By Kelly Youngblood
We got our dog Miles almost 10 years ago and we’re still trying to figure out his DNA.
We think he has some Shitzu, Bassett Hound and even Dachsund in him but we still can’t figure out where his long, wiry, high-maintenance coat came from.
The poor guy can look pretty rough when we go too long between grooming appointments -which is actually pretty often.
With three kids and all of their appointments and activities, I must admit getting our dog a haircut isn’t a top priority.
But one local groomer has made it so much easier for me to keep my dog looking his best.
Shampooches, a mobile dog groomer in the Champaign-Urbana area, is run by a team of two- Maggie Armstrong and her fiancé, Vince. They drive a repurposed bus to clients’ homes and do all of their work right there in the driveway.
They offer a variety of services. The cost of a bath, which includes shampooing, conditioning, nail trim and filing, lotion on paws, blow out, brush out, ear cleaning, cologne/perfume, light trim up if needed and a treat, depends on the size of the dog.
Small dogs under 35 pounds are $35; medium dogs 35-80 pounds are $45; large dogs 80-100 pounds are $55; and dogs over 100 pounds are $65.
For $20 more, your dog can get a full groom. You can also ask for add-ons or “ala carte” services such as ear plucking and teeth brushing. They also offer specials for multiple dog households.
The Shampooches crew showed up on time and as scheduled. They were both very friendly, immediately interacted with our dogs, and then talked to me briefly about what services Miles needed. Miles was more than happy to get on the bus- he’s our dog that always wants to go bye-bye.
So they got down to business in my driveway while I went back inside. I even left and came back after running a few errands. It took them close to four hours but the Miles Makeover was an immense success.
He was fresh, clean, trimmed up and sporting a St. Patrick’s Day scarf when it was all over. I’m pretty sure I saw him doing the “mutt strut” up and down our driveway for a solid hour.
I will definitely be calling these guys again. They were professional, friendly, affordable and committed to doing a great job. And I’m so glad they are offering their services to people in this area.
It is especially helpful for those who don’t have transportation or even those who have dogs that just despise car rides.
Other Unique Pet Services in the Area
There’s a veterinarian in the area that also offers mobile services, both preventative and primary care. Katie Fanning of Vet on Wheels makes house calls for small animals.
We’ve also heard of a few car washes that offer a special area for dog owners to wash their pets: Ultimate Shine Car Wash, 702 N. 3rd St. in St. Joseph: Super Wash, 905 N. Dunlap St. in Savoy; and LeWash, 1902 W. Bradley Ave. in Champaign.
Have you tried any of these services? Let us know about your experience!