The US pet industry is worth about seven billion. With so many people owning pets, it takes a lot of money to keep them happy and healthy — and some of this money goes into grooming.
It can, however, be daunting to leave your dog in the hands of someone else. You want your dog to feel comfortable the whole time and emerge from the appointment looking their best.
So how exactly do you find the best "dog groomer near me"? This is what you need to do.
Look at Reviews
84% of people trust online reviews as much as the word of their friends, and there's a good reason for that. Reviews can be left by anyone, so you'll see the good and the bad in online reviews without too much influence from the groomer themselves.
You can usually search on Google, Yelp, and Facebook and find a whole host of reviews. The best dog grooming services will have a solid overall rating and you can also dive into the good and bad reviews to see exactly what they did well and what they didn't.
It's important to look closely at the reviews and see if the groomer would be a good fit for your dog.
Consider Their Experience
If they don't have their experience listed on their website, it's okay to ask about it! While a new groomer might be great at what they do, it's safest to go with someone who's been in this career for a while. You don't want to pay someone to do a job you could have done at a self-service dog wash or, worse, butcher your dog's coat entirely.
Make sure you bring your dog to someone who has years behind them and is confident when dealing with your pup.
Consider Your Dog's Breed
If your dog has a specific type of coat that's known for being a little more difficult to groom, then check for a breeder that specializes in that coat. Poodles and Doodles, for example, have notoriously dense and curly coats that can be hard for the average person to cut in a way that looks and feels great.
You should also consider your dog's size. Some groomers won't take dogs over a certain weight, so if you have a Great Pyrenees or a Mastiff, you definitely need to ask about this before you bring them to the salon.
Otherwise, you and the groomer might get quite a shock!
Consider Any Special Needs
If your dog has any special needs, now is the time to tell the groomer. For example, if they have anxiety issues and might be frightened when separated from you, the groomer needs to do whatever they can to ease their worry — and yours.
Some groomers won't take senior dogs or dogs with medical issues. If your dog has extreme issues, it may be good to see what your veterinarian can do for you in terms of grooming tasks.
Ask About Availability
Availability may be a huge issue in finding the best dog grooming for you.
If your dog needs maintenance trims and is in no hurry, that's great, as you don't have to think about scheduling and can just wait to find the best fit for you.
However, if your dog desperately needs a nail trim and you can't do it yourself or has mats on their coat, you'll need to find someone who's available soon. Make sure you ask early on in the process when they can squeeze your dog in so you don't waste time with someone who's booked ahead for weeks.
Some dog groomers will also come to your home and do it there, which might be a huge plus for you.
Ask About the Quote
Making sure any service is within your budget is always a good idea.
Despite that, it's important not to automatically go with the cheapest quote and call it a day. You need to examine the quote along with all of the other factors.
The cheapest dog groomer might be priced the lowest because their grooming services aren't as extensive or they don't have much experience. In fact, if one groomer is priced much lower than all of the others, this might be more of a red flag than a blessing.
Consider the Environment
It's also important to think about the environment your dog will be groomed in. If you can visit it ahead of time, even better.
You should make sure it's clean and that your dog has ample space when they aren't being groomed. If they're in a crate, it should be big enough for them to stand up and turn around in.
Dogs should also never interact with each other unsupervised, as a fight could break out.
Consider How You Feel
Considering how you feel about the groomer in person is important too.
They should be warm, personable, and good with your dog. If they're cold or impatient, your dog is never going to be comfortable there.
Think About All These Things When Searching for a "Dog Groomer Near Me"
If you're about to type "dog groomer near me" into a search engine, it's essential that you consider all of these things. Make sure the groomer has experience with your dog's breed, is friendly and good with your pup, and grooms them in a nice, clean environment.
It's invaluable to have a dog groomer you trust, but you may need to put a little bit of effort into finding them.
Looking for reliable grooming services? Check to see if there's a Bubbly Paws in your location. From self-service baths to full grooming, we do it all!