Dogma Gourmet Dog Bakery & Boutique

I really loved bringing my dog here for quite some time, but my last appointment was curious. I dropped my dog off and was called 35 minutes later (I looked at my watch, so I promise I’m not exaggerating) telling me my dog was finished and I could pick him up. Now — I love that they are efficient and don’t leave him in a cage for hours at a time, but I just cannot imagine that with the $ 65 I pay for hair trim, nail trim, teeth brushed, bath and dry — it could all possibly be done in 35 minutes. (I also called to confirm those services were what came with the $ 65). Like I said, they’ve done a great job in the past — I just felt taken advantage of, and am going to try a new groomer as a result. Just confirm the services you pay for are what you get and request a timeline.

MacKenzie did a wonderful job with our scruffy mutt! Our Hilde is still a baby so I am sure she was not too cooperative during the grooming process but MacKenzie was able to make her look groomed and adorable! We have had Hilde groomed at other places but have always been disappointed with the result. The cost of grooming is on the high side at Dogma but the results are worth every penny as they include an even cut, nail trim and ear cleaning. So happy we have found a competent and kind groomer!

My dog adores Dogma, drags me there. We buy baked dog treats, dry food, coats, booties, and of course, homemade dog ice cream in cheese and peanut butter. Friendly staff. Have not used their grooming. A wonderful addition to the Village at Shirlington.

Very quick to get groomed with nails, ears done at the same time. Oh, they bathe too!
Everything took less than 2 hours. Also, my Schnoodle looks like Poodle now which other places have never been able to do so.
I am happy but price was not as cheap as other places.

I love this place! I have no need for the groomers so my review is based on the bakery and boutique. LOVE this place, all of the treats are homemade and are healthy. The variety is ever changing and the staff is amazing. They clearly love dogs, and are so sweet. Helpful and knowledgeable. The food selection is top notch, highest quality kibble and raw, which is hard to find. Aside from the baked treats, which are very reasonable, everything is a little on the overpriced side. I like stopping by Dogma for a doggie brownie pr muffin before my pups and I grab a meal in Shirlington.
They host the best doggie events as well, Doggie Trick or Treating, Restaurant Week, and more!

Love this little bakery! I bring my dog here all the time to get their homemade ice cream, which my lab loves. The prices are a little expensive but they know their stuff when it comes to knowing dogs. I asked one of the workers what bone to give my dog since he has a sensitive stomach and he pointed me to the elk antler, which my dog absolutely loves!

I visited this after checking the treats out from the Unilocal Event at Frolick Dogs in Alexandria.
The baked goods are great and prices well. My picky Yorkshire Terrier will eat almost any baked treat from here, which is a rarity. I found a few of the shelved products (dog bowls, leashes, etc) to be overpriced, but this isn’t a standard pet store, so that’s to be expected.
Loss of points! I was completely dissatisfied with the service I was given. I walked in and the only two people in the store were the employees. They were setting up new items in the front, DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DOOR. I walked in, got a quick glance from one employee, then a delayed greeting as I waved. All she said was, «hi.» I never was asked if I needed any assistance or had any questions – luckily I don’t need hand holding, but it’s a nice gesture to at least ask. I walked aimlessly around the store, just browsing as this was my first visit. Still no interaction with the employees. All I could do was hear them talking negatively about someone (won’t make it obvious because I don’t want to affect their jobs). Hey, I get it, we all need to vent, but let’s not do it when there is a customer in the store especially when you completely ignored the customer from entering to exit.
I considered just leaving with no baked goods bc I was so bothered, but I drove all the way from Ashburn for the treats, so I got the attention of an employee, got my treats and booked it.
Hoping it was just an off day, but can’t see myself being so excited to go again.

We love this place! Great selection of healthy dog food. Staff are super friendly. The toy selection is great — love the durable toys for our pup! The birthday cake they made is beautiful!

What a quaint little place to visit after taking your dog to the dog park. I’ve been taking my pups to Shirlington dog park for a few years now and never realized this place was here. Their treats are so unique here and their doggie ice cream is pretty good, according to my pups. I purchased coconut oil for my beagle who suffers from a skin allergy and it seems to be working well (and smells good, too!) I would recommend coming here anytime you want to treat your special dog or cat.

A nice little shop at the shirlington shopping center. They have fresh baked goodies for your loved ones and also a nice variety of foods for pets. I found it very reasonable in the prices. also when you check in you get a bag of freshly baked goodies. Not to miss!

I miss this place! I used to live in Shirlington, and I stopped by here every time I walked my dog home from the dog park. They have doggy ice cream for crazy cheap — less than a dollar and about ten different kinds. My dog loved it — that and the treats they kept at the counter.
In addition to the ice cream, they have a number of different treats and bones to choose from, and it appears that they make an effort to cycle them out based on demand and to otherwise keep up with what people like or need. My dog was a huge fan of the bones they have (a wide assortment).
I understand they also offer grooming services, but since I have a Lab I never used them. They also have adorable toys, leashes, organic (and non-​organic) food, dog cookies, etc. Completely worth a visit (between the Subway and the billiards place BEHIND the main Shirlington area — you’ll have to walk down the steps).

I had high hopes for this groomer. However I didn’t love the cut my Shih-​Tzu received and found it to be way overpriced.
I decided to give it another shot as my dog needed a haircut desperately and they had an opening for two days later. The morning of the appointment I got a call that they had to cancel my dogs haircut because they didn’t realize they were double booked and had no availability for another two weeks.

I just got home from Dogma and couldn’t wait any longer to write this review! I am beyond happy with how MacKenzie (hope I spelled that right) groomed my puppy, Lucy, a shih tzu/​poodle mix (shih poo). I had previously taken Lucy to Petsmart and it was an awful experience. I know, I know. Don’t judge me please lol. I knew better too but Lucy really needed a hygiene trim and hair was getting into her eyes, so I needed to take care of it ASAP and Petsmart was able to take us in right away. She left there being traumatized and her trim was completely uneven. It was terrible! I came to Dogma and I couldn’t be more happier with my experience.
MacKenzie was so warm and sweet with my pup and was very attentive to what I wanted. She asked questions that I didn’t even consider before. I knew right away that she knew what she was doing. Best part about it all was that she only took an hour and a half, even though I was quoted 2 hours. That was the biggest plus! Especially because Petsmart required that Lucy be left for 4 hours, which was traumatizing (both for her and me lol).
When I came to pick up Lucy from Dogma, I was so pleased with everything. She was so shiny and happy! And she kept running back to MacKenzie, which tells me how great she really was with her. I will definitely be coming back.
Only downside is that it’s definitely pricey. Almost double what I’ve had to pay for at Petsmart. But honestly, it’s worth it. You get what you pay for and at dogma, you’re not just paying for their grooming service but also the quality of care and attention.
Thank you MacKenzie and Dogma!

I have taken my dog here twice for grooming and I still have mixed feelings. I will say they were extremely accommodating when I was having car troubles and needed to push back her grooming appointment which is why I’m giving them 4 stars, but I didn’t love the haircut either time.
The first time Moose looked good, but they cut her eyelashes which I found very strange. The second time she was cut way too short (partially my fault for not being specific enough with the grommer) and when they cut the hair in her ears they made her ear extremely inflammed, resulting in a $ 200 vet bill.
I appreciate that they don’t rush through the haircut and I always feel like she is well cared for, but to be honest I liked her haircuts from Petco better. I still haven’t decided if I will be back since it is very pricey.

When I came here to buy a treat for my pup, the lady working the register was very off putting and rude. She was constantly eyeing my dog like he was some sort of wild beast and when I paid for a pig ear, my sweet puppy eagerly sat for me and then went to grab the treat and she said in a very nasty tone, «That’s not how dogs are supposed to behave.» Won’t be back.

Before you get your dog groomed here, ask yourself this question: If you were taking your car in for an oil change, would sign a waiver that said «During this oil change, there’s a chance we may scratch all the paint off your car… and we can’t be held responsible… and you still need to pay us.» Well, that’s the first thing Dogma makes you sign when you bring your dog in for a shave. Don’t believe me? Call and ask! Thinking they would have only skilled groomers on staff, I reluctantly signed away my 28lb pup’s hair and apparently his skin. After a $ 100 bill for grooming and a subsequent $ 75 vet bill (see my photo) to pay for all the burns on his skin, I now get to see my dog lay around suffering wearing his e-​collar for the next 5 – 7 days. I’m glad others have had good experiences with their groomer, but ours shouldn’t have been allowed to go anywhere near dogs. On a happier note, their bakery and store quite nice.

I love Dogma. I absolutely love them. They know my dog by name and the owner is awesome. If you don’t follow them on Social Media you should, they post great articles and fun vids and pics. I love how involved they are in the community, and their samples of food saved us, when we were trying to pick our pup’s adult food — because she was soooo stinking picky.
The only thing that would make Dogma better is if they had baked goods for humans — I could pick up a pupkin cookie for my pup and a pumpkin scone for me at the same time. A girl can dream, right?

I’ve been a loyal customer since I adopted my dog 3 years ago. After visiting numerous pet stores in the area, Dogma is still the best with regard to the quality of the food and treats, pricing, customer service, and rewards program. They really do their research on the food and treats they sell and that shows how much they care about their pet clients. They carry high quality commercial pet food and treats which are all brands that are named in various independent dog food studies as top quality (I’ve done a ton of research).
In addition to my research, my dog gives a thumbs up to their fresh baked Pupkin cookies. I highly recommend Dogma to all my friends.

I love dogma and don’t go anywhere else for my dog. Even if dogma doesn’t carry something you’re looking for, most likely they will order it for you and it will be the same price, if not less expensive than other stores.
Tiko is a wonderful employee who greets you by name and is happy to help you or order you anything you need. To be honest, I have yet to meet an employee who isn’t friendly. They are all great!
I would suggest dogma for any dog lover! Thanks for making my shopping easy and in one spot for my dog!

Check in gets you a free bag of baked dog treats! I love this place and come to find out… they love Unilocalers! The check-​in bag of treats is a nice bag probably worth about $ 5. They sell fresh baked dog cookies, various kinds of dog foods, including raw selections. They sell the cutest animal centric shirts, dog décor, and dog outfits! When visiting Shirlington, this is always one of our stops!