Choosing the right groomer can be a difficult decision. Questions like ‘Are they too rough?’ ‘Do they take safety precautions?’ and ‘Do they know how to cut my dog’s hair to her particular breed?’ run through your head. Dogs should be pampered just as you and I do. Go through these steps when choosing a groomer and you should be worry free for the next time.
Step 1: Start with the basics. Find out the location and hours of the dog groomer. The location needs to be convenient to either your work or home. Some groomer’s hours will allow you to drop your dog off on the way to work and pick him up on the way home. Find out if there is an extra charge for having your dog be there during these extra hours if your schedule requires it. Ask about weekend hours and find out how far in advance appointments typically need to be scheduled.
Step 2: Investigate the credentials. Conduct a phone interview with the groomer and find out about his or her credentials and experience. If there is more than one person who does the grooming, find out their training and history as well. If you like what you hear over the phone, conduct a site visit. Check for friendliness and cleanliness. Observe how the animals and humans are treated in the facility. While there, you might want to see if the groomers also offer boarding services, as it can be convenient to pick up a groomed dog if you’ve boarded him while taking your own vacation!
Step 3: Ask about extras. Do the extras cost extra? Some groomers will include extra services in their fees, while others will ring up all of the extras. Find out if extras such as ear cleaning and nail clipping are included. Some groomers will even perform dog massages as part of their service!
Step 4: Do they offer frequent customer discounts? Some groomers will offer discounts for regular costumers who book their next appointment while checking out during their current visit. Because groomers like you to bring your dog on a frequent basis, they might offer to give you a discount if you go on a monthly or bi-monthly basis.
Step 5: Do they offer multiple pet discounts? Pet grooming can become a costly expense if you have more than one pet in your family. Find out if the groomer is willing to negotiate on the price of their services based on the fact that your family’s business is doubled.
Step 6: Are they pet-friendly and environmentally friendly? Ask the groomers about the products they use on the dogs. Are the shampoos organic or do they use chemical based products? If natural products are what you prefer, you should only expect the same for your pooch.
The steps above will help you in choosing a dog groomer that you can feel comfortable with. The decision to return to that dog groomer can be made once you see the results of his or her work and once you witness his or her interaction with your dog. If your dog drags his paws on the way in, you can’t necessarily blame that on the groomer; some dogs just hate to be groomed! On the other hand, if your dog bounds towards the bath and clippers like he’s headed towards the lake, you know you’ve found a great groomer!
This article was posted by a site carrying invisible fences, soft dog steps, and elevated dog feeders.
