In Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighbourhood, The Barking Barber has built a strong, 4.9-rated reputation serving a genuinely wide range of pets, with reviews describing skilled, patient handling across different animals, breeds, and grooming needs. Groomer Mariana draws specific, repeated praise for her work with a Havanese named Maverick, described by the owner as consistently incredible, with the salon’s care and patience characterized as top-notch, right down to a specific compliment about how well Maverick’s ears were shaved and shaped.
The salon’s willingness and ability to groom cats alongside dogs draws its own dedicated praise, an offering not every dog-focused grooming salon provides. One reviewer describes discovering that staff member Lisa grooms cats and being thrilled with the results, having both of their cats bathed and thoroughly brushed out, while a separate review describes Lisa efficiently and calmly clipping a cat’s nails despite what the reviewer describes as a notably talkative dog elsewhere in the salon at the same time, suggesting Lisa maintains focus and calm handling even amid a busier, multi-species salon environment.
First-time puppy visits draw enthusiastic praise as well: one reviewer describes bringing their seven-month-old puppy for his very first haircut and being delighted with how cute the result turned out, crediting groomer Carolyn specifically with taking excellent care of the puppy, who the reviewer notes seemed genuinely happy throughout rather than distressed by the unfamiliar experience. More broadly, the salon draws praise for staff who are described as knowledgeable and comfortable handling dogs of all kinds, with one reviewer specifically highlighting consistently strong care for their long-haired German shepherd, a breed with substantial grooming needs given its thick double coat.
The Wellington Street West location places the salon within Hintonburg, one of Ottawa’s more walkable, community-oriented neighbourhoods, and the salon’s willingness to serve both cats and dogs with named, individually praised groomers for each species suggests a genuinely versatile, well-staffed operation rather than a dog-only specialist stretched thin trying to accommodate occasional cat clients.
For Doggy Deets users, The Barking Barber is a strong choice in Hintonburg for owners of both dogs and cats, particularly notable for its dedicated, skilled cat-grooming service alongside consistently praised dog grooming across a range of breeds, from small Havanese to large German shepherds.
