Hyattsville Pet Spa Pampers Pooches in Style

Since needed a bath, we decided to check out on Rhode Island Avenue here in Hyattsville.

The place is great. With ocean aqua walls and rich dark shelving, and just a touch of sea grass, even I wanted to get into one of the tubs and soak.

But alas, Toby had the dingy coat so up the ramp and into the dog bathtub he went, but not without much pushback.

Paw Zen owner Mark Riley used a massaging nozzle to spray Toby with water and soak his thick, shaggy winter Lab coat. He used Green Groom dog wash—which had just the slightest hint of eucalyptus scent to it—to lather Toby up, washing the webbing between his toes and cleaning his ears too.

And then Riley, who, with his wife Leslie, owns Paw Zen and A Clip Above in Capitol Heights, gave Toby a second washing.

“Even at A Clip Above we give the dogs a second wash to make sure they’re clean,” he said as he massaged more Green Groom into Toby’s double layered yellow fur.

Paw Zen opened earlier this month. There are two large tubs with walk-up ramps for baths and Riley said they are about to install additional smaller tubs. The spa offers free WiFi and cable TV while you’re waiting.

My little “escape artist” made a quick mid-bath exit of the tub, down the ramp and onto the floor, flinging foamy soap and water behind him. Riley was kind enough to help me wrestle my 90-pounder back into the basin.

With a tub collar around his neck, Toby got a good final rinse and then a blast of high-powered-tornadic-gale-force wind, courtesy of a K-9 II blow drier. It took about 10 minutes more, but Toby was thoroughly dry, undercoat and all.

Riley sprayed him with a courtesy spritz of blueberry-scented dog cologne.

“He was much better than the Rottweiler I had in here earlier,” Riley laughed as Toby exited the tub.

Paw Zen offers a full-service wash for $35 and a self-service wash for $20. You can bring your own dog shampoo or purchase some there if you wash your pup yourself.

The spa offers a variety of organic dog grooming supplies, including an oatmeal wash. You can also add on additional items a la carte for $5 extra each.