Grooming
Grooming of cats, and dogs of all sizes and breeds.
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Nanaimo, BC · Locally owned
The best care for your best friend!
Low-stress grooming for cats & dogs, enrichment-focused PlaySkool daycare run by certified trainers, hands-on dog training, and a raw food store — all under one friendly roof.
Low-stress, positive handling
CPDT-KA certified trainers
Cat & dog specialists
What we do
Everything your pet needs, in one place
Four ways we care for your best friend — pick what they need today.
PlaySkool Daycare
A structured / enrichment-style daycare run by certified trainers.
Learn moreTraining
Group classes and private lessons with a CPDT-KA certified trainer.
Learn moreRaw Food Store
Your best friend deserves the best meal.
Learn more
Grooming
Compassionate grooming for cats & dogs
With the emotional and physical well-being of your pet in mind, our caring team of professionals, who are all trained to the latest grooming standards, will treat your pets as they would their own, with compassion and love.
Your pet benefits from:
- Low-stress handling and positive based techniques.
- The best products to get the job done to the highest standard.
- Puppy grooming that is tailored to the needs of you and your pet.
- Rest breaks during the grooming process to help relieve stress.
- Dog grooming and cat grooming specialists on staff.
- Behaviour-knowledgeable groomers who know how to work with fearful, nervous or anxious pets.
PlaySkool Daycare
Supporting your dog's training and development with enrichment-focused daycare
At Wild Tails, we believe daycare should do more than simply keep dogs busy. Our program balances exercise, socialization, mental engagement and rest so your dog goes home happy and settled.
The five pillars of enrichment
01
Physical
Purposeful movement and exercise that build confidence.
02
Mental
Problem-solving, learning, and activities that engage the mind.
03
Social
Thoughtfully managed interactions that encourage healthy play.
04
Sensory
Opportunities to explore new scents, textures and environments.
05
Calm & Emotional
Structured rest and decompression that help prevent overstimulation.
A balanced day: Dogs receive approximately 40–45 minutes of play, learning and enrichment, alternating with 40–45 minutes of crate rest throughout their stay.
Daycare rates
Half Day
$38.10 + tax
Up to 6 hours of supervised play & rest.
Most popular
Full Day
$50.48 + tax
6–10 hours. Save with a 10-pack: pay for 9, get the 10th free.
Initial Assessment
$25.00 + tax
A 2-hour visit so we can get to know your dog before their first full day.
Multiple-dog and 5-day packages are also available — just ask. Prices shown for reference; please confirm current rates when you register.
Is your dog ready for PlaySkool?
- All ages welcome — puppies need their first set of vaccines.
- Neutered males preferred; intact dogs over 8 months are not eligible.
- Females not in season are eligible.
- Proof of current vaccinations required (Distemper, Rabies, Parvo — max 3 years old).
- A health certificate is acceptable (not older than 6 months).
- Must be flea/tick-free and current on preventatives.
- Crate training is required.
Training
Dog training and puppy training classes
Group classes and one-on-one lessons with Stephanie, our CPDT-KA certified trainer — available on-site or in-home within Nanaimo.
Basic Manners Class
A basic-level class where you will learn how to connect on a deeper level with your dog. Covers basic manners, impulse control, calming techniques, loose-leash walking, house manners and the beginning of how to have a polite dog out in the world.
Puppy Kindergarten
Specifically for pups 2–6 months of age — a friendly, structured start that sets your puppy up for a confident life.
Private Lessons $165 / $400
One-hour, 1-on-1 sessions with CPDT-KA trainer Stephanie, who builds a lesson plan tailored to your dog's needs. Available on-site or in-home in Nanaimo.
Specialty Classes
Take your skills further with Rally Obedience, Beyond the Basics, and Trick Class. Enrollment by email.
Raw Food Store
Your best friend deserves the best meal
Order online and pick up the next business day. If a product you are looking for isn't currently in stock, email us at info@wildtails.ca and we'll add it to our order list.
Payment is easy — by phone, at pickup, or by e-transfer to info@wildtails.ca. When ordering, be sure to fill in all the options for a product (protein, size, with/without veggies) before it shows availability.
Brands we carry
Healthy Paws
Carnivora Food Products
Carnivora Supplements
Pet Lover's Choice
Adored Beast Apothecary
Kelp
Gallery
A few of our furry friends
Grooming glow-ups, daycare adventures and happy faces from around Wild Tails.
Happy tails
What Nanaimo pet parents say
★★★★★
Just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the job Cindi did on both Ginger and Lark — they looked and felt wonderful.
★★★★★
My pup has been going to PlaySkool for months now. The staff are so kind, and he comes home happy and tired every single time.
★★★★★
To Stephanie for making “Elementary Skool” so enriching — the difference in our dog's confidence has been amazing.
Our Team
Meet the team!
The friendly faces (and a few four-legged ones) who look after your best friend every day.
Grooming Department
Mel
Dog & Cat Grooming Assistant
Taylor & Roxy
Groomer & Grooming Assistant
Tori
Dog Groomer
Amy
Dog Groomer (small / medium)
Cindi
Dog Groomer
Dinah
Dog & Cat Groomer
Devon, Solomon & Lazarus
Dog Groomer
PlaySkool Department
Stephanie & Molly
PlaySkool Manager · CPDT-KA Certified Trainer
Taylor & Bear
PlaySkool Attendant
Kat & Winston
PlaySkool Attendant
Camryn
PlaySkool Attendant
Reception Department
Talia, Reuben & Abby
Owner
Chelsea
Office Assistant
Keli & Abby
Office Assistant
Kaley & Loyal
Office Staff
Good to know
Grooming — frequently asked questions
Puppies should have a minimum of two sets of vaccinations before grooming. We keep young puppies separated from other dogs for safety, and recommend early grooming exposure to help acclimate them to the process.
For matted dogs, our groomers may use a mat-breaker tool to separate clumps of hair. If the matting is severe, clipping down your dog's coat so we can start fresh may be necessary. Your dog's health and well-being come first throughout the groom.
A complete groom includes a hair trim/clip, full brush and comb-out, a bath with suitable shampoo and conditioner, hand-held blow-drying, a professional scissor finish, ear cleaning, anal-gland expression, and a nail trim. We also monitor for health concerns and provide a treatment report.
The extended timeframe lets pets relax with rest breaks between the six grooming steps: assessment, roughing in, bathing, blow-dry/comb-out, ear & nail care, and finishing. This prevents stress and keeps both your pet and our groomers safe.
Most of the time it's no problem if you wish to drop off your pet early, though grooming won't begin until the scheduled appointment time. Please call ahead to confirm scheduling.
Contact
Come say hi 🐾
We operate by appointment only, and are closed on holidays and during the Christmas–New Year period. We'd love to meet you and your best friend.
- Visit us4512 Wellington Road, Nanaimo, BC
- Call(250) 758-3908
- Emailinfo@wildtails.ca
-
HoursMonday – Friday: 7:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Ready to treat your best friend?
Book grooming, register for PlaySkool, sign up for training, or order raw food — we can't wait to meet you.