The Best Pet Grooming and Daycare in Toronto
The best pet grooming and daycare services in Toronto are more about people than they are pets. This requires some further explanation, but it isn't a far jump to get to where I am. First off, the services we're discussing here are exclusively for dogs. Let's face it, dogs are a popular pet who require a lot of professional servicing for things like walking, grooming, daycare and obedience training.
And while I never fully got "dog people" (I grew up with cats, a whole other animal so to speak), now that I have a furry little bundle of canine joy I realize the importance of people in the pet service industry. When you leave your dog for grooming or at doggy daycare, you want to feel confident that the people you are leaving them with will take care of Rover just as you would.
So, in the wake of some not so good pet news in the city in the last fews days, here's a list of the 11 best pet grooming, daycare and other services in Toronto where you'll be sure that your dog is in good hands.
Coming Soon! Watch for a separate "Best Pet Stores" round-up.
UrbanDog
This doggy daycare and spa fits in perfectly with the industrial chiq aesthetic that can be found in the adjacent Distillery District. Professional grooming packages start at $35 with a report card for your pooch, or you can DIY starting at $20. UrbanDog boasts a “playcare” philosophy put to practice in their 7,500 square foot facility. Add to that a loyalty program for dog food (the Diner’s Club), and the urban dogs that hit UrbanDog have it made in the shade. More...
Spaw Boutique
Now talk about pampering your pup! Spaw Boutique on King West offers a sophisticated and classy alternative to being left home alone through their doggy day care, plus posh spa services including a “mani and pawdi” or hair colouring for special events, and a great selection of haute couture doggy attire. More...
My Dog Spot
This cheery and cute little shop just north of the Danforth on Pape is dedicated to making your pooch clean and happy. The friendly staff at My Dog Spot offer professional full grooming packages starting from $45 or quick “Bath & Tidies” from $25. They also offer a selection of products, toys and baked treats. More...
Metro Hound
Metro Hound is a charming shop in the Beaches, specializing in DIY dog washing. Get your dog clean in a relaxed and friendly environment starting at $22.50. They also offer a really great selection of unique toys and gear for your best of furry friends. More...
It's a Dog's Life
It’s A Dogs Life is an unpretentious and laid-back doggy day care facility near High Park. It’s emphasis is on the care and training of your furry friend, and they offer one of the few “Kinderpuppy” daycare programs in the city to help pups aged 8-16 weeks become better socialized. They also offer professional and DIY grooming services, plus four levels of obedience training. More...
Timmie Doggie Outfitters
What happens when two graphic designers open a dog boutique? Timmie Doggie Outfitters happens. With two Timmie-the-Dog inspired locations on West Queen West and in Leslieville, Timmie’s offers top-notch grooming and a great selection of food, toys and other products for your inspirational four-legged friend. Grooming is by appointment only and offered through most of the week, so call ahead. More...
The Wagging Tail
It’s a four-legged party at The Wagging Tail doggy daycare in the Beaches. Fun-loving and knowledgeable staff make sure your dog’s day away from home keeps them busy and having a good time. They also host sleepover parties (aka overnight boarding). And should your pup need a good wash down, they offer professional grooming as well. More...
My Dog's Daycare
My Dog’s Daycare is a cute little daycare centre in Roncesvalles Village. Cheery staff keep numbers low in order to look after your best friend as if they were their own. They also offer grooming should you want to froof your pooch. More...
The Soggie Dog
The Soggie Dog is Leslieville’s DIY dog washing destination. Or you can get the “Soggie Dog Special” and have staff wash your pooch while you enjoy a complimentary coffee at nearby Te Aro Cafe. Either way, they offer easy to use state of the art washing facilities and friendly service. Community minded Soggie Dog also hosts wash-a-thons throughout the year in support of various dog rescue organizations. More...
PAWfect Spa
PAWfect Spa is a friendly little grooming shop at Avenue Road and Dupont. Owners Christina and Elsie will pamper your dog royally with award winning grooming services and an eye for style. They cater to all breeds and specialize in breed-standard cuts. With a second location in North York, they plan to start offering grooming classes to customers too. More...
Planet Dog
Planet Dog has been a one-stop shop for all things dog at Kingston Road & Warden Avenue for the last 15 years. Really friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you fulfill every one of your doggy’s desires, with professional grooming services and a great selection of toys and products. They also offer a wide selection of frozen raw meats and bones for holistic and natural doggy diets. Bonus, they deliver too! More...
Comments (28)
one of these places is going to have an outbreak of dog getting h1n1 from human.. it's already happening in hk... just wait and see
I highly recommend Roncesvalles Pet Grooming & Washing at
478 Roncesvalles Ave.
Mrs. Choi takes care of dogs as if they were her own.
Please check out another best place to have your dog groomed and a do-it-yourself dog wash in Mississauga. www.secondtub.com
I'd never own a dog that required these services: real dogs only need apply. Speaking as a proud owner of a Husky for 13 plus years and 2 labs before that..
Mrs Choi at Roncesvalles Pet Grooming & Washing is great! I occasionally take my long-haired cat there and she sings little songs to him while he is being bathed.
And for the critics: cutting and grooming a pet saves HOURS of house cleaning. And it's safer to bring them to a groomer (I've accidently cut my cat trying to shave him myself).
A Touch of Love, also in the beaches, is amazing! The two guys who run it are great and so patient with all kinds of animals. I have a very tempermental cocker spaniel, who hates being groomed, and these two are the only one's I have been able to find who have been able to work with them. They also do a lot to raise money/awareness for animal charities - really really great groomers!
It's nice to see a list with entrants not crowded in the same old areas. Good work! Though the absence of anything north of Dupont is a little suspect, I guess that can sometimes be chocked up to smaller business density
Petopia at Eglinton/Burmondsey.
Great place. Huge facility with massive outdoor area that backs onto the Don Valley.
Take my Boston Terrier there once a week and cant say a bad word about the place. Day care, grooming, over night stays, toys, food, etc.
Pat Lo i believe is the manager and shes wonderyl.
To do list for finding a good grooming shop:
1. word of mouth - if you see a beautifully groomed dog, ask where they go.
2. ask the grooming shop for a tour of their facility, procedures and the products that they use.
3. ask how many groomers work at the shop and how long they've been at their grooming shop.
Take your dogs to where you know they will treat them with great respect and kindness.
Thanks for voting Timmie Doggie Outfitters as one of Best in T.O for grooming.
Have tried numerous grooming places and the best, hands down, is Canine Clips on Queen St. E. Cassandra is fabulous. No nonsense gal, does a great job, and priced quite reasonably.
Happy Tails on Mount Pleasant also did a really good grooming job but the price was pretty steep. So, if you have money to burn, good place to go.
Metro Hound is terrific if you just want to go and wash pooch. Lovely clean shop and lady who owns it is very helpful and knowledgable.
Hello!! This info is GREAT! Just to let everyone know there is a new DOGGIE DAYCARE opening in Etobicoke/Mississauga called BARKS n' REC!! They are having an OPEN HOUSE event next weekend - Sat Dec 5 & Sun Dec 6 from 10am to 4pm... free treats and free doggie assessments, sales on everything in the boutique and free weekend play sessions! Looks like it's going to be great - spread the word to anyone you know in the area!!!
BARKS n' REC 1590 Matheson Blvd, Unit 8 Miss, ON L4W 1J1
tel: 905-629-2922 e: info@barksnrec.com
WWW.BARKSNREC.COM
I've been to a few of the stores and groomers on your list and big thumbs up!! Both Timmie locations are great! Also have to mention Rover and Rover for a top notch alternative to big commercial daycare and boarding places. We tried Petopia once for boarding and our poor little girl came home scared silly and underweight, we had to hand feed her for days after she came home. It looks like a cool place but it wasn't right for us.
The fact that someone has gone out, done interviews, story gathering, research i.e. real journalistic work on what salon will give a pet thier best hair day is absolutely absurd.
Even worse, people read this and take the advice.
A pet is an animal. I believe in animal rights, but its completely f*cked that we treat pets in the western workd like royalty, while we couldn't give a sh*t about the dying africans on our tv screens.
Maybe I'm just cynical. Perhaps there aren't other issues in the world to focus on, or better ways to spend our money.
I completely agree. I know that I have put my entire life on hold, and I eat nothing more than bread and water until all of the problems in the world are solved and unicorns dance in the street under rainbows. Anyone who does anything less is an asshole.
Many of the responses on this site are so predictable...sigh. Don't worry, Michelle, black Africans will always be there for you to feel sorry for (in fact, why not let them all live with your so you can feel better about yourself?) and the UN will always be there to take your money, whether people pamper their pooches or not.
Economics 101, Michelle: if we send all our money over THERE, rather than having a healthy economy (like being able to lavish money on silly things like pampering our pooches) over HERE, then eventually we will be living in grass huts, too.
But then that is what the social engineers are striving for anyway.
No, the better course would be to send Africa NO aid whatsoever, remove Western influence completely, thus allowing their infant mortality rates to rise to pre-colonial levels and they can all return to the shiny, happy days that they once had, living in grass huts and chucking spears all day....[rolls eyes.]
Y'need to lighten up, Michelle.
Scarecrow: I haven't got a brain... only straw.
Dorothy: How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
Scarecrow: I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?
Dorothy: Yes, I guess you're right.
gadfly....seriously.
You must work for the Human Society, what with your love of animals and all.
None of your damn business how people want to spend their disposal income.
Urbandog Fitness + Spa is the BEST!!!!! The care, the grooming, the SHOPPING! Amazing...great daycare services!!
How about the best EMERGENCY HOSPITALS FOR PETS!
There are so many over-priced, questionable hospitals for pets in the city.
I'm very surprised that Pet Cuisine & Accessories was not added to your list considering it won Toronto Barks "Best Groomers' in Toronto" 2008 and have the friendlist staff in Toronto!
127 Front Street East (416) 507-9968
20 Erskine Ave (416) 481-5775
http://www.petcuisine.ca
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