Bernie’s Grooming

Bernies on 15^th street does a great job. Wen Li (not sure of spelling), is great. She listens to what you want and executes. Most places ask for your dog to be left for 4 – 5 hours, but Wen Li always has the dog finished and ready for pick up within 2 hours. My dog does not like going to the groomers, so a quick turn around is perfect, and the result are always very satisfactory too.

We adopted our senior dog from Muttville a little over a year ago. He’s a shih tzu so definitely needs to be groomed regularly. Muttville suggested that we try Bernie’s in ACC and suggested they might be a good fit for him as they had groomed him before when he was at the shelter (they also recommended Wag Hotel, but we started with Bernie’s). Oliver HATES being groomed, but Wen-​Li does a really great job with him. I took him to one other place once — closer to our home (it had good reviews) — and Oliver ended up in the pet hospital with eye ulcerations due to the product that was used (and the groomer could not even do his face, saying he just would not let her). Horrifying. Anyway, back to Wen-​Li we went. Bernie’s is great!

Bernie was recommended to me by a neighbor. She did a great job on my 2 dogs and was very mindful of the instructions I gave. Over all, Bernie is a patient groomer who definitely knows what she is doing. I will be back!

Four years and 30+ grooming sessions later, I still wouldn’t trust anyone else with my dog. More than anything, I appreciate their sense of judgement with how they proceed with my dog versus just getting the job done.
You’re opting for the most humane experience for your pet when you choose a groomer that can balance a schedule of both unowned, frightened shelter animals and paying clients alike.

We have a labradoodle (Ziggy) and have had him cut by Bernies 3 or 4 times now. They do a pretty good job — nothing to really rave or complain about. Last time, however, they trimmed off our dog’s whiskers which was very disappointing. Trimming whiskers gives dogs a much worse spacial awareness, especially in the dark, and I would expect a dog groomer to know this. It also makes them more timid and in general is just not a good practice. In any case, next time I will be sure to request that they leave his whiskers in tact (although I shouldn’t have to do that).

Great grooming. They really are interested and care about your dog. Super sweet and don’t just rush your little guy through. My dog was happy when done. Not freaked out or anything for his first grooming. Will defiantly bring him back!

I recently adopted a 17-​year old Turkish Angora and decided that she should get a professional grooming. I had no idea how she’d do or what to expect, but the results were wonderful! The ladies are super sweet and they did an excellent job with the cat. She seemed to agree, as she gave them lots of kisses!

I just had the best experience at Bernie’s Grooming with my long-​hair Chihuahua, Diablo. Diablo has a heart condition and I was concerned with taking him to a groomer since the stress can send him into a serious episode. I explained his condition to the groomer, Wenli, and she was so accommodating and gentle! He left feeling great, and looking so cute. Thank you, Wenli and Bernie’s Grooming-​I will definitely recommend anyone looking for a groomer to your business!

Tigger just got back from another wonderful grooming, and I realized I just had to give the good folks at Bernie’s 5 stars. Wenli is just amazing — super accommodating and Tigger seems to love her.

Took my seriously shaggy shih tzu here after about 3 months of going without a haircut. She came in at noon, I picked her up at 1:30pm. This was a same day appointment as well! I was more than pleased with their service. She came back to me fresh and clean cut with a new pink bandana accessory attachment!
I’m so happy I found these guys. Love love love love!!!

Bernie’s the best. Sweetest ever super patient and ever so gentle with the cats. Been there twice now with the 4 Persian/​Himalayans for cuts. They come back clean and happy. Used to take them to Wags where they used to do a good job but I guess started rushing the animals and the cats would come back with open wounds from the razors and two contracted what looked like ringworm. Go here support Bernie! She will not disappoint.

LOVE.
I have been taking my dog to the Brannan shop since we got her last year. Willow is happy to go in, and happy when I pick her up. She comes back to me trimmed and clipped and smelling amazingly. They use very high quality grooming products which means Willow is not itchy when she comes home. When I bathe her, she is often itchy afterwards, despite my trying lots of different shampoos on her. Bernie was able to help fine the right combination of products to keep Willow itch-​free. I once had an issue with needing Willow’s fur trimmed a little more and it was so easy to call them and bring her in for a quick fix– everyone was patient and helpful.
Bernie and her staff provide such good care to the dogs they groom. They are gentle, careful and professional. Bernie noticed that Willow drags her back leg, scraping her nails and is very careful where she trims. I feel safe having Willow there and glad to have found them! Highly recommended.

After our last horrible experience with a groomer in Tahoe, I took to Unilocal to find one that came highly recommended. I found Bernie’s grooming, called, and was able to get an appointment for the next afternoon. We gave the groomer (Not Bernie, but a friendly other woman) a long to-​do and not-​to-​do list as we’ve learned from our prior grooming what we like. She spent so much time on making Teddy (our golden doodle) perfect! Nails, teeth, full trim, all his knots were carefully combed out. It cost $ 100 because of all the trimming and de-​knotting she had to do. Otherwise, it would’ve been ~ $ 80.
We could not be happier.

Bernie’s rocks!
I’ve been bringing my little dog Baci to Bernie’s ever since I got her from the ACC.
We had no idea how to groom and care for her when we got her and I’d taken her to a place where they cut her nails too short and made her bleed — so, I was asking everyone I knew where to go. Several people suggested Bernie’s so, that’s what we did and I’m forever thankful!
They’re very careful when doing the (back there) glands and they use trimmers in-​between her toes/​paws so, she has very clean pads and perfectly manicured nails.
Today, I was at my neighborhood pet boutique — South Paws (love) — and they mentioned that Santa was taking pictures with dogs next door – of course we went running over there, only to find that Bernie’s now has a 2^nd location! Woohoo!
You can find her inside of the SF Animal Care and Control (15^th St.) as well as in SoBe at 177 Brannan.
Welcome to the neighborhood!

I guess it’s kind of cool that Bernie’s is within the Animal Care and Control building. It’s not the nicest place to have your business, but I understand supporting the place since it doesn’t get all the donated funds like the SFSPCA does.
I arrived around 1pm on Friday without an appointment for a quick nail trim. It took them a while to greet us at the front but once greeted, they took Luna in and she was out in 10minutes. They even gave her a free ear cleaning.
You have to pay in cash and it’s a bit weird because they don’t ring you up or give you a receipt.

Please spare your little one the torture that’s in store for him/​her at Bernie’s! It was my 3^rd visit to Bernie’s after Unilocal/​friend recommendations … I was indifferent the first 2 times … Until …
I was told that it will take 3 hours for my baby girls grooming. I returned after 2.5 hours waiting & ready to pick her up until Ms Bernie (or whatever her name is) came out with the wrong puppy for me. She quickly realized her mistake and went back in. I followed moments later to see her starting to quickly give my girl a cut with an inhuman band around her mouth. It almost seemed like she had completely forgotten about my lil girl being in the parlor & now (after realizing we were there) she was giving her a super quick cut.
I was disgusted & 15 mins later just left with my baby girl once she was returned to me.
Maybe I should have given Bernie an earful for the careless, cruel, and indifferent attitude. But I just preferred to walk out … Never to come back to this place again!
FYI — For $ 60-​$ 70 bucks you could always go to one of the better places nearby. Wag Hotel which is 2 – 3 blocks away is almost the same price (I checked them out today) and will try them it the next time around.
Hoping this helps!

Most importantly: Bernie’s did a pretty good job at grooming my dog. i had no complaints, really.
The only small issue i had with it is the inconvenience of the business being hidden in the back of Animal Care and Control. i had to wander through the building and ask someone how to reach the people at Bernie’s. There’s no sign or anything pointing the way. It felt kind-​of awkward.
I’d probably go back, but I would be even MORE likely to go back if Bernie’s had its own dedicated storefront space.

I had an 8:45am appointment today and Bernie met me at the front door. I told her I just adopted Brinkley (a 10 pound terrier mix) a couple of weeks ago and have never been to a groomer before. She took a look at her and told me what she was going to do — round out Brinkley’s face, get an overall trim, anal expression (yuk) and cut her paw nails and since it was my first time, a free teeth cleaning!
I handed Bernie Brinkley’s leash and felt like a parent leaving her kid at preschool for the first time. Brinkley’s face looked like… «where the hell are you going?!» But Bernie has such a calming and sweet aura about her, that I felt I could trust her right away.
My bff picked her up and he said that Brinkley did really well! He just sent me a picture and she looks like a fresh cute ball of fluff.

Good, solid groomer
Feels odd taking dog to pound
Comforted by price

Updating May 20, 2012.
I don’t think I’d be exaggerating when I say that from the dog’s point of view, Bernie’s/City Dogs’ shop is the best groomer out there.
When I ask my pup: «Do you want to see Bernie???» He literally starts to wag his tail and dance. Then when we get out of the car, he drags me into the shop. One day at event he saw her before I did and started to pull. I was like «hey, dog what’s up?» until I saw Bernie. At that point I knew: dogs love Bernie. She is just special, and So are Cindy and all the other folks who care for the dogs there.
I’ve sent countless friends and neighbors to Bernie, and every single one of them has come back thrilled both with how their dogs look, and most importantly that their dog was happy and not traumatized by the experience.
One other thing: a few groomers in the city tend to be very pushy about how they will groom your dog (especially Poodles, for some reason a few of them have very rigid opinions). Bernie will make your dog look like how YOU want them to look, not what some silly Poodle-​Vogue designer wants. I love that.
ORiginal review:
Bernie was soft, sweet and kind, and knows her grooming. She spent nearly 20 minutes with me on intake discussing the plan for the poodle’s hair (it’s something you have to think about and work on). When Fozzie came out, he was cut exactly as we had discussed. Best of all, he was dancing out, as though he’d had the time of his life. He kept going back to Bernie to say hi, which is a clear sign he wasn’t afraid of her. Bernie was careful to take her time with him and make sure it was fun, since he’s a puppy and needs regular grooming this is critical. Bernie’s prices are very fair, which is not the primary thing I look for, but when your dog needs a monthly grooming it is really appreciated. Best of all, bernie gave me tips on how to get him to look exactly as I want. This looks like the beginning of a beautiful relationship!