only upset by major holidays & the June vacation). Reminders are sent about a week out, typically on Thursdays, from aikencountymobiledoggrooming@gmail.com as well as via text. Frequent reschedules & cancellations are not tolerated & will not work with how scheduling is run; access needs to be arranged by some means to keep your pups on schedule. See cancellation/reschedule & trip charge policies for further clarification.
WAITLIST: In order to be put on the waitlist, all information required to book an appt will be required up front. In the event something opens up it will help speed up the process & once confirmed, guarantee a spot. Once something is open, it will be offered to all of those that qualify, have previously provided the required information in full & is first come, first serve. Waitlist spots are not secured until your information is received in full & you receive your waitlist confirmations via text & email. Currently, all new clients are being booked from the waitlist & typically within 30 minutes of being offered.
CANCELLATION/RESCHEDULE: There is a ZERO TOLERANCE CXL POLICY & reschedules are not looked at favorably. Due to already tight holiday scheduling, reschedules are particularly frowned upon around Xmas, Thanksgiving & mid June to mid July for the end of June/beginning of July vacation. With the ZERO TOLERANCE CANCELLATION POLICY, in order to keep your spot reserved & avoid any unnecessary mishaps or misunderstandings, there are 3 options; leave easy access to pups & payment for the original appt date & time (most preferable & carry on w little to no issues), reschedule (additional reschedule fees may apply varying from $40 to $150 + regular groom/trip fees) or pay for the missed appointment (via PayPal or Zelle within 24 hours of the original appt). In order to keep a positive working relationship, after the first appt, we need to have access to your pup/s if you are unable to be there. We recommend real estate locks as a safe and secure method for this. We can not take someone on who reschedules frequently as this does not work with how the scheduling is run (there is more lenience if you are an all day appt & thus easier to move the entire day; likely a Monday). If you can not provide access, if you can not be there after the first appointment, and you do cancel/reschedule frequently we will not be a good match. All schedule change requests must be made 2 weeks+ prior to your appt (you were given your approximate EM or EOM appt rotation when you started w ACMDG & are given your next appt & approximate appt rotation @ the end of each appt) or you will be billed the grooming rate for all dogs scheduled. If you do not comply, you will be taken off the schedule until payment is made and risk losing your spot. Weekday reschedules, when we can not combine you w 1 to 2 more grooms to make a full day (3+ full grooms (@ $100+ per groom)) or for a weekday after or before hours, are subject to a minimum $20 up charge per each hour entered (For example: $40 for 1.5 hours, not $30) plus a minimum $20 trip charge. If ACMDG agrees to a weekend reschedule, the minimum convenience fee is $150 plus the grooming fees & any trip charges. ***Policy for clients who are removed from the schedule for frequent cancellations/reschedules, if allowed back on schedule: A non-refundable, payment in full for all pups scheduled, will be required when the first appointment is made & then will be required at the end of each appointment for all pups scheduled for the next appointment. If payment is not made, you have ruined your last chance & will be removed from the schedule permanently.*** ***Reschedules, if a spot is open during business hours while traveling to other appts or if you are an all day appt (Tues-Thurs. 10-3 finishing time or Fri. 10-2 finishing time) & in your area, or if it is a legitimate emergency (vacations do not qualify), MAY be the only exception to these policies & will be decided on a case by case basis by ACMDG.*** ***In the event ACMDG needs to reschedule the appt, due to holidays/equipment malfunctions/sickness, etc there will be no rescheduling fees.***
TRIP CHARGES: If a reschedule is requested and made when we are not in your area a minimum of a $20 trip charge will be charged to cover extra gas, wear & tear and time. For regularly scheduled appts, roughly the west half of Aiken County typically does not necessitate a trip charge, however, areas such as Wagener do necessitate a trip charge. For regularly scheduled appointments, North Augusta & Beech Island do not have a trip charge. If you are outside of our coverage area or we are traveling to you when not in your area for other appts, a trip charge may be charged. If you are more than 20 miles &/or 30 minutes from Beech Island, SC, you will likely be charged a trip charge. Roughly, East Aiken/302 corridor: $15+, Wagener: $40+ Salley: $50+ Edgefield $60+ & Ridge Spring: $60+.
PRICING/PAYMENT: *ALL PRICES/PRICE QUOTES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Cash or check. PayPal or Zelle only w prior approval. Minimum charge of $120 and trip charges may apply. Before and after hours subject to a minimum $20 up charge per hour entered (1.5 hours = $40, not $30) per groom. Payment due at appointment. Late fee: $10 per day.
HOURS: Tuesday-Thursday 10:00 am start grooming time to 3:00 pm finish time. Friday’s are open with certain restrictions & only to two or more pup households between 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Availability is limited with clients in good standing having preferential treatment. Ideally, all pups would be on an every month schedule to be maintained at their best from nails to haircuts. We require all pups to keep a methodically rotating every month or every other month schedule. This is in part to reduce scheduling conflicts & to decrease grooming issues such as matting & nails. If not home, we need access to keep your pups on schedule. We suggest a real estate lock which is readily available at Home Depot, etc. We close mid-June, Thanksgiving week and Christmas for two weeks and major holidays.
AVAILABILITY: We are typically booked out up to a year out, as clients schedules are made and checked for the year, unless there is a cancellation. Current availability will sometimes be posted at our Facebook page for Aiken County Mobile Dog Grooming.
ACCESS: You will need to be there for the first appointment. After that, we need to have access to your pup/s if you are unable to be there. We recommend real estate locks as a safe and secure method for this. We can not take someone on who cancels or reschedules frequently. If you can not provide access if you can not be there after the first appointment and you do cancel/reschedule frequently we will not be a good match and we will be forced to refer you on to another groomer as this will not work with how we run the scheduling.
LOCATIONS: We only typically go to single standing homes for ease of parking and/or we do need to be able to safely park a truck & trailer (equivalent of a truck & 2-horse trailer) on the street or in your driveway. We provide our own water and have power via our generator. However, in the rare event the generator goes out we may need to utilize your power. Areas of coverage include Aiken County, SC, Aiken, Wagener, Graniteville, Beech Island, N Augusta & Augusta GA. We will consider additional areas if close to your area.
BEHAVIOR & COAT CONDITION & OTHER ISSUES: Due to how we groom in a mobile set up, your pups need to be DRY & free of large amounts of dirt, etc. Your pets well being comes first. In the event that an animal can not handle any/parts of the services, is overly aggressive, etc, we’ll stop. Prices will not be reduced. You will still be responsible for all quoted grooming fees, convenience/after & before hours fees & trip fees etc in the event the pup/s can not handle the grooming &/or put the groomer at risk (at the groomers discretion). So please, it is important to be honest. For severely matted cases, only shave downs will be performed in order to spare your dog undue stress and cruelty. You are taking full responsibility & liability in the event that your animal is accidentally cut or hurt in any way.
***ALL INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME & WITHOUT NOTICE***
Thank you for visiting!
Aiken County Mobile Dog Grooming
Cell/Text: 813-482-8999
Email: aikencountymobiledoggrooming@gmail.com
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/aikencountymobiledoggrooming/
Website: http://aikencountymobiledoggrooming.com/
***ALL INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME AND WITHOUT NOTICE***