Choosing a Groomer for Your Pet
It has been said that finding a groomer is like looking for a great baby sitter and a great hairdresser in the same package. Not only do you want to find someone who can give your pet a good haircut, but you want your pet treated with care and respect. Making a choice can be difficult. Look in the phone book and you will find that most of the groomers listed pretty much say the same things, all attesting to be the perfect spot for your ‘Spot’ to land.
Groomers can be found in store fronts, in superstores, in veterinarian offices, set up in their homes and in mobile vans. Really great groomers can be found in any of these settings. It’s impossible to make valid generalizations about good groomers based on location — for any generalization made, some exception can be cited. With this in mind, now let me try:
Professionalism
Clues to professionalism can be found in membership in a trade organization such as the National Dog Groomers Association (NDGAA) or the International Society of Canine Cosmetologists (ISCC). Certificates attesting to attendance at industry seminars, or testing for certification, also indicate professional identity. Many groomers network through the web, sharing experience and learning through informal forums. Basically you want to look for indications that your groomer is not working in total isolation but has links to the profession as a whole.
Experience counts
While experience itself does not automatically assume mastery, nor its lack imply a lack of skills, it is true that accumulated experience makes a difference in what the groomer brings to the table. With each added year comes confidence in assessing animal behaviors, knowing how to groom specific breeds to the breed standard, accumulation of grooming skills and knowledge of the options. It takes a few years to build a sturdy foundation. Hopefully your grooming establishment will have at least one veteran groomer on board.
A good groomer knows their limitations
Whereas it is always tempting to think that our service can provide all things to all people, a good groomer knows his or her limitations. Not every groomer has had the opportunity to master each breed-specific trim, and new, exotic breeds are always showing up. The good groomer will admit his or her areas of less expertise. Some limitations have to do with preferences: some groomers are less willing than others to attempt to dematt tangled coats, deal with difficult behaviors, or custom groom to your specifications.
Match the service to your need
My best advice as a veteran groomer: get very clear on what you want from a grooming service before you start looking. If convenience is paramount, a superstore grooming department or the nearest groom shop could be what you want. Those may not be the best choice, however, if you have a purebred dog you want groomed to look like the pictures you have seen. Rapid turn-around with the shortest stay is not always consistent with a scissored or sculpted trim.
If you want your terrier hand stripped, ask specifically whether a groomer does that kind of work, and be willing to have your pet stay longer. Know your lifestyle and what scheduling works for you. If you want flexibility in drop-off and pick-up times, the in-home groomer may not accommodate you — but that groomer can often give you an exact pick-up time and stick to it. Some show-style groomers may resist owner requests they perceive as compromising the breed standard. If your pet is sensitive, high-strung or easily distracted, you might do best with a low-volume service with a relaxed atmosphere.
So ask yourself a few questions before your search. Do you want convenience? (nearby groomer, superstore, or mobile groomer.) Available medical attention? (vet’s office.) Advanced stylist skills? (certified groomer, show background, experience.) Extra patience and special handling? (smaller shop or in-home groomer.)
One last thing
Shopping by price is probably the least valuable variable in finding a good groomer — what you will find is the cheapest. There is a connection between the amount of time spent grooming each pet and the price. Prices vary by region and individual, usually reflecting the time it takes, overhead, and cost of products. The cost also reflects the self-esteem of the groomer: those who have years of experience, have paid for advanced seminars and certifications, take the time to “create” and produce outstanding results, and buy the best products are likely to charge more. These are all things worth paying a little more for.
With these things in mind, we hope to give you some confidence in searching for your new groomer. Ask questions that enable the groomer to assess whether your needs match their service, and don’t be afraid to show up and check the place out. Trust your intuition and look for that person or place with which you are comfortable. Happy shopping!
About the author
The author, Barbara Bird, has been grooming for 30 years in Tucson, Arizona. She has owned Transformation Pet Center, a grooming service and pet health products outlet, since the early 1980s. She is a member of NDGAA and ISCC, and is certified with the NDGAA in non-sporting breeds. She specializes in scissored trims, hand stripping of small terriers and customized pet styles. She takes referrals of dogs that need special handling and loves to groom cats. While sometimes tired, she is never burned out, and remains passionately committed to the pet care profession.