Your first mobile groom: what to expect.
If you've never had a groomer pull into your driveway before, here's the whole thing start to finish — no jargon, no surprises, and no upsells waiting at the end.
no consultation fee · you pay for the groom you book, nothing else
What's Included
What we need from you
About 25 feet of parking
A driveway, a wide shoulder, or a spot at the curb. If parking is tight — downtown Kennebunkport in July, say — tell us when you book and we'll sort it out ahead of time.
Nothing plugged in
The trailer carries its own water, its own hot water heater, and its own power. We don't need your hose, your outlet, or your bathroom.
A recent vaccination record
Current rabies at minimum. A photo of the certificate texted over is completely fine.
An honest history
Bites, fears, injuries, hot spots, allergies, medications, and what happened at the last groomer. We can work with anything if we know about it.
A short potty walk
Five minutes outside right before we arrive makes the appointment far more comfortable for everyone involved.
Your phone nearby
You don't have to hover, but stay reachable. We call if we find something or want to check a length before we cut it.
Good To Know
What actually happens, minute by minute
We text when we're on the way and again when we're parked. You bring your dog out on a leash, we spend five to ten minutes going over the coat and the plan, and then your dog comes aboard and you go back inside. Most owners are surprised by how quickly it stops being a big deal.
Inside, it's one dog and one groomer for the entire appointment. A bath & brush usually takes 45 to 75 minutes; a full haircut on a doodle or a Shih Tzu runs 90 minutes to two hours. Nobody is crated, nobody waits for a turn, and nothing is done in a rush because five other dogs are booked behind yours.
When we're done we text you, walk your dog back to the door, and tell you what we found — skin, ears, nails, lumps, anything that looked different. Payment happens at the door, and if you liked it we'll book the next one right there, usually four to eight weeks out depending on coat.
First grooms are often a little shorter than normal on purpose. If your dog is nervous, we'd rather do a good bath, nails and a light tidy and leave them liking us than push through a show-quality haircut on day one.
- Bath & brush: 45–75 minutes · full groom: 90–120 minutes
- One dog in the trailer, start to finish
- You'll get a text on the way and when we're done
- First appointments are deliberately gentle
Our Process
Getting ready for the first appointment
Same order, every appointment, in the trailer in your driveway. Typical visit: Plan on about 90 minutes, one dog at a time.
Book online
Pick a service, a town and a date in the booking widget. If you're unsure which service, choose the closest one — we'll confirm the right fit before we start.
Send the vaccination photo
A snapshot of the rabies certificate by text or email is all we need, any time before the appointment.
Brush lightly if you can
Not essential, and don't fight your dog over it. But a quick brush the day before tells you whether there's matting we should know about in advance.
Skip the big meal
A light meal a couple of hours ahead, not a full bowl right before. Then a potty walk just before we pull in.
Hand off and go
A quick, boring goodbye works better than a dramatic one. Dogs read the tone — if you're calm about it, they usually are too.
Talk it through afterward
Tell us what you liked and what you'd change on the haircut. Groomers can't read minds, and the second groom is always closer to perfect than the first.
From The Driveway
What neighbors say.
"I had no idea what to expect and honestly worried it'd be chaotic in our driveway. It was completely self-contained and quieter than the mailman."
"They walked us through everything, texted when they were done, and told us exactly what they saw on his skin. Very professional."
"First groom for our puppy. They kept it short on purpose and she loved it. Second one went even better."
Where We Go
Twelve towns, one trailer.
We bring this service to every town on the southern Maine coast we serve — no travel fee inside the area.
Breeds We Groom
Coat-specific care, too.
Every coat behaves differently. These guides cover what we do differently for each breed.
Also Worth Reading
Services that pair with this.
FAQ
Questions we get asked.
- Do you need my water or electricity?
- No. The trailer carries its own fresh water, its own heated water, and its own power. All we need is somewhere legal and reasonably level to park.
- How much space do you need to park?
- Roughly 25 feet — a standard driveway, a wide shoulder, or a curb space. In tight downtown spots in Kennebunkport, Ogunquit or Old Orchard Beach during summer, let us know at booking and we'll plan the spot together.
- Can I stay and watch?
- You can stay nearby, and you're welcome to look in at the start. Most dogs settle faster once their person is out of sight, so we usually suggest handing off and heading inside — we'll text the moment we're done.
- What vaccinations do you require?
- Current rabies at minimum; we recommend distemper and bordetella as well. A photo of the certificate is fine.
- How long will it take?
- A bath & brush is typically 45 to 75 minutes. A full haircut is 90 minutes to two hours depending on size, coat and how much brushing out is needed. Nail-only visits are about 15 to 20 minutes.
- What does the first groom cost?
- The same as any other groom — there's no new-client fee and no consultation charge. Full grooms run $45 to $170 depending on size and coat; the full breakdown is on our pricing page.
- What if my dog won't cooperate?
- We stop, and we tell you. A partial groom on a dog who's still comfortable is a better outcome than a finished haircut on a dog who's terrified. Anxious and reactive dogs are a big part of what we do.
Reading we recommend
- AKC: what to expect at the groomer — A general primer on grooming appointments and terminology.
- Maine Animal Welfare Program — State licensing and animal care standards for pet care businesses in Maine.
Ready when your pup is.
Pick your service, pick your town, and we'll roll into your driveway within the week.