How To Know Your Pet Groomer Is Doing a Good Job

Our family pets are very important to us. We spend thousands of dollars every year taking care of them as a valued member of our families. As such, we seek out the best nutrition we can afford, look for the most competent veterinarian we can find, look for pet sitters who are caring and loving for those times we have to leave our pets behind. The same care should be taken when it comes time to look for and pay for grooming services. In an industry that is, at the moment, unregulated, it is up to you to find a groomer who is skillful, knowledgeable, caring, and detail oriented and who adheres to industry standards when it comes to grooming your pet. As an example and a fair analogy, would you go to a beauty salon and have your hair cut, or color applied, artificial nails applied, facial, manicure, or pedicure by a salon that does not have skilled, competent, knowledgeable technicians that adhere to industry standards? Probably not. Not knowingly anyway. So why a grooming salon? Here are some things to look for in a salon and a groomer to feel good about leaving your beloved pet in their care.

First and foremost, does the salon allow you to observe any part of the grooming process of your dog? If not, think twice. (More on this later.)

Is the salon clean and in good repair? Even during busy times, it should be relatively clean.

Are kennels or holding cages clean?

Are the tools and equipment that the groomer uses clean?

When the groom is over, has your pet’s paw pads been shaved clean of long hair?

Are the nails trimmed appropriately and grinded smooth? Nails should be trimmed every two weeks to maintain proper length. Ideally, the nails should not touch the ground when all four paws are flat on the ground. If they do touch, they are too long and need to be minutely shortened every week until proper length achieved.

Is their sanitary area appropriately shaved clean without leaving a huge “bulls eye” appearance around the rectum? On long haired breeds, is the tail shaved clean a half inch to an inch from the rectum to prevent soiling of long hair?

Unless a part of the breed standard as with poodles or part of a creative groom, are transition lines from short to long hair smooth and well blended?

On long haired breeds, has the flew been shaved clean to prevent odor?

Have the ear canals been plucked or shaved free of hair inside and then cleaned? Do the ears smell and look clean inside? Has excessive hair been removed from the inside ear leather or from in front of the ear canal?

These are some of the hallmarks of a talented, thorough, and competent groomer and a thorough grooming job. That being said, as with any human being, mistakes or forgotten elements of a groom will happen, but should not be routine. Regarding observation of grooming of your pet, admittedly it becomes more difficult to groom your pet with mom or dad close by. Pet simply want to be with the person they know the best. Ask your groomer if they have an observation area away from your pet’s view. If not, you should be allowed to observe if you wish. Just bear in mind that it will be more difficult for your groomer and the groom may not be quite as good.