What You Should Know About Pet Grooming Costs

When you take your dogs to a dog grooming facility, the price you end up paying can vary widely. Although more basic services cost less than specialty ones, the average pet grooming cost differs based on certain factors. If you’re trying to estimate how much it might cost you to have your dogs professionally groomed, take the following factors into consideration.

Size

One of the main reasons why grooming costs vary is the size of the dog being groomed. The average pet grooming cost for larger dogs is typically more than the average cost for smaller dogs, especially toy breeds. This is due to the fact that larger dogs require greater amounts of grooming supplies, such as shampoo, and the longer length of time it takes to bathe, brush and cut or style their coat. If you have a larger dog, you can expect to pay more for pet grooming.

Coat

The type of coat dogs have also determines how much their pet grooming cost will be. Dogs who have coats that are more difficult to work with or coats that are more prone to tangles, mats and other problems, such as with wiry coats, typically need more care at the groomer’s than dogs with smoother or shorter coats that are easy to work with.

Breed

The breed of dog you have can also affect the price of dog grooming depending on the type of style or cut you get. Certain breeds have more complex styles, based on breed standards, than others. This means more time in the pet grooming facility, which can increase the cost. You’ll also need to find a groomer who is skilled in providing your dog with breed-standard haircuts or styles, which could also cost more.

Additional Services

Basic services for grooming, such as brushing, bathing and nail trimmings, generally have low prices. When you get into more specialized services, such as medicated shampoos, manicures or massages, this can also drive up the final price. These services typically cost more than basic ones.

How to Find a Good Dog Grooming Place

Bringing dogs to a professional groomer helps ensure that they look their best and stay healthy. Professional dog groomers know how to trim nails, give haircuts, bathe and brush dogs while keeping them calm. Before you make an appointment, keep in mind that it’s important to find a good dog grooming place for your dogs, so they’ll be handled safely. Keep the following tips in mind as you look for a professional dog grooming place.

Visit in Person

Don’t just call a dog grooming facility and schedule an appointment. Visiting in person gives you a chance to check out the place and make sure that it’s clean and in excellent condition. When you visit, keep an eye out for red flags that should steer you away from bringing your dogs there, such as messes that aren’t cleaned up, or a grimy or dirty appearance in general.

Meet the Staff

Going to a dog grooming place in person also lets you chat with the staff. Meeting them gives you an opportunity to find out more about them and see whether or not they have a calm and friendly demeanor. You might also be able to see how they handle pets in general, so you can tell if they do so safely and gently. Keep in mind that staff should also be skilled at grooming dogs of all sizes and temperaments.

Check the Requirements

Good dog grooming places that are reputable will have certain requirements that all dogs must meet in order to be groomed there. This usually includes showing proof of an updated rabies shot and other vaccines. Stay away from dog groomers who don’t enforce these requirements or let you know about them. The safest facilities make sure that all dogs have up-to-date vaccinations in order to reduce the risk of spreading illnesses among pets.

Ask About Special Services

Some dog grooming places offer special services in addition to basic baths, haircuts, nail trims and ear cleaning. You might find a place that offers spa services or special shampoo to help dogs look as clean and shiny as possible.

What You Should Know About Puppy Grooming

Puppies need regular grooming as part of helping them stay healthy and happy. However, grooming isn’t something that pet owners should rush into. Puppies need to get used to being handled for bathing, brushing and other grooming tasks, so that they won’t become fearful or aggressive. Keep the following tips in mind to help your pets get used to puppy grooming.

Start Early

Don’t wait too long to introduce puppies to grooming. You can give puppies baths, brush them and clip their nails at home when they’re still young. This helps them learn not to be afraid of being handled. If you plan on having puppies professionally groomed, you’ll need to wait until they’ve had their shots. Most places that offer pet grooming require this in order to help protect puppies from getting sick or spreading germs to other puppies and dogs.

Make Grooming Rewarding

Puppies respond well to being groomed when they receive something positive out of the experience. Offer puppies treats as a reward for getting into the tub for bathing, for staying calm while having their nails clipped or being brushed. You can gradually ease up on the rewards and stop giving them to puppies when they’ve learned to stay calm during grooming. Avoid yelling or punishing puppies if they don’t behave while being groomed. This type of reaction makes grooming a negative experience for them and teaches them to be fearful.

Go Slowly

It takes time to get puppies used to being handled for grooming. Give puppies a chance to explore the bathtub before filling it with water and bathing them. Once you have water in the tub, you can gently put them in it and let them explore some more. For nail trimming, gently handle their paws so they get used to having them touched. Before brushing, let puppies sniff the brush so that it won’t be an unfamiliar item to them.

Above all else, make sure you stay calm while grooming puppies. This is an important part of helping puppies feel at ease while being bathed, brushed or having their nails trimmed.