Scrub-A-Dub-Dub, Put Your Dog In OUR Tub!

Let’s face it…there are endless advantages to having dogs in our lives. Their sense of fun, their joy in adventure, their companionship and the unconditional love that they give us…coming home after a long day at work and being greeted by adoring eyes and a wagging tail? It doesn’t get much better than that.

However, there are definitely times where having dogs isn’t nearly as much fun, and one of those can be when it’s bath time for Bowser. Sure, some dogs don’t mind, but by and large, most dogs would rather dispense with the sudsy ordeal and just stay stinky.

That’s not ideal for the rest of the family, though, and when it’s time to wrestle your pup into the bathtub for a good scrub, it often ends up with you being as wet as they are and the entire bathroom looking as though a tsunami went through it. It’s at that point that we often throw up our hands and wish that there was a better option.

That’s where Ollu Dog Wash & Grooming Salon comes to the rescue! In addition to being a traditional grooming salon where you can make an appointment, drop your dog off, and come back in a few hours to a freshly washed and dried pooch, it’s also a self-service wash for those who don’t mind cleaning their dogs themselves, but don’t have the facilities in their own home to do it.

Ollu is a walk-in operation that offers guests waist-high tubs with hand-held hoses, blow dryers, professional grade equipment, towels, shampoo, ear cleaning supplies, and even waterproof aprons to protect your clothes from splashes. Prices are based on the dog’s weight, and run from $20 for small dogs up to $30 for the big boys and girls over 90 pounds. No appointments are needed, but it is first come, first serve!

Of course, if you’d rather not go the self-serve route, Ollu has several fantastic groomers on staff who will be glad to take care of your furry buddy. A basic bath package, with pricing based on coat, time and the size of your dog, includes a bath, blow dry, brush out, ear cleaning and nail trim. Add on services include teeth brushing, a Dremel nail trim, a de-shedding package and other amenities to customize your dog’s grooming experience.

Lavender spoke with Beth Lindquist, owner of Ollu, about what goes into making this such a great experience for dogs and their people alike.

How did Ollu come to be? Obviously, lots of people are familiar with taking their pets to a traditional groomer or pet service store that has groomers available, but not as many are familiar with a self-service facility that provides all of the products and items needed for you to do it yourself.  

Jodel, the founder of Ollu, lived in San Diego for a few years. While she was out there, she got two puppies, Oliver and Lulu. Self-serve dog washes were prevalent in San Diego and she used them often to wash her dogs.  When she moved back to Minnesota, she realized Minneapolis did not offer such a thing and that gave her the idea to start Minneapolis’ first self-service dog wash!  She came up with the name Ollu by using a combination of her dog’s names, Oliver and Lulu.

How long have you owned Ollu?

I bought Ollu in October of 2019.  I went to college for accounting with the intention of one day owning a business.  Upon graduation, I had no money, no clue how to start a business and my mom was terminally ill so I decided getting a job was the best route to take.  I worked in several basic accounting/bookkeeping positions (most of which ended up with my getting laid off due to company bankruptcies, relocation, and mergers.)  I finally found a place where I loved to work, was treated well, and called home for eight years.  While the thought of leaving broke my heart, I knew deep down I would always regret it if I didn’t take a chance and challenge myself.  That’s when I learned Jodel, who was a family friend for years, was selling Ollu.

I remember going to your space on Saint Anthony Main in Northeast Minneapolis, down near The Main Theater. Now you’re located up on Marshall Street in a larger space. When did that move occur?

That move occurred in 2015 after Jodel’s initial lease was up and the new rent price became unaffordable.

Some dogs are very nervous about trips to the groomers; they’re fine with their own people, but nervous about having strangers bathing or grooming them. Ollu offers this service, but you also offer full-service drop off grooming as well. Which do you find to be the most popular option with your customers?

Even though Ollu started as a self-service dog wash, full-service grooming has been our more popular option for many years.  Our professional groomers all have many years of experience and are amazingly talented!  Their love of dogs shows in the care they take with each pup and we have many four-legged clients who have been coming to us their whole life.  But as you mentioned, the self-service wash is a great option for dogs that feel more comfortable getting a bath from their own people.  It’s also a great way to introduce young dogs or newly adopted dogs to the bathing process and get familiar with the salon while being with someone they know. 

What products do you offer for clients to use? Do you try to use locally made products, or products that are eco-friendly as well as safe for the dogs?

We love using locally made products whenever possible!  Most of the shampoos and conditioners we use in the salon are either Green Groom brand or Nature’s Choice brand, both of which are extremely safe for dogs, as well as eco-friendly.  The three basic shampoos included with the base price of the self-wash include a degreaser/deodorizer called Green Clean, a hypoallergenic shampoo and a 2-in-1 shampoo-conditioner.  We offer many upgrades such as oatmeal, aloe, argan oil, and whitening shampoos, as well as a de-shedding shampoo and conditioner which works wonders to help release any coat that is ready to come out!  The majority of the treats and supplies in our retail area are sourced locally.

I use Ollu’s services for my own dog, but I always make sure to get to the shop right as you open in order to get a tub quickly. It seems that it’s always a steady stream of people! Would you say that the business has been growing steadily since its inception?

Both full-serve and self-serve grew steadily while Jodel owned it.  The pandemic hit six months after I bought Ollu, and we were forced by the state to close for five weeks.  We had a backlog of appointments for months after reopening!  We chose to keep the self-service wash closed throughout most of the pandemic to keep our staff safe and healthy.  Self-washes were slow upon reopening in the fall of 2021, but it’s been steadily gaining popularity once again!  Full-service grooming was extremely busy throughout the pandemic and beyond and we had to limit the number of new clients we could take for several months.  We were lucky to find two very talented new groomers last year, which helped greatly in catching up on appointments and increasing our availability. We are happy to be taking new clients again and enjoy meeting new people and dogs every day. We would love to meet your readers and their pups! Happy Pride Month!

Ollu Dog Wash & Grooming Salon
1600 Marshall St. NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 331-1025
www.olludogwash.com