Google reviewers rate A Cut Above Grooming Salon 4.8/5 based on 89 reviews. Positive feedback highlights skilled grooming for specific breeds, friendly staff, and adherence to time estimates. Common criticisms involve high pricing, unfinished cuts with missed details, and communication issues regarding appointment changes or matted coats.
Google rating: 4.8 out of 5 from 89 reviews (92% five-star).
Reviews on this page: 89 Google reviews (59 with written comments, 15 with photos).
Owner responses: the business replied to 2% of reviews.
Most recent review: October 24, 2026.
Service: Pet Groomer serving Hayward, California.
Data from Google, last updated November 5, 2026.
Star ratings
89 Google reviews we collected
4.8of 5
5 stars8292%
4 stars33%
3 stars00%
2 stars00%
1 star44%
Praise vs complaints
Phrases our text analysis found in 59 written reviews
90%praise
Praise5390%
Complaints610%
Topic share
How often each topic comes up in the written reviews
7topics
Staff & attitude2847%
Quality & results814%
Price & value712%
Speed & response610%
Would recommend58%
Honesty & trust47%
Communication12%
What customers talk about
We read 59 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“What also sets this place apart is how friendly and welcoming everyone is.”
“When you enter the shop you immediately see their commitment to excellent work as the lobby is filled with ribbons and trophy’s from national grooming…”
“…e peace of mind knowing my pup is in such capable and caring hands is worth every penny.…”
“It’s very overpriced, when I get my dog back he looks like he needs a haircut, they leave him unfinished with spots of hair that are uncut and not eve…”
“Quick system for scheduling and extremely professional groomers who know how to do the right cut for more than Doodles!”
“I highly recommend them for Cavalier owners, AKC-recognized breeds, designer breeds, and honestly, any pet parent who wants quality grooming and peopl…”
“I’m genuinely happy every single time I pick her up.”
“Eventually, a staff member answered the phone, I explained the situation, and they acknowledged that only one dog would be coming in.”
People customers mention
Katie4 reviews
Nathan3 reviews
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
I’ve taken my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to several groomers, and I finally realized I needed someone who truly understands her breed and its specific grooming needs. Unfortunately, many traditional groomers weren’t listening to my requests and were making mistakes with her beautiful coat.
Finding this groomer has been the best decision! I’m genuinely happy every single time I pick her up. You can tell they understand different breeds, their coats, and the level of care each dog deserves.
What also sets this place apart is how friendly and welcoming everyone is. I’ve experienced groomers who made the process feel like an assembly line, just trying to get as many dogs in and out as possible. That is definitely not the experience here.
I highly recommend them for Cavalier owners, AKC-recognized breeds, designer breeds, and honestly, any pet parent who wants quality grooming and people who genuinely care about their dogs. It’s such a relief to finally find a groomer I can trust!
Response from the owner · a week ago
Thank you so much for finding us! Bela is a great girl and we just love her! Cavaliers are such fun little dogs with very unique personalities and needs, I’m grateful we have the pleasure of working with you guys!
C
Carol MaharLocal Guide · 17 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Carol has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
I’m so mad at myself for sticking with this place the last couple of years. It’s very overpriced, when I get my dog back he looks like he needs a haircut, they leave him unfinished with spots of hair that are uncut and not even with his haircut. This last time two weeks ago they left one eye lash long and in his eye and the other eyelash is cut with the rest of his hair on his face. When I get there, every single time they are rude, stuck up and can not be bothered. Just an ungrateful business. I’m just over it, there’s plenty of other places to take my dog.
Price assessment: Overpriced
Services: Dog full service grooming
I
Iris Lin3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Iris has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
I booked grooming appointments for two dogs, but on the day of the appointment, one of my dogs got sick. I called five times around 8 a.m. that morning to let them know that I would only be bringing one dog in. Eventually, a staff member answered the phone, I explained the situation, and they acknowledged that only one dog would be coming in.
I brought one dog in for grooming that day, but they still charged me a no-show fee for the second dog. When I called to ask why I was charged for both dogs, they lied to me that there was no record of my phone call. I then sent them evidence of screenshots showing that I had called multiple times, and after that, they simply stopped replying to my messages.
I understand having a no-show fee policy. However, my dog was sick, I called early in the morning, I spoke with a staff member, and I still brought one dog in for the appointment. Charging the second no-show fee under these circumstances feels extremely unreasonable.
I didn’t even keep pushing for a refund because they stopped responding, but the way they handled this was very disappointing. I have been their customer since 2023, and it is upsetting to be treated with so little understanding or basic courtesy.
If you are absolutely sure that nothing unexpected will ever happen and that you will never need any flexibility with an appointment, then maybe this place will work for you. But personally, I have never experienced a business that felt this cold and focused only on charging fees.
Price assessment: Overpriced
Response from the owner · 3 months ago
Hi Iris, we hope all is well with you, Goofy, and Bosco.
We appreciate you sharing your perspective, and we would like to provide some additional context regarding the events surrounding your review so that our clients and future clients have a complete understanding of what occurred.
For the appointment in question, we received a call from you around 8:00 AM requesting to come in later that day. Katie (also known as Kathlena), one of our owners, answered your call and explained that we were fully booked and unfortunately were unable to accommodate a schedule change that day. During that conversation, there was no mention of an emergency or that only one dog would be attending the appointment.
Your husband arrived with one dog, and when asked about the second dog’s absence, he explained, “I just didn’t grab him this morning.” At that time, we were not informed that the other dog was ill. Because the appointment time had been reserved specifically for your two dogs and one was not brought in, a missed appointment fee was applied. This fee is normally the full cost of the scheduled service, but because you had been a longtime client, Katie chose to reduce the charge as a courtesy.
When we followed up regarding payment, you expressed that you believed you had been overcharged. We explained that the charge was for the missed appointment. It was during that conversation that we first learned there had allegedly been an illness involved. We completely understand that emergencies and unexpected situations happen, and we are always willing to work with clients in those circumstances. At that point, we offered to refund the missed appointment fee if documentation of a veterinary visit could be provided. Unfortunately, you chose not to provide documentation.
We also want to clarify a statement from our previous communication: we were not stating that we had no record of your call. We did receive your call. What we did not have record of was being informed that your dog was sick or that there was an emergency preventing attendance.
You ultimately reached back out and agreed to pay the missed appointment fee, and we continued providing grooming services for Goofy.
More recently, you contacted us requesting an appointment specifically with Nathan. We were able to accommodate you the very next day due to a cancellation; however, as explained at the time, that was the only availability he had for approximately two weeks. Despite the appointment being scheduled less than 24 hours after your request, you did not arrive. Approximately three hours after the scheduled appointment time, you contacted us asking if Nathan could still groom Goofy later that day. We explained that he was fully booked and reminded you that a missed appointment fee would apply.
At that point, you stated that you would find another salon, and we accepted that decision. The following day, you submitted another online appointment request for later that week with a different groomer.
Over the three years we had the privilege of grooming Goofy and Bosco, we made many accommodations for late arrivals, missed appointments, and scheduling changes because we valued your relationship as a client. However, repeated missed appointments impact our small business, our groomers’ schedules, and other clients who are waiting for availability. We have policies in place not as a punishment, but to ensure fairness and consistency for everyone.
We truly appreciate the years you trusted us with Goofy and Bosco and wish you and your family nothing but the best moving forward. We hope you find a groomer who is the right fit for your needs.
We do have documentation of missed appointment history and previous communication regarding the missed appointment fees for additional clarification should you like to see it.
L
Les Smith1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews Les has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
DON’T BE FOOLED BY THIS GOOD STAR RATING! I brought my Golden Retriever here for the first time, and sadly, it turned into a very upsetting experience. When we got home, he started shaking his head non-stop. At first, I thought he was just adjusting to his new haircut, but I noticed some redness inside his ear and that the hair had been trimmed quite deep. Within a day or two, his ear looked much worse — there was a visible wound, a lot of discharge, and now he even whines when his ear is touched. It truly breaks my heart seeing him in pain and not able to tell me exactly how he feels. It seems like his ear may have been roughly handled or clipped during grooming. I’m extremely disappointed and heartbroken over the care that he received.
T
TVHLocal Guide · 27 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews TVH has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
As a proud owner of a poodle mix, finding someone who understands her coat and can deliver a consistently fantastic cut has been a game-changer. My dog comes home looking great after every visit. She gets compliments everywhere we go! The #1 thing I hear is "she is so fluffy!" which is a huge flex for a dog with poodle fur.
I usually book with whoever is available, but I've still been happy every time. Everyone here manages to give my pup the perfect style. She always comes home sporting a cute bandana, which is such a sweet bonus, and smells clean.
This place is definitely on the pricier end of the spectrum, but honestly, the peace of mind knowing my pup is in such capable and caring hands is worth every penny. I never have to worry about her being stressed or uncomfortable.
The waiting room is super cute. It gets decorated depending on the season/holiday and they proudly display all of their awards and trophies. I absolutely love seeing all the other dogs roaming around inside the shop when I go to pick up my girl. It's clear that the staff truly love animals.
D
David Dubbs7 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews David has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
