Pooch Palace

We came up from Austin for a last minute daytrip to the area
We had trouble booking in Austin so we took a chance and booked here
The owner was happy to take them in
When I met her she was so nice and was gentle and kind to our two dogs
When we can back the next day she gave us tabs on what they ate and how they did w the other dogs
The indoor facility was at a good temperature and our pups got time outside as well
So please to see them happy the next day

Like so many others who consider their dogs to be members of their family, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a bit protective. It’s my responsibility to keep them healthy and safe. I take that responsibility very seriously and wish more would as well. They are my kids. That said, read on please…
The owners daughter is the groomer and she brings her big dogs (5 or 6 of them) to work with her every day and they walk around loose; unchecked and unrestrained in «their pack» (except the one she keeps blocked behind the counter because of it’s bad attitude; her words not mine!); so be aware of that before you take your pet here. Her dogs are large mixed and/​or full blood aggressive breeds ie. Pitbulls and others. Also be aware that they will not let you walk in the kennel/​grooming area to take a look around (another big red flag in my opinion). My dogs are not small dogs, but they don’t have an aggressive bone in their bodies and when I took them in the 4^th time they were both so terrified to go in there that I literally had to drag them through the door ! I should have listened to my gut, put them back in the car, and left right then. They’ve never had this reaction at any groomer, ever. My opinion is that they’ve either been attacked by the «pack» or mistreated. Either way, it’s absolutely unacceptable and the «pack» concept of doggy daycare is a disaster waiting to happen with these aggressive breeds ! I love all dogs, but science proves Pits are unpredictable at best, and quite frankly, they’re flat dangerous. Blanket statements aren’t fair I know, but you only have to watch the news to confirm this as fact.
The grooming time has gotten ridiculously out of hand, for ridiculous reasons. My dogs were first in the door with no others there and they didn’t even get a bath until 4 ½ hours later because her «bather» called in hung over (again, her words, not mine). Bather ??? Since when is not feeling like washing dogs a legitimate reason for a groomer to make her «customers» wait an extra 4 ½ hours ??? I wondered why they hadn’t called to let me know they were ready, so I called to check a little later than the agreed upon time (1:00pm) and only then did she tell me that only one of my dogs had even had a bath ! She told me they’d be ready in another hour. So I wait another hour, go to pick them up, and was told to come back in another hour and a half !!! They went in at 8:30am. They weren’t ready by 1:00, or 2:00, or 3:00. It was after 4:00 and this time I stood and watched and waited until they were. I wasn’t leaving my dogs there for one more minute ! I guess she thinks that her time is more valuable than anyone else’s and that no one else has any other responsibilities. Either way, it’s just plain rude and an inexcusable way to treat a customer or run a business.
This was the 4^th and last chance for Pooch Palace. When it’s done right (which was only the first time), it’s nice work, but the next 3 grooms were just awful (visible clipper lines, poor or no blending, uneven cut, dirty ears, ignoring my wishes, and just rushing to get it done with no regard for quality) What happened to doing a good job for the money you’re being paid ???
I have no doubt that my dogs spent the day terrified by the «pack» or locked up in a cage for their own good until the «bather» finally showed up. This really was the last straw. It just screams entitled, self serving, lazy, disrespectful, irresponsible, and unprofessional. Sorry to say, but this business is being run very badly and needs some serious attitude and operational adjustments. It isn’t run like it was with the original owners (they still owned it on my first visit, hence the nice groom job). They are the ones who did the 5 years of research and educated themselves on how to safely and effectively operate a daycare/​grooming business based on the «pack» concept. It’s still the same groomer doing the grooming, but now she can get away with letting dogs sit and wait for hours so she won’t have to wash one herself ! They really do need to get their stuff together and run this place like a business instead of an «adult» daycare and a place to employ your friends, when they aren’t calling in hung over that is… Worry about providing a safe environment, good service and quality work instead of doing as little as you possibly can and seeing how fast you can get out the door. The boss doesn’t blame anyone else. They take responsibility. On a final note, all it’s going to take is one dog getting seriously hurt (or worse) and it will be done. In this community good news travels fast and bad news travels like wildfire ! I sincerely wish them the best of luck, but I’ll be taking my dogs, and my money somewhere else. Bad grooming aside, taking my dogs back here is a risk I’m just not willing to take ever again.
A definite former customer

Great place… if your dog is part of the family. They treat them like your dog is part of their family. They do not put them up in the suites even except at nap time. Great for dogs that have special needs. 2 groomers there so you can get your dog cute usually to fit «your «schedule and not theirs.. great place.