Essential Grooming
& Wellness · Santee, CA
(619) 334-1070 Book Online

Your dog leaves looking like someone took their time.

A family-run salon in Santee with more than 100 years of grooming experience under one roof. Full scissor cuts, fine detail, and a bath where the nails, ears and glands are already included.

Book online (619) 334-1070

Monday–Saturday, 8:00 am – 5:30 pm · Grooming is by appointment

A freshly groomed cream goldendoodle sitting and smiling, wearing a sky-blue bandana.
Santee Favorites
Winner, 2023
2010
Grooming Santee
since
100+ yrs
Combined experience
in the salon
Dogs & Cats
All breeds,
all coat types
Family
Owned and run,
never a franchise

No add-on menu

The nails, ears and glands are already in the price.

Plenty of salons quote you a bath, then charge separately for the nails, then the ears, then the glands. Ours come together. The price you book is the price you pay.

Bath & blow-dry
Full brush out
Nail trim
Ear cleaning
Anal glands, if needed
Sanitary & paw-pad shave
Feet trim, if needed
Cologne, bandana or bows

This month at the salon

Non-anesthetic teeth cleaning is here.

We have teamed up with Breath Savers Pet Dental Care for a one-day clinic. No anesthesia and no sedation — just a gentle, thorough cleaning while your pet stays awake and comfortable.

When Wednesday, September 30
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Price $175
$25 deposit to hold your slot
Appointments 20-minute slots
Booked by phone only
Call to reserve a slot

Dog grooming

Prices, by size.

Grooming is by appointment. Every price is a starting price — the final cost depends on your dog’s breed and the condition of their coat.

Not sure which size to book? Give us a call and we will tell you which one fits your dog before you book anything.

Bath

No haircut. Bath, brush out, nails, sanitary and paw-pad shave, feet trim if needed, ears wiped, glands if needed.

Smallfrom $40
Mediumfrom $55
Largefrom $65
Extra largefrom $95
Book a bath
Most booked

Bath & Haircut

The full groom. Bath, nails, whole-body haircut finished by hand, ears wiped, glands if needed.

Smallfrom $75
Mediumfrom $85
Largefrom $130
Book a full groom

Wash & Go

One wash, towel dry, done. Your dog goes home damp. Good for a quick freshen-up between full grooms. Add a blow-dry for $10.

Small$20
Medium$25
Large$30
Extra large$35
Book a wash & go

Add-ons

Added to any bath or groom.

Premium spa bath upgrade teeth, conditioner, paw butter, blueberry facial$20
Teeth brushing no scaling$10
Furminator de-shed small$20
Furminator de-shed medium$25
Furminator de-shed large$35
Brush out small / medium / large$10 / $15 / $20
Whole face trim small / medium / large$10 / $15 / $20
Haunch trim$20
Flea shampoo not a dip$10
Skunk shampoo$10
Mud treatment$10
Blueberry facial · conditioner$5 each

We also sell Vectra, a 30-day flea and tick treatment, for $25 in the salon. We do not offer de-matting or hand-stripping.

No appointment needed

Walk in for nails, ears and glands.

Quick jobs do not need a booking. Come by during walk-in hours and we will take care of it while you wait.

Walk-in hours
Monday–Thursday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday & Saturday, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Nail trim cut and dremel$15
Ear cleaning wiped, no flushing$10
Anal glands dogs only, external$10
Blow dry for wash & goes$10

Yes, we groom cats

Cats are welcome here, and we mean it.

Plenty of salons turn cats away or rush them through. We take our time, work at your cat’s pace, and handle long coats without a fight.

A long-haired cream and ginger cat lying relaxed with half-closed eyes while a groomer gently brushes its ruff.
Bath only no haircut · nails, ears wipedfrom $75
Haircut only no bath · nails, ears wipedfrom $95
Bath & haircut whole body · nails, ears wipedfrom $120
Furminator de-shed$25
Nail trim walk-in$15
Close-up of a groomer's hands using straight scissors to shape the fine coat on a fluffy dog's leg.

Why people drive across town

We finish every cut by hand.

Full scissor cuts are the thing we are proudest of. Not a clipper run over the top and out the door — actual shaping, finished with fine detail, on every dog that comes through.

There is more than a century of grooming experience inside this salon. Jessica’s mother Pat has been doing this for 49 years, and she is still on the floor.

Straight from our Instagram

The work speaks for itself.

Real dogs, groomed here, posted as they leave. Every one goes home brushed out, trimmed, smelling good and wearing a bandana or bows.

A finished groom, fresh off our table. @essentialgrooming Watch on Instagram →
Trimmed, fluffed and thoroughly pleased about it. @essentialgrooming Watch on Instagram →
Getting the facial floofs tidied up. @essentialgrooming Watch on Instagram →

See everything on Instagram →

Meet the team

The people who will be holding your dog.

Jessica Dombroski

Owner

Jessica has been in a grooming salon since she was a little girl. Her mom Pat took her back to the shop every day after school, and owning her own salon became the dream she carried for life. Between four kids, a husband of 21 years and ministry at her church, it seemed impossible — until 2021, when she took over Essential Grooming. Her goal was a safe, fun place for animals and staff alike, where people can practise their craft and their love for animals.

Pat

Groomer · 49 years

Jessica’s mother, and the reason any of this exists. Pat has been grooming for 49 years and is still on the floor most days — the largest share of the salon’s hundred-plus years of experience.

Our groomers

Over 100 years between them

The rest of the team have been grooming for decades between them, and most of our clients ask for someone by name. Tell us who your dog gets on with and we will book you with them.

What Santee says

Voted a Santee Favorite.

Essential Grooming & Wellness won Santee Favorites in 2023, and word of mouth has done the rest.

Santee Favorites · Winner 2023
Read our Google reviews Read us on Yelp

Before you book

The questions we get asked most.

How does booking online work?
It takes about a minute. You will start by entering your phone number — that is how the salon pulls up your pet’s file and grooming history, so we already know their coat, their cut and how they did last time. If you are new, it creates the file for you.
Do I need to bring vaccination records?
No. We do not require vaccination records to book or to be seen.
Which size should I book for my dog?
Size is based on your dog’s breed, weight and coat rather than a strict weight chart. If you are not sure, call us on (619) 334-1070 and we will tell you which one to book before you pay anything.
Is a deposit required?
Not for grooming appointments. The only exception is the non-anesthetic dental clinic, which takes a $25 deposit to hold your slot.
What happens if I need to cancel?
Just let us know at least 24 hours ahead and there is no charge. Cancelling inside 24 hours carries a $25 fee, because that slot usually cannot be filled.
Can I walk in without an appointment?
For nail trims, ear cleaning and anal glands, yes — no appointment needed during walk-in hours, which are Monday to Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Friday and Saturday 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Full baths and haircuts are by appointment.
My dog is matted. Can you help?
We do not offer de-matting or hand-stripping. We do offer a brush out, and for heavy shedding a Furminator treatment. Call us and describe the coat — we will tell you honestly what we can do before you book.
Do you groom cats?
Yes, and we would like to do more of it. Bath only starts at $75, a haircut without a bath at $95, and a full bath and haircut at $120. We work at the cat’s pace.
Can I text you?
Our main line takes calls only and does not receive texts. Call (619) 334-1070, email bark@essentialgroomingsalon.com, or message us on Instagram or Facebook.
How do I pay?
We accept all major payment methods except Venmo and Zelle.

Visit us

Carlton Oaks Plaza, Santee.

Same plaza as the Santee Library, Janet’s Cafe and Kaffee Meister. Easy parking right out front.

Get directions
Address
9225 Carlton Hills Blvd, Suite 22
Santee, CA 92071
Phone
(619) 334-1070
Calls only — this line does not receive texts
Email
bark@essentialgroomingsalon.com
Salon hours
Monday–Saturday, 8:00 am – 5:30 pm
Grooming by appointment
Walk-in hours
Mon–Thu, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Fri & Sat, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Nails, ears and glands only
Cancellations
We ask for 24 hours’ notice. Cancelling inside 24 hours carries a $25 fee.
Deposits
Not required for grooming. The September 30 dental clinic takes a $25 deposit to hold your slot.
Vaccinations
No vaccination records required to book.
Payment
All major payment methods accepted, except Venmo and Zelle.
Service area
Storefront salon only — we do not offer mobile or in-home grooming.

Let’s get your dog on the books.

Book online in about a minute, or call and talk to someone in the shop. Either way you will get a straight answer on price before anything starts.

Book online Call (619) 334-1070
Call Book Now