Treat you and your four-legged friend right. The next time you’re thinking about giving your dog a bath, go to a do-it-yourself dog wash. For a small price, you’ll save time and avoid the trauma of wrangling with a wet stinky dog. We’re talking no more back strain trying to heave that furry hiney into the tub, no more hair matted in the drain or stuck to the walls, and no more piles of doggie laundry.
DIY dog washes cater to your every need, from elevated bathing stalls with ramps to gentle dryers that won’t burn or blow away your pet. Each bark boutique offers a range of products and a la carte services.
If you live in San Antonio, here are 3 fabulous pooch spas that turn bath time into fun time.
Dirty Dog
2520 N. Main Ave.
Dirty Dog lives up to its motto: “Cleaning up the world, one dog at a time.” This generously stocked DIY dog wash, located a few blocks north of San Antonio College, has everything you need to get your buddy sparkling clean. The shop features a handful of raised tubs with steps to help your dog into and out of the bath. Each tub is conveniently separated by a divider to reduce doggie distractions and inadvertent dousings. Wash basins features temperature-regulated sprayers. And with the shop’s rubber handheld scrubbers that help lather and lift loose hair, you’ll get the most out of shampooing your dog. Price includes apron, tearless shampoo and conditioner, scrubbers, towels, brushes and combs, no-heat dryers, nail clippers and ear cleaner.
Price: $13-$17 (depending on weight)
Pawderosa Ranch
923 Clydeville Road
This is not your ordinary dog wash. Voted the Best Pet Boarding Facility by the San Antonio Current and winner of the 2008 River City Tails Reader’s Choice award, Pawderosa Ranch offers a range of services from doggie daycare and boarding to grooming and self-serve dog washes with a Wild West theme. Follow the rustic sign to the Wash Barn (“Dirty Dogs Done Dirt Cheap”) for a fabulous DIY dog washing experience. Choose from a variety of all-natural shampoos. They even offer a shampoo to remove the smell of skunk from your pet’s fur. Raised bathing stations have steps for able-bodied dogs. If your pet can’t manage them, there is a lift available. Towels, no-heat dryers, ear wipes, nail clippers and aprons are included in the price. Discounts available with daycare or boarding.
Price: $15
Lucy’s Doggy Daycare and Spa
2250 Thousand Oaks, Suite 200
This five-paw spa offers grooming, daycare, boarding and a members-only park with real grass for chasing and wrestling matches. Lucy’s is deep into spoiling your pet with individual walks, massages, flat-screen televisions in boarding “suites” and a menu of personalized services like tooth brushing. And the friendly help doesn’t stop just because you drop in for the self-service dog wash. The shop offers the usual host of amenities – shampoo, towels, brushes and no-heat dryers – in an impeccably clean environment. Plus, the raised tubs (with steps) are completely lined with rubber mats so there’s no risk of your pet getting his claws stuck in grating. These are just some of the reasons why Lucy’s has been voted best in class for grooming and boarding by River City Tails and the San Antonio Current respectively.
Price: $10-$16 (depending on weight)
