Barker's Mobile Pet Grooming
About Barker's Mobile Pet Grooming
Barkers Mobile Pet Grooming Provides Mobile Pet Grooming for Dogs, Cats, Senior and Handicapped Pets to the Tampa, FL Area and Surrounding Communities.
Reviews
Customer reviews for Barker’s Mobile Grooming reflect a wide range of experiences, with a notable divide in satisfaction. Many customers praise Jacob for his compassionate and professional grooming approach, highlighting his ability to calm anxious pets and his extensive knowledge about dog care. Positive reviewers often mention the transformation of their pets, good communication, and the overall quality of services provided, resulting in high ratings. Conversely, several negative reviews detail alarming incidents where pets were injured during grooming, leading to concerns about the staff's qualifications and animal handling. This inconsistency in service quality and customer care has led to a mixed overall customer satisfaction, with some strongly recommending the service and others warning potential clients of serious issues.
I got my one-eyed Maltese groomed by Barker’s Mobile Grooming and they were amazing. I’ve had a very difficult time finding a groomer for my dog, since he has fear based aggression and bad anxiety. However, the Barker’s Grooming took care of him in less than two hours. My dog went from overgrown and matted to handsome. Here are some before and after pics.
Let me start by saying I hate writing negative reviews, especially for small business but unfortunately in this instance I think it’s imperative others are warned. We chose Barker’s to groom my very senior poodle as other groomers felt concerned given his advanced age. We hoped Barker’s would be the perfect solution, but it was the worst grooming experience I have ever encountered. They brought my senior dog back after 45 minutes bleeding from multiple wounds on his body. He’s older, so has some lumps and warts that were discussed in our initial consult but have never been an issue for any of our previous groomers. I was shocked to see that my dog was literally covered in bleeding, open sores when he was brought back to me. It was clear the man that groomed him just shaved over every single lump causing it them to open and bleed. I’m very worried about the risk for infection given the amount of blood and the lack of cleanliness. In addition to the blood, it seems as though they did not actually bathe my dog? Overall it was a truly shockingly bad experience that other pet owners should be aware of before deciding to book.
That guy was the worst groomer I've ever used. I found him kind of creepy. And my dogs didn't want to go near him. He did a terrible job grooming my female. I will never use this company again. He should not be a groomer. But since groomers don't need a license I guess anybody can do it.
Hi all, we have been using Jacob and Cindy for 17 years. Jacob does a fantastic job and we have never had a negative incident related to his grooming. He does a great job and we have been very happy with his service, we highly recommend!
After a 1.5 hour wait, and several calls later, the gentleman (Jacob?) finally showed up, no apology whatsoever just stood there staring at us. First, I’m not sure why he himself did not call us to let us know he was running late, instead we had to call THEM and Cindy answered very apologetic and told me he was running late not once, but twice. 2. The dogs did look and smell good, but for $55 there was nothing special done (no bandanna etc), I could have bathed them myself in baby shampoo. There really wasn’t any “care” or going above and beyond with this service. 3. After the service was done, when it came to pay he expected me to pay him in cash because his phone plug in for the card may or may not have been working, according to him. If your website advertises that you accept multiple forms of payment, and no prior notification was given that your card payment processor is down, then you should be prepared to accept any form of payment that you advertise. After multiple tries and about ten minutes later, the card payment worked. Side note, he came back over an hour later saying one of us did not pay but then said he forgot one of us paid using cash. 4. No notification of what was done to the dogs was given, he stood there with blank stares waiting for one dog after another. No, “he was shampooed, nails trimmed, and brushed” or anything of that description. The attitude and demeanor of the man was below par and definitely not even adequate customer service. Maybe it is time for said man to retire or hire more staff so that you don’t run the risk of being late to appointments, as I’ve seen this issue reoccurring in other reviews. Overall the experience was not great. It wasn’t awful but I really don’t have much else to say positively unfortunately. I really wanted to like them because Cindy seemed so pleasant to communicate with. But waiting 5 weeks for this appointment, for lack of better words, was not worth it.
Jacob did a great job on my little toy poodle Pixie! She looks amazing!
I have an 18 year old, lhasa-mix who is easily scared, skittish and very resistant to being groomed. I work from home and wanted to try a mobile groomer to save me time and trouble. Jacob was early and waited for me to wrap up my calls and I brought out my old girl. He invited me to see inside his workspace. It was clean and well-equipped. Jacob was very professional and even offered for me to stay with my girl. I have NEVER in over 30 years of pet ownership have been invited to stay with my pet. Usually they shoo you away! He started his process and I was stunned to see my girl didn't whine or whimper. He addressed all kinds of problem areas...ears, muzzle, etc. She's been having problems with her ears and I know groomers pluck the ears. Hers were really furry, though. So he wrapped the fur up and plucked it out in one sweep. That was the only time she fussed and it was over in a second. She slips on our tile floors and he took extra care to clip and trim every bit of fur around and between her toes. He also took care of some fur that got caught between her teeth that I couldn't get out. After a bath and a final trim she looked gorgeous and was surprisingly calm as he worked with her. He was also very gentle. It was also a fun conversation. He had served in our military and really cares about supporting local businesses. His wife was so nice on the phone... clearly just a really nice couple. Most of all, he was knowledgeable. He told me he's been grooming since 1988. I found him to be incredibly informed on pet health. For example, he could tell me about several chemical ingredients in many commercial pet foods that cause various side effects. Jacob is a gem and I will be using him again and recommending him to everyone.
Jacob groomed my puppy 3 times. The fourth time he hurt my puppy by roughly pulling the hair out of his ears. Puppy's ears got terribly infected and had to be taken to the vet. When I called Jacob to inform him that he hurt my dog, I got his voice mail. He never returned my calls. He never offered an apology, nothing. Now, my dog is traumatized, he bites his new groomers and will not let other groomers touch his face or ears. Previously, while talking with Jacob, I discovered he is sexist and a braggadocios die hard Trump man. Politics aside, I don't want someone like him handling my dog irresponsibly and not owning up to injuring my dog. I would NEVER recommend him to anyone who loves their pets, especially since he considers women inferior and he hides behind his wife, who is nice. But Jacob is a total jerk.
My husband is the groomer for our company and he loves and cares for his customers pets with all his heart. I would like for everyone to know that the poor rating he received a few months ago was a rare occurrence. I did contact the customer and it had happened over a year ago. I don't know why they waited so long to post the review. Please take it with a grain of salt when considering using us. God bless!!!
Today was our first ever mobile grooming experience and I will use Barker’s Mobile Pet Grooming from now on! Jacob was friendly and informative. The dogs were happy after their spa treatment-when normally they are anxious and on edge when they get home from the groomer. Even my long wired hair chihuahua muttly warmed up to him! He shared a plethora of his knowledge about dogs as well as tips that won’t break the bank to help with their allergies. He even gave me some ideas to add to my bag of tricks to help my Pomsky, who is constantly shedding. It was a pleasure meeting him. The girls are looking forward to their next spa day in the driveway! 😁
Contact Information
Mobile Cat Groomer
+1 813-621-2160
Book an Appointment
Ready to pamper your feline friend? Contact us to schedule a grooming session.
Call to BookFrequently Asked Questions About Cat Grooming
What should I expect during a professional cat grooming session?
A typical professional cat grooming session usually begins with a consultation to discuss your cat's needs. The groomer will then examine your cat's coat and skin condition before proceeding with services like brushing to remove loose fur, bathing with cat-specific shampoo, blow-drying, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and any specialized haircuts if needed. Most sessions take between 1-2 hours depending on your cat's coat condition and temperament.
How should I prepare my cat for a grooming appointment?
To prepare your cat for grooming, brush them at home a few days before to remove loose fur and minor tangles. Keep your cat in a secure carrier for transportation. Arrive a few minutes early to complete paperwork and allow your cat time to adjust to the new environment. Bring information about your cat's health, temperament, and any areas they're sensitive about. For anxious cats, consider withholding food for 2-3 hours before the appointment to reduce the risk of stress-related nausea.
Why is professional cat grooming important?
Professional cat grooming is important for several reasons: it reduces shedding and hairballs, prevents painful matting, allows early detection of skin issues or parasites, keeps your cat's coat healthy and shiny, reduces dander (helpful for allergy sufferers), and maintains proper hygiene. Professional groomers have specialized tools, products, and techniques to safely handle cats, even those with behavioral challenges. Regular grooming also helps cats become more comfortable with handling, which is beneficial for veterinary visits.
How often should my cat be professionally groomed?
The frequency of professional grooming depends on your cat's coat type, length, and lifestyle. Long-haired breeds like Persians typically need grooming every 4-6 weeks to prevent matting. Medium-haired cats may need grooming every 6-8 weeks, while short-haired cats might only need professional attention every 8-12 weeks or during seasonal shedding periods. Cats with special conditions like obesity or arthritis that prevent self-grooming may need more frequent appointments. Your groomer can recommend an appropriate schedule based on your cat's specific needs.
What's the difference between cat and dog grooming?
Cat grooming differs significantly from dog grooming. Cats have more sensitive skin, requiring gentler handling and cat-specific products. Their grooming sessions are typically shorter to minimize stress. Cats often need specialized restraint techniques and quieter environments. Cat groomers use different tools designed for feline coats and are trained to recognize signs of stress unique to cats. Cat-only grooming facilities eliminate the anxiety many cats experience around dogs, creating a more comfortable experience for your feline friend.