Twelve common questions.

We ask for 24 hours notice on cancellations and reschedules. Inside that window, the booking counts against the chair's day whether you make it or not, and we may charge a late-cancel fee on the card on file. Everyone runs late sometimes and everyone gets sick sometimes. We're not looking for reasons to charge you. Message the shop through Squire as soon as you know, and we'll work it out. Repeat no-shows will lose same-day rebooking privileges.

Yes. Barber loyalty is a choice, not a contract. Most regulars settle into booking the same barber every time because the cut stays consistent when the same hands are on it. If your barber is unavailable, you want a different vibe, or you just want to try someone else on the team, book whoever has the slot that works for you. No one on the team takes it personally.

Call the shop or message through Squire. A 5 to 10 minute delay is usually manageable; 15 plus minutes usually means we'll have to push you into a shorter service or reschedule. The barber's next appointment is stacked right behind yours, and we'd rather give you a full cut next time than a rushed one today.

You walk in. Someone at the chair greets you. Your barber (whoever you booked) does a short consultation: what you're after, what you're moving away from, what works for your hair type. Then the cut, then the style. Usually done within the booked window, with time to pay through Squire on the way out. If you don't know which service to book, the Haircut and Style (lvl 1), 45 minutes, $30.97, is the right starting slot. It gives us the time to lock in what your standing cut should look like for future bookings.

We're appointment-led through Squire. Walk-ins are welcome when a chair is open. You can check live availability on the Squire booking page before you head over, or call the shop. Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings are peak; expect those to be fully booked. Tuesday through Thursday mornings usually have open slots.

All of them. Straight, wavy, curly, coiled, thick, thin, greying, textured. Reviewers specifically call out our range across hair types, and it's worth saying directly: you will not be turned away or rushed through the chair because your hair is outside what a shop usually sees. Our barbers have trained and work across the full range, including longer scissor work that a lot of quick-fade shops in the area won't take on. Bring a reference photo if you have one. It's the fastest way to get both of us on the same page.

Professional-grade styling products matched to your hair type and the cut you leave with. We'll call out what we used at the end of the service if you want to recreate the style at home. (Retail product list coming soon. Ask your barber on the day for specific recommendations.)

Payment runs through Squire. Credit card or gift card on the card on file. No cash register. You get an emailed receipt automatically. Gift cards can be purchased through Squire and redeemed on any service: an easy standing gift for someone who's hard to shop for. Tipping is up to you. Industry-standard is 15 to 20 percent on the service total, added directly through the Squire checkout at the end of your appointment. Barbers see the tip in full.

Address: 43 King Street North, Waterloo. We're on the main Uptown Waterloo stretch, a couple of blocks north of Waterloo Town Square. Driving: street parking on King Street (metered), plus municipal lots off Erb St W and Willis Way. Parking is easier on weekends after 6 pm. ION light rail: closest stop is Waterloo Public Square, a 3-minute walk. The shop is on the same corridor as the ION line. Walking: most of Uptown Waterloo is under a 10-minute walk. University of Waterloo campus is a 15-minute walk via University Ave, or a direct bus.

Yes. The 30-minute Standard Haircut service works for younger clients (under 12). For a first visit with a child, message the shop ahead of the booking so we can pair the right barber and book the right time slot. We'll usually put kids in a mid-morning or early-afternoon slot when the shop is calmer.

Yes. Buy a Stray Dog gift card through the Squire booking page: it's a standard gift-card flow, you pick a value, it's delivered by email. The recipient redeems it on any service when they book. No expiry tricks, no service restriction. Good idea for: partners, Father's Day, anyone who needs a haircut and hasn't booked one in a suspiciously long time.

We're always open to meeting sharp barbers in Waterloo Region. If you've got a portfolio and you want to talk about a chair at Stray Dog, reach out through the contact form on the site, or DM the shop on Instagram. Include your Instagram, your current shop (if you have one), and a couple of portfolio shots.