Coat health first.
Every time.
Luxury dog and cat grooming, done at the pace the animal needs. Some coats don't just need a groom — they need time and technique. We give them both.
★★★★★ 4.6 from 49 Google reviews · Grooming Mason City since 2023
Time and technique, not shortcuts.
A good groom isn't a fast one. It's the right products for that coat, the right dry, and enough time to brush a coat out properly instead of taking the quick way through it.
That matters most on double coats. Clipping one down is quick, and it costs the dog the coat that regulates its temperature and protects its skin. So we don't shave a double coat to save time — but we will shave one to spare a dog. When a coat is too far gone to brush out safely, a Reset is the kindest option, and we'll tell you so honestly. The same is true of a compassion groom for a senior dog, where comfort matters more than the coat.
Either way, you'll know before we start, and you'll know why.
Priced by size. Published up front.
Every price below is a starting price for our smallest size. Larger sizes cost more, and the exact price for your dog shows before you confirm the booking.
Routine finishes at half an inch or shorter. Luxe is anything longer or styled — scissoring and a finished shape. Same coat, different amount of work.
Routine Groom
from$55A clean, practical full groom for a coat that's kept up between visits. Bath, dry, nails, ears, sanitary, and a one-length body trim.
Luxe Groom
from$75Double cleanse and condition with products chosen for the coat, fluff dry, and a full style and cut. Our signature groom.
Doodle Grooming
from$65Built for poodle crosses and curly coats, which mat differently and take longer. Routine and Luxe versions available.
Double-Coated Grooming
from$75Deep cleanse, high-velocity dry and thorough undercoat removal for heavy shedders. The coat is preserved, not clipped off.
Also: tidies from $55, baths from $30, puppy introductions from $30, cat grooming from $60, and add-ons — nails, ears, sanitary and paw pads — at $10 each.
Our prices are our prices — here's the one thing that changes them
We stand by what's published. Size and coat condition are confirmed at check-in, and that's the only thing that moves a price. A dog booked as small that turns out to be large is a different job, and so is a coat that arrives matted when that wasn't mentioned. Either way you'll hear it from us before we start — never at pickup.
Not every cat loves grooming.
That's exactly why it matters who does it.
Cats here are groomed by Courtney, the owner, with Grace training alongside her under supervision. They're never handed to whoever happens to be free. Feline-specific products for sensitive skin, gentle drying, nail care, and shaving only where it's genuinely needed.
Cat appointments are limited and booked separately from dogs, so the salon is quieter.
People, not a conveyor belt.
Courtney
Owner. Cats, finish work, and every coat that needs a second opinion.
Mary Kay
Senior groomer. First one in most mornings, and the steady hand behind most of our routine grooms.
Grace
Grooming apprentice. Training in cat grooming alongside Courtney.
Lily
Grooming apprentice.
Nobody here has stopped learning.
Grooming is a craft, and a craft is never finished.
Everyone in this salon is working on something — a coat type they want to handle better, a breed pattern worth refining, a nervous dog who needs a gentler approach than the last one did. That includes the people who have been doing this for decades. Standing still is how a groomer gets stale.
Anyone still training works under supervision, and takes on new work when they are ready for it rather than when the schedule would like them to be. Finish work stays with experienced hands, and cats are the owner's alone.
We book fewer dogs than we could. That is what gives someone room to learn properly, and it is why your dog is never the one who pays for it.
4.6 stars, 49 reviews.
“Courtney gave my Layla all the time she needed to feel comfortable in her surroundings at the shop to prepare for a bath and nail trim.”— Sondra, Google
“Staff is extremely helpful and took great care of our pups. A week later they still smell amazing and have the softest fur!”— Sheena, Google
“She looks great and very professionally done! Especially enjoyed the flower you put on her collar!”— Linda, Google
Before you book.
- Do you groom cats?
- Yes. Cat grooming is done personally by the owner, by appointment, using feline-specific products. Bath-only and full service are both available.
- Do you shave double-coated dogs?
- Not as a shortcut. A double coat regulates temperature and protects skin, so clipping one down costs the dog something real. When a coat is too matted to brush out safely, or when an older dog's comfort matters more than its coat, a Reset is the kinder option — and we'll talk it through with you before we start.
- How is pricing worked out?
- By your pet's size and the service you choose. Prices are published up front and the booking page shows yours before you confirm. Size and coat condition are then verified at check-in — if a dog is a different size than booked, or arrives matted when that wasn't mentioned, the price is adjusted to match the work. You'll hear that from us before we start, not at pickup.
- What if my dog's coat is matted?
- Tell us when you book. It isn't a judgment — coats get away from all of us — it just changes how long the appointment takes and sometimes what's possible. Matting found at check-in rather than mentioned in advance will change the price, because it changes the work. If a coat is too far gone to brush out safely, we'll talk you through a Reset before we start.
- Do you take puppies?
- Yes. Puppy Introduction is a short, gentle first visit designed to build confidence rather than finish a full groom.
- Do you take walk-ins?
- For nail trims, ear cleaning and other quick add-ons, yes, when we have the time. Full grooms are by appointment, though we can occasionally fit one in the same day.
- What vaccinations does my pet need?
- Iowa requires every dog and cat entering a grooming facility to be current on rabies, distemper and parvo, and requires us to keep those records on file for twelve months. Records must come from a licensed veterinarian. Send yours when you book, or ask your vet to email them across. Distemper combinations accepted: DAP · DA2P · DHP · DAPP · DA2PP · DAPPV · DHPP · DHPPV · DHLPP · DA2PPL · DLPP · DHLPPC
- Is there anything to sign?
- Yes, once. A short service agreement covering how we handle matting, anything we find on the skin or coat, and what happens if plans change. You can read it in full on our agreement page, and a link to sign it arrives with your first booking.
- My dog gets anxious at the groomer. Can you help?
- Appointments here are paced rather than rushed, which is usually the difference. Tell us what your dog finds hard when you book and we'll plan around it.
Book right here.
Pick your pet and your service and the price appears before you confirm, then we verify size and coat condition at check-in. First-time clients are asked to verify a phone number — that's how your appointment reminders reach you.
Iowa requires current rabies, distemper and parvo for every dog and cat we groom. If we don't have your records yet, send them over or have your vet email them — it saves a conversation at drop-off.
Booking is handled through MoeGo, our scheduling system — the address changes once you're there, which is expected.
1520 N Federal Ave
Mason City, Iowa 50401
(641) 424-4676
courtney@gildedgroomer.com