Bark of Bel Air

I had a very aggravating experience at this place. They had donated a $ 50 gift card to a fundraiser which bought. When I went to use it within a month of getting it, I was notified that one of the owners was in a lawsuit with her other partner and she couldn’t honor it until the lawsuit was settled. She told me to check back later. I checked in several times over the following months and she kept saying the same thing. Finally I said, «listen, I am sorry you are having a legal dispute with your business partner but honestly, that is not my problem. you donated a gift card and as a part of doing good business, you should honor it and just eat the $ 50, esp if you want me to be regular customer and potentially refer new clients.» So she does. I make an appt for a grooming, and when I show up, they don’t seem to know I am coming. I am informed it will be two hours for his groom. I ask to see the groomer as it is my first time there and I want to go over his haircut. She comes down from a grooming and is curt, doesn’t greet me, welcome me to her business, doesn’t greet my dog, and hurries me to go over my grooming wishes. And to top it all off, when I give the owner my gift card, she initially tells me I can’t use it and I have to again remind her of our countless conversations and she just agreed to honor it, which she then remembered. She seemed frazzled the whole time I was there. No one greeted me when I walked in. She was on the phone ordering new merchandise for the store and didn’t once look up and say «I will be right with you» or offer a smile. I am told to pay the difference to what the groom costs, which of course I know is my responsibility. I ask how much. She tells me she can’t tell me until it is done. I ask can I have ballpark? Will it be $ 20? $ 100? What are we talking about here? She then informs me a normal groom is $ 95. Where I normally go — which is so flipping fantastic Sam’s Green Paw in Studio City– charges $ 65 for the exact same service. I only went to Bark of Bel Air b/​c I had gotten a $ 50 gift card. So after 3 hours, I call to see if he is ready as I have not heard from anyone. I am told he is just then on the table being groomed. I ask for an estimate of when he will be ready as my dad is in the valley running errands and offered to stop by the Glen Center and get him, so my dad can plan his timing accordingly. It was like pulling teeth getting an answer. I was transferred to 3 different people asking the same question, «may I have an estimate of when my dog will be ready?» I was finally transferred to the groomer, who again was curt, and explained it was a very busy day. I say to her that I had an appointment at 11:30am, was told it was 2 hours, and why were walk-in’s being taken when they had appointments to honor? She had no answer to that and I still had to prod her to get an answer as to approximately when he would be done. Finally she says an hour to and hour and a half. Really? So my 2 hour service is taking 4 ½ hours? My dad, when he picked up my dog, says my normally «very happy to see you pup» seemed depressed and sullen when he was brought out, not at all happy to see him, and my dog knows my dad very well. So overall, it was a very frustrating day with a lot of work for something that should have been nothing. Needless to say, not worth the $ 20 I saved by using the gift card. I will never go anywhere but Sam’s Green Paw again. I would NOT recommend this place. YUCK.

Took my dog in for grooming today for the first time. The groomer was very professional and knew her stuff. She handled my dog well too, he was calm and relaxed when she brought him up to the grooming room, and also when I picked him up. He looked fluffier and more handsome than he’s ever looked after a bath. Top notch groomer and friendly staff!

Just read Steve B’s review. Yes, there are many dog grooming places, and I’ve taken my dog to many of them. She went to Sam’s Studio City where they left her in a cage all alone and went home for the evening when they were supposed to bring her to day care; she went to Kriser’s Studio City where they nipped her little you know what; she went to another place in Sherman Oaks where she got a haircut that looked like it was done by a crazy woman. When I take her to Bark, she gets a great haircut and great treatment for a fair price.

Bark of Bel Air has had many owners and many names. It was picketed for selling puppy mill dogs… but… it’s a new day and new owners and I thought I would give them a try.
The work they did on my dog was superb, they suggested that I bring him in once a month. I was concerned at the cost and so the groomer told me she would discount the price a bit to make it easier. I accepted and one month after I got my dog groomed I went back to my discounted grooming.
Unfortunately the owner of the shop was there… A ruder, more coarse woman I have never met. «We don’t give discounts.», she snapped at me as if I was asking for hand out. This woman should not be dealing with the public, she is rude, she is abrasive, insulting and condescending. She blew me off like I was homeless.
OK here is where revenge is sweet. a. I have two dogs… neither which I will ever bring to that shop. b. I am on the committee for Actors and others for Animals and was on my way to a meeting when I had this little run in. When I got to the meeting I told the story I just told you. .and to a person they agreed that I did the right thing by removing my dog from this place and never going back.
With all the wonderful places to get your dog groomed in this city… why would I have to go someplace and be treated like trash. This place is destined to have yet another other owner… and I for one… hope it’s VERY SOON!