Choosing a Dog Groomer

Grooming not only removes excess hair from your pet's coat but dirt too. The coat may also be clipped as required. Ensuring your dog's coat is kept in good condition is important for his/her health and welfare.

A dog groomer's responsibility

A dog groomer is responsible for meeting your pet's needs whilst in their care under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

However, there have been recent cases that have highlighted the need for owners to think particularly carefully when choosing a groomer. Dogs have suffered severe burns or even fatalities in grooming establishments when equipment has been faulty or where animals have been left unsupervised whilst being dried.

Finding the right groomer for you

Although the grooming industry is unregulated at present, there are a number of things that you can consider when choosing a reputable groomer, which will help you to be confident that they will meet your pet's needs.  

Have a good chat with the groomer and a good look around the premises. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

Making sure your dog is happy

Last but not least, think carefully- if you decide to use a professional groomer, make sure that your dog is happy to be groomed. Socialization is important, as is the use of reward-based training methods to gradually habituate your dog to any grooming equipment/products and the environment as a whole.

Patience is key to making it an enjoyable experience and it is vital that dogs visit your groomer as soon as they are fully vaccinated so they learn that it is a fun place to visit.  

Don¿t force your dog to be groomed if he/she does not enjoy it. If you are having difficulty, you could also ask your vet to refer you to a suitably qualified animal behaviourist. They will check your dog over first to make sure there are no underlying injuries or illnesses.