Dog & Cat Grooming in Hilliard, Ohio

Designer Paws Salon is the closest award-winning dog and cat grooming salon to Hilliard, Ohio. Our flagship Upper Arlington location at 2824 Fishinger Road sits about 12 minutes east of Old Hilliard via Cemetery Road, and we serve pet families across the entire Hilliard area — Old Hilliard, Hilliard Crossing, Heritage Lakes, Mill Run, Galloway, and Lincoln Village. Every dog and cat we see gets one-on-one attention from competition-trained, nationally award-winning groomers in a salon built specifically for the kind of careful, low-stress grooming that bigger box salons and rotating-stylist chains can’t match.

Driving to Designer Paws from Hilliard

Our Upper Arlington salon at 2824 Fishinger Road is the closest Designer Paws location for Hilliard residents. The route is straightforward whether you’re coming from Old Hilliard, Heritage Lakes, or the I-270 corridor:

From Old Hilliard & Heritage Trail — about 12 minutes east on Cemetery Road, then south on Riverside Drive to Fishinger
From Hilliard Crossing & Mill Run — 10 minutes south via Mill Run Drive to I-270 east, exit at Riverside Drive
From Heritage Lakes & the Hilliard-Rome corridor — 12 to 15 minutes via I-270 east to the Riverside Drive south exit
From Galloway & Lincoln Village — 15 to 18 minutes via I-270 north then east to Riverside

We sit on Fishinger Road just west of Riverside Drive, with free on-site parking and a ground-level entrance — easy to get in and out, even with a large or anxious dog. Hilliard pet owners typically tell us the drive is faster than they expected once they skip the big-box pet salons on Hilliard-Rome Road and head straight east into Upper Arlington.

Why Hilliard Pet Families Make the Drive

There are plenty of grooming options inside the Hilliard city limits — chain salons inside pet superstores, mobile groomers with limited capacity, and walk-in shops. What we offer that those don’t:

Competition-trained groomers — our team competes at national grooming shows and brings that level of precision and continuing education to every appointment, not just show dogs
A dedicated cat-only grooming room — physically separated from the dog floor with its own quiet drying setup, so cat clients never see or hear a dog during their visit. Most Hilliard groomers either don’t take cats at all or groom them in a corner of the dog salon
Hydro-massage bath station — warm recirculating water that reaches the skin, gentler on anxious or matted pets than a standard tub
Individual dry kennels — every dog has their own quiet space while drying. No stacked kennels, no shared drying areas, no rushed turnover
One-on-one stylist appointments — your pet’s groomer is with them from intake to pickup, not handed off across multiple staff during a single visit
All sizes and coats — up to 250 pounds — Hilliard’s mix of doodles, German Shepherds, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and the occasional Newfoundland or Great Pyrenees all get the same careful treatment

Grooming Services for Hilliard Pet Owners

The full menu, all available at our Upper Arlington salon for Hilliard clients:

Full-service dog grooming — breed-specific haircuts on every coat type. Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, and Bernedoodles are common Hilliard breeds; we do scissor work, hand-scissoring, and breed-pattern cuts that hold their shape between visits
Cat grooming — lion cuts, comb-outs, sanitary trims, and full bath-and-brush in our dedicated cat-only room. We handle senior cats, long-haired Persians and Maine Coons, and cats with severe matting that other groomers turn away
Hand stripping — the traditional technique for terriers and wire-coated breeds (Wire Fox Terriers, Schnauzers, Cairns, Westies, Border Terriers) that preserves coat texture and color the way clipping never can. One of the only Central Ohio salons still doing hand stripping at competition level
Creative grooming — pet-safe color, asymmetric trims, and artistic styling for parades, photo shoots, or just for fun
Bath & brush-out — hydro-massage bath, hand drying, nail trim, ear cleaning, and sanitary trim. Great between full grooms or for short-coated breeds that don’t need a haircut
Puppy Package — a gentle, confidence-building first-groom experience for puppies under 5 months. The most important groom of your pup’s life sets the tone for every visit after

Common Hilliard Breeds & What Their Grooming Looks Like

Hilliard’s family-friendly neighborhoods skew toward medium and large dogs, with a strong showing of doodles and herding breeds. A few of the breeds we see most often from Hilliard clients and what their grooming typically involves:

Goldendoodles & Labradoodles — full groom every 4 to 6 weeks to prevent matting at friction points (collar, harness, behind ears, between the legs). We hand-scissor the head and legs and use breed-specific clipper work on the body. See our Goldendoodle grooming guide for at-home care
Bernese Mountain Dogs & Newfoundlands — heavy double coats need deep deshed treatments seasonally, plus regular bath-and-brush to keep the undercoat moving. We have the bath capacity and high-velocity drying to handle them properly
Golden Retrievers & Labradors — short and medium double coats; regular deshed and skin-conditioning baths keep them comfortable and shed-controlled at home
German Shepherds — heavy seasonal blowing of the undercoat needs a real high-velocity dryer (not what a household shop-vac can do)
Yorkies, Maltese, Shih Tzus — small-breed scissor work and breed cuts. We do these alongside the bigger dogs without compromising attention. See our Shih Tzu grooming guide for coat-specific tips
Wire-coated terriers (Westie, Schnauzer, Cairn) — hand stripping rather than clipping preserves the coarse coat texture and color these breeds are meant to have

Of course we groom every breed — this is just what we see most often from Hilliard.

What to Expect on Your First Hilliard Visit

If you’ve never groomed with us before, here’s how a first visit works:

Book online at app.designerpawssalon.com — pick the service, location, and time that works. New clients can also call 614-948-7800 to talk through what your pet needs first
Arrive at 2824 Fishinger Road — free on-site parking, ground-level entrance. Plan an extra 5 minutes the first time so we can do a full intake
Intake conversation with your stylist — we go over what cut or style you want, any sensitivities or anxieties, current matting condition, and health concerns. For matted pets we discuss humane options together rather than pushing through
Grooming time — most full grooms take 2 to 3 hours; large dogs, heavy double coats, or matted pets may take longer. We don’t rush, and we won’t book another dog tightly behind yours
Pickup & review — we walk you through what we did, what we recommend for at-home maintenance, and book your next appointment if you’d like

Convenient to Hilliard Neighborhoods

We see clients regularly from across the Hilliard area:

Old Hilliard & downtown Hilliard — close to the Heritage Trail and the historic shopping district
Hilliard Crossing & Heritage Lakes — the residential corridor along Cemetery Road and Britton Parkway
Heritage Trail & Mill Run — west Hilliard families along Mill Run Drive
Galloway & West Columbus — south of Hilliard, close to I-270
Lincoln Village & Westland — west of I-270, easy access east via I-270 to Fishinger
Brown Township & rural Hilliard — for the larger-property families with multiple dogs

What Hilliard-Area Clients Say

“I took my cat in on Tuesday and had a wonderful experience. It was quick — around only an hour — and they did an amazing job. My cat is an older gal who doesn’t keep up with herself very well anymore, and she came home the cleanest and softest she has been in years. I would highly recommend them for anyone with a cat needing a little extra TLC.”

— Kelly L.

“I didn’t catch the girl’s name today but she was so sweet and took care of my Chanel. I have never had a bad experience here and they are always quick and pleasant with any interaction. I have recommended them multiple times to my friends, especially since not many do cat grooming.”

— Kelsey B.

Hilliard Grooming FAQ

How often should I bring my Hilliard dog in for grooming?
For most coated breeds (doodles, terriers, spaniels, retrievers with feathering), every 4 to 6 weeks keeps them comfortable and prevents matting. Short-coated breeds usually do well with a bath-and-brush every 6 to 8 weeks. We’ll recommend a cadence based on your specific dog after the first appointment. Our grooming frequency guide covers this in more detail.

Do you do cat grooming for Hilliard cats?
Yes — we have a dedicated cat-only grooming room with its own quiet drying area. We groom Persians, Maine Coons, Ragdolls, short-haired cats with severe matting, senior cats, and anxious cats that other Hilliard groomers may turn away. Read more about our cat grooming approach.

Can you handle my big Bernese / Newfoundland / Great Dane from the Hilliard area?
Yes — we groom dogs up to 250 pounds. Our bath and drying setup is built for large double coats. Heavy breeds typically need 3 to 4 hours for a full deshed, so we book them a longer slot.

Do you offer hand stripping for terriers near Hilliard?
Yes, and we’re one of the few salons in Central Ohio doing hand stripping properly. Hand stripping preserves the coarse texture and color that wire-coated breeds are meant to have. Plan for a longer initial appointment so we can assess coat condition and stage the work properly.

What about matted dog hair — will you turn us away?
We don’t turn matted pets away. We assess severity at intake and discuss the humane options together — sometimes that’s a careful clip-down, sometimes it’s a longer demat session, and sometimes it’s a referral to a vet for sedation if the matting is dangerous. Our matted dog hair guide walks through what to expect.

Is there a closer Designer Paws location to Hilliard than Upper Arlington?
Upper Arlington is the closest at about 12 minutes from Old Hilliard. Our Westerville salon is on the northeast side of Columbus and is better suited for clients near Polaris and the north suburbs.

Book Your Hilliard-Area Appointment

Ready to bring your Hilliard pet to Designer Paws? Book your appointment online any time, or call us:

Upper Arlington (closest to Hilliard):
2824 Fishinger Road, Columbus, OH 43221
Phone: 614-948-7800
Email: ua.front@designerpawssalon.com
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 9 AM – 6 PM

If you’re closer to Polaris or the north suburbs, our Westerville salon at 5991 Maxtown Road is the better option. For more on what makes Designer Paws different, see our dog grooming services, cat grooming approach, or browse our grooming blog for breed-specific guides.

Dog Grooming Hilliard Ohio