How to Choose a Dog Groomer

There are a whole lot of things to consider when selecting the right groomer for you and your pet.  Some questions are obvious (do you like the way your dog looks afterwards?) and some less obvious (is your groomer insured?).  

Here’s what to look for…

Purpose of Groom – Family Pet or Show Dog?

There are two basic forms of grooming; pet grooming and show grooming.  It is important to note that all groomers should be able to complete pet grooms – grooms that are primarily done for ease of maintenance - while only highly skilled and specifically trained groomers are competent in show grooms – which are grooms that conform to the breed standard.  A good show groomer will charge you more for their time (rightly so) and may be difficult to find.  A good way to locate a show groomer is by contacting local breeders for a referral. 

Salon Setup

One thing to take note of is your groomer's salon setup.

Where will your dog spend its down time?

Many groomers book several dogs in the same time slot in order to groom more dogs in one day and to allow time for breaks for your dog.  These “breaks” can become highly stressful on your dog if the crates are located in isolated, potentially noisy areas. For example, I’ve worked in a salon where the crates were located in the same place where multiple dogs were being bathed and dried at once.  It was an extremely loud and stressful area of the salon, even for the groomers, and highly unsuitable for nervous dogs.

Another consideration is whether or not your groomer can easily monitor your dog. When dogs are crated out of sight from customers, they are also away from the groomer’s line of vision. This prevents the groomer from monitoring your dog for signs of stress.

Products

Unlike human grade products, products used on dogs are not required to include a list of ingredients.  If your dog has sensitive skin or skin conditions, be sure to ask your groomer about the products they use so you can ensure that they are suitable to your dog's needs. 

Also, keep in mind, that many groomers do not use tearless shampoo on your dog's head and face.  It seems like a no-brainer that they would, but unfortunately it's not so.  I personally feel it’s more humane for groomers to only use tearless shampoos around your dog’s eyes.

Do you have a Bad Dog?

Some dogs HATE being groomed. They scratch, fuss, bite, and basically do anything they can to prevent the groomer from doing their work.  Many groomers will simply refuse to groom difficult dogs because it slows them down and keeps them from grooming as many dogs as possible in one day. Switching from groomer to groomer will only make the situation worse and increase your dog’s stress levels - familiarity is important for many dogs. If your dog is terrible at the groomer’s it is imperative that you find a groomer that is willing to take on  this challenge and work with your dog to improve over time.

What happens when things go wrong?

While groomers don’t like to talk about it, sometimes things do go wrong. Grooming is often more about animal handling than artistry, and animals can be unpredictable.  Combine their unpredictability with sharp scissors, and it’s clear why occasional injuries do happen.

One of the most important things to ask your groomer PRIOR to bringing your dog to them is what happens if your dog is injured?  Will you be responsible to pay for the groom? What about the vet bills?

As a side note, if your dog is ever injured in any way your groomer should inform you.  I have many customers who switched to me from other groomers because they were left to find an injury on their own.  Full disclosure in case of injury is 100% necessary as it allows the owner to monitor the injury and seek veterinary attention if necessary.

Insurance

This point goes along with the one above, but it’s important enough that I wanted to single it out.  I highly recommend only taking your dog to a groomer who has professional liability insurance SPECIFICALLY designed for groomers. For example, I have a very comprehensive policy which provides me coverage if your dog is injured or even lost while in my care.

Referrals

Unfortunately, the grooming industry in Ontario is totally unregulated. This means that formal training isn’t required to become a groomer, and there isn’t a governing body preventing “bad” groomers from continuing to groom.  Be leery of online reviews (both good and bad) and try to get references from someone that you know and trust.

Another option is to get in touch with a local rescue group for a recommendation. Rescue volunteers typically have a lot of contacts in the pet services industry and can send you somewhere reputable.

What does the groomer ask YOU?

When you bring your dog in for their first appointment with a groomer take note of what the groomer asks you about your dog.

A responsible groomer will take time to ensure the dog is up to date on vaccines, ask about your dog’s medical history, behavioural issues, for emergency contact numbers and for your dog’s veterinary information.

Communication

Your groomer should be someone who you can easily communicate with.  While we all get busy, you want to know that your groomer will take the time to learn about your grooming preferences and about your dog's unique needs.  Good communication will help to quickly develop trust between you, the groomer and your dog.

-Peter

Puppy's First Groom

Grooming puppies (dogs under 6 months) can be one of the most enjoyable parts of a groomer’s job. Sometimes it seems almost unfair that I’m paid to play work with a puppy that is happy, cooperative and playful -- Then there are the other times that they are frightened, overwhelmed and aggressive.

When a puppy is first being groomed it is best to keep the grooming short and easy. It’s more important to make a puppy’s first few grooms a positive experience than it is to get an extensive groom completed.

You can help to ensure your puppy’s first groom goes well by regularly brushing them and playing with their paws at home. This will to help to get them used to being manipulated.   

It’s also important to resist spoiling your puppy (I was guilty of this too, don’t worry). Puppies that aren’t told “no” at home take longer to submit to brushing, having their nails clipped or their chins held. Puppies need to learn when they are young, as with children, that acting up and crying will not get them their way. 

When puppies are frightened they will generally act in one of two ways; scared stiff and fairly acquiescent or defiant and aggressive… You can guess which my preference is.

Frightened puppies usually just need a little positive encouragement.  I always try to keep the real work to short spurts followed by a few cuddles and belly rubs to make them a little more comfortable.  Once they know that they are with someone who will reward them for good behaviour (with treats, positive encouragement and scratches behind their ears) they usually relax.

Groomers need to find the balance between being firm with the puppies and knowing when a frightened puppy simply needs to be comforted.  One of my most challenging puppies to groom to date was on my own Chinese Crested, Billie.  Some Chinese Crested dogs need to have their body and face closely shaved. This can be scary for them, however also dangerous if they squirm too much.

Billie would shriek and howl and make all sorts of awful noises when I first started grooming her.  The most important thing was to show her that, in spite of her protestations, I would not stop what I was doing and that she was not going to win.   However, understanding that she was scared, I also kept the grooms as short as possible and showered her with treats. 

After two or three grooms with mixed behaviour, Billie began sitting still and being very cooperative for the process because she knew that nothing bad was going to happen -- that she wasn’t going to be hurt and there was nothing to be afraid of.   Now at eight months, she is very comfortable being groomed, and the main interruptions occur when she tries to jump up to kiss me.

A puppy’s first groom can sometimes be hardest on the groomer who has to be firm while being looked at with, literally, puppy dog eyes.  Help your puppy (and their groomer) through their first grooms by booking short, simple appointments, playing with their paws and ears at home when relaxing, and as always, working on their obedience training to help them grow into healthy, happy dogs!

- Peter