There are over 157,000 dog grooming services in the country, so which one will you choose for your pooch?
Dog grooming doesn’t just make your dog look better. There are countless health benefits to this type of pet care, including healthier nails, less shedding, and a lower likelihood of fleas and parasites. It’ll also make your pet happier because they’ll be more comfortable.
Not every dog really enjoys going to the dog groomer, however. If you’re going to get one that doesn’t put your dog on edge, you’ve got to do your due diligence.
Today, we’re going to give you a hand by telling you the 5 best tips for choosing dog grooming services in your area. It’s not rocket science, but it is nice to have a pet groomer who you like, who your dog likes, and who you can trust with your dog’s well-being. Keep reading and find the perfect groomer.
1. Check Out Ratings and Reviews
Before you start reaching out to all of the pet grooming services in your town, head to Google and check out their ratings and reviews. You can glean a lot of valuable information by looking at what former customers have to say.
Most notably, you can find out if there are any red flags with any of the local pet groomers. If someone’s pet came home with an injury or a poor haircut, you’ll probably find out in the reviews. You can use this information to inform your own decision.
It’s best to seek out bad reviews, but don’t take them as gospel. If a groomer has a high average rating and generally positive reviews, they’re probably worth investigating further. You can steer clear of the ones that have a poor average rating and plenty of bad reviews.
2. Stay Close to Home
When it comes to dog groomers, you have to consider your dog’s personality. Do they like going on long car rides? Do they like going to the dog groomer?
If the answer is “no” to both of these questions, then you’ll want to make sure you choose a groomer who is close to your home. It’s going to be really inconvenient if you’ve got to drive for an hour to get your dog properly groomed. This is especially true if the dog is anxious the entire time.
For this reason, your best bet is probably to do a Google Maps search to find out what services are nearby. If there’s one dog groomer that’s a 30-minute drive away, but you’ve got this local dog groomer that’s 10 minutes from your home, you’ll want to choose the closest one every time.
3. Prioritize Services
Now you’re at the point where you can start contacting some of these potential dog groomers. One of the questions you’ll want to ask is what type of services they offer. If you’ve got something special in mind for your pup, it’s important to make sure that your groomer can do it.
Typical dog grooming services should do the following:
- Give your dog a bath, a blow dry, and a brush
- Give them a haircut
- Trim their nails
- Clean their ears
- Clean around their eyes
- Wash any other regions that might need it
- Inspect your dog for any potential medical issues
Certain dog owners may have higher standards, however. If that describes you and there are specific grooming services you want, just ask the groomer if they can handle it. This is a great way to separate the great from the “just okay” groomers.
4. Check Out the Facilities
With or without your dog, it can be really helpful to check out a groomer’s facility to see what type of environment you’ll be leaving your dog in. You can meet the dog groomer at the same time and pose any questions you may have.
There are a certain set of standards that every dog grooming facility should uphold. Every dog should get its own space and the facility should be equipped to deal with the needs of specific breeds. Bulldogs and pugs, for instance, are prone to overheating, so cage dryers shouldn’t be used.
If you’re worried about leaving your dog with a stranger, you can bring it along to see how they react. Groomers are often really good with all types of dogs, so even if you’ve got an anxious pooch, a good groomer should still be able to do their thing.
5. Price Is Right
The last thing you’ll want to find out is how much a dog grooming session is going to cost. Dog grooming fees are wide-ranging, so get quotes from as many options as possible to figure out an average price. Your dog is worth spending money on, but you never want to break the bank for a haircut.
With most other services, you’ll want to steer clear of deals that seem too good to be true. When it comes to pet grooming, however, you can be a bit more lenient.
Don’t choose the cheapest option without reaching out to them or setting up a tour to view the facility. At the same time, don’t default to spending more money just because a service has attractive branding.
At the end of the day, you’ve got to stay within a budget. You can get quality service at a perfectly reasonable price point.
Get Your Dog the Best Local Dog Grooming Services
There you have it. Take these tips to heart and you’ll be able to find the best local dog grooming services to keep your dog looking good and feeling great. Finding a groomer you trust can take time, so don’t rush this decision. Just focus on your needs and ask the right questions and you’ll find the best one.
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