If you don’t find what you are looking for, let us know!
Appointment & Scheduling FAQs
Yes, appointments are recommended to ensure availability and reduce wait times. Scheduling in advance allows the salon to allocate enough time for each dog’s specific grooming needs.
In-store, we accept all major credit cards, google pay, apple pay and cash.
Rabies vaccinations are required through federal law. After the booster and initial year is up it is required to have the rabies vaccine updated every 3 years. This must be done before receiving any of our services. Bordetella and DHPP vaccines are strongly encouraged for the protection of your pet-friend and the pets of others.
Consider what the following officials say concerning rabies & vaccinations:
- Washington State Department of Health
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
- Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Go to our online appointment schedule, browse for your desired appointment date then select your desired services. We have a bath only option for those that do not require haircuts. If you need assistance, this is a step-by-step process that we will be more than happy to help with if needed, (253)531-5850.
Simply call us day or night. If we are unavailable to answer, just leave a message and we will be sure to cancel your appointment. We do require a 24-hour notice so please cancel within this time frame.
K9 Design FAQs
K9 Design is a full service pet grooming salon. We are located right near Spanaway Lake Park in the Spanaway Village Center of Tacoma Washington next to Tractor Supply®, LA Fitness® & Safeway®.
K9 Design provides professional dog grooming services & pet care for the Tacoma city proper. Looking for professional, reliable & loving dog groomers to care for your best friend? Come over to K9 Design — located off Pacific Avenue at 15631 Pacific Ave S, Suite #8, 98444. We are only minutes from JBLM, Lakewood, Puyallup, South Hill, Parkland, Dupont & Fife — wherever you are at: we are not too far and, as our clients say, we are well-worth the trip!
K9 Design Grooming Salon offers you an overall 27+ years of on-hands experience, a university education and a completed certificate from the Grooming School of Indiana.
But we don’t plan on stopping there! K9 Design future plans is to go above and beyond to become AKC certified in the non-sporting group, sporting group, long-legged Terriers and short-legged Terriers group!
Yes, K9 Design Grooming Salon LLC works with a wide variety of dog breeds, from small companion dogs to larger double-coated breeds. Each grooming session is customized to match the dog’s coat type and breed-specific grooming standards.
K9 Design Grooming Salon has 7 different departments: Dog Haircuts ~ Bathing ~ Creative Designer Grooming ~ K9 Design Packages ~ Same Day Service ~ and Retail.
The beauty of K9 Design is the open concept style the salon has been created which that allows clients to see the entire grooming process happen from our front lobby or window. So, if you are interested in where your dog will be during their stay, you are able to see about 90% of it before or during your drop off.
If you decide to visit, please call us before doing so. This allows us to schedule you for a time that we may be able to serve you best and that does not excite dogs that may be on the tables being groomed. Exciting clients’ dogs when entering beyond our lobby increases risk for injury and extends the time for that client’s appointment.
- SUN – MON: CLOSED
- TUES – SAT: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
During the first visit, the groomer will assess your dog’s coat condition, temperament, and grooming needs. This helps ensure a comfortable experience and allows the groomer to tailor the service to your dog’s specific requirements and sensitivities.
K9 Design Grooming Salon LLC focuses on personalized grooming care, attention to detail, and a calm environment that prioritizes the comfort and safety of each dog. All of our staff have continued education in pet grooming. We have an open concept building, so you can see all groomers and bathers hard at work for your canine companion. Every grooming session is tailored rather than rushed, ensuring pets leave clean, comfortable, and well cared for using our high-end equipment & products.
Grooming & Service FAQs
K9 Design Grooming Salon LLC in Tacoma, WA provides full-service dog grooming tailored to each pet’s coat type, breed, and comfort level. We offer custom style & creative grooming. Services typically include bathing, breed-specific haircutting, hygiene trims, nail trimming, ear cleaning, de-shedding treatments, and specialty grooming like hygiene clips for improved cleanliness and comfort.
This answer will vary on what service you choose, pet size, hair cleanliness & condition as well as potentially the temperament of your pet. Styling and coat type are also what we will factor in once we get to know you and your pet.
With K9 Design’s services and pricing, you can control the amount you want to invest in your best friend’s cleanliness and health. For more on base prices of our services, see our pet care services page.
Most dogs benefit from grooming every 4 to 8 weeks, depending on coat length, shedding level, and lifestyle. Dogs with fast-growing coats or those prone to matting may need more frequent appointments, while short-haired breeds may need less frequent visits.
This answer also varies depending on your dog breed, personal growth rate and lifestyle. We recommend that you come in every 4 weeks if your dog does not receive naturally filing from walking/hiking on coarse surfaces. With natural filing, you may only need a nail trim every 6-8 weeks.
K9 Design has many service packages and upgrades available designed to pamper your pet or improve their overall health and happiness. This section is growing, so ask us for more details!
K9 Design also has a quality goods retail department that is in the beginning of establishment. Ask us about our retail when you are with us in the salon!
Dogs with ear-hair that continuously grows as well as dogs with drop style ears are typically in need of having their ear-hair plucked. This is a hygienic care service that helps protect your dog from persistent moisture settling in their ears that can cause many types of common ear infections.
At K9 Design, we use a dog ear powder product that dries out water to help remove it from their ear. Ear powder also dries out the hair connected to the skin, prepping the hair for removal. Our dog ear powder and experienced technique assists in removing your pet’s ear-hair with as little discomfort as possible. And remember, plucking a dog’s ear hair is a hygiene service that can significantly reduce your pet’s chance for common canine ear infections.
Grooming appointments typically take between 3 to 4 hours depending on the size of the dog, coat condition, and services requested. Dogs with heavy matting or those receiving full haircut services may require additional time.
Unfortunately, we cannot fulfil this request. Due to the way we rotate and give each dog breaks, this disrupts the time we have promised all our other clients. It can create a domino effect and may cause us to skip another dog’s break or force us to rush through the next appointment’s groom, which is not the way of the K9 Design Difference.
K9 Design proudly labels itself as a non-traditional, upscale grooming salon. We stand for professional quality and true canine care, which takes time. In your paid grooming price, you are paying for that time and quality care to your pet in addition to K9 Design’s professional, upscale services. Between stages of your pet’s grooming service they are given breaks, time to drink water and even treats, if approved, for reward and encouragement.
If you feel that 4 or more hours is too long you may be in search for a traditional grooming shop.
K9 Design has a unique grooming process, skill set, tools and technique that produces happier, healthier, better maintained dogs with higher quality haircuts above other grooming shops. But don’t just take our word for it, talk to our clients or check out our reviews.
Here, all dogs are put into a rotation. Once your dog arrives, we allow them time to get comfortable and settle in. Most dogs, but not all, will get the opportunity to roam the facility to understand their environment. Then they may go to their kennel to relax. Once they have fully settled in, they are in rotation to get groomed.
In between each stage of their grooming, (prep-work, bath, blow drying, nail trim, brushing, haircut, de-shedding etc.), dogs are given breaks to settle down, drink water and even receive treats. This is the overall breakdown of our rotation. Each dog receives several breaks through their time.
We do not believe in pushing any dog (our clients’ beloved pets) through the grooming process that most dogs find uncomfortable or stressful. Pushing a dog can lead to extreme behavior, high anxiety and an overall unenjoyable experience – a lot of times for both a dog and their owner.
The K9 Design Difference is to completely turn around the dog grooming industry through an overhaul of the grooming process alongside our uniquely original business set of education, experience and professionalism in standards, tools, techniques and, of course, our 5 star customer service.
Not we do not. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate a self-serve option due to the limited number of bathtubs in our facility.
A hygiene clip focuses on trimming the sanitary areas of your dog, including around the paw pads, eye corners, belly, rear, and undercoat areas that tend to trap dirt and moisture. This service helps prevent odor, matting, and skin irritation, especially for dogs with longer or thicker coats.
Yes, ear cleaning is available as part of grooming services. This includes gentle cleaning to remove wax buildup and debris. The salon also offers ear hair removal for those that need it & ear cleaning when appropriate, which helps maintain ear health and comfort, especially for dogs prone to ear infections.
Yes we can. No Flea Left Behind! is our tick and flea removal package. We take extra preventive measures before, during and after our thorough pest-treatment service to ensure that there really is no flea left behind!
Consider what the following professional organizations say concerning dogs and grooming hygiene:
Salon Policy FAQs
The grooming team uses calm handling techniques and a patient approach to help nervous dogs feel more comfortable. We are a muzzle-free facility. Aggressive biters are not permitted as we want to minimize any risk of harm to the staff. Breaks are provided when needed, and grooming is adjusted based on the dog’s stress level to ensure a safe and low-stress experience.
No, we do not accept aggressive dogs and are a No-Muzzle facility. The safety of our employees and other dogs is a top priority, and a part of the K9 Design Difference is aimed at providing a relaxed, stress-less environment. If a dog expresses aggressive behavior, we will stop and send the pet home. If this occurs after grooming has started, we will require a full charge of the grooming service. This is why full honesty and disclosure from the pet owner is highly encouraged.
K9 Design defines “Dog Aggression” as: intent to harm or bite an employee or other dogs (not just nip or nervousness) and includes cage aggression and violent aggression towards tools.
No, for the safety of the other dogs at K9 Design, we cannot accept dog-aggressive pets. K9 Design is set up to provide an open, relaxed environment between social, happy dogs who do well with the grooming process, our employees and our other clients’ dogs.
We unfortunately do not have a place to put them and have to refuse such pets as they can be a danger to themselves or our employees if in a cage.
Yes, light to moderate matting can often be safely removed through brushing, de-matting tools, or coat trimming if necessary. Severe matting may require a shorter haircut to protect the dog’s skin and ensure comfort.
Any excessive wiggling for any process, biting of equipment, blow drying, brushing, clippers, scissoring etc. Only dogs that are good with grooming.
No, K9 Design is a non-standard, upscale dog grooming salon aiming to provide a different set of services and products, and in part with this, we only accept dogs that are good at all parts of the grooming process.
Due to our contract with the surrounding businesses, we have to refuse pets who are highly vocal.
No, you will be charged a late fee if we did not request for your dog to stay with us. This is because there is not enough space or employees to tend to them.
Other FAQs
We allow you to bring in your own shampoo for self-serve (currently unavailable) or if it’s veterinarian prescribed. If you are here for a standard grooming service, we ask you not to bring in your own shampoo. K9 Design Grooming Salon has a variety of shampoos, products and ingredients intended to suit to the needs of your dog(s); ask us. Also, consider our K9 Design Packages for more information.
No, we ask for at least 3 – 4 hours to get your dog fully clean and looking awesome. This may be longer. Leaving your dog longer than your appointment slot will incur a late pickup fee.
Depending on the tolerance of your pet, here at K9 Design we prefer to hand dry and blow dry our dog-clients; however, kennel drying can sometimes be required.
Unfortunately, we don’t allow you to stay. In our many years of experience we know that most dogs become very excited, nervous or anxious when they are not able to be next to their owner who is in the same room. This can make the grooming process very difficult or potentially dangerous for the dog or the employee. We do encourage you to help sooth your pet during nail trims.
We suggest you bring your new puppy in when they are 8 weeks or older. The correct introduction to grooming is vital for your puppy’s future behavior as well as their familiarity and happiness with the grooming hygiene process.
We take our time getting to know our pet-clients and helping them feel secure, confident and comfortable with their routine visits-to-come.
Sorry for the inconvenience but we do not groom cats at this time. Our plans are to one-day open our doors up to our feline friends once we expand and create the proper atmosphere.
Yes, K9 Design offers 5% off for active duty military personnel on their highest service charge. Service must be $50 or more to receive.