A Cut Above

A Cut Above A full service dog grooming salon specializing in dogs under 30 pounds with an award winning groomer.

Debi is an industry recognized blogger and speaker as well as a certifier.

We are having some problems with dogs (and their people) who have a lot of perfume or essential oils or SOMETHING. This ...
04/17/2025

We are having some problems with dogs (and their people) who have a lot of perfume or essential oils or SOMETHING. This started about 2 years ago and it has become an issue, going from 2 or 3 a month to DAILY problems. It makes it impossible for us to breathe while drying the dogs because the smell cannot be removed. NOTHING we have tried removes it enough to lessen the effects.

Our eyes burn, noses run and we get headaches.

We are asking everyone to please refrain from using ANY kind of perfume or deodorant on your puppies for at least a week and if you wear cologne PLEASE, again, do not use it before you come to the salon. It can be very difficult for myself and Brian.

In case you did not know I have a lung disorder that restricts my breathing and the days we have multiple dogs with large amount of perfume on, I use my inhaler often. Days without it I rarely use it.

SO, PLEASE help us out. Refrain from using a lot of colognes and we are going to be much happier. The one below is the brand we are having the WORST reactions to, or at least that we have been able to pinpoint it to.

WHAT YOU DON'T SEE AT THE DOG GROOMERS.......You dropped your dog off at the salon and picked them up few hours later - ...
04/17/2025

WHAT YOU DON'T SEE AT THE DOG GROOMERS.......
You dropped your dog off at the salon and picked them up few hours later - fluffy, fresh, and happy. But what you saw was just the tip of the iceberg.
You didn’t see your groomer arrive early to open up the salon, disinfect tools, lay out fresh towels, and check the day’s appointments. You didn’t see them look over your dog from nose to tail before even lifting a brush - checking the coat condition, skin, eyes, ears, nails, and weight.
You didn’t see the careful way they clipped around a wriggly paw, or how they paused to let your dog calm down during the bath. You didn’t notice the matting hidden beneath your dog’s topcoat, or the way the groomer worked slowly to avoid hurting the skin beneath it.
You weren’t there when they spotted a red patch of irritated skin, or a small lump you hadn’t noticed. You heard them gently mention it to you at collection - not to worry you, but because they genuinely care about your dog’s wellbeing.
And after you left, you didn’t see the clean-down , the floor swept, tables cleaned, blades oiled, messages replied to, notes written up for your next visit, and laundry on again.
All of that… for a price that’s often lower than what you’d pay for your own haircut. And your hairdresser?
They don’t have to bathe you, clip your nails, or hold you still while you try to bite the brush.
The truth is ……. dog grooming is so much more than a haircut.
It’s about health, hygiene, comfort, and trust. It’s about knowing dog anatomy, coat types, skin conditions, behavior management, handling skills, and safe sc******ng techniques. It’s a profession that takes training, practice, and patience.
Most groomers got into this work because they love dogs. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be paid fairly for the physical, emotional, and skilled work they do every single day.
If your dog leaves their groomer happy, healthy and looking good - it’s not by luck. It’s because you have got a good groomer.
So next time, take a moment to thank them. Leave a review.
Tip them if you can. And above all - don’t undervalue them.
They’re doing far more than just washing the dog.
Author unknown.

This applies to every single breed out there, not just doodles. This is from another page but for some reason FB won't s...
03/05/2025

This applies to every single breed out there, not just doodles. This is from another page but for some reason FB won't share to here.

Thinking about getting a Doodle, Cockapoo or any Poodle mix? Have you been told they "don't need grooming until 1yrs old" or "coat maintenance is easy"?

*PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING piece written by a groomer..in the pic that's known as a pelted coat /Pelting. A dog’s fur gets so matted & tangled it will come off in one piece. It's outs tension on the skin, can damage the skin causing horrible infections and sometimes renders the dog helpless,unable to move and it can then cause fatality
-------->

Poodle crosses (cockapoos, doodles, maltipoos etc.) are not "easy breeds" to maintain. The photo attached (shared from another groomer) shows how matting forms at the skin. By looking at this dog's top coat, you may not see the knots and you may not feel them as you would a knot on the ends of the fur but under that fluffy top layer this is going on. Once it starts its very difficult/ impossible to brush out... and even if you could it would be cruel to put the dog through it. Maintenance at home has to be more than a quick once over for these dogs if you want to keep them in that fluffy coat which was probably one of the reasons you chose a poodle cross in the first place. You really need to sit down with a brush and then a metal comb and make sure you can get it through the entire body at least 2 to 3 times a week.

I often feel like owners don't believe groomers when they say their dog has to be clipped very short. I always hear "I know he/she is matted, but leave as much as you can". You cannot clip through matting, you can only clip under it. As this photo shows, clipping under the matting means taking the coat back to the skin.
I promise you, your groomer really doesn't want to do this but they won't hurt your dog by putting it through dematting, they also don't want to hurt their reputation when the clients go around complaining about how the last groomer "scalped" their dog but there really is not any alternative. Instead of being angry with your groomer if they clip your dog very short please respect their commitment to do what is in your dog's best interest, accept responsibility for not having brushed your dog properly at home, and work with your groomer because, together, you can prevent this happening again. All groomers will be very happy to demonstrate a technique called line brushing which will help make your grooming at home more effective. Just ask! We all want owners to know how to do this

Poodle crosses are easily one of the highest maintenance dogs in reference to their coats. The combination of the soft coat they are mixing poodles with these days is a coat that is extremely prone to matting.

If you like a fluffy pup, you probably need to consider no more than 3-5 week intervals between grooming and set aside time for regular brushing AND combing at home.

Please know, if you bathe your poodle cross you really need to blow dry and brush out right after. Moisture, be it a bath, rain, swimming, snow etc are all going to make matting worse. If you know your dog is already matted-- bathing is only going to make it worse! Brush out before the bath.

Lastly "breeders" who say these dogs can't or shouldnt be clipped and not to give them a hair cut until they are one year old are misleading potential owners in order to sell$$$$ puppies and setting them up for a sad day when they finally take their pup to the groomer!!!

If this hasn't put you off buying one please schedule your puppy's first groom immediately after they've had their vaccinations and then be prepared to do the maintenance at home between regular professional grooms.

Most of you have booked your pups out for the entire year and we love you for that! Those who haven't done that should c...
02/13/2025

Most of you have booked your pups out for the entire year and we love you for that! Those who haven't done that should consider it. We have a limited number of available spaces as a result of the yearly appointments.

As you can see in the screen grab below, our next appointment is on February 27 (and I think there's 2 slots that day) and we have 2 slots on the 28th.

It is going to be a very very difficult to book an appointment in the near future due to the prebooked dogs. You can expect a wait of 2 or 3 weeks to get in at this time and it may get longer as we get closer to the summer.

We do have a wait list and are constantly notifying people that a cancelation has occurred but you MUST have an appointment booked in order to get on the waiting list. Last week we were able to contact 5 people for an opening when someone canceled or rescheduled. Today I called 2 people and got them moved closer due to a cancelation.

Please think about booking your pups all year or at least 2 or 3 months ahead.

ATTENTION PLEASE!! Good news! MoeGo has released a Pet Owner app!!! It's extremely easy to use! Apple Playstore: https:/...
02/13/2025

ATTENTION PLEASE!! Good news! MoeGo has released a Pet Owner app!!! It's extremely easy to use!

Apple Playstore: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/moego-for-pet-parents/id6462375520

Google Play store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moement.moego.client

Once you download it you will be prompted for a code. That code is ACutAbovePetSalon, then it will prompt you the rest of the way. Once you sign in, remember your information please. I will not have access to help you recover it.

This will eliminate the need for a text with a code. Easy and fast!

I absolutely cannot do last minute cancelations without charging you a fee. Just now, at 5pm, a client canceled a dog fo...
01/15/2025

I absolutely cannot do last minute cancelations without charging you a fee. Just now, at 5pm, a client canceled a dog for tomorrow. I am now out that money, because there is no way I can book a dog between now and tomorrow morning.

When you cancel same day or extremely last minute it affects MY paycheck. I do not get paid if your dogs are not in the building. I mean, I don't get an hourly pay like my staff, I only draw a check if there is money to be drawn against.

Since the first of the year it is just me and Brian, so we have 5 fewer grooming slots per day. That means that I am running on less income overall.

This HAS to stop guys. It has literally happened every day this year and I cannot understand what is going on, but I need you to understand that if it happens every day at least once that is over $240 that the shop does not make. That is enough to pay the rent for the month!

Your barbers, hairdressers and doctors would not allow this to slide and we can't either. I simply cannot afford to let it slide.

Some of you it happens rarely but some of you have a bad habit of doing it a lot. If you are one of those people you will have to pay the groom fees before you can rebook and even then, I will require you to prepay in many instances.

I'm just not sure why this is happening, but it needs to stop.

Lily and Gizmo.
12/25/2024

Lily and Gizmo.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! This is a reminder that we will be closed from Christmas Day until January 2nd. Ou...
12/25/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! This is a reminder that we will be closed from Christmas Day until January 2nd. Our first available appointment is January 9th! Please book online and remember we are not at the shop!

CeCe is going to guard the presents this year!
12/25/2024

CeCe is going to guard the presents this year!

Lily says she's been especially good this year!!
12/25/2024

Lily says she's been especially good this year!!

Shotta says "MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!"
12/25/2024

Shotta says "MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!"

Address

Albany, GA

Opening Hours

Monday 5pm - 5:15pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday 8am - 4pm
Sunday 5pm - 5:15pm

Telephone

+12294460929

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when A Cut Above posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to A Cut Above:

Shortcuts

Share

Category