We pride ourselves on exceeding expectations with thorough grooming for both cats and dogs. We make your pet feel at ease, and their health and comfort is our number one priority. We ensure your pet looks and feels extraordinary after their spa day, and we take extra care for our pets with anxiety or special needs. Schedule routine maintenance care for your furry friends and enjoy punctual, reliable service from our friendly staff and peace of mind.
3311 Willowcreek Rd
Portage, IN 46368
Our goal is simple. We strive to make sure that each customer, and their cat or dog, has a positive experience. Every member of the Smoochie Pooch of Portage team is highly trained and understands that the safety and comfort of your pet is a top priority. We believe in choosing specific grooming products for each of our furry customers, which helps support any skin or health issues and complements breed-specific grooming strategies. If you are unsure what may work best for your pet in Portage, we welcome you to book a free new client consultation.
If time is an issue or if you know that your dog or cat would benefit from one-on-one time with their groomer, we also offer mobile grooming. Our modern mobile grooming vans are fully equipped with everything a professional groomer needs to deliver five-star results. This option gives your pet special attention and is perfect if they are not comfortable travelling by car.
Local dog grooming services in Portage should be tailored to you and your dog’s needs. The right products should be used for each dog to meet their unique requirements.
Specific treatments and products can be used to treat:
Our expert dog groomers work with a range of Iv San Bernard products created to prioritize the health and comfort of every pet. Their shampoos and conditioners use only natural products and are designed to cater to specific breeds and coat types. Details matter. You can count on Smoochie Pooch of Portage to determine exactly what works best to support the health and happiness of your pet.
Our Portage salon location offers superior grooming services in an environment that supports your pet’s contentment, comfort, and safety. When you choose Smoochie Pooch for your pet’s grooming needs, you can feel confident knowing you are getting an expert team that will deliver an experience specifically for your dog or cat.
Pet Stylist
Morgan is a graduate of our groomer training program and has been grooming since 2020. Her desire to always be around animals led her to her career as a dog groomer. When she’s not at work, she can be found spending time outside fishing, and kayaking. Morgan has a Standard Poodle named Grim. Her favorite part of working at Smoochie Pooch is getting to meet all of the dogs and getting to know their personalities.
Certified Feline Master Groomer & Certified Canine Esthetician
Amanda Henry is a highly skilled cat grooming professional with a career spanning over a decade. Since starting in 2012, she has specialized in feline care, creative grooming, and education. Seeking greater freedom, she transitioned from corporate grooming to focus on her passion. In 2021, she earned the prestigious Certified Feline Master Groomer (CFMG) designation, highlighting her advanced expertise.
With experience in both salon and mobile grooming, Amanda tailors her services to meet diverse client needs. She is dedicated to bridging the gap in feline grooming in her community and shares her knowledge through a popular cat blog. At home, she cares for six pets, giving her firsthand insight into animal care. While she cannot perform heavy lifting, she remains committed to providing expert grooming with precision and care.
Pet Stylist
Amanda started Smoochie Pooch’s grooming training program in March 2022. She was drawn to Smoochie Pooch because of the focus we place on continuing education for groomers and prioritizing the wellbeing of the pets in our care. She wanted to be a groomer because she wants to do everything she can to help pets and their owners have their best life and also have a creative outlet. When not working, Amanda enjoys going for bike rides and spending time in nature. She has a Siberian Husky named Stella and is so excited to continue to learn something new every day!
Pet Stylist
Aubrey has been grooming since 2021 and trained with Smoochie Pooch in early 2023. During Covid, she started grooming her own dog and discovered a passion for it. Combining her love for dogs and interest in hairstyling, she now enjoys being a “hair stylist for dogs!”
She shares her home with Louie, an Australian Shepherd-Golden Retriever mix, and two cats, Mylo and Copper. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting with makeup, spending time with loved ones, and trying fun activities.
A recent highlight in her career was attending the All-American Grooming Show, where she learned new techniques to refine her skills. Her favorite part of grooming is the transformation—seeing both the dog and owner happy at the end of each session is what she loves most!
Pet Stylist
Sara began her career in pet care as a bather in 2011 and earned her technical grooming certification in 2013. She is Fear Free Certified and AKC S.A.F.E. Certified, with additional experience in dog training and animal behavior, including attending the Animal Behavior Conference in 2016.
Sara is passionate about continued education and is working toward advanced AKC grooming and behavior certifications. She especially enjoys working with puppies and fearful dogs, focusing on building trust and lifelong positive grooming experiences. Sara believes grooming is a unique opportunity to form lasting relationships—and her goal is simple: to be every dog’s best friend.
At Smoochie Pooch, you can choose from two grooming options. Our Complete Groom includes a bath, nail trim, ear cleaning, brush out, and a full-body haircut. If you’re looking for something simpler, our Basic Groom includes bath, nail trim, ear clean, brush out, and trimming only of the face, feet, and potty areas. You also have the option of adding on additional services.
The answer to this question really depends on the breed of your dog, their lifestyle, and sometimes their age. Ideally, all dogs should be groomed every six to eight weeks to support their overall health and avoid matting. Regular grooming is a proactive step towards ensuring healthy skin, nails, ears, and coat.
Your dog should be booked in for a haircut if you notice their coat is looking dull and feeling overly oily or dry. Additionally, should you notice any tangles, mats, or hot spots or can smell an undesirable odor coming from their coat or fur, it’s time to make an appointment.
A double-coated dog has an outer layer of thicker hair and a different undercoat of thin, lighter hair. While this is often breed-specific, our highly trained breeders can recognize coats of all types and then groom accordingly. Double coated dogs can require extra time and attention so that their undercoat is fully brushed and doesn’t develop mats.
Prices are based on various factors such as breed, size, behavior, and condition of the coat. Clients also have the option of adding on additional services such as anal gland expression, shed relief, or deep conditioning. We can provide a quote over the phone and then provide a more accurate price at the time of your appointment.
Dog grooming refers to the hygienic care and cleaning of a dog. While some dog grooming can be completed at home, professional dog grooming is done by trained professionals that know how to properly care for a dog’s coat, nails, ears, and skin. Dogs of all breeds benefit from regular professional grooming.
Groomers have many tools that help keep dogs still during their appointment. As trained professionals, they know how to keep pets calm and comfortable, which helps dogs relax and move around less. In addition, our grooming tables have a non-slip surface, and a loop restraint (similar to a leash) may be used around a dog’s neck, if necessary.
What happens during a dog grooming appointment will largely depend on the service you have booked. A basic groom will include a bath, nail trim, ear cleaning, brush out, and a hair trim around the face, feet, and potty areas. You can book a more complete groom as well as additional services such as toothbrushing or skin therapy.
It’s important to keep your pet groomed for their own sanitation and hygiene. Not only will their physical appearance be improved, but they’ll avoid painful matting, overgrown nails, and other health complications. In addition, there are several studies that show that regular grooming can improve your dog’s mood and health.
The average cost for a standard groom is approximately $65, but please note that there are so many variables that affect the price of grooming your dog. A dog’s size, its coat type, how long it’s been since its last groom, and many other factors go into the final price you may expect to pay for dog grooming.
