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About The Owner

"No dog is the same. Their haircut shouldn’t be either"


Melissa Small is a breeder, groomer and handler for the Bichon Frise breed for over two decades, and a lifelong lover of all dogs. As a third-generation resident of Fairfield, and proud owner of The Salty Dog Grooming Shoppe since 2022 in this very town, the shop's story began with her grandmother, Doris Hyde, who founded the Dove-Cote Bichon breed kennel in 1969. Some of her best memories were spent learning and honing the transgenerational craft of dog grooming, and when her grandmother passed in 2020, Melissa knew she had to continue the tradition of caring for animals.

My priority is to make the dogs that enter my shop feel safe and loved.  It is my pleasure to serve the animals of my community who do so much in the service of their families. These are family members, I feel exceptionally lucky.”

Smiling young girl with curly hair wearing a white lace dress sitting next to a fluffy white dog.
Rated
5

Excellent groomer. My dog always looks beautiful. I highly recommend. I drive an hour just to have my dog groomed. Well worth it.

Patricia
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Service Taken :
Dog grooming
Rated
5

Leaving a five-star review for Salty Dog Groomers due to their exceptional care provided to my 3-pound Micro Teacup Yorkie. When I first brought her in, her coat was severely matted—so much so that I believed we’d have to start from scratch and endure the long process of growing her hair back. To my surprise and relief, the team at Salty Dog worked their magic. My puppy now has a beautifully fresh trim and her coat is silky, smooth, and luxuriously soft. Their skills exceeded my expectations!

Trinice
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Service Taken :
Dog bathing and blow dry, Dog grooming and styling
Rated
5

My 5 y.o. golden retriever was not a fan of going to the groomer until my neighbor recommended and we tried The Salty Dog . Entering the shop feels like walking into a boutique. Friendly staff greets us, confirms the grooming request and Hazel happily goes into the back for her grooming. Hazel comes out tail wagging at pickup perfectly groomed to my liking. Give The Salty Dog a try. Truly step above the others I’ve tried.

Stacy G
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Service Taken :
Dog full service grooming
Rated
5

I was in a rush and needed my dog groomed quickly, and The Salty Dog Grooming Shoppe came to the rescue. They did an incredible job grooming my dog in a timely manner, and I was impressed by the level of care and attention they gave to my pet. I would highly recommend this business to anyone in Fairfield, CT!

Noah G
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Service Taken :
Bichon Frise
Rated
5

I was looking for a trusted dog grooming service in Fairfield, CT and I'm so glad I found The Salty Dog Grooming Shoppe. The team there truly cares about the well-being of my dog and they always do a fantastic job grooming him. I would highly recommend this business to anyone!

Sophia K
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Service Taken :
Labradore Grooming
Rated
5

I recently took my dog to The Salty Dog Grooming Shoppe for grooming and I was blown away by the quality of service. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and they did an amazing job grooming my pup. I highly recommend The Salty Dog Grooming Shoppe to any pet owner in Fairfield, CT!

Liam n
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Service Taken :
Poodle Grooming
Our services

Groomers That Care

At The Salty Dog Grooming Shoppe our professional dog groomers provide services for all breeds and can address all of your pet's grooming needs. Our full-service pet grooming salon in Fairfield, CT provides professional grooming that keeps your fur baby happy and healthy, and you can always count on our expert groomer to provide exceptional care using high-quality products. Please see Our Services for more information and broader range of breeds.

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Bernese Mountain Dog Grooming

Bernese Mountain Dog

Grooming Includes two shampoos and conditioning, Nails, feet, and ears sanitary cut if applicable. All groomings are done using clippers and scissors. Deshedding is also available. * Price increases based on matting and/or behavior*

Services Type
PRICE
Grooming
$200*
Nails
$20*
Ears
$10*
Book An Appointment
Check Out Our Clients

Extras

Behavior

$20-$60

A number of behaviors can cause a behavior fee. Our number one reason for a behavior fee is biting or attempting to bite (for obvious reasons). Dogs that are avoidant, passive aggressive and slow down the grooming process significantly would fall into this category.

In/out

$30

When an owner requests the dog to not be crated or for the dog to be done straight through.

We are not a mobile groomer. We do not groom one dog at a time. There are are only 1-2 slots available for this type of appointment per day. Spots are limited.

Matted

$20 - Double appointment price

We are your dogs hairdresser. Matting of any kind is 100% the dog owner’s responsibility.  The time it takes to brush or shave down your dog takes time away from other clients.

It is our policy that you will receive only one warning ⚠️ about excessive matting.

Canceling your dogs appointment because they are not ‘ready yet’ or continuing to bring in an excessively matted pet; you will be removed from our client list.

Old Dog

$30 - $60

Dogs 10 years or older will most likely show signs of dementia. Please google for a list of behaviors. This slows down grooming time significantly. We are more than happy to accommodate these clients, there is limited space for these clients.

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Labradoodle and Goldendoodle Grooming

Labradoodle and Goldendoodle

Grooming Includes two shampoos and conditioning, Nails, feet, and ears sanitary cut if applicable. All groomings are done using clippers and scissors. * Price increases based on matting, size, and/or behavior*

Services Type
PRICE
Grooming
$150 - $200*
Nails
$20*
Ears
$10*
Bathing
$65 - $110*
Book An Appointment
Check Out Our Clients

Extras

Behavior

$20-$60

A number of behaviors can cause a behavior fee. Our number one reason for a behavior fee is biting or attempting to bite (for obvious reasons). Dogs that are avoidant, passive aggressive and slow down the grooming process significantly would fall into this category.

In/out

$30

When an owner requests the dog to not be crated or for the dog to be done straight through.

We are not a mobile groomer. We do not groom one dog at a time. There are are only 1-2 slots available for this type of appointment per day. Spots are limited.

Matted

$20 - Double appointment price

We are your dogs hairdresser. Matting of any kind is 100% the dog owner’s responsibility.  The time it takes to brush or shave down your dog takes time away from other clients.

It is our policy that you will receive only one warning ⚠️ about excessive matting.

Canceling your dogs appointment because they are not ‘ready yet’ or continuing to bring in an excessively matted pet; you will be removed from our client list.

Old Dog

$30 - $60

Dogs 10 years or older will most likely show signs of dementia. Please google for a list of behaviors. This slows down grooming time significantly. We are more than happy to accommodate these clients, there is limited space for these clients.

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Labrador Grooming

Labrador

Bathing includes two shampoos and conditioning, Nails, feet, and ears. Deshedding is available * Price increases based on matting, size, and/or behavior*

Services Type
PRICE
Bathing
$110 - $140*
Nails
$20*
Ears
$10*
Book An Appointment
Check Out Our Clients

Extras

Behavior

$20-$60

A number of behaviors can cause a behavior fee. Our number one reason for a behavior fee is biting or attempting to bite (for obvious reasons). Dogs that are avoidant, passive aggressive and slow down the grooming process significantly would fall into this category.

In/out

$30

When an owner requests the dog to not be crated or for the dog to be done straight through.

We are not a mobile groomer. We do not groom one dog at a time. There are are only 1-2 slots available for this type of appointment per day. Spots are limited.

Matted

$20 - Double appointment price

We are your dogs hairdresser. Matting of any kind is 100% the dog owner’s responsibility.  The time it takes to brush or shave down your dog takes time away from other clients.

It is our policy that you will receive only one warning ⚠️ about excessive matting.

Canceling your dogs appointment because they are not ‘ready yet’ or continuing to bring in an excessively matted pet; you will be removed from our client list.

Old Dog

$30 - $60

Dogs 10 years or older will most likely show signs of dementia. Please google for a list of behaviors. This slows down grooming time significantly. We are more than happy to accommodate these clients, there is limited space for these clients.

Proud Moments
The Tonight Show logo featuring the text 'THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON' in bold white letters on a dark blue circular background.Red text logo displaying the words Groomer To Groomer on a white background.


📌 Tap the images above for links to videos on both segments!

At The Salty Dog Groomer, we take pride in the incredible opportunities we've had to showcase our expertise and make an impact. One of our most exciting moments was being hired by The Tonight Show to help with a special segment called "Yesification." As part of the makeover, SDGS Owner, Melissa, spent the day on set grooming Rudy, making sure he was camera-ready for his big close-up.

"It was an unforgettable experience to bring my grooming skills to such a high-profile production!"

Another proud achievement was winning Best in Show Newcomer at Intergroom 2024 in Secaucus, New Jersey— an honor that was even featured in Groomer to Groomer Magazine. Competing among talented groomers and earning this recognition was a milestone in Melissa's career, reflecting her dedication and passion for the craft.

These moments inspire us to keep striving for excellence, one perfect groom at a time!

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