Dog & Cat Grooming in Worthington, Ohio

Designer Paws Salon is the closest award-winning dog and cat grooming salon to Worthington, Ohio. Our flagship Upper Arlington location at 2824 Fishinger Road sits about 15 minutes south of Old Worthington via SR 315 or High Street, and we serve pet families across the Worthington area — Old Worthington, Worthington Estates, Colonial Hills, Linworth, the Wilson Bridge Road corridor, and Sharon Township. 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 big-box salons and rotating-stylist chains can’t match.

Driving to Designer Paws from Worthington

Our Upper Arlington salon at 2824 Fishinger Road is the closest Designer Paws location for Worthington residents. The drive is straightforward whether you’re starting from Old Worthington, the Wilson Bridge corridor, or further north:

From Old Worthington & the Village Green — about 15 minutes south on High Street, then west on Henderson Road and south on Riverside Drive to Fishinger
From Worthington Estates & Colonial Hills — 12 to 15 minutes south on SR 315, exit Henderson Road west, then south on Riverside
From Linworth & the northwest side — 12 minutes south on Linworth Road to Riverside Drive
From Wilson Bridge Road & the office corridor — 12 to 15 minutes via SR 315 south to Henderson, then Riverside
From Sharon Township & northwest Worthington — 15 to 18 minutes via I-270 south to Riverside Drive

We sit on Fishinger Road just west of Riverside Drive, with free on-site parking and a ground-level entrance — easy in, easy out, even with a large or anxious dog. Worthington pet owners often tell us the trip is shorter than they expected once they avoid the chain salons along Wilson Bridge and head straight south on SR 315 or High Street.

Why Worthington Pet Families Make the Drive

Worthington has a few grooming options — chain salons in pet superstores, mobile groomers with limited capacity, and a couple of small shops along the High Street corridor. What we offer that they don’t:

Competition-trained groomers — our team competes at national grooming shows and brings that 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 area. Cat clients never see or hear a dog during their visit. Most Worthington-area groomers either don’t take cats 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
All sizes and coats — up to 250 pounds — Worthington’s mix of Goldens, retrievers, terriers, doodles, and the occasional large breed all get the same careful treatment

Grooming Services for Worthington Pet Owners

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

Full-service dog grooming — breed-specific haircuts on every coat type. Worthington’s mix of doodles, retrievers, and traditional terrier breeds all get 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 — particularly relevant for Worthington’s traditional terrier owners
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 Worthington Breeds & What Their Grooming Looks Like

Worthington’s older neighborhoods and tradition-leaning families mean we see a different breed mix than the newer suburbs — more terriers and traditional show breeds, alongside the universal Goldens and doodles. A few breeds we see often from Worthington clients and what their grooming typically involves:

Wire-coated terriers (Wire Fox, Schnauzer, Cairn, Westie, Lakeland) — Worthington has one of the higher concentrations of traditional terriers we see in Central Ohio. Hand stripping rather than clipping preserves the coarse coat texture and color these breeds are meant to have
Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, Bernedoodles — full groom every 4 to 6 weeks to prevent matting at friction points (collar, harness, behind ears, between legs). See our Goldendoodle guide and Bernedoodle guide
Golden Retrievers & Labradors — regular deshed and skin-conditioning baths keep the feathering and undercoat in shape. Golden Retriever grooming guide
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels & Cocker Spaniels — feathered coats common in Worthington families. Regular bath-and-trim keeps the ear feathering and skirts clean and mat-free
Yorkies, Maltese, Shih Tzus — small-breed scissor work and breed cuts. Shih Tzu grooming guide covers coat-specific tips
Long-haired cats — Persians, Maine Coons, Ragdolls — Worthington has many older cat owners who value our dedicated cat-only room. We handle severely matted senior cats other groomers refuse

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

What to Expect on Your First Worthington 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. 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 Worthington Neighborhoods

We see clients regularly from across the Worthington area:

Old Worthington & the Village Green district — historic Worthington along High Street and the Granville Road corridor
Worthington Estates & Colonial Hills — the established residential corridor along Hard Road and Schrock
Linworth & northwest Worthington — Linworth Road / Olentangy River area
Wilson Bridge Road corridor — north Worthington along the office corridor
Sharon Township & Sharon Woods — northwest Worthington
Clintonville & the High Street corridor south — the southern transition into Columbus along High Street

What Worthington-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.

Worthington Grooming FAQ

How often should I bring my Worthington 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. Our grooming frequency guide covers this in more detail.

Do you do hand stripping for terriers near Worthington?
Yes — and Worthington has one of the higher concentrations of traditional wire-coated terriers we see in Central Ohio, so hand stripping is one of our most-asked services from this area. Hand stripping preserves the coarse texture and color that Wire Fox Terriers, Schnauzers, Cairns, Westies, and Border Terriers are meant to have. Plan for a longer initial appointment so we can assess coat condition and stage the work properly.

Do you do cat grooming for Worthington 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 Worthington groomers may turn away. Read more about our cat grooming approach.

Can you handle my senior dog or cat from the Worthington area?
Yes — older pets are some of our most rewarding clients. We adjust the pace, take frequent breaks, and skip steps that aren’t safe for arthritic or anxious seniors. Many Worthington clients have brought us their senior pets after another groomer “couldn’t handle them” — that’s exactly the case we’re built for.

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

Is there a closer Designer Paws location to Worthington than Upper Arlington?
Upper Arlington is the closest at about 15 minutes from Old Worthington. Our Westerville salon is also an option for Worthington clients on the northeast side, about 15 to 18 minutes east via I-270.

Book Your Worthington-Area Appointment

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

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

Westerville (alternate, northeast side of Worthington):
5991 Maxtown Road, Westerville, OH 43082
Phone: 614-859-1576
Email: westerville.front@designerpawssalon.com
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 9 AM – 6 PM

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 Worthington Ohio