10 min read

Top 3 Pet Groomers in Nashville, TN

Quick Comparison #

Salon Credentials Focus
Nashville Pet Salon Founded April 2017 by Katie Ware, National Certified Master Groomer through NDGAA, Merryfield School of Pet Grooming graduate, award-winning competition groomer, current Pet First Aid and CPR certification Full-service dog and cat grooming, breed-specific specialty trims, four-tier groomer level pricing, deluxe and specialty cuts, hand-scissor styling
TidyDog Operating since 2010, Animal Behavior College certified, MTSU affiliated, multi-year Nextdoor Neighborhood Faves winner 2022 through 2024, 2023 Main Street Awards Nashville recognition Fancy breed-specific trims, Thera-Clean micro-bubble bathing, post-surgical grooming, specialty handling for puppies, elderly, and health-compromised dogs
Pawsitively Purrfect Family-owned and operated since 2013, over two decades of combined grooming experience across every breed and style, dedicated dog and cat grooming storefront in Lenox Village Full-service dog grooming for all breeds, full-service cat grooming, a la carte add-on services, family-environment handling philosophy

1. Nashville Pet Salon #

  • Address: 2704 Larmon Ave, Nashville, TN 37204
  • Phone: (615) 730-6500
  • Founder / Owner: Katie Ware, founder and lead groomer
  • Operating Since: April 2017 (9 years)
  • Credentials: National Certified Master Groomer through the National Dog Groomers Association of America (NDGAA); Merryfield School of Pet Grooming graduate; multiple-time award-winning competition groomer; current Pet First Aid and CPR certification
  • Service area: Nashville and surrounding Davidson County
  • Industries served / Specialties: Dog grooming, cat grooming, simple groom packages, deluxe groom packages, specialty groom packages with longer showier trims, hand-scissor styling, four-tier groomer level system with Level 4 reserved for National Certified Master Groomers
  • Website: Nashville Pet Salon

Master Groomer Credential and Competition Record #

Katie Ware launched the salon in April 2017 after training at the Merryfield School of Pet Grooming, then earned the National Certified Master Groomer designation through the National Dog Groomers Association of America. The NCMG credential is the highest tier the NDGAA issues, requiring written examinations and hands-on practical testing across multiple breed groups. She has compiled an award record on the competition circuit and keeps current Pet First Aid and CPR certification on file.

Four-Tier Groomer Level Pricing Structure #

The shop runs a Level 1 through Level 4 groomer pricing structure, with Level 4 reserved for National Certified Master Groomers and lower tiers covering apprentice and mid-tier staff. Package menus run from the Simple Groom (a short uniform clip) through the Deluxe Groom (the most requested fluffier finish) up to the Specialty Groom for longer showier trims that require regular maintenance. Cat-specific packages cover both short-maintenance and trimmed-yet-fluffy finishes. Pricing varies by weight, coat condition, requested haircut, and matting severity.

Larmon Avenue Location and Salon Setup #

The studio operates from 2704 Larmon Avenue in 37204, in the Berry Hill area south of downtown Nashville. The setup includes nail trimming, ear cleaning, ten-minute brush-out, anal gland expression, and full bath and blow-dry as standard inclusions across every package tier. The brick-and-mortar footprint distinguishes the shop from mobile groomer competitors and gives clients a consistent setting for repeat visits.

Safety and Excellence Positioning #

The salon’s tagline puts safety on the same footing as styling quality. The Pet First Aid and CPR currency maintained by Katie Ware backs that positioning, as does the NDGAA Master Groomer training that covers safe handling across temperaments, weight classes, and coat types. Award recognition from competition events provides independent validation of styling capability beyond the credential paper.

https://www.nashvillepetsalon.com/

2. TidyDog #

  • Address: 2612 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, TN 37214 (Donelson); 942 Jefferson St, Nashville, TN 37208 (Germantown)
  • Phone: (615) 885-0622
  • Founder / Owner: Founded 2010
  • Operating Since: 2010 (16 years)
  • Credentials: Animal Behavior College certified; Middle Tennessee State University affiliated; Nextdoor Neighborhood Faves recognition 2022, 2023, and 2024; 2023 Main Street Awards Nashville winner
  • Service area: Nashville, Donelson, Germantown, and surrounding Davidson County
  • Industries served / Specialties: Fancy breed-specific trims, full bath and dry, blueberry facial, nail trimming, ear cleaning, breath freshener, anal gland expression, wellness inspection, post-surgical grooming, Thera-Clean micro-bubble bathing, specialty handling for puppies, difficult temperament dogs, elderly dogs, and health-compromised dogs
  • Website: TidyDog

Sixteen-Year Continuous Operation #

The studio has run continuously in Nashville since 2010, putting it past the fifteen-year mark under stable ownership. That tenure spans multiple Nashville growth cycles and gives the staff a long bench of repeat clients with multi-dog histories. The Animal Behavior College certification on file covers canine handling fundamentals, and the MTSU affiliation reflects a working tie to the regional veterinary and animal sciences pipeline.

Two-Location Footprint Across Donelson and Germantown #

The studio runs two Nashville addresses: 2612 Lebanon Pike in Donelson (37214) operates Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm, and 942 Jefferson Street in Germantown (37208) runs Wednesday through Saturday by appointment. The Donelson base reaches east toward the airport corridor and out to Hermitage, while the Germantown shop covers the urban core, Buena Vista, and parts of North Nashville. Both run off the same central booking line.

Specialty Handling for Difficult Cases #

The shop has built a specialty book around dogs that other studios decline: difficult-temperament animals, elderly dogs with mobility issues, puppies on their first groom, and post-surgical dogs needing careful coat work around incision sites. The Thera-Clean micro-bubble bathing system uses pressurized micro-bubbles to clean deep into the coat and skin, which suits clients with skin-condition dogs whose vets have ordered targeted bathing. Fancy breed-specific trims (Poodle continental, Schnauzer pattern, Shih Tzu top knot, terrier hand-strip alternatives) round out the styling menu.

Awards and Community Recognition #

TidyDog won the Nextdoor Neighborhood Faves designation three years running (2022, 2023, and 2024) based on aggregated neighbor votes across surrounding Nashville zip codes. The 2023 Main Street Awards Nashville recognition adds a citywide tier of independent recognition. The studio also operates an in-house newsletter and active social channels that document case-by-case grooming work, which gives prospective clients reference points before booking.

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3. Pawsitively Purrfect #

  • Address: 6901 Lenox Village Drive, Suite 10, Nashville, TN 37211
  • Phone: (615) 837-6765 (call); (615) 733-2854 (text)
  • Founder / Owner: Family owned and operated
  • Operating Since: 2013 (13 years)
  • Credentials: Over two decades of combined grooming experience with every breed and style of dog and cat; dedicated dog-and-cat storefront grew from in-home origins to commercial location in Lenox Village
  • Service area: Nashville and surrounding Davidson County
  • Industries served / Specialties: Full-service dog grooming for all breeds, full-service cat grooming, a la carte add-on services, family-environment handling
  • Website: Pawsitively Purrfect

Family-Owned Origin Story #

The studio started in the founding family’s living room with one shared value: a passion for animals and the belief that every pet should be treated as family. By 2013 the operation had grown enough to take a commercial storefront, and it has run continuously from that location since. The family-owned and operated model has stayed in place across more than a decade of growth, with the same hands-on stewardship that started the practice in the home setting.

Combined Dog and Cat Grooming Capability #

A core differentiator is the dual focus on both dog and cat grooming under one roof. Cat grooming requires a distinct skill set, separate handling protocols, and patience for feline temperament that not every dog-focused salon offers. The shop carries over two decades of combined staff experience across every breed and style of dog and cat, which covers everything from short-clip maintenance cuts to fuller breed-pattern styling on long-coated cats and dogs.

Lenox Village Storefront and Hours #

Operating from Suite 10 at 6901 Lenox Village Drive in 37211, the studio sits in the Lenox Village mixed-use neighborhood center in South Nashville. Operating hours run Tuesday through Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm, closed Monday and Sunday. The location pulls clients from Brentwood, Antioch, and the Cane Ridge corridor in addition to Lenox Village proper. Both a call line and a separate text-booking line let clients pick their preferred contact method.

Family Environment Philosophy #

The salon positions itself around what it calls a safe, gentle, and loving family environment. That handling philosophy translates into pace control on the table (no rushed processing of high volumes), individual attention to each animal’s tolerance threshold, and willingness to break long appointments into shorter sessions for stress-sensitive dogs and cats. The a la carte service menu lets owners build a tailored visit rather than purchasing a fixed package, which suits clients managing specific coat or skin issues.

https://pawpurrfect.com/

Reference Notes #

Pet grooming credentialing in the United States runs through several voluntary industry bodies, with no single state license required for groomers in Tennessee. The National Dog Groomers Association of America (NDGAA) issues the National Certified Master Groomer (NCMG) credential through written examination and hands-on practical testing across Sporting, Non-Sporting, Terrier, and Long-Legged Terrier groups. The International Professional Groomers (IPG) issues a parallel Certified Master Groomer credential through its own testing protocols. Fear Free Pets, founded by veterinary behaviorist Dr. Marty Becker, runs a Fear Free Certified Groomer program focused on cooperative care techniques that reduce fear, anxiety, and stress during the grooming visit. GroomTeam USA selects and ranks the national competition team, and ranked competition placement provides an independent measure of styling skill. The American Kennel Club publishes breed standards that serve as the reference document for breed-specific grooming patterns, including the Poodle continental clip, Schnauzer pattern, and various terrier hand-strip protocols. International Groomer Inc (IGI) offers a tiered qualification structure for advancing groomers across skill levels.

Nashville market context shapes pet grooming demand. The metro’s growing population of pet owners, combined with neighborhoods like Lenox Village, 12 South, Germantown, and Donelson seeing steady residential growth, generates a regular volume of routine bath-and-cut, breed-specific styling, and add-on service work. Specialty needs (post-surgical grooming, micro-bubble bathing, anxiety-prone handling) draw clients from across the metro to studios that publish those capabilities. The cat-grooming subset of the market is meaningfully smaller, and studios that serve both species hold a niche position.

Rollup exclusions: this directory deliberately leaves out grooming brands operating under national franchise umbrellas or private-equity rollup ownership. Locations of Scenthound (franchise network), PetSmart Grooming (Apollo Global Management portfolio), Petco Grooming (private equity backed), Camp Bow Wow (Propelled Brands franchise), and Splash and Dash Groomerie operate in the Nashville market in some form, but the directory criteria require independent family or founder-led ownership, which those entities do not meet. Mobile grooming operations are covered in a separate directory.

Selection Methodology #

Three salons were selected against four criteria applied uniformly: (1) independently owned and operated fixed-location grooming studio (no national franchise, no private-equity rollup parent, no mobile-only operations), (2) a verifiable seven-year minimum continuous Nashville-area tenure under stable ownership, (3) a documented credential trail such as NDGAA National Certified Master Groomer status, Animal Behavior College certification, or verifiable multi-decade industry experience, and (4) third-party recognition through award programs (Nextdoor Neighborhood Faves, Main Street Awards Nashville), industry competition results, or an established storefront track record. National franchise networks and rollup-owned brands were excluded by name: Scenthound, PetSmart Grooming, Petco Grooming, Camp Bow Wow, and Splash and Dash Groomerie. Mobile-only grooming operations are covered separately.

Frequently Asked Questions #

What credentials should a Nashville pet groomer hold? #

Look first for a National Dog Groomers Association of America (NDGAA) National Certified Master Groomer (NCMG) designation, which is the highest tier the NDGAA issues, or an International Professional Groomers (IPG) Certified Master Groomer credential as a parallel option. Fear Free Certified Groomer status indicates training in cooperative care techniques that reduce stress during the visit. Pet First Aid and CPR currency provides a safety baseline. Tennessee does not require a state license for pet grooming, so voluntary industry credentials carry the verification weight. Animal Behavior College certification and Merryfield School of Pet Grooming graduation are reputable training-program backgrounds. Verify any claimed credential directly with the issuing body when stakes warrant.

How do I tell if a Nashville pet groomer is independent versus a national franchise? #

Check the website footer, social media handles, and parent-brand disclosure for franchise or rollup ownership indicators. Independent shops typically list a single Nashville-area address, a family or founder name in the About section, and consistent local phone numbers. National franchise networks (Scenthound, Camp Bow Wow, Splash and Dash Groomerie) and big-box grooming arms (PetSmart, Petco) operate under corporate parents with multi-market footprints, central call centers, and standardized service menus. The Tennessee Secretary of State business filing and the Better Business Bureau profile both list ownership structure and corporate parent for cross-checking.

Does NDGAA certification matter for a routine dog groom? #

For routine bath-and-cut on a low-maintenance coat, certification adds confidence but is not strictly required. For breed-specific pattern work (Poodle continental, Schnauzer, Bichon, terrier hand-strip), competition styling, post-surgical grooming, or handling of difficult temperament dogs, the NDGAA NCMG or IPG Certified Master Groomer credential provides meaningful assurance that the groomer has tested out against breed-standard knowledge and practical handling across multiple coat types. Owners of show dogs, anxiety-prone dogs, or dogs with specific coat or skin conditions benefit most from booking with a credentialed master groomer.

Should I choose a salon that grooms both dogs and cats? #

If you have only dogs, a dog-focused studio is fine and may have deeper breed-specific pattern expertise. If you have both species in the home, a studio that grooms dogs and cats (such as a dedicated dog-and-cat salon) simplifies scheduling and can reduce stress on the cat by handling both pets at one familiar location. Cat grooming requires distinct handling skills, dedicated equipment, and patience for feline temperament that not every dog-focused shop carries. Confirm cat-specific experience and ask about lion clip, comb-out, or sanitary trim capability before booking.

Editorial Note #

This guide was published on 2026-05-11 and reflects research current as of that date. Verify licenses, phone numbers, and current business status before engaging any firm.