Choosing a Good Dog Groomer
By Shelley Williams
Does the thought of battling your dog into the bathtub one more time make your back ache and head hurt? Well, it might be time to find a professional dog groomer. However, finding the right pet groomer can be as difficult as finding the right hairdresser. Sure, you want your dog to look great and feel fabulous, but you also want to be sure she is safe throughout the grooming process.
Ask Questions
When selecting a groomer for your pet, it is very important to ask about the groomer’s experience. Ask how long she/he has been grooming. What breeds is she/he proficient at grooming? Ask if the groomer attends continuing education seminars. A good groomer will always be interested in staying up-to-date. A good groomer will also be able to provide you with a list of clients you can contact for references. Remember, while groomers are not licensed by most states, they should be certified by a dog grooming school.
Check Out the Salon
When visiting a grooming salon, it is very important to take note of the surroundings. Here are some questions to ask: Where are the dogs kept? How are clippers, scissors and blades, etc., cleaned between uses? Do you require pets to be up-to-date on vaccines?
If you own one of the brachycephalic breeds, such as a bulldog or pug, you need to ask the groomer how she/he will dry your pet. A breed of this type should not be left with a hot dryer blowing on the kennel. The same applies for an elderly pet or a pet with special health needs.
Request Grooming Fees in Advance
Grooming fees vary from salon to salon and it is important to make sure you know what is included in the cost of the grooming service. Will the groomer cut nails, clean ears, brush teeth, etc.? What type of shampoos and conditioners are used? If your veterinarian recommends a certain shampoo, do you need to supply it? You might want to ask if the groomer will express your dog’s anal glands. (If your dog does have a problem with his anal sacs, this is something that should be checked by your veterinarian.) By asking what is included, there will be no surprises when you pick your dog up after her appointment.
Let the Groomer Know Your Specific Needs
Remember that groomers are not miracle workers. You need to do your part in keeping your dog brushed between visits. Be sure to explain how much you want cut off of your dog’s coat. Also, if you have allowed your dog’s coat to become matted, they might need to be cut out, which you will be charged for.
Most groomers will not allow you to stay while your pet is being groomed. Your dog will most likely be calmer and remain still on the grooming table without you there. The more excited and jumpy the pet is, the greater the risk for an accidental cut.
Make Time
Lastly, be considerate of your groomer’s time. Be sure to cancel appointments you cannot keep. Also remember your groomer spends a lot of time going over your dog’s skin and coat, which is much longer than your veterinarian will spend. A good groomer will find things on your dog you might have never noticed, such as lumps, growths and infections.
These are just a few things to remember when looking for a groomer. It may take a few tries to find a groomer you are happy with. Your relationship with your pet’s groomer is essential. She/he should listen to what you want and you should listen to her/his advice before making your decision.
You may also like: Best Dog Shampoos for all Coat and Skin Types
Good tip on requesting the fees in advance so you can make a more informed decision, based on what is actually included. I never thought about how a groomer may recommend a shampoo that they don’t actually have! We will be taking our dog to the groomer for the first time soon, and these are great tips to follow.
You bring up a good point about asking about the groomer’s experience. These questions can range from how long he or she has been grooming to asking about certifications and continuing education and seminars attended. Those questions can be important because they show that the groomer is dedicated to always improving their abilities and service. That way you know that your pet will always receive top notch care.
I don’t have a dog yet, my current place doesn’t allow pets, but when I do I want to be prepared. Your tips for finding a good groomer are really helpful. I really like your suggestion to ask lots of questions about the groomer’s experience. I had never thought about getting references from the groomer’s clients. When I get my dog, I will be sure to follow your suggestions.
All good advice. My husband and I are looking out for a new groomer as our last one just didn’t seem to care for our dog – just the dollars! She was fine when we first used her but she seemed to then get lazy and our poor pooch, Charlie, ended up with some very questionable haircuts! I think as well as asking questions directly, word of mouth is also a good pointer – have the groomer’s other customers been satisfied?
Our dog is a siberian husky, and she is the hardest to groom, as we can never get her to stay still. We just decided we better look into some professionals who could take care of her. It sounds like we need to do our homework, and even visit the salon before we just make an appointment. I guess it would be important that our dog gets treated well, so thanks for sharing these tips with us!
Our little dog has been feeling a little under the weather lately. We were told that this might actually be due to a lack of grooming and bathing. We have been looking for a grooming service to see if we can help the dog feel better. I will make sure to specify the needs of our dog to the groomer like you mentioned!
The best groomer in my area is a 17 year-old girl who was raised with a bunch of dogs and started grooming her dogs, then the neighbors, and just developed a knack for it. She works by referral only, is incredibly quick, clean, and my puppy is always happy when he walks out the door! The moral of this story is: finding a good groomer is not about the professionalism or the quality of the salon. Find the place your neighbors go, and try them out! A great groomer can be cheap and unconventional as well.
I just moved to a new area, and I’m looking for a new groomer for our dog. I like what you said about letting them know our specific needs, our last groomer just already knew us and our dog so it will be interesting to start fresh. What kind of things do you think a groomer would like to know?
I have a dog and looking to take it to a grooming salon. I will definitely request the grooming fees in advance before getting there so I kind of have an idea of what it may cost. I am grateful that my dog doesn’t require certain shampoo which makes it easier for the salon. Thanks for the tips on finding a good grooming salon.
It can be hard finding a good dog groomer for the first time, but this site has done a lot for pointing me in the direction to go. I’ll be sure to ask questions of the dog groomer and check out the salon, like you mentioned. Thanks for the helpful pet grooming info!
My husband and I just got a dog for our kids and we are realizing that we are going to need a groomer for him very soon. I like the tip you give here of requesting grooming fees in advance so you know what you are expecting. In addition, I think it would also be beneficial to get quotes or fees in writing so that there is record of it. I’ll be sure to keep all these tips you gave in mind.
I really like what you said about being very specific with your dog groomer, and letting them know exactly what you want. My lab gets really hot in the summer, and so to help with this, I usually have him shaved. When I go to have it done again, I’ll be sure to tell them exactly how long I want it, and exactly where I want him shaved.
I have seen organizations that will offer a service complimentary that a lot of their customers were surprised about the first time. Because of this, I really like the advice to see what in included with the fees that they are asking for. It might be worth it to make a special request for an increased fee to get exactly the grooming you want.
I really like what was said about choosing a good dog groomer in this article. There are a lot of times, especially during the spring, when my dog is just shedding it’s winter coat and it’s hair goes EVERYWHERE! I really like what was said about about checking out the salon as well when it comes to finding a great pet groomer.
I like that you pointed out that it is important to talk to your groomer so that you can make clear everything that you want to happen. I also think that people should realize that you don’t always need to go to a groomer; you can brush your dog by yourself. I love not having to go to the groomer every week, and my dog always looks fabulous.
I did not know that there were seminars that groomers could attend to better their cutting skills. It seems like a good idea to make sure that you take your dog to a groomer that is well rounded and that has a lot of experience with all types of dogs. Another way to pick out the best groomer would be to get different rates from the different groomers and to compare them.
We have had cocker spaniels for my entire life of 59 years. A trip to the groomer has always been very upsetting to our dog. Just did not like it. We now have a new cocker puppy and he is a big baby! I felt like getting him to a groomer would be a monumental task, so I invested in an electric grooming kit to maybe ease him into a grooming routine. Not so much! All he has to do is see the clippers and he is gone. He has such dense fur that it is very uncomfortable for him to even be inside. I leave a window cracked so he can sleep close to our Michigan winter weather. I’m not sure if he was mistreated as a puppy, but he wants nothing to do with being groomed and is extremely scared of the process. I have to take him down to a comfortable length, but don’t know how to without what I would consider unnecessary force. Any tips to relieving our puppy of overheating? Feel so bad for him and know I have to accomplish this somehow.. Thanks
My dog came into the house last night with straw and dirt all over her fur and got the kitchen so dirty! I never knew that you need to do your part in keeping your dog brushed between visits. I am no expert, but I would imagine that that would help my dog look better. From now on I will do my best to brush her before her grooming visits!
I like that you mentioned to make sure to make the groomer aware of any specific needs your pet might have. They aren’t going to know exactly what you want unless you tell them. My wife and I have been searching for a groomer to help us keep our new dog looking great all the time. We will have to keep these tips in mind, thanks!
I agree that you should go visit a grooming salon to see if it is a place that your dog will be most comfortable. This is especially important if they are getting their nails trimmed there as well. It can be hard enough for your dog to have their nails trimmed by someone they are comfortable with, such as yourself. However, professional clipping can be better for the health of your dog as well to make sure that they aren’t harmed in the process.
Hi, as a dog groomer none of this list is true. Experience DOES NOT equal skill or talent in grooming. You should be looking for the groomer who will fit you in, someone who offers you solutions to problems your pup is facing, look for someone who obviously cares about the well being of your baby, and most importantly: confidence. Confidence is key in chooing your groomer, it shows that your groomer knows what he/she is doing and is certain that you will like the trim. Also to touch on education: most groomers do not go to grooming school. We just dont. Its way too expensive and to be honest, it doesnt prepare you for working in a fast pace salon. We learn on the job with a close eye from our mentors. You shouldnt worry about the quality of cut you will recieve when coming into a salon, its not like us managers just pick up randos off the street. Each of our groomers are tested and watched carefully before being hired. Each groom should be inspected by the manager when someone is first hired to ensure quality. Groomers do not join this field because they hate animals or have the need to hurt your dog/cat. We do this (often for way cheaper than we should to ensure we help your dog) because we love all of our four legged friends. When choosing a groomer, dont just call the salon and demand to know who has the most experience (its incredibly insulting and so annoying) actually come in person and take the time to meet us. Find someone you click with. Remember: experience does not equal talent.
I never would’ve thought to go check out the salon and to bring your pet to see how they like it. My wife and I have been considering getting a dog for our daughter, and we want to make sure that it looks good when she first sees it. I will be sure to tell my wife that we should bring the dog to salons to see how it likes it!
Generally, for the first time, it’s pretty hard to find a good groomer. But once we test few, we can get the general idea.
Thank you for stating that most groomers will not allow you to stay while your pet is being groomed. I just got a golden retriever, and she really needs to be groomed and I don’t know who to take her to. I will definitely keep all of your great tips and information in mind when trying to find the perfect groomer for my dog.
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