Russian Hill Dog Grooming

Did a great job on Our Norwich for stripping. He looks great and we are very happy how he looks. A little pricey but not many people can do this well so it is worth the price. I knew it was going to be a big job as he has not been stripped in quite some time. We will be back!
Also I read some of these reviews. I had no problem over the phone, with staff or groomer. In all honesty I could not care if they were condescending as long as they do a good job for a fair price is all I care about. Again Stripping is expensive and this was a 4 hour job.

We moved to Marin several months ago and have tried local groomers for our miniature poodle and we finally had enough. We called mid-​week, they got us in for Saturday and our little girl looked once again, STUNNING! No more shopping around. We will drive across that bridge now no matter what to see the folks at RHDG! Well done and thank you for the stunning job on our little girl!

PROS: Very clean facility and the staff who brought my basset hound out from his bath were extremely friendly. George seemed to be happy after I picked him up and he was definitely clean as I was expecting.
CONS: I agree with some of the aforementioned comments about the owner’s phone etiquette — very curt and most likely unintentionally condescending. (As if I had no idea what I was talking about regarding my dog and his needs)
$ 85 for a bath and a nail grind is almost double what I have paid in several other venues around SF — Including the pet store on Polk st only a few minutes away.
They didn’t actually «grind» my dog’s nails so the tips were rounded as requested (and promised). Instead, they cut them clean across so they were extremely jagged and my dog was whimpering for the next several days as he licked his nails.
To their credit, they did offer to try again after I let them know how badly their staff had finished his nail grinding — however, I’m simply not comfortable bringing George to this facility in the future.

From the day I brought home my little guy from Animal Care and Control, Leonard and his staff have taken exceptional care of my dog. Before even bringing my newly-​adopted long-​scraggly-​haired dog home on the first day, I brought him to Russian Hill Dog Grooming on a friend’s recommendation — and that was about 10 years ago! I’ve taken him there ever since, and he always comes out looking handsome! Leonard is also great about providing little useful tips, like food recommendations or flea prevention. Highly recommend either of their locations. They’ll take great care of your dog!

I have been bringing my cockerpoos, Phinlee and Mollee, to Russian Hill Dog Grooming for 9 years. They get their bodies shaved down and then get a puppy cut around the face. Although I now live in Mill Valley, I still bring them back here every 8 weeks. I have tried a couple of places in Marin but feel that this place does a better job on my dogs.
The staff and owners are very nice and welcoming. I pay $ 190 for both dogs… I think that the prices are not bad for the quality that you are getting. I am always so happy when I pick up my dogs. They come out looking super cute and smell AMAZING!

why are the staff only in the back behind closed doors, no one is ever grooming outside at the three perfectly good stations. doing the grooming in the back only gives off the impression that something is being hidden.
my dog came home with rawness/​redness between her pads. for days she’s licking.
I’m not taking my dog back.

Not quite sure what all the negativity is about… I had a groomer cancel our appointment last minute, something that couldn’t be helped but we already had a trip planned and really wanted our Westie groomed before we left.
Fynn our Westie had a very traumatic experience with his first grooming so we were really nervous about taking him anywhere. I had seen a Westie in the neighborhood where I work and loved his cut, the owner told me it was Russian Hill groomer so I called as soon as the other groomer cancelled. They got me in next day which some people saw as a red flag… I was very greatful!
We took Fynn in at 11 am @ the Bush St location. The groomer was very attentive and compassionate when I was sharing the story of the first grooming drama… Fynn is a pretty tough cookie but that first experience really shook him up. The place was very clean and quiet which was a huge bonus.
Everyone was very friendly and polite, we talked quite a bit about style and length of cut and when we picked him up this afternoon he was calm and happy and looked very handsome! Yes this place is a bit on the pricey side but having seen our boy go through such a trauma filled grooming it was worth every penny to see him look so proud and happy with his new cut! Other than him seeming a bit tired he seems to be feeling and looking great! Click the link to see his after cut pic…
Will go back!

Rude, condescending, snotty owner. Called multiple times and spoke with different staff members to ask questions. All staff members gave me the same price quote to groom my dog. Later spoke with the owner who insisted that they must have told me something different and that the price could be up to three times as much as what I was quoted (which was $ 95) and that further I would not know the price until after my dog had been groomed. Further, if I brought the dog in he would not be able to give me an accurate estimate.
Owner has a real attitude problem and perhaps should have chosen a profession not working with the public. When he found out I was connected with several of his clients he changed his tune and tried to be polite to me. Sorry, I believe all customers deserve respect, not just those well-​connected in the community.
Please don’t take yourself so seriously. All you do is groom dogs. If you are unhappy perhaps you should select another profession. We don’t need more nastiness in the world from people like you, there is enough of it already out there.
I will be taking my pet elsewhere and communicating my experience to my many friends who have and are getting dogs and need regular grooming services.

This is literally the first review I’ve written — I don’t bother. In this case, were I able to give a zero, I would do so. Having recently moved, I was in search of a new groomer. This place is relatively well recommended both on Unilocal and listed as a recommended groomer by the Millennium concierge. I’m not a frou-​frou owner, honestly. The dog in question: an Aussie Shepherd (who kind of looks half-​panda, half-​skunk). I went in and asked for a light trim, basic grooming. I’m not kidding when I say I came back to find they had given me something resembling a bull terrier. They literally SHAVED his coat off. If you understand Aussie’s, you know their coats are delicate which is why he only gets a full grooming twice a year. My dog has lost about four inches of a five inch coat.
I gave myself a day to calm down and then called to explain my concern. At first they said this is what I asked for. Then they said I asked for a «puppy cut» — a term I’ve literally never heard before (who wants a four year old dog to look like a puppy? Oh and I have pictures of him from puppy days — this isn’t what a pup looks like). Then they conceded some blame, saying they misunderstood my desired service. I can’t for the life of me understand how in their own judgment, they’d consider destroying his coat as something I’d ask for. Even if I had (I promise, I hadn’t), wouldn’t they ask if I was sure? It’s quite literally a different dog I’ve got now. The last concession, some monetary consideration for future services. Yes, I’d love to bring my dog back for another round of insanity with them knowing they’re being paid less to do so. Methinks not.
To add insult to injury, they’ve lost his collar. Again, the blame must be mine («you must have lost it in your car»). Funny, never has his collar been lost in past. A wonderful mistake of theirs that I must now endure. In 25 years of dog ownership, this is the first time I’ve come across a service that has a reputation of professionalism backed by overwhelming incompetence and sheer negligence.
I can’t express this enough — STAY AWAY.

I was referred to RHDG by a pro dog walker walking an impeccably groomed shih tzu. He told me that he takes all of his charges there. Then I checked Unilocal and was surprised to see all the less than stellar reviews. I debated for a bit and decided to call expecting a snobbier than Paris Hilton owner. Quite the contrary, the reception I got was warm and booking appointments for two baths and haircuts was easy.
When I dropped the boys off, I was pleased to see that the salon was clean, open and smelled quite nice. The owner was very friendly to me and my dogs as we consulted on the style of cut for Sid Vicious the shih tzu and Hugo Hefner the Pekingese.
I came back a few hours later and they looked gorgeous. Sid’s hair looked fluffy. Hugo, who has alopecia, looked quite handsome.
In all, I was very impressed with the services and how friendly everyone was towards me and my dogs. I was hesitant in booking an appointment after reading about what a terror the owner is but I’m happy to report that is not the case.

i have been taking my Shih Tzu to RHDG ever since we moved to the neighborhood. He always looks great when I pick him up and as his «puppy cut» grows out I often get asked if he was just groomed. It still looks that good! I know it’s pricey but the cut lasts.
Very friendly staff. I even got great recommendations around the neighborhood when I fist moved here!
Not only do I like them so does my dog. Every time we walk by he pulls to try go in the door! He’s never done that! They must be doing something right!

I bought a coupon through Travel Zoo (or similar) and my bf did too about three months ago, for our dog. And I haven’t been back to my old groomer since. They do an amazing job with him, he is a happy guy when he gets out, they are thorough and all of his needs are met. And better yet, they will take a dog last minute or with just a few days notice which in my experience is unheard of in this business. I like that they are like a good neighborhood restaurant that always reserves a few tables for the locals when they just want to drop in for a meal. Thank you RHDG for letting me just drop-​in with my pup for a stellar wash and cut. And the service is smart and professional with knowledgeable staff, and I’m pretty particular.

I had a HORRIBLE experience at this place. I thought it was great they could get my dog in next day, but I also thought that was a red flag, what dog groomer in SF has next day apts?! Well I should have known better. my dog got the WORST hair cut EVER and it cost me $ 85. Half of her was not cut, the other half looked like a little girl took a razor blade to her back. It was so choppy and sharp. My dog was embarrassed to go to the park.
WORST of all. I called to complain and ask what the heck happened and the OWNER was SO rude. I send him pictures of the messed up cut and he laughed and took zero responsibility. It was so unprofessional and upsetting, I took the time out of my day to call and talk to him and he refused to do anything about it.
STAY AWAY FROM THIS OVERPRICED, HORRIBLE PLACE!

Great service! Very friendly and listened to what I wanted for my Pomeranian. I was desperate to get my dog in last minute today for a full grooming. They fit me in and even stayed open late for my dog.
I was nervous going into it because of some of the negative reviews on here, but I decided to give them a chance. I wasn’t sorry.

Excellent spot! I brought my mini schnauzer for a grooming and he came out simply perfect– even his ears were expertly trimmed and cleaned. Highly recommended!

I don’t really get the low reviews — I have taken my portie in the last 7 years to just about every groomer around (from cheapy PetSmart to Wags on Polk St) and Russian Hill has always had the best hair cuts (and I have seriously seen some bad ones.)
Price is a little on the higher side — but you get what you pay for. My hunch is they are probably better with larger dogs with hair — like poodles/​doodles.

I realize there are two locations; are there also two diff Unilocal pages? Yesterday, I read some positive online reviews and spoke to a couple groomers who recommended Russian Hill. I called at 5 on a Friday, and got an appointment for Saturday morning. Bonus points!
I am glad I did not read THESE Unilocal reviews, because I am not sure I would have gone. However, my experience today, and my dog’s experience, were both great. All of the employees I dealt with were very friendly and easy to work with. The groomer listened to my concerns and hit every point. My little Border Terrier/​Terrorist was hand stripped, so it takes at least a few hours; for all that work AND the wash, nails, etc., their prices were VERY reasonable and right on par with everybody else in the City (and finding hand strippers has not been easy).
I never once felt any level of snobbery from anyone, and I rolled in there in shorts and a ratty hoodie, so if it was going to happen, I was a good target. My dog looks great; I’ll definitely go back, and hope others give them a chance

This happened more than a year ago, but I decided to post a review now to prevent others from having a terrible experience.
We had difficulty finding a groomer who can do the fussy cut of a Bedlington terrier and went to Leonard at Russian Hill Dog Grooming because he has experience with the breed. He did a terrific cut — but at an unacceptable cost to our sweet puppy: He gave her clipper burns on the underside of her tail (at the base) and on her ears, and the day after she was groomed, both ears became infected. We ended up with a veterinarian’s bill for $ 246, as well as days of misery as the puppy suffered, scooting and trying to lick the wound on her tail.
These people should be prosecuted for animal abuse.

I have taken my two Shih Tzus here for about two years and have been totally pleased with the result. Our little girl was a rescue initially and had a skin condition (food allergies) and her little face was affected as well as her paws. They were very careful with her. Our little boy loves the male groomer and I do try to steer both dogs toward him. I have taken these dogs and other small dogs to several other groomers in the Bay Area and this is the best I’ve found. The shop is clean and well-​lit — they have a parking space in front that you can temporarily park at for pickups and drop-​offs — and the dogs are caged — which is important for small dogs. I’m not a fan of an open area where groomed and ungroomed dogs play at will.
While the $ 75 charged for each dog is the most I’ve ever paid for grooming, you get what you pay for. I usually call ahead about a week and can always get an appointment. And the wonderful thing is that the dogs are promptly done after 3 hours, which I think is reasonable. Every single other groomer I had ever used had my dogs all day — which was very stressful on them and put a kink in my day.
I take both dogs out as SF/​SPCA therapy dogs so want them to look good. I am constantly asked where my dogs are groomed. There is never an incident. The staff here are friendly and kind and considerate. Added to my grooming cost is the cost of a cab to get the dogs here and back. I will still pay it. I am always thrilled with the results and both dogs are strutting their stuff when we pick them up. Cheers to Russian Hill Dog Grooming!

Dang… I’m thoroughly disappointed.
I took my puppy here today for his first ever haircut. He’s a VERY furry dog, and so he did have quite a few deep tangles. But I asked them to cut it short so they wouldn’t have to worry about untangling all of them.
At the end of the day, it cost $ 110 (tip included) and took almost 3.5 hours to get my puppy groomed. Ridiculous? I think so.
And he looks idiotic on top of it all. I don’t even recognize him.
To top it all off, they told me that he was freaking out the whole time, and didn’t like to be touched. From my experience, my puppy is very sociable and is not aggressive. He is even okay in an environment with tons of people picking him up and playing with him. A red flag definitely went up in my mind when they said he didn’t like to be touched… I didn’t expect him to be totally sedated, but I think it may have to do with the fact that they kept him for 3+ hours.
One more thing… I got there before they were finished, and they said it would take them another 25 – 30 minutes before he would be done, so I asked if I could sit in the waiting area. They said no, and one of the guys told me I could go get a beer next door. I laughed and said it’s too early for a beer, and one of the receptionists said «after this dog, I could use a beer». WOW. When I’m paying $ 110 for a dog’s haircut, please don’t give me attitude. I’m already pissed enough that you’re nickel and diming me… Next time, maybe put a smile on your face and realize that it’s your job to be grooming dogs, and puppies will be skittish on their first cut! Ugh. Attitude/​lack of customer service seriously peeves me.
I’ll definitely be looking for a new groomer for my little guy. He just came out too depressed and ridiculous looking for me to ever want to go back. And there are patches of hair that they just simply didn’t cut.