Dirty Dogs Spa – Wake Forest

Dirty Dogs Spa is a grooming shop and self-service dog wash on Heritage Lake Road in the Heritage area of Wake Forest. This is the first shop the local group opened, and it still anchors a company that now has locations in North Raleigh and Wendell Falls.

Groomers here handle full-service baths and cuts for dogs, and they also take cats and other small pets. Owners who would sooner scrub their own dog can use the wash tubs without booking. A boutique stocks all-natural treats, toys and accessories, so a grooming pickup can double as a supply run.

What to know

• Founder Vanessa Davis opened the Wake Forest shop on March 1, 2012.
• Staff carry Pet First Aid and CPR training, and the shop holds 2020 infection-control certifications.
• The company runs its own grooming school, the Dirty Dogs Spa School of Grooming.
• Grooming books online, and prices are not posted, so ask when booking.
• Weekly specials such as Senior Day and Student Day ran in 2024; ask whether they still run.