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Rufus DuMonde Pet Salon Our other services include: Nail clipping and filing, Deshedding treatment, & Toothbrushing. Our salon is located in the Willy St neighborhood near downtown Madison. At our salon we have all the latest and safest in grooming equipment. Our grooming tables go all the way to the floor to make it easier for the older or larger dog. We hire groomers who will take care of both you and your pet.

When you come in you will talk directly to the person that will be responsible for your pet. You and your groomer will discuss the needs of your pet and the specifics of the groom.
Services
A full-service groom includes: a deep-cleaning bath and coat conditioner, brush, nail trim and file, ear cleaning and of course, a cut and style based on AKC breed standards or the style of your choice. Your dog will be with the same groomer from the the start of the groom to the finish. Our groomers work only on one dog at a time, no one is sitting around waiting for their turn.
I have been grooming since 1996. I was taught to how to groom by a seasoned show/pet groomer in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. During my apprenticeship, not only did I learn how to groom all breeds & hand strip a dog's coat, I was also taught the art of cat grooming. I love grooming because it allows me to visit with pets and their people.
Double-coated breeds have two layers to protect against arctic weather. The long guard hairs form the outer layer and protect against snow or ice and even shed water. The soft undercoat lies close to the skin and keeps your dog warm and dry. In winter this undercoat can be so thick you may have trouble finding your dog's skin.
Reviews (30)
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Tre Younger
Mar 17, 2022
I feel safe with them, I've had bad experiences with other places. They look wonderful when they get them all done.
Whitney Coburn
Jan 29, 2022
Thank you for the amazing service! I've been taking Otis to Valerie for 2 years and every grooming is so cute. For Christmas they made an Ornament with Otis foot print and valentines they did a photo shoot . Such good customer services.
Myranda Luoma
Jan 16, 2022
Love this place! This is an amazing groomer. Dog whisperers. They are so good with pets I wish they would expand to dog training and dog babysitting. I absolutely adore the staff. Thank you so much I have pets as kids and out of all the places to go I choose them. I hope the can expand into a major business that does more things because they are so amazing with my furbabbies.
Erica Klefstad
Dec 16, 2021
Valerie and the entire staff go above and beyond to make you feel special. My mini golden doodle has been going here ever since we saw another dog at the dog park with an impressive looking cut! Each time we go, I can't get over how personable and attentive they are to specific questions/preferences that I have. They even take pictures and text to communicate what works best/when your dog is done. Absolutely fantastic work.
Paige Petska
Oct 09, 2021
They were able to squeeze me in after a cancellation. Grooming on my feline looked wonderful and he's a happy camper. Took less than an hour.
Zach Stalter-Clouse
Mar 07, 2021
Heather at Rufus du Monde gave my cat a really exceptional lion cut yesterday. I dropped him off and she told me that the two of them would be done in thirty minutes, which was an accurate estimation. Heather also gave me some very good advice on nail maintenance. I have been to Rufus duMonde one time before, in October 2020, and I was pleased with my experience that time as well.
Nickol Lugo
Dec 27, 2020
Val is amazing and they do a great job. This was my 3 time taking my dog Daisy here, they love her. There is just so much I can say, just go try them out. If I could give 10 stars I would
Abigale Bleil
Jan 07, 2020
I started taking my Golden Retriever here right as I brought her home (about 10 weeks old) to get her used to the groomer. We have been going ever since! My pup LOVES this place, and they do an absolutely outstanding job. They worked on training/socializing her by going slow and treating her frequently. Cannot recommend enough!
Nov 25, 2019
My cats are always taken care of so well at this place. Heather is always attentive to my requests and does exceptional job. Highly recommend for quality pet trims and washes.
Jason G.
Oct 29, 2019
Heather is a true dog whisperer! Brought my Taco Terrier, Jackie Osassis in for a nail trim today and she immediately took to Heather and in a couple minutes the nails were trimmed and we were on our way! Jackie never lets "new" people hold her or even touch her without snarls and barks. During other nail clippings at other salons she has had a horrible time. This is the first time she we calm and mellow! Next time we are traveling through Madison we will be back for a nail trim!
Big M.
May 24, 2019
I want told that they're at capacity and wouldn't be taking on any new clients. I thought that was very unpleasant because you offer services but not to me. Especially when I see people with walk in reviews. I'm lost.
Ellesome
May 05, 2019
Heather takes care of my Samoyed well and always greets us with a big smile even though he's a massive amount of work. As much as boo doesn't want to get groomed, he's still always excited to see heather, .
Jackie T.
Apr 11, 2019
The woman was extremely rude to us about our rescue dog. We aren't sure what breed he is or how old he is, which clearly irritated her. His fur was not in great condition (hence why we came to the pet salon) but she made me feel like a terrible dog owner and told me she'd have to shave the whole animal to fix it. I took our dog to Groomingtails in Middleton and had an awesome experience there - his coat is in great condition now, no shaving or dog mom-shaming necessary!
Sarajane L.
Mar 09, 2019
I popped in here with my tiny girl last weekend and was greeted pleasantly with "nail trim?" This let me know immediately that 1) they're efficient and 2) they're a popular drop in groomer. The groomer, Heather, whisked Ruby to a grooming table in the spacious, airy back room which is in full view from the front lobby - I appreciated this so my pup and I could see each other. Heather did the best job ever on her nails, using the dremel, and she was very gentle with her. No stress for anyone. She advised me on future nail care to work on shortening her nail quicks, as well. We'll definitely be back!
Margo R.
May 28, 2018
Twice the Rufus DuMonde Pet Salon severely trimmed our double-coated dogs. Double-coated dogs don't easily grow back fur that is cut off, something any competent pet salon should know. The first time it happened (several years ago) to Pinkus, who had a lovely cascade of fur on his chest, tendrils of fur off his ears, and a beautiful waterfall of a tail----all gone at Rufus DuMonde!

We foolishly forgave owner Laura Anderson and trusted it would not reoccur. This past week our other dog, Gazelle, lost her skirt of ringlets, all blunt cut. Their excuse was that she had snarls, which indeed she did, but they were too lazy to comb through them and too unconcerned about the past problem to get our permission. They also blunt-cut under her chin, where there were no snarls. to add insult to injury, neither the operator who trimmed Gazelle against our express wishes nor the owner were dismayed by our distress.

They were defensive, saying, "You are never pleased!" Not true, as we returned to that salon, trusting they would not repeat such a sad mistake. Be warned if you take your pet to Rufus DuMonde, their skills matches their customer service. Pretty poor for a place whose slogan is, "We understand just how much your pets mean to you." We've asked for an overdue refund on Pinkus, and will not pay for Gazelle. So far, NOTHING. Margo R. Madison, Wisconsin
Jenna R.
Apr 01, 2016
I'm so happy I looked into Rufus du Monde for cat grooming. Their name coupled with their Willy Street location led me to assume their pricing would be expensive. However, they are the cheapest cat groomer I've yet to find in Madison. $65 for a lion cut, including a bath and blow-dry. What a treat! The whole event took less than two hours. Do plan ahead though, they run by appointment only and were booked out three to four weeks when I scheduled. Overall A++++
Suzanne S.
Dec 22, 2015
Took my wiggly Labrador for a nail trim - first time at Rufus DuMonde. I love the fact that I didn't need an appointment and didn't need to leave my dog and come back. Great service and very friendly staff. Given the service, price and convenience I will be back! Thank you!
Michael H.
Nov 05, 2015
If I could give 4.75 stars I would. Almost perfect. We sent our corgi fluff there for grooming. They did a great job trimming him and his coat was so wonderfully soft again after his bath. He even smelled great! They missed one or two mats (that's why I say almost perfect), but he was happy and relaxed when we picked him up. I would definitely recommend Rufus DuMonde without hesitation to anyone who asks.
Gabe C.
Aug 31, 2015
Great place. Only place that takes the dog and does the dog right then no waiting all day and the dog sitting in a kennel.
Conswello C.
Aug 03, 2015
Today was my first time having our 2 Portuguese Water Dogs groomed at Rufus DuMonde Pet Salon and I can't help but to keep smiling at the work that was done. The work our 2 PWDs needed seemed extensive, especially since one is a 5 month old puppy. It's tough to find a place that will cut our dogs the way we like and this was perfect. The consult before the grooming was great and I'm just thrilled. I will no longer be searching for a place to get our dogs groomed, because I have officially found it! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Lizzie M.
Jun 18, 2015
I brought my papillon dog, Vivie here yesterday for her first grooming since adopting her. The staff was helpful and knowledgeable in helping me decide what kind of cut options I had for her breed. The groomer even gave me some pointers in brushing her, as I am a new dog owner. I really appreciated how much the groomer seemed to like dogs. The cut took less than an hour and a half, and my dog was happy when I arrived, not scared and confused like sometimes dogs can get when you leave them in new places. I'd definitely recommend! The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and best of all, will really like and take great care of your pup!
Theresa B.
May 03, 2015
We have 2 border terriers that have been hand stripped twice at Rufus Dumonde. They do an excellent job hand stripping their coats. Salsa and Diva do not mind having their special time at this salon/ spa. They come out smelling and looking pretty! I highly recommend this salon, especially for wire coated terriers. The two groomers, Laura and Katie, are excellent. They are very attentive to the dogs' grooming needs as hand stripping is labor intensive.
Michele B.
Dec 20, 2014
Paula did a great job simply trimming my kitty's nail today. I called and they said to come on over anytime. My kitty is a handful and they were nice and patient. Great location and pricing!
Erin E.
Jun 13, 2013
I had an awesome experience at Rufus Dumonde! I took Sully, my two year-old Maine Coon, in for his first ever lion cut with Paula. She did an excellent job. Sully was done in about an hour; his cut looked great, his nails were trimmed, and he didn't seem too stressed out by the experience. Sully purred the whole way home in his cat carrier-- I think he appreciated his new cut, too. Paula definitely knows what she's doing when it comes to grooming cats. We're totally coming back!
Jennifer G.
Jun 05, 2013
Great experience. I dropped my girl off with Paula and she phoned when she was nearly done two hours later. I found my happy dog fresh and clean with trimmed nails and a summer haircut. She even put two little bows in her hair, which was a funny surprise. It is two days later and she still smells great and is ready for summer heat when it gets here.
Natasha K.
May 03, 2013
We came here with our goldendoodle puppy, with quite a few matted areas on his body. We initially went to PetSmart where they pretty much told us they were going to cut him from head to toe. We were completely devastated because of our pup's gorgeous fluffy coat. After meeting with Paula, who gave excellent reassurance, we ended up with a still fluffy as can be pup with his matted areas gone. The pricing is quite reasonable, because you definitely pay for what you get here. Paula did a wonderful job with our pup and we will never go anywhere else again.
Sarah N.
Dec 13, 2012
The only place in town I will take my dogs. I have a terrier mix and a giant schnauzer. The terrier gets hand-stripped by Laura. Few groomers still hand-strip. The giant gets shaved since she is no longer in a stripped show coat. The owner, Laura, and her staff are friendly and the shop is nicely kept. The dogs smell and look wonderful when they leave. Couldn't be happier!
Scott U.
Oct 08, 2012
They do a great job on my poodle here. Very attentive, thorough, and skillful grooming. Nice low-stress environment for my pup too.
Robert D.
Jan 05, 2011
We love this place! I don't know what this other guy is talking about. The crew at Rufus are always bright and friendly, and have a great rapport with our pooch. We tried a few different groomers in Madison, but none could follow our instructions, and couldn't figure out how to cut our Jack Russell-mix correctly. Went to Rufus and our little guy came back handsome as ever, and fresh-smelling, too! We're customers for as long as we are in Madison. The only drawback is they are tough to get into -- appointments are usually booked a month out, so call well in advance.
Benjamin W.
Dec 18, 2010
In one word - AVOID! Petco could do a better job. I took my dog here, and they had her ready in one hour. One hour? That isn't enough time to wash her. They do not hand trim. There was no fresh smell on my dog like there should be for a few days after a complete grooming, I am sure there are better groomers in Madison, I will find them.