Dog and cat grooming, one pet at a time

Full-service dog grooming is the heart of Jenny's House of Paws. In one visit, Jenny bathes your dog, dries the coat, shapes the hair, clips the nails, and cleans the ears. If you would like the spa finish, ask for a facial and paw lotion when you write. She confirms the plan on the callback, so you know what the appointment covers before you arrive in Dearborn.

This visit is for dogs who are due for a full refresh. That might be a coat that has grown past the collar, nails that tick on the kitchen floor, or a bath that never quite gets finished in the tub at home. Puppies, adult dogs, and seniors are welcome. First-time guests are welcome too. Tell Jenny anything that helps her start gently, such as a sore hip or a fear of dryers.

The benefit is simple: one groomer, one dog, and a quiet house. Your dog is not waiting in a noisy salon kennel while other pets are worked on nearby. Jenny stays with them from the hello to the pickup, and she remembers the length you like the next time. Pricing depends on breed, size, and coat condition. She will give you a quote before the visit is set, and she will say so if the coat would change the work.

A haircut visit is for dogs whose coat needs shape, not only a wash. Jenny trims the body, face, feet, and sanitary areas so the dog can see, walk, and stay cleaner between baths. Breed trims follow the outline you want for that dog — a tidy doodle cut, a shorter summer clip, or a neat face and feet on a dog who keeps more coat. Bring a photo if you have a length in mind.

Haircuts suit curly, wavy, and drop coats that keep growing: doodles, poodles, schnauzers, shih tzus, and mixes with the same kind of hair. Double-coated breeds are usually brushed, bathed, and tidied rather than shaved. If you are unsure which approach fits your dog, say so on the form. Jenny would rather talk it through than guess.

A regular trim keeps mats from pulling on the skin and keeps hair out of the eyes. It also makes the next bath easier, because the coat is a manageable length. Dogs who are nervous about clippers often do better when the room is quiet and the same person handles them each time. In Jenny's home, the pace can slow down. She will tell you if a coat is too tangled for a comfortable haircut and what a shorter trim would involve before she starts.

A professional bath includes a thorough wash, a rinse, and a full dry. Jenny uses shampoo suited to the coat, works through the areas that stay dirty — paws, belly, and rear — and dries the hair so your dog does not go home damp. Ears and nails can be added if you want them the same day. A bath alone is a good choice when the haircut is still holding and the coat just needs to be clean.

Baths are for dogs who roll in the yard, dogs with oily coats, and pet parents who want a clean dog without wrestling a wet coat in the bathtub. Puppies who are still learning the tub often settle when the visit is short and calm. If your dog has a shampoo they already tolerate, mention it. Jenny can also talk with you about a spa shampoo when you want a softer finish.

Drying is the part most home baths miss. A damp double coat can hold odor, and a curly coat can tangle again as it air-dries. A full dry leaves the coat fluffy and easier to brush through the week. Your dog is handled one-on-one, so they are not standing in a line of tubs. If the skin looks red, broken, or painful, Jenny will pause and suggest you check with your veterinarian before a cosmetic bath.

Nail clipping is a short, focused visit. Jenny trims the nails to a comfortable length and checks the dewclaws, which do not wear down on their own. You can book nails by themselves or add them to a bath or full groom. If your dog only needs nails this month, you do not have to book a haircut to get them done.

This service is for any dog whose nails click on hard floors, catch on blankets, or have grown long enough to change how they stand. Small dogs and light-colored nails can be hard to see at home. Dogs who dislike having their feet held are common, and a quiet room helps. Tell Jenny if a nail has broken or if your dog has struggled with trims before.

Shorter nails are more comfortable on walks and kinder to your floors and your skin. Regular trims also keep the quick from growing out with the nail, which makes the next trim easier. Jenny works slowly and keeps the handling steady. If a nail is already torn, bleeding, or the toe looks swollen, skip the cosmetic trim and call your veterinarian first. She is glad to trim healthy nails once your vet says the toe is ready.

Ear cleaning at Jenny's House of Paws is a gentle wipe and pluck of excess hair when the breed needs it, done as part of a groom or on its own. Jenny cleans the part of the ear she can see safely. She does not diagnose ear disease and she does not pack the ear with medication. The goal is a routine clean that keeps wax and hair from building up between vet visits.

Dogs with floppy ears, hairy ear canals, or a history of waxy buildup usually need this more often. Think spaniels, poodles, doodles, and schnauzers, plus any mix with the same ear shape. Upright ears often stay cleaner, though they still deserve a look during a full groom. If you are booking ears only, say so on the form.

A calm clean is easier for dogs who fuss when someone reaches for their head. In a home setting, Jenny can pause, let your dog shake, and start again. Regular cleaning is part of comfort: heavy wax and trapped hair can make ears itchy. If you smell a strong odor, see redness, discharge, or your dog is shaking their head and scratching, that is a reason to call your veterinarian before a grooming clean. Jenny will not push through signs of a painful ear.

Cat grooming covers a gentle bath when it is truly needed, brushing, mat removal when the coat allows, nail clipping, and a tidy of the sanitary area. Jenny does not rush cats, and she does not force a full haircut on a cat who is safer with a shorter, quieter visit. Tell her what you are hoping for — a lion cut is not the default. A brush-out and nails may be the kinder plan.

This service is for Dearborn cat owners whose cats mat behind the ears or along the belly, whose nails are snagging the couch, or who cannot be bathed safely at home. Long-haired cats often need more help than short-haired cats. Senior cats who no longer groom themselves well are welcome. If your cat is very fearful, say that up front so Jenny can decide whether a short visit is the right start.

The home setting matters for cats. A salon full of barking dogs is a hard place for many of them. One-on-one handling in a quiet room lets Jenny watch the tail, the ears, and the pupils and stop while the visit is still a good experience. You get a cat who is more comfortable, and you get a groomer who will tell you honestly if a coat needs a veterinarian's look first — bald patches, wounds, or skin that looks infected are medical, not a haircut.

A spa package builds on the groom with three extras: a facial, shampoo chosen for the coat, and paw lotion. The facial is a gentle clean around the eyes and muzzle, where tears and food tend to collect. The shampoo is matched to what the coat needs that day, whether that is a freshening wash or something richer for a dry coat. Paw lotion goes on at the end so pads do not leave the table dry and chalky.

Spa packages are for pet parents who want the full freshening, not only a shorter trim. They suit dogs who walk on salt or hot pavement, dogs with tear staining at the corners of the eyes, and anyone who likes their dog to come home soft. Cats can have a quieter version when it fits their temperament. Ask Jenny which pieces make sense. You do not have to add every extra if your pet only needs one of them.

The nice part of doing this in a home is the pace. A facial and a paw massage are small things, and they go better when nobody is rushing to the next kennel. Your pet gets the same groomer the whole time, and you hear what was done when you pick up. Spa work is priced with the rest of the visit, based on breed, size, and coat condition. Jenny will include it in the quote she gives you within a day of your message, before anything is scheduled.