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Paws & Claws
Rating Details »
Categories: Pet Stores, Pet Groomers [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Lower Hills, Dimond District2023 MacArthur Blvd
Oakland, CA 94620
(510) 336-0105
Now Offering Kennel-Free Grooming
Call Hayley at 510-336-0198 to make an appointment
- Hours:
Tue-Thu. 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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50 reviews for Paws & Claws
First off, I was late to the appointment because I couldn't get the cat into the crate. He's 22 lbs, fat, but also strong as hell. he fought me tooth and nail - I was soaked with sweat by the time I stuffed him in and carried him to the car.
They didn't trip about me being late, as I had my boyfriend call enroute. When I got there, frazzled and rushed, they were sweet as pie and came out to the car to help me carry him in.
I met Hayley and we talked about the services for Coffee. They told me to to come back in a few hours and when I came back, Coffee was a new man.
As I mentioned, Coffee, a Maine Coon, weighs 22 lbs. He's got a fat little belly that makes it hard for him to clean himself really well, so his coat gets dirty, matted and stinky really fast. Not only that, the matting makes it harder for him to do things. So after the initial trauma of the trip to the groomer, we could see how happy he was with his new look. He's been extra affectionate with us because frankly we are extra affectionate to him when he's clean and nice to snuggle. And he's been moving much faster and playing, things that all that clumpy fur make it hard to do.
I liked this place because everyone was nice and Hayley did a great job. The last groomer we used missed lots of spots so his coat was uneven, and he also came home with dander flaking off his skin. Not the case with Hayley's job, he was clean, cute, dander and flea free.
I will definitely be bringing Coffee back again in a few months to keep him looking sharp.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
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This was my first trip to a groomer. Princess is our first poodle, and my first dog. I had no idea what to expect, but the warm "family" atmosphere at Paws & Claws totally won me over.
When I left the store to prowl the Dimond district, Princess looked like a scared, dirty little sheep. When I returned, Glamour Dog awaited: she was clean, smelled good, and had a nice trim, right down to her little "poodle feet." Most importantly, she seemed totally happy to be there, trying to smooch half the staff.
This is a small business, and they work very hard to please the customer (and her dog.) I would have put five stars, but I'll save that for a future visit, when I expect to be just as happy with everything as I was last Friday afternoon.
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Since having to find a new groomer for Benji, after his regular groomer at Bella and Daisy's decided to quite, we definitely wanted one that used the same holistic and cage free grooming approach.
Today was Benji's first grooming there and I couldn't be more pleased with how he was treated, not to mention that his hair cut turned out almost close to what I wanted.
As soon as you walk in, you'll notice the very friendly and helpful staff that greet you. They also carry various holistic, organic and all natural pet care products and food. Hayley who does the grooming is very professional, friendly and courteous. She tried hard to make sure everything we asked was done for the grooming. Although the place is small and given the way the highways to Oakland split off, it's not the easiest place to get to but it's definitely better than taking your furry friend to a chain or some groomer than will keep him locked up for hours. I was surprised how knowledgeable they were regarding all the natural brands vs commercial ones and even gave me an additional source on line to get the latest updates on pet food safety and standards.
The products there vary in price and they carry brands such as Wellness, Innova and California Natural. They have all kinds of natural treats, shampoo's and care remedies. The prices for some things aren't the cheapest but you can bet that if they don't carry something, they're more than happy to special order it for you for the next time you come in.
Overall, Benji was happy and in one piece. Everyone there apparently loved his cuddly personality and told me he was a good boy the entire time. Which of course comes down to how well he was being treated, apparently.
Honestly folks, don't hesitate to give this small place a try. You're furry friend, not to mention your peace of mind will be thanking you!
BTW..prices are very decent for grooming, and still far less than you would be paying at a chain that will charge you additional money for any extras. They also put this very yummy tasting leave in conditioner in his hair that made him smell like raspberries, along with a cute blue butterfly bandanna.
My only complaint would be that although it's cage free grooming, apparently they still keep them on their lease tied to the wall the entire time. Benji and other dogs I'm sure tend to start gnawing on their leashes once they get restless or bored. This was the case with us, as when we left we noticed Benji had chewed several parts of the leash. I wish they would just keep them off leash in a gated area instead so that we don't have to end up having to replace his leash each time..
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Nice place, good store, support small biz.. also, they are active in the community
While walking around the lake Lucy decided to roll into water while at the "beach" area. GROSSS...black goo all over. I tried to get her to roll on the grass to get it off...no luck. Instead of doing annoying construction on certain parts of the lake why don't they clean up this nasty area? I've seen dirty needles and condoms here too....they get a F- for this part of the lake.
Anyways...we were desperate to get her clean and my usual groomers were too packed to take us. Paws and Claws told me to come in right away...YAY!!! The groomer is sooo sweet...she's really really nice and you can tell she loves the animals. Upon pickup the groomer let my babysitter choose a bandanna for Lucy..her first bandanna ever...whoohooo.
The only con would be that there is no waiting play area for the doggies while they are waiting to get picked up. They have to be leashed to the wall...which is why Lucy was barking so much when I came to pick her up. I like how Pet Choice has a waiting area that allows the dogs to socialize and relax while they wait for pickup. They even have a outdoor area just in case there are grumpy dogs that need to be separated.
The pro would be that they groom other animals. So if you have a rabbit (like me) then coming here you'll kill two birds with one stone. I don't want to kill birds...but you know what I mean...hahahahahahaha. Pet Choice only does dogs...
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The folks at Paws and Claws are incredible. From the owners to the groomer, they remember me and my pups, Joe and Cosita, every time we're in there, no matter how long it's been between visits. They ply the pooches with treats while we shop or get groomed, and always have great conversation for me. I won't go anywhere else if I can help it.
This groomer was FANTASTIC! I'm sure she thought I was completely neurotic because I had so many questions, I'd never had my dog bathed by anyone else before. They were very fast, very friendly, very efficient.
I took one star off only because they didn't ask if I wanted my dog sprayed with parfume, they just went ahead an sprayed her with some very strongly scented stuff. So if you or your dog is sensitive to harsh smells, be sure to ask them not too. Other than that, great!!
The 5 stars are easily earned because there is NOTHING wrong with the entire place.
Perfect Business:
*Great customer service
*CLEAN
*Stocked with all the good foods
*Well Priced
*Great energy
*Everyone always has a smile
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! ITS A GEM!!
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Yelp, you never let me down!
Brought our newly acquired dog here yesterday to fix a groom gone horribly wrong. She emerged 1.5 hours later looking cuter than ever, smelling great and happy as a clam. A groom and flea dip for $55?! Ten minutes from home? Awesome.
I peeked around the store for a while and it seemed they had a good representation of good, healthy food and treats for most critters, a sweet old shop dog (seriously, who doesn't love a shop dog?) and an interesting flea trap.
We will be back!
EDIT: It is 24 hours after the groom and we found two fleas. After calling PNC to see if this is normal, the groomer said to bring her by in a couple hours and she'd put more flea spray on. Wait.. what? This place is staffed by people with the sense to make things right? They make me want to bring them cookies or write thank you cards. In the meantime, this yelp review will have to do!
I've been coming here for over a year since my last review and yes - my dog is still as minty smelling as a girl-scout cookie. Don't get me wrong - I don't like to think of my dog as a snack cake, but it doesn't hurt.
Unfortunately, prices for almost everything (dog washing and food) have gone up. My food alone has increased over 25%.
However, the service hasn't gone down and they're always willing to special order treats and toys whenever needed. They still have their pricing discount card option which helps out.
Now if only this place could become Paws & Claws & Fins ::: sigh ::: one stop shopping...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/14/2007
I found this hip gay owned and operated store by accident after moving to Oakland.
This place really… Read more »
FIVE STAR EASILY!
Just picked up my Jax (my toy poodle mix son) from Claws and Paws yesterday and now I cant take my eyes off him.
I had took Jax to Petsmart for grooming, I realized for the price I paid ($60) they wasn't doing a really good job. The haircut was uneven and the groomers there dont seem to be into their work. Next I took Jax to Shampoochi in San Ramon, they do do an excellent job but their salon is located in San Ramon. Driving from Oakland to San Ramon is a bit of ride for Jax, plus having to be at the salon for three hours.
So I went on a mission to find Jax's perfect salon and the first thing I did was looked on yelp (of course). After reading some the review i decided to give it a shot. Waddu know, bulleyes!
Great Customer Service - Hayley is the best. she gave me a call halfway grooming Jax to let me know he has fleas and offered to spray him. What other groomers does that?
Great Energy - Right when I walked in, you can feel the passion of the store. Makes me want to become a groomer too. LOL
Well Priced - Jax is a small dog weighing about 15 lbs. Hayley charged us $50, but it was well worth it. She did an excellent job on Jax's face, legs and tail. Took only one and 1/2 hours! Plus its kennel free, who could argue with that.
Great Location - It was hard for me to find a groomer close to home and this place is only 5 mins away from my house! Cant believe there's such a place that I didnt know about.
Overall I WILL definitely bring Jax back, I've already schedule to bring him back in Oct. (^.^)
HAYLEY YOU ROCK!
I really like this place. Very nice experience. Thank you for all your help. I'll be back.
Now my dog can be even more spoiled than she already is.
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My pekingese Ming Ming had never been to a groomer before so I was a little nervous leaving her. After an hour with Hayley, she came out looking & smelling fabulous. Her fur was super soft & her face was fragrant like blueberries. Not only did Hayley do an awesome job, she was very sweet & made my doggy feel comfortable. Also, love that it's kennel free.
I'm really glad to have a local pet store. Basically that's why I wanted to write a review that we are lucky to have a small pet store in the neighborhood, instead of driving to a strip mall everytime we need dog food.
Some of the products are limited, but I'm still able to find the items I need for our dogs.
Can I give them 6 stars?
I love Diane and Ruth's place.
Enough said.
... and happy to know that EB Express readers agree! How lucky we are to live so closeby to one of the best neighborhood pet stores in the East Bay. Just returned from a shopping spree for Ashi, our newly acquired Min Pin/Italian Greyhound X. Vanessa went out of her way to be helpful and after overspending my budget for this pet excursion, Ashi rejected any notion to leave. I had to drag her out of there!! Ah well, until next time!! See you there.
This is a really nice place to grab your pet food - the women who run it are super friendly and nice. Our cats and rabbit are well fed because of it!
Also, I must give the groomer a super-star - she clipped the nails on our very grumpy and finicky black mini-lop rabbit. She was so patient and now our rabbit has normal length nails.
It's so nice to support local businesses like this one - makes me happy to live in this part of Oakland!
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All we need is a giraffe and we can open a zoo. Seriously.
My husband and I are now raising a dog and three cats, so we go to Paws and Claws about once a week to stock up on high quality kibble and treats. It's always such a joy to visit the store - everyone who works there is so friendly and helpful. For example, when I adopted my first cat and didn't want to feed him chain store crap, Ruth spent a good 45 minutes discussing my kibble options and gave me an armload of free samples to try. And when the dog smelled like dog, Krystal helped me select scented wipes (she discussed the pros and cons of each and let me sniff them all) and walked me through the bath house rules. Would Petco do that for me? Never. Paws and Claws, you're the best!
Also, owners Diane and Ruth are such incredible supporters of the community - they know everyone and everything in the 'hood. In fact, when I needed a new local dentist I didn't go to Yelp; I bought some kibble and asked Ruth for a recommendation. And when I was hankerin' for a good burrito, Diane pointed the way. Now that's some pet food store!
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I agree with Mel M. finally a local pet food store in our area that I enjoy going to. I used to go to Berkeley! They have the supplies I need for my bunny and the owners are really awesome people. After talking with one of the owners, I found out she was part of a committee to get Farmer Joe's Market... thank God for this lady!
The store looks small upon entering but ironically they probably have exactly what you are looking for. You can tell they really care about animals and it's not just a business to them. Support these ladies and frequent this place!
5 superstars for the little red gate in the doorway!
Update: They are stocking more Oxbow bunny products as well as Busy Bunny products. I'd give them a 6th star if I could for being all around happy store owners! They really care about animals and that makes me care about them.
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I can't believe that the whole time I've been living in Fruitvale I've been buying my doggie stuff at Petfood Express, where the checkers like to give me a guilt trip for buying Nutro dog food (if it's akin to giving my dog fast food, why do you guys sell it? And I swear I'm going to strangle you if you give me that line about "what price are you willing to pay for your dog's health?" - stupid a-holes, just let me buy the food already!)
Paws and Claws is a small but well-stocked store with two rubber-matted tubs in the back for bathing. The pricing for baths is based on the weight of your animal and I seem to recall that a 50-lb dog would cost $10 to bathe (compare to a $15 bath at Guiltfood Express ). They had the food I was looking for and I noticed that if it was marked up, it was by less than a dollar. The woman behind the counter was friendly and not aggressive. She even commiserated with me in my woes about that other pet food store. The selection wasn't huge (hence the minus-one star) but I'm going to make this my regular store for food and bath supplies for Maude.
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I love Paws and Claws. I'm a dog walker and dog boarder and I buy all my pet food, treats, etc. at Paws and Claws. When I find out one of my clients has his or her dog on a low-quality food, I suggest that they visit Ruth and Diane at Paws and Claws. I tell them that they can take the bag of food that they use now and ask them to show them what in the ingredients isn't good for their pet (fillers, unhealthy preservatives, etc.). I tell them that they can talk with Ruth and Diane about their dog and together they'll figure out a couple of kinds of food for their dog to try (they are generous with free samples).
Everyone who's gone at my suggestion has had great things to say about their experience. (And I have great things to say about them, too.)
I'm happy to support a local independent business that really tries to do right by their customers.
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At last, a local pet food place! Not only does it save me the drive to the Montclair Pet Food express (and the oh-so-fun search for parking), but Paw & Claws carries *a very nice* selection of natural pet food (e.g. Wellness, Primal), especially for a small shop. They have a good selection of treats and toys, and they carry my anti-flea stuff, Frontline. Also, there's a pet bath in the back - I haven't used it, but good to know it's there.
FYI: the pricing for the Wellness kibble was actually less than at Pet Food Express. Very cool.
The owner is a sweetheart, and very helpful. She keeps her own dogs, Angel and Bandit, in the store with her.
Paws & Claws was recommended to me by my vets. I'm so glad to have found a great pet store so close to home!
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Paws and Claws is Fierce! Diane and Ruth are the best , and the shop , while small, is just full of so many good products. The toys I have gotten from Paws and Claws have become my pets favorites! I come from Berkeley, even though its a lil out of the way, cuz I like to support their personal touch as business owners.
I give Paws and Claws 5 Chorttles and Snoots!
A nice little neighborhood pet store. It seems a bit more dog than cat oriented and doesn't really have much for critters other than dogs and cats but for what they try to do it is great. Selection is about as good as it can be for such a small place. The service has also been very helpful.
I found this place through friends on the serpentine prairie where I walk Palo. Diane and Ruth are the best. They always have helpful advice for any type of malady,imagined or otherwise. The prices are great and if they dont have your brand of dog food,or anything else you might need on a regular basis, they will order it and stock it in their store. I love supporting a local merchant,and it just so happens that i like them,too. Plus,i love their dog JJ and am secretly plotting to kidnap him.
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This is such a great store, owned and run by some incredibly cool ladies. We got the pleasure of meeting them when they offered their store for a show for a local artist who paints animals on commission.
They have a great selection of food and merchandise and couldn't be more helpful.
The bath area is wonderful for your smelly mutt to boot!
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An awesome place, i wish i could give them 10! I've been going there for a while now and they're just the best. Diane and Ruth are the best. The really know a lot about dogs from what I can tell. I'll be going back really soon^^
This is the BEST pet shop because Ruth and Diane are really wonderful - helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and totally involved in creating community in the neighborhood.
I love supporting this independent business.
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Other pet stores are fine more or less but this store is in it for the long haul and really gets dogs. Daisy gets her regular grub here and special treats like frozen beef bones. Everyone behind the counter is always nice, fun and a genuine dog lover. They make you and your pet feel at home.
So happy to have this great pet supply shop in our neighborhood. It truly is a very bright spot in the Dimond and I just love going in there. Not only can I get my dog's Wellness food at a good price, but every couple of months or so I get $5 off a toy with their stamp program! (Lucky loves this!) The bathhouse is convenient and easy to use; they even have a drying station and yummy smelling shampoos to use. The owners' community service is of note as well, as there are always posters and fliers for upcoming events (pet-related or not) in the area, that they support. If you have a pet, check them out. You will be happy too!
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From the beginning Ruth and Diane have worked hard to make their store a positive addition to the community. They stock quality products (which they know). They provide great personal service with competitive pricing. They are very accommodating and just good people.
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I went to Paws and Claws for the first time last night! It's a great store and has really nice staff... as others have said when I inquired on a raw food that they didn't have they offered to special order it for me! Amazing! Fantastic service and a hug variety of products!
I love Paws and Claws. Not only because it's a local business, but because shopping there for dog food and supplies there is actually a pleasure. I always leave there having met someone new from the neighborhood, learned something new from Ruth and Diane, or gotten some good advice about feeding my dogs. They remember what kind of food I feed my dogs, and my concerns about their health and weight. They also reward regular clients with a frequent shopper card, to make sure you know they appreciate the business.
They are super-involved in the community and are a force for good all-around. Hooray for such a wonderful gem in our neighborhood!
Awesome place, good prices, friendly staff and they let me wash my humongous dog here and don't complain about the fur.
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A store in the Dimond District worth it's weight in gold! Ruth and Dianne really care about the neighborhood, they love animals and know their products, too. The shop is really cute and and it's a great way to support small business and not the giant gross chains...
I feel lucky to have this store in my 'hood.
I love that I can walk to get my Babies their food! The staff are amazing and I love to support the Mum and Pop shops' too! They have all of the best food you would want for your pet and they make you feel like Family! Stop buying crappy food for your animals, suck it up and go see these Dog Loving ladies! They are worth it! Support your Community like Ruth and Diane!!!
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Paws and Claws is so fantastic. Ruth and Diane are just true gems! They stock the best foods and supplements, and I love the holistic philosophy of their store. I can get raw for my 3 dogs as well as healthy kitty and bird supplies. Both Ruth and Diane are active in the community as well, which I just think is awesome. If I could give more stars, I would!! Take a drive to the Dimond and check them out!
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Happened to pass by while taking my dog for a walk while doing a construction job in the neighborhood. Just popped in 2 get my puppy a quick pig ear...(They were cool got a free magnet as well) and some biscuts
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If you ever consider getting a puppy, ask yourself, would I mind shivering in my bathrobe outside at 2am chanting, "Go potty, go potty, go potty," as if you're practicing transcendental meditation? Or, would I be happy if my arm was riddled with tiny teeth marks that make me look like a two-bit junkie with bad aim? Or, can I manage to wake up, make coffee, get dressed, and clean up a soupy diarrhea splatter all in time to catch the 7:05 BART train to the city?
Well, if you answer yes to all those questions, make sure you get your ass down to Paws & Claws for puppy pads, healthy chew toys, and a giant jug of Nature's Miracle. Plus, all this comes with friendly, professional advice and extra treats for your new best friend.
Seriously, if I hadn't discovered this place, I'd still be banging my head against the wall while my puppy ran circles around me, biting my ankles and barking incessantly.
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Great place to wash and dry your 100 lb. dog. Once he slipped going back down the stairs from the tub and slammed into the wall though!
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