Dirty Dog Pet Wash & Boutique

From a recent email and subsequent visit:
«Helen from Dirty Dog is back on Adams Avenue!»
They are now at 3371 Adams Avenue, called «Top Dog Wash & Groom». Now in their new location, they are still the same awesome staff you’ve come to know – They have done a great job with all my foster dogs and are patient with so many tricks to get the best results from your pet! :-) The email directed me to their Facebook Page too:

Friendly and quick. My dog looked great!

What bad thing can I say about Dirty Dog?! Nothing! The staff there is amazing, kind, caring, and on spot. Literally. I’ve known Helen (the owner) for a little while now when my dog had some photos taken for the store’s art. I’ve since been a fan.
Recently, I had a friend pass away and we’ve been trying to gather up some merchandise for a fundraiser for my friend’s family to hold a raffle in order to help pay for the expenses of the funeral. I called Helen without wanting to ask for a handout and without fail, she immediately offered up anything she could. Which was a great help. I think that not only does the staff at Dirty Dog care about the dogs & cats that come into the store, but the community also.
P. S. If you ever go into Dirty Dog, you will see my beloved Hugo’s face on the wall above the washtubs. He’s the mostly black with white Boston Terrier.

Nala was having a hard time keeping herself clean cause she is so fluffy. So I set up an appointment for her and was nervous to bring her in. Not because I did not think that they would do a good job, but because she had never been in a place like that before. And if she started to fight, bite or scratch they would stop and she would not get groomed, which is understandable.
Well the minute I brought her in the lady (I am sorry. do not remember her name???) who was going to deal with my cat greeted me with a smile and then right away started talking to Nala in a soothing way. She gently pulled Nala out of her cat carrier and brought her to the grooming table and started with her claws. Then started the grooming process of combing her fur. She told me what time she would be done to pick her up. When I was about to leave, two huge dogs on leashes came in with their owners so I nervously stuck around to see how Nala reacted. The groomer had complete control over her and continued grooming. So I left. I came back to a beautiful cat who smelled so much better. I will be bringing her back in the future.

I’ve always given my dogs a bath myself (usually with me in the bathtub with them!) But with a new dog that hates having his nails touched and a lot of fiesta island trips lately it was overall more convenient to take them someplace to get ‘the works’. 1 ½ hours & $ 44 later I picked up two sparkling clean Aussies who were relaxed in the corner chillin’ when I walked in.
The groomer told me that one of them was not a fan of the blow dryer so she was a bit damp, but if they wreaked any havoc besides that, no one mentioned it.
Thanks Unilocal for the reviews to find this place & thanks to Dirty Dog for being an awesome local spot when I’m not in a DIY mood.

My rescued dog is blind and not a fan of kennels. Having him at the groomers in a cage for half the day was stressful for him and for us. When we found Dirty Dog it was like a prayer was answered. Each dog has their own appointment and they are attended to promptly. Our dog Grover, a 30 lb terrier mix, is in and out of there in 45 minutes to an hour.
Dirty Dog is in a happenin’ part of Adams Ave. so my husband and I usually go to a record shop, antique store, or for coffee at Lestat’s during his appointment.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, Dirty Dog had to close it’s doors unexpectedly due to the building being demolished. I just brought my dog to their sister store, World Famous Dog Wash in OB. A lot of the same employees are there and the place is beautiful and spacious. I miss Dirty Dog’s location, but these are still the best groomers around!
After years of using the same groomer at home, I struggled with picking a new groomer for my 11-​year-​old, long-​haired Flat Coat Retriever in San Diego. She’s a large and anxious dog and prior to finding the right groomer in CT, I had enough bad experiences with groomers inexperienced with her level of crazy to be wary. I found Dirty Dog on Unilocal and decided to give it a try.
I dropped her off with the groomer for a Mr. Vegas and within an hour and a half was able to come back and pick her up! In CT, grooming had been an all day affair: I was used to dropping her off at 8am and picking her up at 3pm, so this was a surprise.
She was happy as could be and sparkling clean… a rare thing for my spastic, nutjob dog who used to come tearing out of the groomer’s area and had to be DRAGGED back in for each visit. We’ve since been back to Dirty Dog several times and she jogs right in like she owns the place. Since they’re so quick, I’ll usually walk around the neighborhood and get a cup of coffee and I’ve passed by and peeked in on her a few times. Somehow they always manage to keep her perfectly still and the groomers are always smiling and gentle with her.
The employees here are just incredibly friendly and helpful and I would highly recommend Dirty Dog to anyone, especially owners with large breeds since they seem to have a perfect handle on them. The prices are great too and if you sign up for their email list, they send you coupons from time to time.

Bitches be all over my hot, manscaped dog’s ass now. Word!
And by bitches, I really mean the textbook definition of «bitch.»
Martin, the pup, had overgrown nails and I decided that a full blown grooming seesh was in order. Unilocal guided me to Dirty Dog and the number of stellar reviews made me feel at peace with sending my dog to them. I looked into the full-​grooming session package listed on the website and it includes shampoo, condition, facial, blowdry, ear cleaning, teeth cleaning, and nail clipping. SOLD! With his mildly droopy ears, I figured the ear cleaning would be helpful.
I scheduled an appointment for Saturday, filled out the necessary first-​timer paperwork, and left Martin in the care of the groomers for approx. one hour.
When they were done, the groomer called and I picked him up. I am SO GLAD I got him in on an appointment because I could tell that this place was probably booked for the day. People were self-​washing their dogs and there was a line of people waiting for nail trims.
Martin looked so handsome, smelled so clean, smiled brightly and his nails were not clicking against the sidewalk anymore. The groomers let me know that he was really not about the blowdry, so he was a little damp because of it. Fine by me… a little damp dog never hurt a backseat of my car. The total came to $ 32, which is a very nice price for the package.
I am so glad I found this place!!! I will be back routinely to keep my dog looking so fresh and so clean!

This is a great neighborhood joint for self-​service dog washing! The employees are incredibly friendly and helpful, and the $ 5 coupon for 1^st timers is an added plus. We were asked several questions about our pup’s skin and coat (sensitive, etc), and were recommended a great tea-​tree shampoo and conditioner which worked wonders on the little guy. They provide aprons for the rogue wet-​dog-​shake and the occasional misfire of the shower head.
I also appreciated that they seemed to really love dogs, which goes a long way towards my comfort level at an establishment. I highly recommend them if you find bathing your pet in a typical human shower far too difficult and/​or messy!

Obviously if you know me then you know that I am a dog lover at heart and I just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to go here. My ideal job in a perfect world would be working here but I have many other places to visit and report back to you so let’s begin!
Where to even start! They offer so many services for your furry friend from Grooming, to haircuts, nail clippings, etc.
They also have self serving stalls so if you just don’t have the room at your house they have everything you need to give your pet a bath!
The treat bar is all of my dog’s favorite! What a great idea! Like a candy store except for dogs. The treats are healthy so that’s even better!
They have photo days and costume parties — everything you can think of for you and you’re pet to have a fun day together!
The facilities were very clean not like the ones you see where it looked like a tornado had gone through the bath area.
If I were Paris Hilton I would be thrilled of all the dog outfits — when I was 10 I was dressing up my little dogs in my cabbage patch kid clothes and my baby clothes — that was way before her time so face it people — I am the one that coined the fad of dressing up your dog. When I was 16 I moved on to larger dogs — Labs and German Shepperds — i have 4 and love them but still dress them up!
I have met many friendly folks at this place and even have gone so far as getting together with them outside of the store.
Its been a really great experience all around!
Yes this is another place that will be added to Sara D’s Approved Lists. If you don’t know what I am talking about then please see my profile! I try these places out and report back here to all of you!

$ 10 (with a $ 5 coupon for 1^st timers) = self wash for a beautiful puppy!
Tubs, water and blowdryers are all well-​layed out and easy to use. Shampoo was great, and really conditioned our little cocker spaniel.
No wait and friendly service — we will definitely return to clean up our pup!
Bonus: we can walk our pup here and back :-)

After searching around for a groomer we felt comfortable enough with to take our dog Grover, we decided to give Dirty Dog a try, and we couldn’t be happier.
The staff are professional, kind and understanding. They also take a personal interest in each animal that this there, and give some extra care and attention when needed.
What I like best about this place, is unlike a lot of places we have discovered, Dirty Dog tries their best to get your dog back to you within an hour, and there is certainly no lack in the quality of their work because of it. For us, it’s awesome because we can drop Grover off, enjoy what Adams Avenue has to offer (as we don’t get a chance to make it out there as often as we’d like), and then pick him up and head off for a walk. :)
If it was allowed I’d give this place 6 stars.

Took my 2 dogs here for the first time today and so far I am impressed. We had an appointment for two full service washes, including nail trim.
Let me tell you, they were fast. I planned on an hour, but they were done in about 40 minutes. WHen I picked them up, I could immediately tell they were clean. The stench of the beach and dog park were gone. They did a great job on their nails, too. You can actually tell that their nails were cut and the sound of dog nails on our flooring has decreased.
I will definitely try this place again!

I have been taking Pollock to Dirty Dog for a while now and we both love the owner, Helen, and everyone there.
+++ The BEST thing about Dirty Dog is that you can have as little or as much help as you want. Stop in for a plain vanilla self-​service bath, or schedule the full service «Mr. Vegas» treatment — bath, ears, nails, the works!
++ Unlike some other grooming shops, there’s always someone there to do nails. That’s key for me as it’s the one thing I can never manage do myself! The sling they use to lift your dog works great, and they will use either clippers or dremel, as you and your dog prefer.
+ New customers get a discount on the first visit, and regular customers get periodic discounts too. They keep track of this for you — no silly punch cards or coupons to remember! It was a nice surprise to get my discount on my last visit.
— The only (small) negative is that parking can sometimes be a hassle, especially on weekends, because they are right in the middle of Normal Heights. For me, it’s worth the hassle.
++++++ Here’s where Helen really went above and beyond for us, and won me as a customer for life! A few days ago, Pollock slipped out of his collar as we arrived for a Dirty Dog appointment. He ran into the side of a car on Adams street. Yikes!!! He scared both of us and the poor unsuspecting driver half to death! (Don’t worry — the story has a happy ending…) He injured his paw, so we walked into Dirty Dog with Pollock limping and bleeding. Helen had her first aid kit out in a flash, and got Pollock bandaged and cleaned up while I called the vet. She also helped calm me down before she sent us on our way. She told me later that she has pet First Aid training, and it certainly showed. The vet even complimented her bandage. :) Helen and her crew made a very scary afternoon much better. I can’t thank them enough!!!
Luckily, Pollock is fine, and is now sporting a brand new escape-​proof collar. :)

We love this place so much we actually drive down from North County to have our dog washed here. They are so great and we call schedule our appointments at least a few days in advance but if we don’t they can sometimes get us in. It is worth the hassle and we understand they are the best and they will be busy.
Couldn’t imagine going somewhere else and they have great prices. It is worth the drive.

I will never take my dog anywhere else!
I LOVE the staff at Dirty Dog. They do a wonderful job with my dog and he is ALWAYS so happy after he leaves there. If you call and you want them to cut your dog’s hair, make sure to tell them you want grooming.
Thank you, Dirty Dog!

I’ve been looking for a pet grooming place that catered to Cats. At first, I was wary because I thought they might do a better job on dogs (because of their name and such), but I decided to give it a try after reading some great review on Unilocal.
This was the first time my cat AiAi was getting groomed. Her long hair, though absolutely pretty, was getting ridiculously long and matted no matter how much I groomed her. So I made the decision to shave it all off. This was not an easy decision, I was always thinking about cancelling just because I’m not sure how much my very shy and snobby cat would deal with this, and I didn’t really want to come home to more shredded furniture.
However, that fateful day came and I brought AiAi in. The groomer understood that it was her first time, and was extra careful and gentle with her. I stayed to watch for about 30 mins before I felt comfortable enough to leave. The way the groomer handled Aiai was very comforting, it wasn’t too forceful or too gentle. You could tell that she was used to dealing with all sorts of cats. It took about 2 hours for her nails to be clipped, fur to be shaved, washed and dried. I think they did an awesome job, and my cat didn’t claw my furniture at all. I think it was because she was happy. I’m pretty happy too since she looks like an albino simba now.
So for all you cat-​owners out there, this place is great for cats. They know how to handle them and treat them gently and carefully. Plus, there $ 5 off for your first time! ($ 60 for shaving and nail clipping).

We went back right before Thanksgiving to get Appa trimmed and ready for the holidays. I made the appointment pretty last minute and I’ve got to say that Helen and Lisa are very accomodating about what you want. I was a lot more specific about what I wanted this time and Appa looked great after. I don’t know how they get him looking so white without sticking him in some bleach but they do!
I haven’t taken Appa here to bathe him myself but I wait while he’s groomed and I must say that everyone who works here is extremely nice and helpful. The place is also SUPER CLEAN which is one of the main reasons why I came back. Another reason why I really like this place is that you don’t walk in and get slammed with that nauseatingly thick dog smell. After seeing how dogs that are dropped off are treated, I no longer have any reservations about leaving Appa here while he’s being groomed. I’ve seen how scared/​nervous other dogs can be when dropped off (*cough*Petsmart*cough*) and it’s not like that here at all!

I’m not sure it’s possible to say enough great things about Dirty Dog in one single review.
Just came in here for the first time yesterday after taking my dog out to wrestle around with other canines in Balboa Park. He was drenched in dog slobber and was COVERED in mud, dirt and grime. Whereas I typically just wash my dog in the tub at home, I decided this project was too big for me to handle in a conventional wash basin.
Dirty Dog is a stone’s throw from my place, located in the heart of Normal Heights by Lestat’s on Adams Avenue. I rolled in with my dirty pooch and half-​expected the staff to balk at me for bringing him inside. On the contrary, everyone was SO, SO, SO nice! From the owner (I’m assuming), to the girl working the register… it’s clear that they love dogs and it shows in the way they greet ‘em, play with them, handle ‘em, etc…
There are 4 or 5 different tubs to wash your dog in. They have all of the shampoo, dog loofahs, face washes, brushes, hand towels, and everything else you’d need to give your pup a quality cleansing. Additionally, they hook you up with an apron to ensure you don’t get soaked in dirty dog water runoff. Also, If you don’t like washing your dog yourself, they’ll do it for you (at a higher price, but still, totally affordable).
The normal rate for a wash is $ 12, but you get $ 5 if you’re a first time customer. Score!
I don’t think I’ll ever wash my dog at home again. If you’re in the area and don’t want your shower to smell like a dog’s ass, I highly recommend you check this place out.

My wee little pup is notoriously displeased with bath time and nail trims. a champion squirmer, given to occasional bouts of yowling as though being torn limb-​from-​limb, so I’ve tried many a dog wash to find one that she’ll tolerate (and will tolerate her). A co-​worker mentioned this shiny new little place near her house had opened recently, so I checked the website and decided to take ‘em for a spin today.
whaddaya know? fantastic! the owner was an absolute doll, lavishing love and treats on Olivia from the moment we walked through the door. She explained all about the set-​up, including her (delightfully) obsessive cleaning practices, clever and gentle collar system for the tubs and sling rig for nails (no, really. check it out on the website!).
She stayed helped me get my dog all clipped in to the tub and even stood by with extra love and treats while I washed my dog, magically appearing with extras like tearless shampoo for her face and washcloths before I even asked for them. fantastic.
After the bath, it was time for nails. ugh. this usually involves Olivia squirming and squealing and otherwise being as uncooperative as 11 lbs of ears and tail can be. Once in the sling, she settled right down and was quiet and pretty docile while her nails were carefully trimmed. Once again the owner explained about how she was trimming the nails to allow the quick to recede naturally, since I’d fallen a bit behind on nail maintenance.
all in all, a fantastic visit, very competitive prices and very kind staff! I also love that the shop offers special discounts for service dogs and rescue dogs as well as pick-​up/​drop-​of and discounts for the dogs of the elderly and disabled. My dog loves that they’re free-​flowing with the love and the treats.
(previous review seemed to have semi-​disappeared, and I want to make sure y’all know just how awesome Helen and crew are!)