Gordon’s Grooming Utila
Award-Winning National Certified Master Dog Groomer | Utila, Honduras
Lara is a skilled dog groomer with over 25 years of experience, originally from Indiana and now based in Utila, Honduras. With a passion for animals and a talent for grooming, she’s built a reputation for providing top-notch grooming services that ensure pets look and feel their best. Her first priority is always the care and comfort of your pet — every grooming session is designed to be as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.
About Lara
Lara is a National Certified Master Groomer and Pet Tech CPR & First Aid Instructor. She teaches grooming and business classes at grooming conferences across the United States, and brings that same level of expertise and professionalism to every dog she grooms in Utila.
Having grown up in the Midwest, Lara developed a love for dogs early on and pursued a career in pet grooming, gaining extensive experience in a wide variety of breeds and techniques. She relocated to Honduras to pursue new adventures — and brought her grooming table with her. Lara and Paul have three dogs of their own: Bernard, Rip, Noriega, and Heliconia.
My Salon
The salon is located on the porch at Lara’s home, out past the airport. Grooming is by appointment — contact Lara via WhatsApp to book. Transport can be arranged through Elmer (+504-9967-5555) or Giovanni (+504-9632-0000).
Pricing
All prices are in Honduran Lempiras. Prices listed are for regularly maintained dogs — matted dogs will require additional charges. Please contact us for a quote if your dog is not listed or if you are unsure of their coat type.
Grooming (Haircuts)
Includes a bath with high quality products suited for your dog’s needs, nail trim and file, ear cleaning, haircut based on breed standard or owner preference, cologne, and bandanna or bows if desired.
| Small Dog (e.g. Shih Tzu, Maltese — dogs you can carry comfortably) | L. 1,000 |
| Medium Dog (e.g. larger Mini Schnauzers, Cocker Spaniel mixes, Mini Poodle mixes) | L. 1,300 |
| Large Dog (e.g. larger Poodle mixes, dogs over 40 lbs requiring a haircut) | L. 1,800 |
Double Coat Grooming
Double coated breeds do NOT need to be shaved — their coat actually helps regulate body temperature. Double coat grooming includes bath, deshedding, nail trim and file, ear cleaning, foot hair trim, and tidy of feathering and furnishings.
| Tiny Dog or Puppy (e.g. Long Hair Chihuahua, Long Hair Dachshund) | L. 600 |
| Small Dog (e.g. Corgi) | L. 800 |
| Medium Dog (e.g. smaller Golden Retriever mixes) | L. 1,000 |
| Large Dog (e.g. Husky, Newfoundland — starts at price) | L. 1,200 |
Short Hair Dog Grooming
Includes bath, nail trim and file, ear cleaning, paw pad hair trim if needed, cologne, and bandanna or bows if desired. For Large or XL short hair dogs, please contact us for an estimate.
| Tiny Dog or Puppy (e.g. Chihuahua, Dachshund) | L. 400 |
| Small Dog (short hair dogs under ~15 lbs) | L. 600 |
| Medium Dog (e.g. Labrador, Boxer — medium-size short hair dogs) | L. 800 |
Nail Trim (without full groom or bath)
Nail trimming and filing available on grooming days at the salon, or I can come to your location. Filing is done with a special diamond-coated rotary bit made for dog nails. Special: each additional dog at the same location is only L. 100 more.
| Salon Nail Trim | L. 300 |
| Mobile Nail Trim (I come to you) | L. 400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I have my pet groomed?
We usually recommend once a month. This keeps the grooming process comfortable and normal for your dog, and is great for keeping shedding under control and nails short.
My dog is hot — why don’t you shave double coat breeds short? Won’t it keep them cooler?
No — shaving a double coated breed does not keep them cooler. Their double coat actually acts as insulation against both heat and cold. Shaving can permanently damage the coat and actually make your dog more uncomfortable. We follow best practices and will always do what is in the best interest of your pet.
What types of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, bank transfer, PayPal, and Venmo. An invoice can be sent in advance if you’d like to pay by credit card. If additional charges are incurred at the appointment, those will need to be paid at pickup. We will also consider bartering!
How did you end up on Utila?
Lara and Paul first visited Utila in 2016. They came back in 2018/2019 for three months, during which they did a grooming fundraiser for Jasper’s Animal Shelter as it was being built. They visited again in Sept/Oct 2021, fell in love with the island all over again, and made the move in January 2022. Lara is an avid scuba diver and was determined to find a way to keep caring for dogs while living the island life — and she did!
What qualifications do you have to groom dogs?
Lara has been a professional pet groomer for over 25 years, spending her first ten years working alongside veterinarians. She is a National Certified Master Groomer and an open-level competition groomer in the United States. She is President of the GBGV Foundation Board and serves on the health and newsletter committee for the GBGV Club of America (GBGV = Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen, a French hunting dog breed). Lara is also a Pet Tech CPR & First Aid Instructor and has taught grooming and business classes at conferences across the U.S. References are available upon request.
What is your cancellation, no-show, and late policy?
We understand that things come up — and we respect “island time.” That said, grooming is by appointment. If you are more than 10 minutes late we may not be able to accommodate your appointment and may need to reschedule. No-shows impact not only us but other clients waiting for appointments. Customers who no-show will need to pay for the previously missed appointment before being rebooked. Habitual no-show customers will be required to pay in advance, and that payment will be forfeited if they do not show up (it cannot be applied to a future date).