Canines come clean at new business in Medway

Dirty Dog Wash

Dirty Dog Wash

By Bob Tremblay/Daily News staff

GateHouse News Service

Sun Feb 24, 2008, 12:05 AM EST

http://www.milforddailynews.com/business/x1907842949#

MEDWAY - Seven-year-old Buddy Buddington sits calmly in a tub as Denise Buddington sprays him with water to wash off his shampoo. He then gets the dryer treatment.

After awhile, Buddy gives Denise a ``I want out of this tub'' look and she complies. Towels are applied to finish the drying process.

Buddy didn't have much to say to a reporter basically because he's a dog, specifically, a yellow Labrador retriever.

Denise last week had brought Buddy to the Dirty Dog Wash, a new self-serve dog wash in Medway, with her 6-year-old daughter Victoria, who assisted in the cleaning process. The Bellingham resident was pleased with the results.

"It went great,'' she says. "Better to do it here than your own house. It's a lot easier and you don't mess up your bathroom.''

Located in the back of the newly renovated Medway Mill at 165 Main St. (Rte. 109), the Dirty Dog Wash opened Feb. 12 and held its grand opening yesterday. Appropriately enough, owner-operators Fred and Dawn Fontaine started the self-serve company so they could self-serve their own canine cleaning needs.

"We have four dogs and it's expensive to pay a groomer,'' says Dawn. "To pay $50 a pop really seemed excessive. It was a lot easier to just do it ourselves.''

First, the husband-and-wife team checked out other self-serve dog washes, one in Cambridge and two on Cape Cod. "We found out it was really fun, so we liked that aspect of it,'' says Dawn.

She also notes that while there are many groomers around MetroWest, there are very few self-serve dog washes.

The price for a basic wash at the new business is $18. That gives dog owners a choice of a wild berry shampoo, a shampoo for sensitive skin or an oatmeal, anti-itch shampoo. A conditioner is included in the price, as is doggie cologne. The latter should be ideal for doggie dates.

A specialty shampoo for hounds with a heavy-duty odor costs $2 more while a flea shampoo costs $5 more. Senior citizen dog owners receive a $5 discount and owners of service dogs such as seeing-eye dogs pay only $10 for a basic wash.

For dogs from a rescue organization, the first wash is free with their owners receiving a $5 discount for every subsequent wash.

The Dirty Dog Wash also has a Frequent Bathers Club. After five washes, the sixth wash is free.

The company also has a shampoo designed specifically to deal with skunk spray. It even has a skunk emergency number (508-735-9523) to call in case of a spraying.

In addition to shampoos and conditioner, the Dirty Dog Wash features commercial-grade sprayers, professional forced-air dryers (no heat to harm the hounds), four waist-high tubs, soft restraints, ample "dog parking'' if a customer has more than one dog, brushes, easy access ramps, chamois-style towels, terry cloth towels, non-slip rubber flooring, two grooming counters, ear wipes, dental wipes, nail trimmers and water-resistant aprons, both adult- and child-size. Walls separate the tubs to prevent any unruliness among the wash recipients.

Dawn points out that all the tubs at the Dirty Dog Wash "are fully disinfected between washes. Cleanliness is a huge part of the business, as some customers have gone to self-serve dog washes that are more like a coin-operated system without an attendant and have found them to be very unsanitary.''

There's always an attendant at the Dirty Dog Wash, according to the Fontaines, who reside in Douglas but grew up in Bellingham. When not working at the company, Dawn is a buyer for Greyhound Friends, a rescue organization for former racing greyhounds. She also does fabric and furnishing design. Fred is a stay-at-home dad who previously worked as an audiovisual technician at Millis High School.

No appointments are necessary at the Dirty Dog Wash if a pup has a problem with having other dogs around, an appointment can be made. While cats are also welcome, owners should call in advance to make sure any dogs with feline issues aren't present.

Benefits of a self-service dog wash, according to the Fontaines, include the price - it costs less than half of what most groomers charge, says Dawn - no aching backs or knees, no wet mess to clean up, no clogged drains at home, no pickup or dropoff needed and no crate stress for the pet.

A ramp leads the dog into the tub with doggie treats nearby to encourage the journey. A soft restraint can be used to keep the dog in place. Buddy was particularly mellow.

"The majority of the dogs are walking right in,'' says Fred. "We had a Great Dane in Saturday and there was no problem.''

A wash and dry typically lasts 30 minutes, though the drying process varies depending on the thickness of the dog's coat. The thicker the coat the longer it will take. While there's no time limit, the Fontaines ask that customers be considerate of people waiting. If no one is waiting, customers can take as long as they like.

The Dirty Dog Wash can also trim a dog's nails - the fee is $10 - or customers can trim their dogs' nails for free. Customers can use the grooming counters free of charge as well. The business is currently looking for a professional groomer.

The Dirty Dog Wash also sells collars, leashes, brushes and bowls. Hours of operation are Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store is closed Monday.

Fred Fontaine calls the public reaction to The Dirty Dog Wash enthusiastic. "We've had a great reception,'' he says. "Everyone who has come in has said, 'What a great idea. We're definitely going to be back.' People are having fun doing it, too.''

As for Buddy, though he didn't have any comment, he looked like a happy camper. He was wagging his freshly cleaned tail.

__________________________________________________

THE DIRTY DOG WASH

Owners: Fred and Dawn Fontaine

Employees: Two

Industry: Dog care

Company background: Based in Medway, The Dirty Dog Wash is a self-serve dog wash.

Its Web site is www.thedirtydogwash.com.

Photos by Rachel Juzapavicus/Daily News

To make an appointment please call 508-533-2833 as e-mail is NOT checked daily.