• A small brown dog with large dark eyes is wearing a pink towel hood on its head. A person is grooming the dog with a nail file. The background is light-colored and soft.

    FAQs Page

    All your questions, answered in one place

Booking & Appointments

  • Please visit the Services tab and fill out the Client Intake Form to request a spot.

    Because Open Arms Pet Grooming is a one-on-one, in-home grooming salon, appointments are request-based rather than instant booking. This helps me make sure I can safely and appropriately care for each pet I accept.

  • No. All grooming is by appointment only. Because this is an in-home grooming space, we do not accept walk-ins or unexpected drop-ins at this time.
    However, you are welcome to call us at 320-302-2901 and see if we have any availability for that day.

  • We am currently offering grooming appointments on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Emergent grooms may be scheduled on other days of the week when I am able to offer them.

  • Because appointments are limited and reserved specifically for your pet, I ask for as much notice as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule.

    We request that a card is placed on file when booking your appointment to protect our time. Last minute cancellations and no-shows are subject to up to 100% of the expected service charge at Open Arms Pet Grooming’s discretion.

    If you do not have a credit card, your payment will be due at the time of arrival.

Arrival , Parking & Pickup

  • Open Arms Pet Grooming is located at 421 Main Street South in Pierz, MN.

    When you arrive, please park in the driveway and tap “I’m Here” in Gingr. Remain in your vehicle with your pet safely secured until your groomer comes outside to welcome you in. This gives our team time to confirm that the entry is clear and helps us maintain our no-nose-to-nose safety policy. We may need a few minutes to safely secure another pet before coming outside, and we appreciate your patience.

    This helps keep drop-off calm, safe, and smooth for everyone.

  • Pet owners are welcome to come into our entry to drop off, pick up or talk with us about any questions or concerns they have. Pet owners cannot stay during the appointment.

    Most pets settle better when their person is not nearby, and it allows me to work safely and calmly one-on-one with your pet. I will contact you when your pet is finished and bring them back outside for pick-up.

  • Please bring dogs on a leash and cats in a secure carrier.

    Dogs should be leashed before getting out of the vehicle, even if they are usually well-behaved. Cats must arrive in a secure carrier for everyone’s safety

Grooming Environment & Safety

  • Open Arms Pet Grooming is proudly kennel-free.

    I only take one family at a time, which means your pet is not waiting in a kennel while other pets are being groomed. Their appointment time is reserved just for them, creating a calmer, quieter, more personal grooming experience.

    The only exceptions are if a small pet safely tolerates and benefits from my enclosed pet dryer, or if your pet arrives in an owner-provided kennel or carrier and needs to be placed back inside for safe pick-up.

  • Yes, when time allows.

    Because I only groom one family at a time, multiple pets from the same household may be scheduled together. If they are calmer together and it is safe to do so, they may be able to stay near each other during parts of the appointment.

    If one pet becomes too excited, anxious, distracting, or stressed, I may separate them into different safe areas of the grooming space or return one pet to their owner-provided kennel/carrier when appropriate.

  • Nervous pets, senior pets, rescue pets, puppies, and pets who need a slower approach are welcome.

    Some pets may need breaks, quieter handling, modified services, towel drying, shorter sessions, or extra patience. My goal is always to keep grooming as safe and comfortable as possible.

  • Safety comes first.

    If your pet becomes extremely stressed, fearful, reactive, or unsafe to continue grooming, I may need to stop the groom, modify the service, use safety tools when appropriate, or recommend veterinary grooming.

    This does not mean your pet is “bad.” It simply means their needs may be different than what I can safely provide in my space.

Services & Expectations

  • A Bath & Brush is best for pets who do not need a haircut. This service typically includes a bath, appropriate drying method, brush out, nail trim, ear cleaning, and basic finishing touches based on your pet’s coat and comfort level.

    A Maintenance Groom is for pets who need light trimming between full haircuts. This may include a bath, brush out, nail trim, ear cleaning, face/feet/sanitary tidy, and small touch-ups to help keep your pet comfortable and maintained between full grooms.

    A Full Groom is for pets who need a full haircut or more complete styling. This typically includes a bath, appropriate drying method, brush out, nail trim, ear cleaning, haircut, and finishing touches based on your pet’s coat, behavior, condition, and comfort level.

    The best option depends on your pet’s coat type, current condition, haircut goals, and how long it has been since their last groom. If you are not sure which service to choose, I can help guide you after reviewing your Client Intake Form.

  • Appointment length depends on your pet’s size, coat type, coat condition, behavior, and the services being done.

    A small short-haired bath may be fairly quick, while a large double-coated dog, doodle, senior pet, matted pet, or cat groom may take longer. I will give you an estimated timeframe and contact you when your pet is ready for pick-up.

  • Not always.

    Reference photos are welcome, but the final result depends on your pet’s coat type, coat condition, behavior, lifestyle, and what is safely possible. If the coat is tangled or matted close to the skin, a shorter haircut may be the safest and kindest option.

  • Yes, I offer cat grooming on a case-by-case basis.

    Cat grooming depends on the cat’s temperament, coat condition, and what services are needed. Some cats may do well with brushing, nail trims, sanitary trims, or full grooms. Others may need shorter sessions or veterinary grooming if they become too stressed.

Coat Care, Matting & Shedding

  • Please do not let embarrassment stop you from reaching out.

    Matting, overgrown nails, odor, shedding, fleas, or coat neglect can happen for many reasons, including finances, health issues, disability, rescue situations, busy seasons, or simply not realizing how much upkeep a coat needs.

    My goal is to help your pet feel better, not shame you.

    If your pet is matted, brushing it out may not be safe or humane. In many cases, shaving the matted areas or doing a shorter haircut is the kindest option.

  • No. Professional grooming can greatly reduce loose coat, but it does not stop shedding completely.

    Double-coated and short-haired shedding pets may continue to shed after grooming as loosened coat works its way out. Regular brushing and routine grooming help keep shedding more manageable.

  • This depends on breed, coat type, lifestyle, and the haircut you want to maintain.

    Many pets do best on a 4–8 week grooming schedule. Curly-coated dogs, doodles, double-coated breeds, long-haired cats, senior pets, and pets prone to matting may need more frequent maintenance.

Health & Special Concerns

  • Please let me know about any medical, behavioral, or grooming concerns before the appointment.

    This includes seizures, heart conditions, collapsing trachea, arthritis, injuries, skin issues, allergies, recent surgeries, medications, past grooming difficulties, fear, biting history, or anything else that may affect your pet’s groom.

  • If I notice anything unusual during your pet’s appointment, I will let you know.

    Groomers cannot diagnose medical conditions, but grooming can reveal concerns hidden under the coat, such as skin irritation, lumps, sores, burrs, parasites, ear issues, or painful matting. I may recommend following up with your veterinarian.

  • If fleas or ticks are found during the appointment, the groom may need to be adjusted to include appropriate flea/tick bathing and extra sanitation.

    Because this is an in-home grooming space, flea and tick situations need to be handled carefully to protect my home, other clients, and my own pets.

Accessible Grooming Program & Community Care

  • The Accessible Grooming Program helps make grooming more attainable for pets and families facing financial hardship, physical limitations, emergent grooming needs, or other barriers to care.

    A portion of full-price grooms helps fund this program, along with donations from the community.

  • Please visit the Accessible Grooming Program tab and fill out the private application for the Accessible Grooming Program.

    If you are unsure whether the program is for you, you are welcome to contact me with questions.

  • No. Applications are private, and every pet receives the same patience, kindness, and level of care.

    If a story is ever shared publicly, it will only be done respectfully, without names or any other identifying information.

  • Yes. Donations help create care for pets who may otherwise go without grooming.

    Donations may help cover baths, nail trims, dematting, shave-downs, senior pet care, cat grooming, or emergent grooming needs.

    You can donate here.