The Bay Area's premier dog stylist
Show-quality grooming, handcrafted in Walnut Creek
Posh Pup Grooming is a dog grooming studio at 1239 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek, CA 94595. Owner and head groomer Vivian is an AKC-Certified Advanced Stylist with 14+ years of full-time experience. Hand-scissored finishes, Asian-fusion fluff styling, and an open-concept studio where dogs are never crated. Rated 4.8 on Google (12 reviews) and 4.2 on Yelp (31 reviews). Call or text 925-899-2977 to book.
Meet the groomer: Vivian
Most groomers never go to school. Vivian did. She spent three intense months in Temecula, training one-on-one with the best teachers in the country, and came home to the East Bay as an AKC-certified Advanced Stylist.
She started in her garage, grooming dogs for less than minimum wage. 14+ years later, Posh Pup commands the highest prices in the Bay Area, and clients still drive in from San Francisco, Oakland, and across the bridge for the cut.
Her style is Asian-fusion: rounded, cloud-soft, photographable. Her shop is open-concept: no crates, no kennel stress, dogs free to roam between bath and finish.
Credentials
- AKC-Certified Advanced Stylist. Formally certified through the American Kennel Club's grooming program — a credential most groomers never earn.
- 3 months, intensive, in Temecula. One-on-one training under some of the country's top instructors before opening the shop. Most groomers are self-taught.
- 14+ years full-time on the table. Thousands of dogs — doodles, double coats, nervous rescues, seniors, and first-groom puppies — every week since the garage days.
- Published pricing & clear policies. The full weight-based price list, add-ons, and booking policies are stated openly on this page — no surprises at pickup.
Why Posh Pup
- AKC-certified, school-trained. Three months of intensive training in Temecula under top instructors — and 14+ years of practice on real coats every week.
- Hand-scissored finishes. Show-quality cuts shaped by hand, not rushed through a #7 blade. Faces, paws, and topknots get the time they deserve.
- Open-concept, no crates. Dogs roam free between bath, dry, and finish. Less stress, less barking, happier tails — even for nervous first-timers.
- Asian-fusion fluff. The rounded, cloud-soft styling clients drive in from San Francisco for. Cute, photographable, and built to grow out cleanly.
- Humanity over vanity. We will not pull a matted dog through hours of brushing for a pretty cut. If it hurts the dog, we shave. Every time.
- Spa-grade products. Premium shampoos, conditioners, and finishing products. No discount-store chemistry on your dog's skin.
Services and pricing: one Full Groom, priced by your dog's weight
Every Full Groom includes
- Bath & dry (hand towel, then velocity dryer)
- Brush out
- Ear cleaning
- Nail clipping & dremel
- Sanitary area, glands & paw pads
- Full body haircut
- Finish with shears
- Optional: de-shedding & carding
Full Groom base price by weight (2026)
| Dog weight | Base price | Typical dogs |
|---|---|---|
| 8–12 lbs | $140 | Toys & teacups |
| Designer <14 lbs | $150 | Small designer breeds |
| 13–20 lbs | $175 | Small dogs |
| 21–27 lbs | $200 | Small-medium |
| 28–33 lbs | $210 | Medium |
| 34–48 lbs | $225 | Medium-large |
| 49–59 lbs | $250 | Large |
| 60–74 lbs | $275 | Doodles |
| 75–84 lbs | $300 | Goldens, some huskies, border collies |
| 85–92 lbs | $325 | XL coats |
| 93–105 lbs | $350 | Giant breeds |
Add-on services
| Service | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Teeth treatment | $25+ | $120 standalone · discounted to $25 when added to a Full Groom |
| De-matting | $30-50 | Added only when humanely possible. Severe matting is shaved. |
| Special handling | $30 | Anxious, senior, or technical-haircut dogs that need extra time. |
| Gland expression | $95 | $95 standalone · included at no charge with a Full Groom. |
| Poodle technical haircut | $200/hr | Breed-standard poodle styling, billed hourly. |
| Hand stripping | $250/hr | Coat stripped by hand for wire-coated breeds, billed hourly. |
| Other technical haircuts | $30 | Breed-pattern styling outside poodle work and hand stripping. |
| Summer haircut, double-coated | $30 | Sun-stimulated growth means more coat to work through in warm months. |
| Medical or personal shampoo | No charge | Bring your own prescription or preferred shampoo — we’ll use it. |
Good to know
- Poodle technical haircuts are $200/hr and hand stripping is $250/hr. All other technical haircuts add $30 to the base price.
- Longer-hair styling increases the regular price.
- Summer haircuts for double-coated dogs add $30 — sun-stimulated growth means more coat to work through.
- Bring your dog’s medical or personal shampoo and we’ll use it at no extra charge.
- Matting and special-handling dogs are charged additionally on top of the base.
- Quotes are by phone; the final number is set after Vivian sees the coat in person.
- Dogs on a 4-week schedule receive our standard rate. Dogs groomed less frequently need extra time for coat detangling and maintenance, so an adjusted rate applies — +15% above the standard rate per week after 4 weeks, capping at +60% for dogs 8+ weeks since last groom.
How much does it cost to groom your breed?
| Breed | Starting price | Typical weight | How often | What the groom involves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldendoodle (Standard) | from $275 | 60–74 lbs | Every 2–4 weeks | A curly coat that mats fast. We brush down to the skin, bathe and velocity-dry, then hand-scissor the signature round teddy face and feet. |
| Mini Doodle / Cavapoo (Wavy coat) | from $175 | 13–20 lbs | Every 2–4 weeks | Soft wavy coat that pelts at the ears and legs first. Full body scissor to your length with a rounded face and clean sanitary. |
| Bernedoodle (Large) | from $300 | 75–84 lbs | Every 2–4 weeks | Big, dense, double-textured coat. Thorough brush-out, velocity dry, full scissor finish and tidy feathering on legs and tail. |
| Shih Tzu (Toy) | from $175 | 13–20 lbs | Every 2–4 weeks | A continuously growing coat. Bath, full body haircut — teddy or breed-standard — with a round face, clean sanitary and paw pads. |
| Bichon Frise (Powder-puff) | from $175 | 13–20 lbs | Every 2–4 weeks | The hand-scissored round head Posh Pup is known for. Bathed bright white, fluff-dried, and shaped entirely with shears. |
| Pomeranian (Double coat) | from $140 | 8–12 lbs | Every 2–4 weeks | Never shaved — shaving damages a double coat. We card the undercoat, blow it out, and shape the classic cloud puff. |
| Yorkshire Terrier (Silky coat) | from $140 | 8–12 lbs | Every 2–4 weeks | Silky single coat. Bath, full body scissor to length, with a topknot or an easy-care short puppy cut — your choice. |
| Golden Retriever (Heavy shedder) | from $300 | 75–84 lbs | Every 2–4 weeks | Never shaved down. De-shed and carding, a thorough blow-out, feather tidy, and clean feet and sanitary to keep the coat healthy. |
| Corgi (Double coat) | from $210 | 28–33 lbs | Every 2–4 weeks | A heavy shedder kept full, not shaved. Bath, deep de-shed and blow-out, sanitary and a tidy — the coat does its own insulating job. |
| Standard Poodle (Curly coat) | $200/hr | 49–59 lbs | Every 2–4 weeks | The original scissoring breed. Clip, bath, fluff-dry, and a full hand-scissored finish in the style you choose. |
What our clients say
Vivian is amazing! This was our first time after switching groomers due to poor treatment and red flags. We felt like our furbaby was safe and trusted Vivian and her team. She was very matted and desperately needed a groom — I was told she might have to be shaved, which I understood. But I was so blown away that Vivian and her team were able to salvage her hair, giving her an adorable cut like the picture I showed at drop off — without hurting my baby. Thank you Vivian, we will be back!!!!!
Best grooming experience I've had. The haircuts Emma and Holly got were perfect. This shop is the real deal and I've already booked my next appointment. Give them a shot — you won't regret it!
This place is amazing. Vivian is the best groomer I have ever found. I have 2 small dogs that need to be groomed on a regular basis and need a groomer who knows how to groom them properly — not just a bath and a haircut, but groomed per their breed specs. Vivian treats my dogs like they are her dogs and that means a lot to me. If you are looking for a professional and kind professional to entrust with your dogs, then I highly recommend Posh Pup.
This place is fantastic. I'm not from the area and made an appointment for my two Yorkshire terriers. I had a prior experience with a groomer that did not go well so I've been hesitant to get them groomed again. I was asked to send a photo of the cuts I'd prefer and I was so pleased with the results. My dogs look beautiful. If I lived in Walnut Creek I would be a regular here.
Vivian is the absolute best groomer I have ever taken my dog to. Not only does she do a fantastic job at grooming our dog but she is such a sweet lady. My dog, Cooper is wild about her and going to get groomed. We are always so happy with the job she does. He looks perfect every single time and we couldn't recommend her enough.
Frequently asked questions
How much will my dog's groom cost?
Pricing depends on breed, weight, coat condition, time since last groom, and the service you choose. Most appointments land between $140 and $500. Call 925-899-2977 — Vivian will give you a range over the phone, and the final price is set after she sees the coat in person. Matting is the biggest variable, and most owners don't realize their dog is matted underneath.
How much does it cost to groom a doodle (Goldendoodle, Bernedoodle, Cavapoo)?
Doodles are priced by weight like every dog. A standard Goldendoodle (60–74 lbs) starts at $275; a larger Bernedoodle (75–84 lbs) starts at $300; a mini doodle or Cavapoo (13–20 lbs) starts at $175. Doodle coats mat fast, so condition matters most — a coat that's grown out or pelted adds de-matting time on top of the base. Booking every 2–4 weeks keeps the price at the base and the coat healthy.
How long does a full groom take?
Most full grooms take 2 to 4 hours, depending on your dog's size, coat type, and condition. We run a small-batch room — not a conveyor belt — so your dog is hand-finished rather than rushed. You drop off and we text you about 30 minutes before pickup, so there's no need to wait around.
Why are you the most expensive shop in the Bay Area?
We don't rush. Most shops run 3–5 dogs at a time on a conveyor; we run small batch with 15-minute spacing so Vivian can hand-scissor every face and finish. You're paying for time, skill, and a calm room — not a faster cycle.
My dog is matted. Will you still take them?
Yes, but with limits. If the matting is severe enough that brushing would hurt your dog, we shave to relieve the discomfort. We call this Humanity Over Vanity, and it is non-negotiable. There is an added fee for matted coats.
Do you crate dogs while they wait?
Never. Our shop is open-concept. Dogs are loose, supervised, and free to rest between stages. It's the single biggest reason anxious dogs do well here.
My dog is nervous / has been kicked out of other shops.
Tell us upfront when you call. We've worked with rescue dogs, fearful dogs, senior dogs, and puppies on their first groom. We don't force outcomes — sometimes the first visit is a meet-and-bath, and we build from there.
How far in advance should I book?
We recommend booking your dog every 2–4 weeks — more often is better for coat health. Returning clients usually book 2–4 weeks ahead; new clients should call as soon as possible to get on the schedule. Walk-ins are welcome subject to availability.
Do you do puppies, and what happens at a first groom?
Yes. We recommend a first visit between 10 and 16 weeks. A puppy's first groom is intentionally gentle — bath, blow-dry, nails, a face-and-feet tidy, and lots of positive handling — so they learn that grooming is calm and safe. We build toward a full haircut over the next visits. The goal of visit one is a confident dog, not a perfect cut.
Do you offer bath-only, nail trims, or de-shedding without a full groom?
Every standard appointment is a Full Groom — it already includes the bath, blow-out, nails, ears, sanitary, and a finish. Nail trims, de-shedding, carding, and a teeth treatment are available as add-ons to a groom. For a standalone nail trim or quick service, call 925-899-2977 to check availability.
What's your cancellation policy?
Please text 925-899-2977 at least 24–48 hours before your appointment. No-shows owe a 50% rebooking fee before scheduling the next visit (the rebooking fee does not go toward that appointment).
When should I come back to pick up my dog?
We'll text you about 30 minutes before your dog is finished — please come then, and not before. Arriving early means waiting in the room, which excites the dogs and pulls Vivian's focus from the dog on the table. The heads-up text lets you time it perfectly and keeps every dog's finish calm and unhurried.
Visit, call, book
1239 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek, CA 94595 · 925-899-2977 · poshpupgroomingllc@gmail.com
- Monday: 8:00 – 5:00
- Tuesday: 8:00 – 5:00
- Wednesday: Closed
- Thursday: 8:00 – 5:00
- Friday: 8:00 – 5:00
- Saturday: By appointment
- Sunday: Closed
Serving Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Alamo, Danville, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon, Saranap, San Francisco, Oakland.