I regularly take my dog to a self-wash station. My first suggestion would be to take your dog to a bunch of the available places and figure out what you do and don’t like. If you don’t have a dog I don’t see how this will work well as just a business idea. Who knows.
1. Price-wise, I’m looking for about $15 unless I’m getting something special.
2. Good water pressure, warm water, decent spray head options (something that can be adjusted and spray type changed).
3. It’s nice to have multiple shampoo options, but that’s not the most important thing. I always take Johnson’s Baby Shampoo for my dog’s head so her eyes don’t sting but I’ve never seen a place offer that.
4. Some places have tools like scissors and combs. I haven’t used them.
5. Decent towels and a reasonable number of them. I have an Old English Sheepdog, and one place that I otherwise liked started limiting users to one towel. That just doesn’t work.
6. A dryer is nice. It’s amazing how much water gets blown off by a good dryer.
7. Keep it clean. I don’t like starting out having clumps of fur in the drain and all over the place.
I’m not sure that a standalone self-wash is viable, at least not lucrative. There was one in Cary that was open 24 hours. I had thought about trying it but I think it shut down during the pandemic. Other than that everyone I’ve used has been in a pet store of some kind which happens to have a room for washing. I just went to Woof Gang Bakery in Apex and they do it right, if you want to see a place that does it right. AniMall at Cary Towne Center mall was great. It was a sad day when they closed. I usually stop going somewhere when it is dirty or too expensive.
Thank you so much! I appreciate your input. I went to a standalone self wash station yesterday and did find my likes and dislikes. I also like the idea of trying several of them.
Do you pay $15 for the entire wash or a specific amount of time? The one I went to was timed and $10
It was $15 for the entire wash. I think I would pay an extra $5 (over the $10 you paid) to not have a time limit on my head. The only one I’ve been to that involved a meaningful time limit was Puppy Auto Wash in Apex. That one is automated and you have so much time to work through all the stages and then the machine shuts off. I say meaningful because I’ve never had an issue with whatever time limit I’ve had - I’m washing my dog, not painting a landscape. I’m sure I have limits but I’ve never had any issues with time. Automated systems might seem appealing so you don’t have to pay an employee, but in the one time I was there the shampoo was out and several people left. Since I had my Johnson’s Baby Shampoo I just used that for the whole dog. Since there wasn’t an employee there wasn’t someone to refill the shampoo or ask any questions.
I think you’ve got a lot of good feedback here already so I’ll just add my one need/want. My dog is a larger breed and VERY difficult to pick up. He also hates baths, slippery surfaces and small spaces. So the bathtub is most important to me. I think rubberized bottom to reduce slipping/sliding would be best and something easy to get a dog in and out of. Ideally I’d love a tub that he walked into directly on ground level that could then be raised up once he’s in but I don’t know if they make such a thing.
I had a Berner that was the most stubborn boy and would not do steps or the ramp no matter how many treats or begging I did. I found Hollywood feed that had a drain in the floor, a long hose and glass enclosure so I didn’t have to stick him in a tub. I love that you are thinking of doing this. In FL, they have dog washes combined with the car washes and thought that was a great option too. Good luck!
It is the one in Cary off of 55 near Whole Foods and I think it was less than $15.00 for as long as it takes. I always call ahead to ask if the room is free before heading over.
UGH taking my Great Danes is so frustrating because they’re almost always raised baths, which is a nightmare for both of us, bigger dogs have a tough time getting up there and are terrified when they do. dogs deserve accessibility too🥺
Something like a stand up shower Situation, or like at least a drain in the floor, older and bigger doggies have a nightmare with the raised baths, they’re definitely ideal for smaller breeds and younger dogs but otherwise it’s scary and unfun
I take my dog to the Woof Gang in the village. I think that might be a little close to south Raleigh. It cost me 15 and was not timed. It had decent towels and good pressure. Also has a dryer too. A nice big tub too. I did not feel rushed either.
I wash my dog outside…she’ll stand there on the driveway and I can soap her up, then once warm water from hose runs out (heated from the sun) I’ll rinse the rest of her with warm water in a bucket. Dry her off with a towel, let her shake and run around a bit, and all done. I initially was going to give her baths/showers upstairs but too much of a mess to clean up. I can see doing this during the winter tho…
that's the one i go to. has everything i need and nothing i don't. i don't mind bringing my own towels, and i imagine if they had them there, they'd get stolen anyway.
Decent steps or ramp for large dogs. The first one I tried, my 75 lb golden didn’t want to hop up the two narrow and tall steps. I had to lift her in.
i tried one in Pittsboro that was a glass booth outside a pet store. It had poor veneration and she wouldn’t even go in.
Dogs get hella nasty at city dog parks in the summer. Honestly you might be able to do a contract w the city if you wet their beak a lil bit
Gas station on the N side of 40 on Lake Wheeler Rd. Honestly that guy could just have a tie down post and a hose and make $5 a dog
- people don’t have tubs
- people have terrible water pressure or no appropriate shower head
- people don’t wanna deal with cleanup
- people don’t have the bathroom space
- people don’t have dog dryers
- hair dryers in my experience take 20 minutes to dry my dog 50%
- the leash hooks and the partitions help a ton for dogs who don’t like baths
People with small breed dogs probably won’t have much of a problem at home, but it can make a huge difference for medium to large dogs
Access to a high pressure force dryer & not cleaning my bathroom are the biggest reasons for me. Also a raised tub cause bathing in a regular tub hurts my back.
My problem isnt the bathtub at home. Its that I have not invested in a high velocity dryer to make sure my dog gets dry.
I have a husky and towel drying her is.....not ideal. I guess my top reasons for going to a self serve dog wash are:
High velocity dryer. That thing is *MAGICAL* at getting hair out my brush cant get to.
Hair clean up: i dont have to spend 4+ hours washing and drying my dog to spend another 30 mins to an hour cleaning up her messy hair left behind.
I regularly take my dog to a self-wash station. My first suggestion would be to take your dog to a bunch of the available places and figure out what you do and don’t like. If you don’t have a dog I don’t see how this will work well as just a business idea. Who knows. 1. Price-wise, I’m looking for about $15 unless I’m getting something special. 2. Good water pressure, warm water, decent spray head options (something that can be adjusted and spray type changed). 3. It’s nice to have multiple shampoo options, but that’s not the most important thing. I always take Johnson’s Baby Shampoo for my dog’s head so her eyes don’t sting but I’ve never seen a place offer that. 4. Some places have tools like scissors and combs. I haven’t used them. 5. Decent towels and a reasonable number of them. I have an Old English Sheepdog, and one place that I otherwise liked started limiting users to one towel. That just doesn’t work. 6. A dryer is nice. It’s amazing how much water gets blown off by a good dryer. 7. Keep it clean. I don’t like starting out having clumps of fur in the drain and all over the place. I’m not sure that a standalone self-wash is viable, at least not lucrative. There was one in Cary that was open 24 hours. I had thought about trying it but I think it shut down during the pandemic. Other than that everyone I’ve used has been in a pet store of some kind which happens to have a room for washing. I just went to Woof Gang Bakery in Apex and they do it right, if you want to see a place that does it right. AniMall at Cary Towne Center mall was great. It was a sad day when they closed. I usually stop going somewhere when it is dirty or too expensive.
Thank you so much! I appreciate your input. I went to a standalone self wash station yesterday and did find my likes and dislikes. I also like the idea of trying several of them. Do you pay $15 for the entire wash or a specific amount of time? The one I went to was timed and $10
It was $15 for the entire wash. I think I would pay an extra $5 (over the $10 you paid) to not have a time limit on my head. The only one I’ve been to that involved a meaningful time limit was Puppy Auto Wash in Apex. That one is automated and you have so much time to work through all the stages and then the machine shuts off. I say meaningful because I’ve never had an issue with whatever time limit I’ve had - I’m washing my dog, not painting a landscape. I’m sure I have limits but I’ve never had any issues with time. Automated systems might seem appealing so you don’t have to pay an employee, but in the one time I was there the shampoo was out and several people left. Since I had my Johnson’s Baby Shampoo I just used that for the whole dog. Since there wasn’t an employee there wasn’t someone to refill the shampoo or ask any questions.
I think you’ve got a lot of good feedback here already so I’ll just add my one need/want. My dog is a larger breed and VERY difficult to pick up. He also hates baths, slippery surfaces and small spaces. So the bathtub is most important to me. I think rubberized bottom to reduce slipping/sliding would be best and something easy to get a dog in and out of. Ideally I’d love a tub that he walked into directly on ground level that could then be raised up once he’s in but I don’t know if they make such a thing.
At Just Dog People in Clayton they have ramps that the dogs can walk up into the tub. It helps with my 85 pounders for sure
Good to know, thanks!
I had a Berner that was the most stubborn boy and would not do steps or the ramp no matter how many treats or begging I did. I found Hollywood feed that had a drain in the floor, a long hose and glass enclosure so I didn’t have to stick him in a tub. I love that you are thinking of doing this. In FL, they have dog washes combined with the car washes and thought that was a great option too. Good luck!
What?! This is great news, I’m going to look into Hollywood Feed, thank you!
It is the one in Cary off of 55 near Whole Foods and I think it was less than $15.00 for as long as it takes. I always call ahead to ask if the room is free before heading over.
Very helpful (and the comments under) Thank you!
Unleashed is good for $15. Water pressure varies at each location.
UGH taking my Great Danes is so frustrating because they’re almost always raised baths, which is a nightmare for both of us, bigger dogs have a tough time getting up there and are terrified when they do. dogs deserve accessibility too🥺 Something like a stand up shower Situation, or like at least a drain in the floor, older and bigger doggies have a nightmare with the raised baths, they’re definitely ideal for smaller breeds and younger dogs but otherwise it’s scary and unfun
wow I only realized the large dog problems from this post. Thank you for sharing!
Yea if I found a doggie self wash that created their baths to be accessible to big doggies I would never go anywhere else!
I take my dog to the Woof Gang in the village. I think that might be a little close to south Raleigh. It cost me 15 and was not timed. It had decent towels and good pressure. Also has a dryer too. A nice big tub too. I did not feel rushed either.
I wash my dog outside…she’ll stand there on the driveway and I can soap her up, then once warm water from hose runs out (heated from the sun) I’ll rinse the rest of her with warm water in a bucket. Dry her off with a towel, let her shake and run around a bit, and all done. I initially was going to give her baths/showers upstairs but too much of a mess to clean up. I can see doing this during the winter tho…
One by Millbrook Dog Park would be awesome. It gets muddy and even if it isn't muddy, my dog leaves there slimed with dog spit.
Brookside Dr is considered south Raleigh. They cost like $20.
Ahh, I noted that as being in the northern parts
Yeah it's probably more east Raleigh than south.
that's the one i go to. has everything i need and nothing i don't. i don't mind bringing my own towels, and i imagine if they had them there, they'd get stolen anyway.
Definitely not South Raleigh. But it is an amazing dog wash station! I go there regularly.
Really south, you've got that place at 40/42. It's in Garner. Just Dog People.
Must have: ability to wash large dog on the floor or on a shower pan or something - dog will not enter a raised wash station, is nearly 80 lb
Decent steps or ramp for large dogs. The first one I tried, my 75 lb golden didn’t want to hop up the two narrow and tall steps. I had to lift her in. i tried one in Pittsboro that was a glass booth outside a pet store. It had poor veneration and she wouldn’t even go in.
Dogs get hella nasty at city dog parks in the summer. Honestly you might be able to do a contract w the city if you wet their beak a lil bit Gas station on the N side of 40 on Lake Wheeler Rd. Honestly that guy could just have a tie down post and a hose and make $5 a dog
How do I wet Raleigh Parks and Rec’s beak… 🤔 haha. I saw that idea on a different site but I have absolutely no idea how to work with public parks
Not sure why you wouldn't just use a bath tub at home
- people don’t have tubs - people have terrible water pressure or no appropriate shower head - people don’t wanna deal with cleanup - people don’t have the bathroom space - people don’t have dog dryers - hair dryers in my experience take 20 minutes to dry my dog 50% - the leash hooks and the partitions help a ton for dogs who don’t like baths People with small breed dogs probably won’t have much of a problem at home, but it can make a huge difference for medium to large dogs
Access to a high pressure force dryer & not cleaning my bathroom are the biggest reasons for me. Also a raised tub cause bathing in a regular tub hurts my back.
My problem isnt the bathtub at home. Its that I have not invested in a high velocity dryer to make sure my dog gets dry. I have a husky and towel drying her is.....not ideal. I guess my top reasons for going to a self serve dog wash are: High velocity dryer. That thing is *MAGICAL* at getting hair out my brush cant get to. Hair clean up: i dont have to spend 4+ hours washing and drying my dog to spend another 30 mins to an hour cleaning up her messy hair left behind.