A hello at the door
We collect your dog on their own lead from the doorstep. Nervous dogs can sniff the ramp and the van with you beside them before going in.
Groomed in the van, home again by lunchtime
Suds Van Dog Grooming parks a fitted grooming van on your drive or at the kerb, takes your dog inside for a bath, dry and trim, and walks them back to your door. One dog in the van at a time, warm water on board in any weather, and no car journey for a dog who hates the back seat.
1 dogin the van at any time
90 minfor most full grooms
6 mof kerb or drive to park on
- The salon comes to your street
- One dog at a time, no waiting room
- Vaccinations checked first
- Arrival window the evening before
A grooming room on four wheels
The van carries about 150 litres of clean water, heated on board, and a walk in tub with a non slip floor and a low step, so bigger dogs walk in rather than being lifted. The grooming table lowers almost to the floor for older dogs and raises again for scissor work. A battery bank charged at our yard runs the dryer, the clippers and the lights, so we never ask for your sockets, your hose or your bathroom.
Used water goes into a sealed tank and is emptied at our yard, never into the drain outside your house. Between dogs the tub, the table and the leads are washed down, and every towel is used once and then taken back for washing. The van is heated in winter and shaded with blinds and a roof fan in summer, so it stays comfortable with the engine off.
- Warm water and power carried with us
- A table that drops to ankle height for older dogs
- Used water and hair taken away when we go
Prices by package and weight
Size goes by weight, because a lean whippet and a stocky bulldog of the same height take very different times. If the coat is matted or overdue, we tell you at the door before the groom begins.
| Package | Up to 10 kg | 10 to 25 kg | Over 25 kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath and dry, with a brush out | $45 | $55 | $70 |
| Bath and tidy: face, feet and hygiene areas | $55 | $65 | $80 |
| Full groom with clipper or scissor finish | $70 | $85 | $105 |
| Nails, ears and paw pads on their own | $20 | $20 | $25 |
| Puppy introduction, under six months | $35 | $40 | $45 |
Dematting is charged at $15 for each extra quarter hour, agreed with you before we start; when a coat is badly matted we may suggest a short clip instead, which is kinder to the skin. A second dog from the same home saves $10.
Calm handling, at the dog's own pace
Many of our clients chose a van because their dog finds salons hard. These are the habits that help.
Breaks built into the time
Every booking has ten spare minutes, so a dog who needs a pause gets one without anyone rushing the next part.
Quiet drying
A low noise dryer on a gentle setting, and towel drying for dogs who flinch at any noise. We never use cage dryers.
Older and stiff dogs
The table lowers to the floor, the tub has a step, and a dog with sore hips can lie down for nails and feet.
Muzzles, said plainly
If a dog tries to snap, we may use a soft basket muzzle for nails or face work, and we always tell you first.
Knowing when to stop
If a dog becomes too stressed, we stop, hand them back and finish on another day. You pay only for the work done.
From the kerb to your doorstep
A van visit has four parts, and you can stay indoors for most of it.
Window by text
The evening before, you get a one hour arrival window by text, and a message when the van turns into your road.
Park and look
We park on your drive or the kerb, look over the coat with you, and agree today's price before anything starts.
Groom in the van
Your dog is bathed, dried and trimmed inside while you carry on at home. Come out and wave whenever you like.
Back to the door
Your dog walks back to the door on their lead, with a word about anything we noticed, such as a sore patch or long dewclaws.
Before your dog steps into the van
The same van sees several dogs a day, so a few health rules keep every one of them safe.
- Core vaccinations up to date
- Vaccination record shown at the first visit
- Kennel cough vaccination recommended
- Flea treatment in the last month
- No dogs in season
- No grooms within 48 hours of sickness or diarrhoea
- Puppies once their first course is complete
Which vaccines count as core, and how often they are boosted, varies by country and by vet, so we follow what your own vet has written in the record rather than a list of our own.
If we find a lump, a skin problem or sore ears during a groom, we stop that part, show you and suggest you speak to your vet. We are groomers, not vets, and we never treat a problem ourselves.
On the street and in the tub
Photos from visits, shared with each owner's agreement.
Overheard at the front gate (example reviews)
Our old collie shakes in the car, so having the van at the gate made all the difference. She was back in the hall within the hour, soft as a cushion and not panting at all.
The groomer spotted a small lump behind his ear, stopped and showed us before carrying on. The vet checked it the same week. That honesty is why we keep booking.
Two dachshunds, one after the other, while we worked from the kitchen table. The road was quiet, nothing was left on the drive, and the second dog was $10 less.
Asked at the van door
Does the van need to plug into our house?
No. Warm water and power travel with the van, and used water leaves with it. All we need is somewhere to park, a few doors away at most.
What if there is nowhere to park outside?
We need about 6 m of level space on a drive, the kerb or a nearby side road. If you live in a flat, we park as close as we can and collect your dog from the main entrance.
Can we come into the van with our dog?
The van is narrow and the tub is wet, so owners stay outside for safety. You are welcome at the open door, and some dogs settle better once you go back indoors; we will tell you which after the first visit.
What happens if the coat is matted?
We show you at the door and agree a choice before starting: extra dematting time at $15 a quarter hour, or a short clip that lets a new coat grow through. Brushing out a severe mat hurts, so we will not do it.
Do you groom in rain and snow?
Yes, the van is heated and the groom happens indoors. If ice makes the roads unsafe, we message you early and offer the next open slot that suits you.
What if we have to cancel the groom?
Please give 24 hours. Late cancellations, or a dog we cannot reach at the door, are charged $20 to cover the drive.
Book the van to your door
Tell us about your dog, your street and the day that suits. Our reply comes inside one working day and does one of three things: accepts the visit, offers another day, or says plainly why the van is not the right fit.
- Nothing is fixed until we confirm
- The groom is paid at your door afterwards
- Bring the vaccination record to the first visit
Reach the van
We groom with our hands full, so a text or an email between dogs is the quickest way to reach us.
Contact
Visiting homes within about 25 minutes' drive of our yard on the north side of the city
Van hours
| Grooms, Monday to Friday | 08:30 to 17:00 |
| Grooms, Saturday | 08:30 to 13:30 |
| Messages and calls | 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday |
| Sunday | Van cleaned and restocked, no grooms |
Where the van goes
Homes within about 25 minutes' drive of our yard on the north side. Further out, ask by message and we will see whether a day in your area can be grouped with other visits.