The pet care sector is one of the most lucrative industries across the world with dog grooming services taking up a huge chunk of the statistics! As it stands, the British pet grooming market is worth approximately £420 million, with an expected 10-year forecast increase of 5.7%! Based on the same statistics, data suggests that there is approximately 10,600 pet groomers in the UK, with corporate chain, Pets At Home being the biggest chain of professional groomers.
But what should the average dog carer expect to pay their dog groomer for a grooming service, and what sort of service should they expect to receive in return for their regular investment? In this blog piece, I aim to dig deeper into these common questions.
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What happens when you take your dog to a groomer?
This will depend on the type of grooming establishment you take your dog to. Many grooming establishments, especially those that are corporate-led chains and/or multi-dog based in busy high-street salons, will operate within a fast-paced environment which will be completely different to an independent, solo dog groomer working from a smaller premises.
In most cases, the purpose and assumption is that a grooming session will always involve a series of grooming-related tasks that work at preening a dog to look at certain way. There is an expectancy to ensure that a dog leaves the grooming salon looking and smelling fresh and freshly cut.
However, there are more establishments taking a more mindful approach to grooming that not only focuses on the aesthetics of the skin and coat, but also the emotional well-being of a dog throughout a given grooming appointment.
Grooming expectations are relative to the individual dog carer and it's important to ask yourself what you want before choosing which grooming establishment to take your dog too. What you perceive as good value will differ from the next person. For example, one person may base value on how beautiful their dog looks post-groom irrespective of the method in which the groomer took to achieve it, while someone else might value how experienced a groomer is at desensitising their dog into enjoying the grooming process first.
What do you value most?
How long should a grooming appointment last?
This again will depend on the service you require and your dog.
It's important that both groomers and dog carers remember that a grooming session can sometimes take longer or less time depending on various factors, including:
the breed of dog
the current skin and coat condition
health and temperament
facilities and assistance
Grooming dogs is not 'black and white', there are various factors to consider when determining how long a session might be which is why it's not really feasible to charge a session solely on breeds alone.
Instead, I would personally recommend all groomers to charge on an hourly basis rather than breed-specific, and ask that dog carers accept this as the fairest way to charge going forward.
Why do some groomers take so long?
Specific breeds will take longer irrespective of temperament, health and other factors because their size, coat type and/or both.
Typically speaking, a curly coated breed requires more time due to the maintenance involved in bathing, drying, brushing and styling their coats. Double-coated breeds will take longer, especially during moulting seasons.
What's more, dogs with medical dispositions will require extra time to rest between grooming tasks as well.
As a rule of thumb, I tend to keep all grooming appointments to an hour unless a dog is relatively confident and calm, therefore it is emotionally safe to groom longer.
There's a common belief amongst professionals and dog carers that only "bad" or "inexperienced" groomers take long to groom a dog - this is not strictly fair, especially if we consider dogs who are naturally nervous of the grooming process.
Much of the time, fast grooms are only possible when a groomer uses physical restraints and an element of force. The question therefore would be whether you would happily have your dog forced through a grooming session just to keep costs down?
Of course there are exceptions to this statement and it is possible to complete full grooms on dogs without force in good time, especially if the groomer has made an effort initially to train and desensitise the dog to the process in a positive way.
How much should a dog groomer charge?
It is really important to remember that the price of your dog's grooming session will rely on more than just the standard of the trim itself.
Like any other business, dog grooming prices must be based on:
overheads/costs to operate (including rent, utilities, cost of goods, cost of tools/products/equipment, insurances, professional development, wages)
demographics (based on the targeted clientele affordability and demand)
groomer experience, qualifications, certifications and reputation
dog's specific needs (including health, temperament, coat condition etc).
clean up time and any unforeseen expenses (including damage to equipment/premises, bites, injuries, parasites, exposure to zoological diseases etc).
travel and fuel (if mobile or provide taxi services)
Many dog carers forget that professional dog groomers have many expenses that are also suceptibe to inflation each year. As a result, they must charge what they need to survive but also charge their worth.
You can expect to pay less when choosing a corporate-led grooming establishment that is part of a big chain (such as Pets At Home) however should expect that the standard of care is usually minimum and that groomers are often only trained to a certain standard.
If you want your dog to receive the best possible standard of care, opting for an independent groomer might be the better alternative. As long as you do your due diligence and ensure you ask the right questions, you can expect to receive a far better service from smaller grooming establishments.
Can I negotiate prices with my dog groomer?
There's always room to negotiate prices. While I don't recommend you try to haggle for the sake of trying, if you believe you have received a bad service then you can absolutely request for a discount and/or partial refund.
Be mindful however, that most independent groomers rely on being paid for their services and that by not paying you could quite literally cause a small business to close.
For example, injuries/accidents happen - this is a risk you take when booking your dog in to be groomed however, a reputable groomer will claim through their own insurance and be completely transparent with you.
Deciding that your dog has been injured or that the quality of cut itself isn't good days after a grooming session is different. To prevent a potential conflict, it is always good practice to check over your dog before leaving the premises to make sure you are satisfied with the service and there are no concerns.
The majority of groomers will happily try to resolve any problems because they want you to have a good experience.
If you find a cheaper groomer down the road, I wouldn't recommend you attempt to price match with your existing groomer. Instead, find out why they are charging less and if you feel they are offering the same service and you really want to save money, switch groomers - it is not fair to try and pressure your existing groomer since they have their prices set for a reason.
Do you pay your dog groomer in advance?
At the very least, all grooming sessions should be secured with a deposit with the rest payable on the day of a scheduled grooming session. The deposit is retained and non-refundable unless an appointment is cancelled within the groomer's cancellation policy timeframe.
Most groomers will happily wait to be paid the remaining amount upon collecting a dog, however it will all depend on each business and their specific processes. Groomers are not obligated to adhere to your expectation when it comes to payment terms and conditions, it is up to you whether you agree with their policy or choose to find an alternative groomer.
Some groomers may offer dog carers an option to pay in advance to save money long-term. This can be a good way to secure your grooming sessions to avoid missing one month but it can also be a hinderance if something unplanned happens.
It's up to you to weigh up the pros and cons.
If you are on an advanced payment plan, it is important you inform your groomer of any cancellations as per their cancellation/rescheduling policy to avoid other charges and to help increase the chances of your groomer finding someone else to fill your spot.
Should I tip my dog groomer?
Here's the thing, it all depends on whether you feel they deserve to be tipped!
If your dog has had an awful experience and your groomer has done nothing to help make the process less stressful, then you wouldn't tip them.
If your groomer has gone above and beyond to ensure your dog is comfortable and happy throughout a grooming session, has communicated their intention well with you from the beginning and done their very best, then it's always nice to tip them!
Most groomers work incredibly hard every day and put their heart and soul into their work. Grooming is also an incredibly dangerous job and can easily lead to injuries, disease and in some extreme cases, loss of limbs and even death.
Working with living animals is risky and reputable groomers actively invest in their ongoing education to ensure they remain competent in their roles.
Learn more about what your groomer does behind the scenes, and how they commit to developing their skills (not only in styling) and decide for yourself whether you feel they deserve a little extra for their efforts.
Conclusion
I personally believe that the majority of groomers under-charge for their services.
When we weigh up the role of a professional dog groomer and compare this with the role of a hairdresser, we can quickly identify the many differences that make dog grooming a far more challenging and technical job!
Not only do dog groomers have to understand how to use and work with sharp tools and equipment, they also must be competent in handling, observing and communicating with dogs.
The role of a groomer is streneous on the body and involves multi-tasking - groomer's have to navigate tools on dogs while they move and are often hindered by the language barrier that naturally exists between human and canine.
What's more, dog groomers trained through The Holistic Grooming Academy have advanced their skills in canine behaviour, positive training and communication skills to help make the process of grooming less stressful for dogs. They opt for safe handling and cooperative-based methods over and above the overuse of physical restraints, helping to prevent trauma in the dogs in their care.
These extra skills go above and beyond conventional grooming practices and as such, involve further financial and time investment into training that dog carers must consider when choosing the right groomer for their dog.
Without sounding bias, professional groomers that have taken part in the Holistic Grooming & Behaviour Diploma are wonderful assets to your dog's life and are worth paying a premium rate for.
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