A Cut Above Pet Stylists

My dogs usually good haircuts at A Cut Above on W. 69th St. went awry yesterday. The hair around my dogs head and face was chopped up and ragged. Adding insult to injury, one of the groomers chopped off the hair at the end of his tail, so instead of keeping a soft, flowing plume it is now a straight, flat-ended brush. There is no dog on this planet that has a tail like that. I guess they did not understand the word shorter. Right now theres a bigger problem: my dog is also rapidly shaking his head every few minutes, flapping his ears up and down due to some inner irritation or foreign body evidently acquired at A Cut Above as it started only 18 hours after we took him home, where we stayed the rest of the day. He is a very young and healthy dog, so this is an unpleasant surprise. We will be taking him to his vet tomorrow. She will confirm that this symptom did not exist before early Monday morning, and I pray she will be able to treat him. I made a video of his ear flapping, not shown here. I have this gut feeling that the groomers dont like to work on Sundays because they straggle in for the first appointments. Well, this report is to be continued.

Im writing this to follow up on a negative review I wrote of A Cut Above Pet Stylists on W. 69th St. in Manhattan. In the first review I expressed outrage at how badly groomed my dog was. I submitted two photos. Little did I know that in less than 24 hours, aesthetics would be our least concern. Instead, my dog would be suffering from a raging bacterial infection deep in his left ear, which our veterinarian left no doubt as to how he acquired this infection. He was in terrible pain, was shaking his head every few seconds, and ultimately required gabapentin plus an antibiotic plus ear cleansing liquid, all to be continued for seven days. For everyones sake, Im refraining from describing what the inside of his ear looked like. I think hes feeling a little better now. Im so sad and angry that this was done to my dog but after getting a form letter in my email instead of a personal apology and offer of reimbursement from the owner, Ming Liddle, I have taken steps to get back our costs for the treacherous grooming and the urgent veterinary care, as well as filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, and as a last resort going through Small Claims Court. (Just a note, the first review shows my name as Alex.)

A got lucky many times with last minute calls for my dog grooming, they are always kind and follow instructions for the style of the haircut. Our dog is always very happy to go there and she is well taken care and you can tell by her tail wiggling all the times when we walk by their place

Amazing job on my cat, Teddy. He hated the old groomer that I used to take him to in soho- very happy we made the change. He was a totally different cat (lion) coming home- very sweet and relaxed compared to his old demeanor with the past groomer. Highly recommended.

Always happy to take my dog here! They are pricey but they are super flexible with scheduling and my pup always seems happy and relaxed when I pick her up so I think it’s worth it.

Fantastic spot. They make our puppy boy Elmer look extra nice. Great staff. Great communication and fair prices.

Our first time trying this groomer. I gave them this picture of my dog to show them what kind of cut he gets. He came back home looking like this. It’s only been 6 weeks since he was last groomed. His nails were cut so close they are bleeding. Don’t ever go here. Dreadful.

Had a great experience at A Cut Above. We were able to get an appointment very quickly, our Bernedoodle was ready within a reasonable time and the cut was very well done. They even modified the cut right there when I asked for a change.

Amazing service. Good treatment. They were friendly and helpful with the length of cut I wanted on my dog. Percy looks good and ready for the hot summer weather.

I’ve been taking my two dogs to A CUT ABOVE for over a year now! I moved from NJ and, as they both grow long hair, desperately needed a good groomer at a reasonable price, that was easy to get appointments with. I stopped people on the streets of the Upper West side, whose pups looked awesome 😎. 9 times out of 10, the groomer was A CUT ABOVE, 69th off Broadway ! The stylists are wonderful and really, can give the dog what you ask for; be specific ! One of my dogs doesn’t need a moustache, beard, side burns etc! He likes a clean face ! I ONLY had to ask ! My other dog likes a lions mane, to offset his lovable chunky tum! The representatives at the FRONT DESK are fantastic! Just super all around!Thank you folks ! Happy Holidays

Overpriced, you must double check everything they do. Especially the nails. If they even bother to do it. The cut looks like a first year pastry chef trying out new designs on a cake. I personally don’t think $175 for a 7lb maltipoo is worth the $. I love my dog which is why I prefer to have her groomed where I trust the people.

They treated Spike well and treated his ditsy Aunt with kindness. When we had to make a last minute change to his appointment they were very accommodating. The only problem I have is that the price is too high for us to go more than once a year. But our old man came out looking like a young pup with a snazzy new haircut and sleeping so good I wanted to sniff him like a dog. He came out wagging his tail and was 😁.

We’ve tried all of the places in the neighborhood. This one is the best. They are organized, friendly, responsive, and professional.

I have brought many dogs here over the years and I am so glad that I did and do. They do an amazing job with my mini poodle. Poodles have hair and need a bit of extra love and care. My girl Vespa is treated well and looks and feels great after her grooming. The groomer listens and grooms her in all the different styles I have tried. He also gives suggestions I appreciate. The staff and owner are always kind and professional.

Hello there, first time customer, Just want to share my experience to anybody who Is looking for dog grooming. I just wanna say This is THE BEST PLACE TO BE. I was Super nervous since the first haircut, my boy was getting. A cut above assured me that everything was going to be OK and that he was in good hands and that they’re gonna take really good care of him and made sure he comes out beautiful and that’s exactly what they did. Their services were amazing, and my boy has never looked more beautiful. Thank you so much for your services ! We will be back very soon. !!

Brought my old English Cocker Spaniel , as a stop gap, as usual groomer gone for the week. They couldn’t have been nicer, especially Max at the front desk. Dropped Fiona off at 12 noon, she was ready at 3:15pm. She was matted and in desperate need of grooming. The groomer did an amazing job and I was told , she fell fast asleep afterwards. Cannot say enough good things about all whom work at this establishment. Couldn’t be happier

Our King Charles Cavalier had her best ever grooming experience here. The groomer was outstanding. He asked for photos to make sure her cut was what I wanted. He sat down with me after to discuss what they had done and that she might be developing an ear infection. The place was open and transparent. This was the best grooming experience we have ever had. Cant recommend them high enough.

Very comforting to be around people who love ur pet and want them to look there best in life groomers are highly skilled and attentive tu o your specific grooming concerns

Amazing Experience!! We took our puppy who needed a haircut badly (other groomers said they had to shave him). Ming listened to our wishes and gave us exactly what we wanted. They were able to give him a GORGEOUS grooming and were able to get out knots and matting. If you are looking for a pleasant, professional, trustworthy place to groom your pet this is it!!

A Cut Above on West 69th Street always give my husky, Kata a great bath and brush out. Kata sheds like hell at least twice per year and at this groomer shes looked and smelt perfect afterward.

I just picked up my dog and upon getting home noticed that not only he has split nails from where they nail trimmed, but they are almost down to the wick which is incredibly painful for dogs.He also has a cut on his chest where they clearly shaved too close even though I specifically said not to shave.Not to Mention when I picked him up I saw a peak into the room where they keep the dogs in their cages till picked up and the overall energy in this place is chaotic and stressful for any animal.All of that and they charge $150 where other places have been half that.Worst grooming experience and I will not be taking my dog here ever again.UPDATE: my dogs right eye has been bothering him and struggling to open since we got home and I am absolutely appalled at this grooming salon.DO NOT TAKE YOUR DOG HERE.I’ve never written a bad review before for any company but these people cannot be trusted. I’ve tried calling and gotten no response

I specifically requested my dog a cavapoo be cut short but not shaved. She was returned to me shaved very closely and I was told she was matted. She is brushed daily and yes there was some matting on her underside but not enough to shave her so closely all over. The groomer elected not to trim her tail so she looks silly and more than two weeks later her hair has barely grown. My requests were ignored and I believe the technician did what was easy for him. She has been groomed in other salons before and I have never had this experience.

Really pleased, got our Goldendoodle ~60lbs groomed for the first time here. Max was the best - provided a picture of what we were aiming for and the results were great. Best cut thus far on UWS.

Worst grooming experience Ive ever had. They dont answer the phone so I walked in to make an appointment, and they scheduled me for the next day. When I arrived, the door was locked and nobody came to open it even though they all made eye contact with me and saw me standing there ringing the bell for at least 10 minutes. When they finally let me in, they said they had no record of my appointment and were fully booked. The man called the owner and was extremely rude to her, then grabbed my dog and said theyd figure it out. I was very nervous about leaving her, and I shouldve listened to my gut. When I came back to pick her up, not only was the price outrageously expensive, but she had a large line shaved down her back and I needed to take her to the vet. Do not take your dog here, the service is abhorrent and the grooming is dangerous!

I Initially brought my Yorkie some years ago at least the one on 83rd Street and she was beautiful. I now own another dog and I have no name of of the person that cut her and she just doesn’t have a smooth precision cut. The arm hair doesn’t flow into the lower arm and same with thigh area. Raggedy cut that I could have paid $50 from a guy in my area. This was not worth $115 plus tax and is every cutter licensed, that’s the next questioned I have to be sure to ask. Seems as though they cut long shaggy dogs better, smaller dogs need a skilled hand.. 7/2/20Wish I could remove the one star I initially gave because no one calls you or gets back in touch even though I’ve called and left my number with Management Ming L. I’m not just going to walk in and assume someone can correct my dogs hair cut. 7/17/20

Easily the best experience I’ve had with a barber in life. From the accessibility to his calendar to his responsiveness via text, the process to book an appointment was seamless. Not to mention, I traveled three hours to get to him; certainly wasn’t a mistake.The cut was beyond my expectations and the level of professionalism shocked me. Eric is clearly devoted to his business as much as he is to his craft. Great across the board.

I would take my Yorkie to the 83rd location a few years ago and it was fine. But when I took my Shih recently, the haircut was horrible. I told them to leave a little hair on top for a bow, they did, but left tons of hair. When we got home the hair tie was so knotted with my baby hair that I had to cut it. Once off, her hair was super long on top, when she has a puppy hair cut, 1 1/2 inch, super short body and legs, and all this long hair all in her eyes, they could of cut that lower. It was superrr expensive, $132. I also don’t like the fact, that we don’t formally meet the groomers to let them know any tips on our dogs or just get a feel of how our baby is going to react to this stranger. I’ve been other grooming places and have always been greeted by the groomer and leaned their name, My Dogs will briefly interact and I will feel at ease. But this place doesn’t offer that meet and greet. I Will not return.

Excellent Staff. I have been coming here for over 2 years (Buddha and Harley) Everyone is always professional and friendly. Always super accommodating. A true UWS Gem. They do fantastic work and the owner and staff truly care about their human and dog clientele. I will be back in 2-3 months.

Best Pet groomer in NYC! Kyle, the lead groomer is excellent, and knows his specialty breed cuts. Ming, the Owner, is a fantastic woman and dog lover. She runs a great business. Diana, the front desk mgr is also a great asset to the business, easy to communicate with and goes out of her way to be friendly and helpful. Jasper loves this place and the people and dogs here!

Best haircut my dog has ever had! Perfect PWD retriever cut. A cut above is responsive, called me back on a day when closed, and the owner (?) expressed patience, kindness, and great listening.Affordable for the UWS. Totally recommend.

I like that its transparent and we can see them through the big glass windows. Also very reasonably priced. I wish the butt hair on my corgi was cut a tad shorter but good overall. 4.5 stars if I could have given it more granularity.

Such nice people work here. The owner is a sweet lady that really cares. And the staff are all very diligent. I dropped off my dog after the storm which left him with matted hair from outerwear. These guys did an amazing job keeping his hair a normal length (not shaved down) and super cute. Thank you!!

Ghost first experience, I was really happy to see how he was taking care off. Mig and staff were excellent. Love that fact that Ming and staff greet you and listen to the instructions I have provided. This was my first time at cut above I highly recommend it to anyone that wants excellent service. Price was reasonable! Completely satisfied..

Very very happy with the service and the people! My puppy is not easy and somehow they worked him great although handstripping is so hard and such a long process! He also looks great! Will 100% be back.

My poodle’s ears were trimmed down to the ear cartilage. Her ears look like those of a cat. The groomer told me to call call the owner to discuss this error. I left a detailed message with the owner. She never returned my call. Customer service = Zero. I will NEVER go back.

Eleven years ago when I first adopted my dog, I started using Cut Above and have continued to do soveven since the move to the new location of W. 69th Street. But I dont know whats going on there because the last two time I took my 2 dogs, they came out pretty bad looking: nails were not clipped, anals not done, lousy hair cut. The staff turn over is pretty bad too. This shop always offered the best service and did an excellent job on the dogs, but thats no longer the case. Very sad and dissapointed - but Im moving on. Its too expensive to not be happy with the way the dogs look after grooming.

My female Lhaso used to get groomed when she was here, so I know the work. I decided to take my Male. All I can is - the grooming is the BEST!!! This was my 1st time @ the 83 location as a pose to 69th. They never disappoint

A cut above is THE BEST! They take the best care of Sadie! It is always super clean and I love the glass between you and your pet- it allows you to see exactly what is happening- so you know your pet is being loved and in a good orderly surrounding! 5 star service! And...my baby runs down 69th to get there!Robin

Go to spot for haircuts and bath. Appreciate that they are always flexible and able to schedule on short notice. But quality is sometimes inconsistent.

Ming seems stressed out and hurried. It’s my impression that They are more focused on high volume then great results for your pet. I noticed a trend where they are getting more negative reviews recently. If you show them a pic of what you want, they will just do whatever is easiest and fastest for them since they want high volume because that equals $$$$

My dogs haircut was incredibly uneven. Some parts of his coat werent even cut at all and one of his eyes was never cleaned. He also smells really bad. Im disappointed with the end result.

Loved the experience at the salon. My scottie was handstripped perfectly. If you’re looking for handstripping, this is the place to go!

A cut above really helped me out with my dog Logan, he was in a bad situation and ended up with me. A cut above took him in and I’d also like to especially shout out Diana who was so kind they also gave him an extra harness and leash to get rid of the dirty old one he showed up to me with. Thank you a cut above and Diana we can’t wait to come back.

We have been grooming our dogs for years at A Cut Above. They do exceptional work, my pups are always so happy to go there for grooming. Nobody does a better job!

My dog is always so well groomed

Our two pups have embarrassingly bad hair cuts with patches and inch longer than the rest of the fur. They have razor bumps and areas shaved so close that their skin is burned. This is worse than amateur. It is cruel and painful for them.

They did a great job with my puppy! She looks beautiful! I explained how I wanted her to be groomed and they did exactly what I asked for.

Dropped by baby boy BLU off for the first time, best experience ever!!

DO NOT TAKE YOUR DOG HERE. SEE REVIEWS IN ORDER. LOWEST FIRST. THEY ARE AWFUL OWNER IS NASTY AND RUDE.

Always great. So glad to have Ming and her team in our neighborhood.

Wonderful caring groomers who are kind to my furry friend. Forgot to give him a bandana, though! A dogs got to look good in public. Cmon!

Everyone at Cut Above takes great care of Jasper. Great cuts and they are super accommodating in fitting a cut in when we need it.

Very nice service and always was happy about the cut. Just to make sure send them the desired style both in writing and also share some photos.

Love the team and so does my dog

Long time client and consistently pleased. Weve been well taken care of by Ming and her team.

They did a great job with my mini poodle. First visit there, because of the holidays they had great availability

The best pet groomers in NYC.!!!

This is a great place for grooming your pet.

Love this place and how they let the friendly dogs roam while they work.

Love the new hairstyle!

Best place for coco. She loves it here and the people were great.

Absolutely fantastic place. They have extremely experienced groomers and honest prices. Very easy to coordinate with.

We have tried about a dozen different groomers and a cut above is hands down the best. We have been using them for over 10 years now.

Outstanding cleans and cuts. Always accommodating.

14 years of great cuts for my Westies. They really care about the dogs.

Best grooming place on the planet. We love them

These guys are great. They always do a good job with Jack and Betty

Really good and attentive staff. Thank you!

Please take these negative reviews seriously!!!My boyfriend took our dog here for a haircut and he came back trembling and cut up from the service. They did not let us know anytime throughout the service that he was being difficult but over charged at checkout for ‘difficulty’. The staff was incredibly rude about this. Our dog had cuts on his belly and they didn’t even trim all of his nails.Absolutely will not be returning and do not recommend this groomer. Awful experience.

I have taken my Westie here a few times and this is by far the best cut he has ever received. He looks like a pet celebrity after he leaves this place and everyone always comments on how gorgeous he looks. This place is not cheap, but you are getting a top notch cut. Will be making the trek from BK to come back because it’s so worth it.

Soooo happy my neighbor recommended this place. Awesome.

Super sweet to the pets! pippa came home looking amazing

This was Rags first visit and we will definitely return. Shes an older, mixed breed Tibetan with lots of little age bumps to avoid. The staff member really paid attention to how I wanted her trimmed and gave her an excellent cut. I like the relaxed atmosphere here with the dogs milling around rather than in cages, and being able to see them on the tables. Im also impressed that they insist on a vaccination certificate, I travel a lot and this is not the case everywhere. Definitely recommend them.

Our 2 toy poodles were groomed at Cut Above today.My husband said they had the best hair cut ever! I was satisfied and very happy because I did not hear any complaint about them being difficult. I had warned the staff that both tends to bite

I have been taking my Standard Poodles here for 10+ years and until now never had a problem. However yesterday when i picked up my dog I noticed a huge gouge on her back which clearly was the result of an electric shaver too close to the skin. (They used to scissor cut her but now seem to be too busy to take the time). When I complained both the groomer and the owner claimed that they had not done anything wrong. Not true. Plus the cost was $180 plus tax and tip (another $20 which I wish I could take back). When I noted that the price used to be $140 they claimed it had not been increased (also not true). I was very devoted to this business but they seem to have gotten too busy too greedy and too rushed. If the owner had apologized and refunded me the cost of the grooming I would have understood and let it go but they just stonewalled. I will never go there again and I recommend that others avoid the place as well. Very disappointed.

Incredibly helpful staff. Called on Thursday morning and they managed to fit me in at noon. Took great care of my pup.

Always a good experience here with our baby coton!

Gio loves the treatment he gets at A Cut Above The groomers at w 83rd are very good and when he leaves from his groom everyone loves the cut and Gio. Thank you A Cut Above.

Only place that knows how to take great care of my persian cat

Personalized service and the only place that is really outstanding for the feline population!

Amazing attention to detail, the staff are always nice!

They did a nice cut on our dog

The best!! Pricey but worth it

Incredible. Highest quality service. Highly recommend it.

Love them. Great job ! Nice.

Good service. Nice cut.

Great service and great results

Caio is a magician

THE BEST!

Dog loved

Grt

Great with details

Best grooming salon in New York City. Ming and her staff were very kind and do a careful beautiful job.The owner, Ming, and the groomers are very kind, courteous, and do a great job. This is a recommended grooming salon in Manhattan.