Wiggle & Shine is a small, fear-free certified grooming salon in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland. We groom 28 dogs a day (and exactly 6 cats on Wednesdays). Every groom is done one-on-one, in a window-facing station, with hand-drying only. No cages, no kennel dryers, no rushing. Your dog gets a two-hour appointment because that's what a calm, thorough groom actually takes.
Prices are for a standard coat in average condition, dogs under 50 lbs. Above 50 lbs, or coat matted >30%, we quote an honest add-on at drop-off — never a surprise at pickup.
Our most-booked service. Ideal for short-coat breeds and anyone between full grooms.
For poodle mixes, doodles, terriers, shih-tzus, schnauzers, and anyone whose fur keeps growing.
Wednesdays only. Cats get their own room, their own groomer, and their own silence.
Drop off 8:30–9:15am. A 5-minute sniff + chat: your groomer meets your dog, looks at coat and skin, confirms the booked service is right. If not, we'll re-quote before we start. Treats happen.
Shampoo with Earthbath, Espree, or oatmeal fragrance-free for sensitive skin. Double rinse. Gland expression only if you ask. Warm towel dry follows.
Every dog is dried by a groomer standing next to them, cool or warm setting, no cage dryers. Takes 35–55 min instead of 15, which is why we charge what we charge — and why dogs start dancing on the way in rather than pulling toward the car.
Scissor and clipper work on a calm, dry dog. We text you a photo the moment your dog's finished and book pickup windows in 20-minute increments so no dog is crated waiting.
Founded Wiggle & Shine in 2016. 26 years grooming. Poodle + doodle specialist. Judges three AKC grooming competitions a year. Patient with the anxious ones.
Joined 2019. One of only 14 certified feline groomers in the East Bay. Runs Wednesday cat-only day. Handles angry Maine Coons "with respect and towels."
Joined 2017. 14 years grooming. Hand-scissors every terrier she touches. Runs our apprentice program. Dogs named after food end up on her schedule.
Joined 2021. Former vet tech. Specializes in big anxious boys: golden doodles over 70 lbs, rescue bullies, newfies. Calm energy, gentle hands.
Joined 2022. Extra gentle with senior dogs, post-surgery dogs, and fragile skin. Standing arrangement with Oakland Veterinary Emergency for post-injury grooms.
Apprentice under Marigold since January 2024. Bathes, blow-dries, does nails. By 2026 takes full appointments. Makes excellent coffee; brings it to whoever has a tough dog.
"Our rescue mini-schnauzer Ramen shook for the entire drive to every groomer in Oakland until we tried Wiggle & Shine. After his third visit with Auggie he now jumps out of the car voluntarily. We have photographic evidence. Worth every dollar."
"I have a senior poodle named Clementine who is 14 years old, mostly deaf, and extraordinarily particular. Rosalind hand-scissors her every six weeks and Clementine lets her. No cage dryers means Clementine doesn't come home exhausted. I've been a client for six years and I will never go anywhere else."
"I brought in my Maine Coon Kazimir not knowing what to expect. Seren spent 10 minutes with him in the cat room before turning on any water. No sedation, no snapping, no cage. He looked like a lion at pickup and was purring in the carrier. Booked him in again on the way out."
Book online in 2 minutes — pick breed, coat length, and a time. Current wait: ~18 days for new clients, 7-10 days for regulars. Need sooner? We keep a cancellation list; call the salon.
Yes — about 35 min vs our 55. Cage dryers are associated with heat stroke in small dogs and brachycephalic breeds (pugs, frenchies, shih-tzus), and they terrify most anxious dogs. The AKC, Humane Society, and every fear-free certified body recommend against them. We hand-dry every dog, which means we groom 28 a day instead of 50 — and charge about 12–18% more than the average East Bay salon. Our dogs don't arrive home shaking. We think that's worth it.
Almost certainly yes. We groom every coat type: short (labs, beagles, pit mixes), double-coats (huskies, goldens, shepherds), curly (poodles, bichons, doodles), terrier, long-haired, and giant breeds (newfies, bernies, great pyrs). Ages 12-week puppy to 17-year-old seniors. We can't take dogs who've shown aggression to a human (small team, no onsite medical) or dogs over 120 lbs (tub max). If unsure, call; Marigold will tell you honestly.
Depends on coat. Short-haired breeds: 8–12 weeks between full grooms with baths in between. Long-haired and curly (doodles, shih-tzus, poodles): every 4–6 weeks to avoid matting — more if they swim or go to the park daily. We'll set a cadence on first visit and hold your standing appointment. Cancel or shift any standing slot free with 24 hours notice.
Honest answer at drop-off. Mild (<15%): we brush out, $20–$35 added. Moderate (15–40%): we may need to shave short — we'll call first and waive dematting fees. Severe (>40%): ethically we will not brush out; AVMA classifies painful dematting as a welfare concern. We'll shave short, discount the groom, and set a prevention schedule. No shame.
Yes, Wednesdays only, with Seren, our IPG-certified feline groomer. First-visit cats get 15-minute acclimation before anything happens. Lion cuts, sanitary trims, bath-and-blow, nail caps. No sedation; if your cat needs sedation, we refer you to a veterinary groomer. From $110. First visit 90 min; repeats 60.
24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule, no fee. Within 24 hours: 50% charge. No-show: full charge. Late 10+ minutes: we'll try but may need to reschedule. We're warm people; life happens, we work with you on first occurrence.