This one is for people who groom and people who use a groomer.  How do you know the price is right?   Do any dog groomers clean dogs teeth?  Is it best to use a salon or have a mobile unit come to you?  Also could you answer any questions I haven't asked?

I have taken my dogs to different people over the years. None have been mobile I just prefer to go somewhere. reasons for changing have been variable  changes in my domestic circumstances not groomer problems. 
My current lady is the best I have found apart from a lady many many years back who sadly died. She charges £50 for a long haired double coated gsd , £35 for a fcr and £15 for my pomxchi . She does nails and will do anal glands but I prefer her not to.She is very gentle doesn't string the dogs up and is more than happy to have you there if you wish throughout the grooming. I don't as my dogs are all very happy to see her. My sister chooses to stay partly because she comes further than me and partly because her little rescue yorkie gets stressed very easily but he has a difficult coat and needs professional grooming . she doesn't do his nails as he gets far to stressed for that and she never pushes the dogs. Have never considered teeth cleaning
costs are outer London/surrey and have been similar for all the groomers I have used (4)
one more thing she has her qualifications up for you to see and has done more than most to be fair I didn't ask when she was recommended but was pleased to see it all and also confirmation of her insurance. She says most don't ask or even worry about it when they know she is qualified which is abit worrying. she is also a dog owner and I get very good vibes from her and very busy. doesn't use cage type dryers its all done by hand she doesn't like them and neither do I /. previous groomer I had to insist a cage dryer was never and she avoids having more than one dog in at a time unless they are dogs living together so spaces out appointments. Don't know if that makes her as much money but imo its better for my dogs

>Do any dog groomers clean dogs teeth?

As dental work is done under a GA, a groomer isn't qualified to carry out the work.  They wouldn't risk doing a scale and polish on a dog who was awake, one jump from the dog and you could have the instrument through the roof of its mouth. 

I have dental equipment, and if you are able to do the work yourself while your dog is awake, fair enough.  But not on someone else's dog.  I am pretty confident with scraping teeth, but I will only do it on my dogs that I know to be rock solid.  The Collies are fine, but the Chihuahuas are wriggle arses, and I couldn't risk it on them.

Regarding cleaning the teeth.  I meant brushing them like at home with dog toothpaste.  Other groomers I have used over the years did teeth, nails and ears.  This shop charged me £30 for washing and blow drying a short haired dog.  No tangles as hair is too short.   She is brushed daily and her ears cleaned once a week and her teeth brushed once a week but I can't do nails.  I prefer someone else to bath her as I don't like the mess!  Just thought it excessive that's all.

My groomer charges me £35 for my long coat and £30 for the mid and short coats. She cleans ears, trims trousers, trims feet and nails. She also shaves around the bits if preferred but my boy is left au natural ;) I booked a mobile groomer once and he never showed. Rang to re arrange and he couldn't be bothered so didn't go down that route again.

My pets @ home also has in house grooming and i did use them when they had the 'get a free groom' offer on but my boy came home with scabs where they had nicked the skin. I complained and was told he was 'extremely matted' which was a lie. I threatened to take it further and was offered a free groom next time. My boy dragged his feet and had to be pulled along the floor to get through the door. I walked out and didn't have him done. They charge £45 for him and £35 for the girls.

I get all of mine done together twice a year. Pets @ home always charged the full amount. My current groomer only charges £100. Making one groom practically free!

Its not all about the money though. The dog needs to be happy and enjoy the experience or at least feel relaxed. P@h offered everything too but my dog was miserable,  I'd rather travel further and wait 4-6 weeks for appointments with my lady as long as they are happy.

I use a groomer who now works from home. She used to work for Pets@home, but refused to continue to 'speed' groom the dogs. Pets@home don't even brush out the coat before bathing which causes matting in a long haired dog.

My groomer charges £30 for a full groom and takes  3 hours for my girl and 4 hours for my 9 month old as he is a wriggler and gets tired. £10 for a mid groom (bath and brush- face tidied and nails) £10 for puppies. She only has the one dog in at once (or two if from same home). I choose to take one in the morning and swap at lunch time.

I met a lady on a walk who had the same breed as me but was almost bald as Pets@home had shaved the dog within an inch of it's life badly cutting it with a resultant infection. Companion Vet Care in Pets@home were furious that the groomer did not even take it to be looked at. The vet sent them the bill.

Personally, I would never use a groomer who 'collects' a number of dogs in the morning from different families and keep them in cages all day - my neighbour does.

I groom for a local dog business (sitting, walking etc, but following a car accident the woman can't do the grooming at the moment).  We charge £20 basic rate up to 2 hours, then £12 an hour from that point - we rarely charge above £20 but most of our customers are regulars so don't get in a bad state and know the routine so just let me get on with it.  Stressed dogs I will give breaks to so they might be in for hours, but we'll only charge for the time I'm actually grooming the dog.

I don't do teeth, but I do anal glands and claws if needed - most customers expect me to do claws but sometimes, I do refuse as we get quite a lot of nervous or traumatised dogs who've been done by one of the atrocious groomers nearby.  On that note I would say go by word-of-mouth recommendation if you can - you can avoid some really bad groomers that way.  Last week I finished a spaniel who'd been handled so badly by the last person that he vomited the rest of the day and was totally stressed for days afterwards :-(  Apparently they had to muzzle him as he was constantly trying to bite them.  Never so much as lifted a lip at me, he's a really sweet dog.  Scares the hell out of me to think how badly he must have been handled.

So, get out and find other owners - if you see a cut you like, ask them where they had it done.  And importantly, ask how the dog was when they came home!

I had a fantastic groomer who charged £28 for a toy poodle to be washed, dried, clipped, ears plucked and nails ground down (she doesn't like her nails clipped). It took 1.5 hours and she was the only dog there and never caged. The grooming room was clean and decorated nicely. The groomer did not do anal glands unless necessary as, like me, she felt that they shouldn't be touched if not needed. She did not do teeth but I have never heard of a groomer doing teeth, I brush them myself.

Unfortunately she moved away and my dog now goes to a lovely girl, but she grooms in a shed type room and it is not decorated nicely or heated.( I think that the way your grooming room is decorated and clean reflects in how much pride you take in the job and how you treat the dogs). There is hair all over and I think my dog may have been caged. She does not do ears ( but I'd rather do them myself) and only takes the tips of her nails off with clippers. She also takes 1.5 hours and charges £24.
You may wonder why I use her but my dog comes home happy and I haven't heard any good things about other groomers nearby.
My dog's first groomer obviously frightened or hurt my then puppy, this is why she now doesn't like her legs brushed or her nails clipped. That groomer charged £18 and was a breeder/shower in the breed and came recommended because of that. I wouldn't leave her in charge of a goldfish.

Anal glands are now only a vet procedure as of late last year, a groomer is not a vet and cannot legally do anal glands. Will not be covered by insurance and could be considered malpractice. I am a groomer and the prices at where I work are at the top end for location. Dogs are crated before and after grooms as this is a safe and secure place and as per my training the correct method as to City and guilds levels. The price you pay, pays wages and expenses. Pay peanuts get monkeys if your not happy groom them yourself or go elsewhere. We also have many as customer who is completely clueless as to the flea infestation or how poor condition dogs coat is and it has to be clipped off and start again.  Cockerpoo in this week not groomed for 5 months. How it could poo properly with the amount of impacted faeces around its anus was unbelievable. Glove job, she was waiting for her previous groomer to finish maternity leave. This took 3 hours with an assistant for help.

>The price you pay, pays wages and expenses. Pay peanuts get monkeys if your not happy groom them yourself or go elsewhere.

Very well said.  :-)  :-)

>The price you pay, pays wages and expenses. Pay peanuts get monkeys if your not happy groom them yourself or go elsewhere.

Absolutely!

I am constantly amazed at the number of people who continually look for a cheaper groomer.   No matter how cheap their present groomer.  Or how good they are.

They are expecting a full body hair do,  and for the dog not to be stressed,  and for nails etc.   Yet time and again,  the question asked is "can I get it cheaper?"   "should I be paying less?"

Hand on heart -  how many people are continually looking for a cheaper hairdresser?   And they only groom the top of your head.   They don't do the sensitive places.   There's very little risk of being cut because any clipper blades are tiny and the client for the most part is unlikely to jump about.    Far more skill needed to groom a dog (I've done both)

It isn't just on CD I see this,   I constantly get it when out too.   My dogs are groomed by me,  and I do it well.   I also like to keep them looking good,  so they are combed regularly.    Wouldn't think of taking them out without a quick once over -  3 mins each.    And of course people want to know who grooms my dogs.    Because their groomer is always too expensive,  even when it's so cheap,  I wonder how the groomer survives.   Even when the groomer may as well be paying the client!

If the groomer isn't grooming properly,  or carefully,  that's one thing.   But it seems less important to most than being almost free.

Perhaps if owners made more effort to do the job themselves,  they'd appreciate what they do pay?

  I've found that the clients who keep their dogs coats in the best condition,  are the ones who also appreciate their groomers skills,  and are happy to pay whatever it costs.

Hand on heart -  how many people are continually looking for a cheaper hairdresser?   And they only groom the top of your head.

Exactly. It costs me £35 for a haircut that isn't anything special, and takes less than an hour. By the sound of it that's expensive compared to dogs and I am sure a lot of people pay more for their hair.  Surely the best way to save money is to learn to groom the dog yourself.

Once my young GR's coat has fully grown in and I can see what her coat is going to be like, I plan to find a groomer I could take her to occasionally. I can manage general grooming, trimming of feet, tail etc, but not good with thinning scissors so need someone to give her a thin out on the chest and bum in particular, but most importantly trim her as a golden should be, not just hack the heavy bits back as I've had on a previous dog. It really depends on what her coat is like, her brother is different a much heavier fluffy coat whereas hers seems less so at the moment.
My intention would be to find a groomer that is capable of doing a proper golden trim and for that I would be prepared to pay a good rate, but then that's just me and I have the money to spare.

Mine and family dogs are generally charged between £30-£35 the price generally includes, wash, groom (as requested) dry, ears and nails, teeth are not included in the price and wouldn't rate much for any that do it as all they could do is a simple tooth brush, which we can do ourselves.

I've gone through a few groomers, I guess you have to, to find the ones that do your dogs exactly how you like them, some really have no idea how to cut and just love their razors :-D. Love the one I've been with now for the past 7 years, she is wonderful.

I've tried the mobile one too, but not for me....... took her 3 hours to do two dogs and of course they have to plug their equipment into your electric socket, so in freezing weather I had to have my front door slightly open for 3 hours, it was a relief when she finally went. I could see the dogs were not as happy as being in the salon. I make sure I no longer need a cut when my groomer is on holiday now. ;-)

>I am constantly amazed at the number of people who continually look for a cheaper groomer.   No matter how cheap their present groomer.

I am too and I am also   surprised at how little a lot of groomers charge. One on here mentioned £20 per hour and another said 1.5 hrs for £24 making £16 per hour. By the time the over heads have been taken out I would be surprised if they were even earning the minimum wage. I work on earning about £30 per hr which gives me a reasonable take home pay at the end of it. It also allows me to take  care and groom my clients properly and not be continually rushing to get on with the next dog. Quality  V Quantity. It also allows me the flexibility to discount some regular customers or OAPs. There are obviously some people who dont want to pay my prices but I have more than enough clients who do

I've lost count of the number of times I've defended us groomers on other sites and Dill has put the case over much better than I ever have. One person really did get my goat when the groomer had the nerve to quote her £80 for a giant hairy breed that probably would take 4 hours and another called the groomer a silly cow because she had to send her untrained thug of a dog home untouched. They really do expect something for nothing. Four years ago I stopped going to a hairdresser in town (not high end) because my last bill was £100 for a trim and highlights. I never even had my hair dried. I didn't bite/scratch/pee/poop and my hair wasn't matted. In/out in 1.5 hours. Luckily I do a swap with a hairdresser, she grooms me and I groom her dog.
I'll get off my hobby horse now.

What really gets me too,  is the number of people who also won't touch the dog's coat between grooms.

Or if they do,  it's a token tickle.    I see loads of dogs who look ok at first glance,  but touch the coat and you find it's full of clumps or worse,  just one big matt  :-(

These are usually the ones who feel the groomer is too expensive.  Because they have no idea how difficult it is to safely groom a dog who is never groomed and is incapable of co-operating.  One who is unpredictable and will snap round because he doesn't understand what's happening.

Grooming a well groomed dog is like having a good partner in a dance.

In loving memory of Ralph (Bedlington) .   Who fought me tooth and nail through fear,  and then became the most wonderful trusting gentleman.   He's left footprints and he wasn't even my dog xxx

I pay 30.00 for a shih tzu including nails. I always give them at least a fiver tip and when I turned up early last week I waited outside my little one was standing so beautifully whilst the groomer worked on her - they have taught her to do this. My vet actually said that "groomers are magicians" and they have helped me in being able to desensitise her around her eyes giving me loads of tips. They always do an amazing job and only scissor her I think it is cheap which is why I go every month. Last week I received the biggest compliment. She said to me my dog is a pleasure to do as she never has any knots or matts I was really chuffed. Aside from the obvious discomfort to the dog I would rather pay to have the groomer use their skills to give my dog a cracking cut (especially with a shih tzu) rather than pay to have them de-tangle my dog.

I wish there were more owners like you Tish!  I had a big lhasa in yesterday, with a message from the owner (my 'boss' does the pickups and dropoffs) to say that I didn't take enough off his belly last time, so he was getting matted.

Excuse me?  Is it my fault you didn't brush your dog properly?  No it is not!  His belly fur wasn't particularly long even being due for a cut - about normal length for a skirt by that time.  Really hacks me off when people say that sort of thing - fairly often we get new dogs in with the owners saying 'cut that bit short, it just gets matted up'.  Well yes, it will do, if you don't BRUSH IT.

And breathe...

I am under no illusion her coat will stay this easy - but having read the frustrations of groomers on here I am determined not to be that type of owner.  I also love the way they shape her trousers  - really skilled but  as its quite long her coat requires brushing morning and night not for hours but a good once over. There are 2 other shih tzu's at training and they go to Pets at home I don't think they groom half as well as the independent girls I use. The owners even say so. When she was kept at the vets recently they washed her legs as she had been sick on them she was very knotted there and on her ears which couldn't be helped. It took me a good while to get them out without hurting her. It must be infuriating when you train to do all these specialist cuts and you have no choice but to scalp the poor dog. As I do try to keep her tangle free even in the summer when she was going in the sea it wasn't a problem as long as I rinsed her. 

Tish,  you are the type person I love to groom for.     For a start you appreciate the effort involved :-)

Regarding tangling,  have you asked your groomer if there's anything you can use between visits?

They probably have a favourite product that would help you keep your girl looking lovely ;-)

Dill you can groom me and my dog anytime!  Lol seriously though she only got that tangled once due to her vomiting and the vets trying to wash it out. I use the shampoo and conditioner from the groomers which is a coconut tropical scented one. And then I have a de tangle spray which I use occasionally when I brush her. I tend to spray the brush not her as the aerosol is one of the few sounds she doesn't like. Probably as its close proximity. I think when her adult coat comes through I may find that difficult but I know they will advise me. I think I am actually quite selfish I would rather as I said have the groomer use their skills to do a great cut although it was nice to get the compliment. I just don't get it - why seek a professional outand pay them to do something you can do yourself. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be when you have spent years training and you don't get to do what you trained for and when you can't do a good cut get flack from the client.

My brother is a horticulturist and does a lot of very wealthy people's gardens in Wimbledon, kingswood and areas like that. He spent years studying yet one client will ask him to hose down his patio furniture or barbecue? He doesn't mind as it is all money but why pay those rates when you could get a handyman to do it.

I am in awe of groomers as you achieve amazing results on a moving, bitey client!

You sound like the dream owner Tish!! I do have a few like you, I have a shih tzu I scissor, a poodle, a couple of cockers. But the vast majority at best get a short version of a pet trim, and living out in the country I end up clipping most dogs short all over and only having the head to do a hint of styling on. Yes it's more work with a coat, but I keep my American cocker in full coat and my Cavaliers too, and they just get filthy and full of twigs on their country walks, and I then carefully remove the twigs, bath or brush out the mud, and hey presto they are cute and fluffy again. I don't condemn people for wanting the convenience of a short coat mind you, but if they want the coat longer they have to put some work in!

With the vast choice of dogs available I always wonder why people get long/heavy-coated breeds and then have them clipped short so they no longer resemble the breed.

> I always wonder why people get long/heavy-coated breeds and then have them clipped short so they no longer resemble the breed.

That is always my thought.  I can understand perhaps not keeping them in full show coat, but a puppy version, and certainly keep at least two inches of coat all over.

I love OES with a couple of inches of coat.  they can look rather nice and athletic.

My thoughts exactly they lose all the character if you clip them too short. I love that slightly shaggy look about 4-6 inches.  Although personally I don't like a full show coat on a shih tzu. It's a bit too done for me and looks like it hinders the dog from being a dog when they have to wrap the hair to prevent it matting.

>With the vast choice of dogs available I always wonder why people get long/heavy-coated breeds and then have them clipped short so they no longer resemble the breed.

But breeds done conveniently come in long haired and short haired versions. People may love spaniels but there are no short coated ones. same with shih tzus, A Lot of terriers have high maintenance coats. If you love a particular breed but dont want to spend ages each day grooming then why not cut it into a simple easy to care for style. Especially with the hard to manage spay and neuter coats that some breeds develop daily brushing can be hard work for both the dog and the owner. We are continually telling people on here not to just look at the physical characteristics of a breed and the coat is just that. Why preclude people from having their favourite breed just because they dont like a long coat?

Very good points smithy.  Sometimes as well people get them with the intention of keeping them in coat then realise just how hard a job it is - perhaps that is in part down to bad breeding or spay/neuter effects as well, making it harder.  And a note on short and long coat versions - some spaniels do come in short coated versions (working lines), but then owners have the often dramatic increase in drive and energy to deal with, and they simply may not like the shape of those dogs, being very different to the show versions.

And another factor is rescue dogs: the dog may have major grooming and handling issues - I do a few like that.  And I have one myself, a long coated collie.  While she lets me brush her, and I could now keep her in full coat, she is MUCH happier being kept very short, both because it drastically reduces the amount of grooming I have to do to her (I brush her tail once a month when I shave her, and that's it) and also because she has contact issues - longer hair means the other dogs are likely to brush against her more and she can get antsy with that, and it also means I am more likely to roll over and catch that hair with my computer chair when she's lying under my desk if a noise has worried her.  Just last week I took a big chunk out of her tail with my chair because she was a bit too wound up to trim it short last time.  So it isn't always just about not wanting a long coat - for her at least, it's a welfare issue too.  She has enough issues to cope with, if I am able to remove any one of them then I should.

>for her at least, it's a welfare issue too

I think it is a welfare issue for many dogs. while some are quite happy to be groomed and never murmur if you catch a knot, there are others that seem to find brushing and combing painful and  will whimper and yelp at the slightest pull on a tangle. I feel it is extremely unfair to try to keep a dog like this in full coat and subject it to daily grooming. With some of the crossbreed coats and the neuter coats they knot up so quickly that causing pain is inevitable. A short cut makes for a much happer life for both dog and owner

">A short cut

A short cut is one thing but a scalping leaving a bald sausage is something else and so ugly.

A dog has a coat for a reason to protect it from heat and cold.

When I researched getting a mini schnauzer I knew the two different types of grooming. I'd just envisaged he would go to the groomers every 6-8 weeks for a clip and would be combed by myself in between.

However at 10 weeks I could see wire coming through and started stripping bits. He's never been to a groomer I've managed to teach myself how to strip him, he lets me grind his nails, clipper cheeks, clean ears out. It really does deepen the bond between you and your dog if only people had a go. Its very rewarding in more ways than just saving money. Hes my first dog so its not as though I knew what I was doing.

My last dog was too poorly to go to the groomers in her final days and I had to tidy her up myself. It was stressful and exhausting for both of us and took me twice as long. whilst I kept her comfortable It was no where near the level or skill of my groomer. I couldn't do her face nicely but it wasn't my main concern then. I think it's great you have learnt this but I honestly think from the way my current dog bounces in the salon when I take her and from watching her being done that she enjoys it - she loves the girls there.  I also think as I groom her a couple of times a day and bath her weekly (she is just out of the bath now) that I don't miss out. I know I would be unable to clip her nails and as for going near her eyes with scissors or clippers - I would be too nervous.  If I was showing her then I think I would learn.

I still clean her ears, teeth and have to do her eyes several times a day but prefer having her coat professionally done. It's all down to the owners preference and I think the type of coat as well.

Tish I'm pleased she enjoys her time at the groomers sounds like you've got the right balance. I also think one of the reasons I started grooming myself was I'd heard so many horror stories of schnauzer cuts going wrong eg top of the nose being shaved and him being white, I'd visions of him coming home in westie cut with his beard shaved off lol

But breeds done conveniently come in long haired and short haired versions.

A fair few do -and this is why I have Malinois and not Tervueren. I can't understand why people couldn't find a different breed if a high maintenance coat is too hard for them -surely there are plenty of suitable breeds without the coat. It seems to me more a case of people only picking from a handfull of wellknown breeds rather than research properly.

And there is a difference between long coated high maintenance and coated as in a normal double coat like my breed, which are easy care, even though you get an avalanche of undercoat when moulting.

I would not class Spaniels (other than American Cockers) Retrievers, collies etc as dog requiring specialist grooming at most just feathering needing trimming. 

As for the breeds whose coats become a nightmare after neutering, then this is one reason to consider leaving the males entire and not spay bitches until fully mature.

It is the physical appearance (and the coat is major part of this) that is one of the things that attracts someone to a specific breed. 

Similar temperament character traits, size and activity can probably be found in breeds with easy care coats.

I sympathise ! You do feel a bit neurotic - when I started going I was very specific about what I wanted but also took on board their advice. Now they know what I like and what suits and works with the coat and structure of the dog and know the various breed styles. With her current eye issue they recommended trimming all the top of her nose fur. I prefer that a bit grown out but this is about her comfort at the moment so I am happy to do that until her eyes are resolved. It also helps me see her eyes easier without having to pull her about.

I took my previous dogs to a groomers once and wasn't specific, she clipped all her trousers off revealing her claws which looked ugly. She also took all her beard and chrysanthemum off her face. She looked like a bald fat sausage as brainless so aptly put it. She wasn't matted but I said I wanted her cut quite short (to me that is about 2-3 inches) but I didn't say just on the body so I just paid and didn't comment.

I think it's great you have mastered it. It sounds like you get the result you want and it works for you guys

I have a few bald fat sausages alas, whenever I try to educate the owners in brushing and leave them longer they come matted next time. But I have a fair few that I can do 'short but fluffy', and even a few with proper styles! :-)