Which brings up a good point. Being on the wrong side of the dog owners club, I had no if there really was a difference between dog washers and groomers. There is. “We just bathe the dogs and do nails,” Rosen explained. “Here, you can wash your own doggie or you can leave them here for us.”

Still not convinced these places offer a valuable service? Just imagine your wet, soggy buddy skidding over to trample through your Crabtree & Evelyn décor. Yep, uh-huh, that visual, my friends, is why there are dog washes. Soggy dog equals soggy sofa.

World Famous also has a storefront that sells shampoos, and dog toys like Humunga Tongues. This throw toy is a ball with a big, red oversized rubber tongue hanging from it. When your retrieves it, he looks like he’s got a crazy, oversized cartoon tongue. Also, to aid owners in figuring out their pets, World Famous stocks mood collars.

There’s even fine canine art lining the walls. Artist David Govah draws cartoonish, pitifully out of scale pet portraits, accentuating big heads and little bodies.

To make the down time a little more interesting, Rosen and her team of dog washers are compiling a list of the most outrageous and memorable dog names they hear. The most memorable ones, so far, are Bu Bu Kitty, Animal and Ladybug.

As far as dealing with agitated pooches, neither Rosen nor her assistant, Melissa Pitts has been bitten by any of their guests. “We probably wouldn’t be here if they did,” Pitts chuckled.

Prices range from $11 to $30, depending on whether you want a self-service or full-service dog wash. If all goes smoothly, Rosen said she could have your pup smelling good again in about 15 minutes. But, if you have what she affectionately refers to as a “two person dog,” it may take a little longer.

Obecian (a nickname for O.B. locals) Bill Kinlaw takes his “love sponge,” Xena, a white-furred Pit Bull, to the Dog Beach Dog Wash. Located at 4933 Voltaire St., this stalwart dog wash has been washing dirty dogs for over 12 years. “They give Xena a dog biscuit right off the bat,” Kinlaw boasted. “The tubs are waist level so you’re washing your dog at waist level instead of using a cold hose or worse yet, your own bath tub.”