ShakeYourTail

ShakeYourTail is cloud-based software for dog groomers, salons and other pet businesses that need bookings, staff schedules and detailed animal records in one system. It suits businesses managing repeat appointments and care information rather than a simple calendar. Its strongest case is the combination of pet-focused records, reminders and higher-tier booking tools, while the entry plans impose meaningful limits on users, support and communications.

Overview

Founded in 2009 from a family-run grooming business, ShakeYourTail is designed around the practical workflow of pet-care operators. The web service brings scheduling, CRM, appointment and document management together, so a business can keep booking history and grooming context alongside contact details.

The tier structure determines whether it works as a basic internal system or a fuller customer-facing platform. Free and Core can handle scheduling and records, but neither includes support; online booking starts at Business. A solo groomer may find the lower tiers sufficient, while a growing salon will need to budget for a paid plan to remove the key restrictions.

Key features

A colour-coded schedule shows appointments assigned to team members, making staff allocation easier to scan than a plain list. Client and pet records can include contact details, breed, photos, medical and grooming notes, vet contacts and appointment history. That depth is valuable when each visit depends on an animal's previous treatment or health information.

Appointment confirmations and reminders can be sent by text or email. The service also supports messages for missed appointments and clients who have not returned, giving businesses tools for reducing no-shows and re-engaging customers. SMS capacity varies by plan, and unused credits roll over, but Free has no SMS allowance.

Clients can book online or submit requests for the business to approve on Business and Enterprise. This is a useful customer-acquisition feature, but its absence from Core means smaller operators must either manage bookings themselves or move up a tier. Online payments and deposits are supported through Lopay and SumUp partnerships.

Electronic contracts can be sent for online viewing and signing. Targeted email and SMS campaigns support marketing, with each campaign sent consuming one campaign credit. Reports cover client details, appointments, marketing and no-shows and can be exported. The maker also says customer data is secured, updated and backed up.

Pricing

ShakeYourTail uses a freemium model with a 30-day trial and paid plans from £15 per month.

Free is a way to start with a small client list, but its 100-client and single-user caps quickly constrain an active business. Core removes the client ceiling and adds SMS, yet still leaves one user, no support and no online booking. Business is the practical fit for a staffed salon that needs customer self-booking and assistance. Enterprise adds unlimited resources and multi-site management, although the published allowance still specifies one site alongside that multi-site capability.

Platforms

ShakeYourTail runs on the web, making it suitable for businesses that work from browser-based devices rather than requiring a native mobile app.

Who it's for

Choose it for dog grooming salons, independent groomers and pet businesses that need appointment scheduling tied to breed, medical, grooming and vet information. It is particularly suited to teams needing shared scheduling, reminders, deposits and client follow-up. A very small operator can begin on Free, but businesses needing support, online booking, multiple staff or several locations should plan on Business or Enterprise.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Pet-specific records: breed, photos, care notes, vet contacts and history keep operational context with each booking.
• Broad customer workflow: reminders, online booking, deposits, contracts and campaign tools cover more than calendar management.
• Useful reporting: exportable appointment, marketing and no-show reports support follow-up and review.
• Rollover SMS credits: unused monthly text credits are not lost.

Cons

• Lower-tier support gap: Free and Core provide no support when a business may be setting up its processes.
• Booking locked to higher tiers: Core users cannot offer online booking.
• Strict resource caps: Free and Core allow one user/resource, limiting collaboration.
• Marketing is quota-based: every email or SMS campaign consumes a campaign credit.

Alternatives

Pet Grooming Scheduling Software is a useful category starting point when you want to compare grooming-focused schedulers broadly.

GroomWork is worth choosing if Android or iOS access matters alongside web use, with a free tier capped at 40 monthly appointments and a Solo plan offering unlimited appointments.

PawScheduler suits businesses wanting mobile apps and a free plan with up to 50 appointments monthly, unlimited clients and pet profiles, and data download.

Seglo is an alternative for operators seeking Android, iOS and web access with free rostering, pet records and online booking for one person at one location.

CalMov is a web option for mobile or travelling services that want self-set travel gaps and a free one-person plan.

Groomsoft is a paid web alternative with a 30-day demo and includes payment processing, Google Calendar sync and online booking during that period.

Cartoply is a web/API scheduling alternative with a free personal scheduling page and calendar synchronisation.

GroomCard is a web option whose free plan allows up to 10 clients and 10 online bookings per month.

GroomBook is a free option available on web, API and self-hosted deployments.

Verdict

Choose ShakeYourTail if your grooming or pet business needs scheduling connected to rich pet records, reminders, payments and customer administration. Business is the most balanced tier for a staffed salon because it adds support and online booking; look elsewhere if you need those basics on an entry-level plan or require broader multi-site coverage than its Enterprise structure provides.