Sweetie Pooch Pet Parlor

Sweetie Pooch Pet Parlor is a very well-run business that takes the best care of my littlest family members. My wife and I have been taking our dogs to Dena for grooming and boarding since 2009, and she has been a paragon of high-quality treatment and customer service the whole time. We have a Lhasa Apso that we like keeping short, so we have to take her in fairly often so that her hair doesn't get in her face. Dena is always super-flexible and accommodating when it comes to schedule requests, and our dog always looks cute and clean!

On top of that, her boarding rates can't be beat! She convinced us to begin bringing our dogs there for boarding. We had been taking them to a high-volume facility VERY close to our apartment, so she told us about her lower rates hoping that they would make up for the extra distance. They definitely have and more! Our dog definitely appreciates the homey atmosphere and the individual attention she receives. We will be customers of Sweetie Pooch as long as we are in the Austin area. Heck, we think it's worth it to make the drive from Georgetown!

Highly recommended!

I have had a few issues.
First, I agree with the other reviewer on the timing. The groomer (Dena) makes such a big deal how she only takes so many dogs a day to groom making her sound better than a Petco or Petsmart groomer, but maybe she needs to take on maybe just two dogs a day or something. I have also have taken my dog in the early morning and had to call to ask when he would be ready. She would give a lot later time than what she initially told me and that is if I got a hold of her. For example, I bring him in at 9:30am and she says he should be ready by 3pm. Then when I call, she says 4:30. I come at 4:30 and she is still working on him. I sit in her house for another 20-30 minutes waiting for my dog to be finished. That is too long in my opinion.

My next issue is being pressured. It may only be me, but every time I was there I was constantly pressured. Pressured to buy certain grooming tools to groom my dog myself in between grooming sessions, pressured to bring him in more frequently, pressured to learn specific grooming techniques to groom my own dog, etc. I really felt uncomfortable going there. I LOVE my dog, but I am not a professional groomer and if I wanted to be, that would be my job.

Another issue was pricing. It started out in a reasonable range around $65. The second time was increasing to $75 and the third time my dog was groomed it was around $90 (and that was with $20 off!). She was gradually increasing it and I wasn't about to be spending close to $100 for a grooming. The last was the worst. His hair was still really long. The cut didn't even last a month. I was very upset since it cost me so much. She also did a lot of carting and fancy work on him as if he was a show dog. He is a rescue and DOES NOT need a lot of fancy work to just be running around the house and on his daily walks.

I have also had her watch my dog when we have gone out of town. The star is for her house sitting. She does a wonderful job watching him. I would of liked more communication from her and/or pictures on how he was doing. My only complaints with the pet sitting was that she charges for the day if you don't pick up before 3pm. I think that if I pick the dog before 6 or even 7pm than I shouldn't be charged for the day. That is more of personal thing. The other complaint would be she required for him to be bathed the day before I brought him or otherwise she would and she would charge me for it. She wasn't even going to mention it to me until I asked about the pricing of the pet sitting. I was not happy that she said she automatically does baths and charges it as an add on. Umm..no I can bath him for free or less than $10 at Petco. But I obliged anyways.

Unfortunately, our disagreements on the grooming, as well as her lack of empathy and sympathy of my experiences, left me no choice but to change groomers. I had heard horrible things about taking dogs to Petco/Petsmart groomers and was trying to stay away from that. However, the rescue I got the dog from had several people that recommended them. I tried Petco out and LOVED it. I, as well as my dog, had a way better experience. Found my new groomer. Success!

Pet owners who bring their dogs to Sweetie Pooch should really appreciate the work and the care Dena gives to each of our family members. I moved away from the Austin area in the fall of 2015 and have yet to find a groomer as experienced and caring as Dena. I am struggling to find an experienced Schnauzer groomer in the Fort Worth area. This Friday I will be taking my schnauzers to the Texas All Breeds Grooming School in Arlington but dread the 25 minute rush hour drive there. Dena had suggested that I find a ADGAA member to groom my pets. That has proven to be very difficult challenge in the Fort Worth area but the instructors at TABGS have such a certification. I'm hoping to have finally found a place that can groom my dogs as well as Dena at sweetie pooch has done in the past. I miss Dena very much as do Cash & Blue.

You people don't know what you're talking about. She did an amazing job on my dog. If she takes too long, so what. At least you know she is taking good care of your dog with love, time and patience.
Definitely taking my dog back.

Generally not a very kind tempered woman. Argued with me on the phone when I wanted to cancel my appointment. Do not recommend, go somewhere with more professional and friendly customer service.

I am so happy I found Dena!! Timmy is a my sweet lil' boy dressed in a "cocker spaniel" costume...Dena does a fantastic job with him and spends lots of time talking to me about how I want his hair cut...I use to be nervous leaving my "fur-babies" at the groomers but now I found Dena and I can relax know Timmy is in great hands...and He always look "HANDSOME" when I pick him up!!

DO NOT use this groomer, if you're on a time schedule. I had an appointment at 9:30am, dropped my dog off at 9:00am. I called to check on my dog's status at 4:00 pm. I hadn't heard anything from her (Dena Jones, the owner) about my dog. I emailed her, texted her, no response, then tried to call her. The number I had for her was no longer working. I found another "working" number in my phone. I finally got a hold of her and was told my dog wasn't going to be ready for another 2 or 3 hours meaning my dog will be ready at 7pm. My dog was there from 9am-7pm. That's a job. I don't think she even started on my dog until I called to check on my dog's status. Prices are reasonable, so I guess you get what you pay for. FYI She only accepts cash. I will not return to Dena. I will be going back to Petsmart. At least I know my dog will be ready at a reasonable time. If I could give her half a star, I definitely would.