The Best Pet Grooming in Washington, DC
We graded 5 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.
From 30,765 Google reviews of 136 top-rated pet grooming nationwide; 5 of them in Washington, DC. Updated November 3, 2026.
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Best pet grooming in Washington for dog bathing and blow dry
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BarkSudsHow Job match is calculatedBuilt only from reviews Google tagged “Dog bathing and blow dry”:Stars on this job 55%5.00★Number of such jobs 25%23Overall Experts Score 20%68Job match= 90Stars are pulled toward the category average (4.80★) when a company has few tagged jobs, so 3 perfect reviews don’t beat 80 great ones. 4.3★ scores 0, 5.0★ scores full. Volume is compared with the busiest company for this job.90
Patrick's Pet CareHow Job match is calculatedBuilt only from reviews Google tagged “Dog bathing and blow dry”:Stars on this job 55%5.00★Number of such jobs 25%3Overall Experts Score 20%73Job match= 69Stars are pulled toward the category average (4.80★) when a company has few tagged jobs, so 3 perfect reviews don’t beat 80 great ones. 4.3★ scores 0, 5.0★ scores full. Volume is compared with the busiest company for this job.69
DC PetropolisHow Job match is calculatedBuilt only from reviews Google tagged “Dog bathing and blow dry”:Stars on this job 55%4.33★Number of such jobs 25%3Overall Experts Score 20%91Job match= 58Stars are pulled toward the category average (4.80★) when a company has few tagged jobs, so 3 perfect reviews don’t beat 80 great ones. 4.3★ scores 0, 5.0★ scores full. Volume is compared with the busiest company for this job.58Job match = this company’s ★ on reviews Google tagged “Dog bathing and blow dry” (shrunk toward the category average when there are few), how many such jobs it has done, and its overall Experts Score.
What customers said about dog bathing and blow dry
BarkSudsWe’ve been going to BarkSuds and honestly love it! Rehan is super nice, and you can tell he genuinely cares about the dogs. Our pup always comes out looking and smelling great. The Bath Spaw membership is such a great idea because dogs should be getting regular baths, and this makes it so easy to stay on top of…
I’ve been bringing my dog here for over a year now and couldn’t recommend them more. Beyond just providing great grooming service in an environment that pets feel comfortable in, the Masterpiece team *truly* shows how much they care about animals. When I fostered a dog with severe matting and who had likely never…
DC PetropolisBeen taking my doodle here for so long she knows exactly how to cut hair so it makes him look fluffy and beautiful and the service is amazing. Communication top notch. Really cares about each dog. I can’t say enough good things about this groomer and it’s so centrally located right near the Logan Circle area.
Patrick's Pet CareI had just moved to dc and have been searching far and wide on the internet for a groomer that knows how to cut Pomeranian specific hair and does one on one grooming sessions since she does not do well with other dogs. Patrick’s pet care was the second place I tried after the first groomer was too overwhelming for…
BarkSudsGreta service and friendly staff! They do a great job and my dog always comes back looking great and definitely having enjoyed his time there!
BarkSudsThe store is spotlessly clean. Does not smell like other dog grooming paces in the DC area. The membership plan is great. The quality of service is top notch. Milo always smells good and clean. Rehan & Sandra are good people.
Overall ratings
Experts Score 0–100Experts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. and a letter grade per factor (A = top 20% of pet grooming).
| # | Company | ScoreExperts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. | FactorsFactor grades, in orderSatisfaction (54%): Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Reliability (24%): How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Craft & service (0%): Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Value (14%): Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Momentum (0%): Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Replies to reviews (7%): How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.One letter per factor score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = below 20. | ★Google star rating as shown on Google Maps. | Typical billMedian bill customers of this company reported in their reviews (needs 3+ priced reviews). |
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| 1 | DC PetropolisWashington, DC | A 91How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%94+55.2Reliability 26%95+24.8Value 15%90+13.7Craft & service penalty99−0.1Momentum penalty74−2.6Experts Score= 91Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAB– | 4.98 | — |
| 2 |  Colby's Dogcare and SpaWashington, DC | B 79How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%83+45.3Reliability 24%81+19.6Value 14%80+11.3Replies to reviews 7%36+2.5Experts Score= 79Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA–AAD | 4.82 | — |
| 3 | Patrick's Pet CareWashington, DC | B 73How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%73+39.8Reliability 24%74+17.9Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%22+1.6Experts Score= 73Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BBAAAD | 4.77 | — |
| 4 | BarkSudsWashington, DC | B 68How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%65+35.5Reliability 24%48+11.6Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%100+7.1Momentum penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 68Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BC–AAA | 4.67 | — |
| 5 | C 42How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%54+29.5Reliability 24%46+11.2Value 14%34+4.8Replies to reviews 7%37+2.6Craft & service penalty66−3.4Momentum penalty78−2.2Experts Score= 42Grade C: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | CCBDBD | 4.60 | — |
What jobs cost
What customers paid, from the price Google asks reviewers to report.
| Job | Low25th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid less than this. | TypicalMedian of the bill customers reported in their Google review (Google asks reviewers for a price range; we use the middle of each range). | High75th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid more than this. | FairOf customers who rated the price, the share who chose “Great price” or “Reasonable” rather than “Overpriced”. |
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Pet Grooming in Washington, DC at a glance
How the 5 pet grooming we rated in Washington, DC compare, and what customers praise most.
Experts Score grades
A = score 80+, F = below 20.
- Grade A120%
- Grade B360%
- Grade C120%
- Grade D00%
- Grade F00%
Google ratings
Average stars per company.
- 4.90★ and up120%
- 4.80–4.89★120%
- 4.60–4.79★360%
- Below 4.60★00%
What customers praise
Share of Google review highlights.
- Quality1,62428%
- Professionalism1,60928%
- Responsiveness1,35523%
- Punctuality581%
- Value1,20421%
Was the price fair?
All price verdicts left with reviews.
- Great price1,88440%
- Reasonable2,54955%
- Overpriced1122%
- Not sure1193%
Price verdicts by year
Share calling it great / reasonable / overpriced.
How we grade
Satisfaction (54%) — Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.
Reliability (24%) — How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.
Craft & service (penalty, up to −10) — Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.
Value (14%) — Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.
Momentum (penalty, up to −10) — Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.
Replies to reviews (7%) — How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.