How to Find a Good Groomer for Your Dog

I have a sure fire method for finding a good groomer- I let the dog decide. My dog will go totally flippo when I say the name of his groomer. He loves to go there and pulls me down the street when we're on our way to her shop. That's my barometer.

You may not have such clear indicators as that. There are other ways to find the perfect groomer for your furbaby and I'll share some tips with you that will ensure a professional and happy relationship between you, the groomer and your dog.

First thing you may want to do is observe the dogs that come out of the shop. I'm not suggesting you sit at the curb all day holed up in your car waiting for the customers to come out of the shop. I'm saying ask the groomer for some references.

And don't be afraid to use them. Word of mouth is usually the best advertising a groomer can get, so if the customer is singing the groomer's praises, that's a pretty good indicator of a good worker. Usually, a groomer will have pictures of their happy clients on their walls. Look carefully at those. If you like what you see, you may want to give this groomer a try,

Pre-screen the groomer. If he or she is interested in your business and has nothing to hide, there should be no problem with asking all the questions you have over the phone or even in person on a non busy grooming day. Find out the price, what it includes and how much for extras.

Make sure the groomer has adequate experience. I once took my 3 month old toy poodle to Petsmart because they advertised a $29 "puppy" special. Two hours later they called me and told me they couldn't do a thing with the maniac because he was too wild for them. That was two hours wasted and they tried to charge me for the work they couldn't do. So make sure your groomer has been around the block enough times to handle your pooch.

If you have a breed that requires a specific cut, make sure the groomer is experienced in that cut. I have a poodle and naturally chose a groomer who has poodles, also. I feel confident that my dog is going to come home looking like a circus balloon animal because he's supposed to, not because the groomer slipped with her clippers. Specifically ask the groomer is he/she feels reasonably adept at creating the cut your dog needs.

Tour the facility. Don't be shy. Ask to look at the business area. Inspect the washing sinks, the holding crates, the floors, the dryers, the shampoos, etc. Especially be on the alert for foul odors. They could end up coming home with your dog.

Make sure it all meets with your approval and that the washing and drying processes look sounds. I won't use a groomer who hooks up the blow dryer to the cage and just lets it blow on the dog. I like a one on one blow out for my dog. If a groomer wouldn't do that for me, I wouldn't use the groomer.

If you have a short haired dog a groomer should be able to accommodate you with a bath, ear cleaning, nail clipping, teeth brushing (yes, you heard me correctly) and expressing the anal glands. These are things you DO NOT want to do at home. Leave these things to a professional.
Last of all, take your dog to meet the groomer.

The dog's first impression will clue you in to the type of person the groomer is. Dog's never lie and never judge a person with superficial criteria. If your dog doesn't like the groomer, you'll know it. Trust the dog, and after all of your research, you'll have to trust your own judgment as well.

The groomer is probably going to cost more than your own hairdresser, so set your standards high and don't settle for less.