The Pet Pad
Dogs with anxiety find their stride here — multiple owners say theirs now run eagerly through the door.
The combined groom-and-day-care model is genuinely distinctive: the ability to book both services on the same day and not pay extra to hold your dog afterward is something reviewers flag as practically useful, not just a nice-to-have. That said, a small but visible cluster of reviews — roughly four in this sample — describes finishing cuts that were significantly shorter or different than what owners requested, with Pomeranians mentioned more than once. If you have a breed with a coat that's sensitive to over-cutting, it's worth being very explicit at drop-off about maximum length and confirming the groomer has handled that breed before.
Their work
What it's like working with them
Based on a sample of Google reviews (136 total)
What they help with
Based on what their customers hired them for
Credentials & background
Sourced from 5 public records so you don't have to look them up yourself
About The Pet Pad
Run by owner Emma, The Pet Pad offers dog grooming alongside doggy day care, meaning you can combine a groom with a full day of socialisation and have the business hold your dog afterward at no extra charge — a genuinely useful setup for working owners. Emma's team handles everything from breed-specific cuts (Pomeranian lion cuts, traditional Westie clips, schnoodle and doodle trims) to hydrobaths, deshedding treatments, and puppy first-groom experiences, and several reviewers specifically praise how the groomers walk owners through a checklist to avoid miscommunication about the final look. The facility is one of the few in inner Brisbane to take cats for deshedding and grooming, filling a gap that's genuinely hard to fill in this market. Named staff members Shannon, Lani, and Kearna are singled out for their calm handling of anxious dogs, and multiple reviewers note their dogs actively run toward the door on arrival — a useful real-world signal about the day-care floor environment. The business operates as a registered company and has been trading roughly two years in Newstead, though several reviewers mention loyalty spanning much longer, suggesting the brand or team may have been operating under different arrangements prior.
Best for: anxious dogs needing calm and patient grooming, working owners who want to combine a groom with a full day-care session, cat owners looking for deshedding treatments in inner Brisbane, and owners of longer-coated breeds seeking breed-specific styling.
Location
About Newstead — local context+
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Claim This Profile — Free →Common questions about The Pet Pad
Can I book a groom and day care on the same day at The Pet Pad?+
Yes — this is one of the things reviewers specifically call out as useful. You can book a groom alongside a day care session, and the team will hold your dog in day care before or after the groom at no extra charge. Multiple owners mention this makes it much easier to fit around a work day without needing to rush back for a pick-up window.
Does The Pet Pad groom cats as well as dogs?+
Yes, and this is relatively uncommon in the Newstead area. At least two reviewers specifically mention taking short-haired cats for deshedding grooms and being happy with the results — noting a visible reduction in shedding and improved coat condition. However, one reviewer had a poor experience with a long-haired cat shave that was left incomplete, so it's worth discussing your cat's coat type and temperament in advance.
What do customers say about pricing at The Pet Pad?+
Pricing is consistently described as reasonable or affordable relative to other inner-Brisbane groomers. Reviews don't quote specific prices for most services, but grooming packages that include hydrobath, shampoo, blow-dry, and styling are the most commonly praised. One reviewer mentioned a $97 groom for a young dog, though they were dissatisfied with the outcome — so pricing context varies by service and breed.
How does The Pet Pad handle anxious or nervous dogs?+
Several reviewers bring dogs specifically because of anxiety issues, and staff members Shannon, Lani, and Kearna are named for their calm, patient handling. The business uses a grooming checklist at drop-off to reduce miscommunication, and groomers are described as taking time to let nervous dogs acclimatise before the groom begins. One owner of an extremely anxious Shih Tzu says she wouldn't consider going anywhere else.
What should I do to make sure my dog's groom matches what I want?+
Based on review patterns, being specific at drop-off makes a real difference here. The team uses a checklist to capture your preferences, so arrive with clear instructions about coat length, any areas to avoid trimming, and breed-specific requirements. A small number of reviewers — particularly Pomeranian owners — describe cuts coming out shorter than expected, so if your breed has a coat that's sensitive to over-cutting, confirm maximum length in millimetres rather than relying on descriptive terms like 'tidy up' or 'light trim'.