It’s disheartening as a groomer to hear about these tragedies which shine a negative light on the industry. I became a dog groomer because I LOVE dogs and every day I’m reminded of how lucky I am to have a job where I get to work with the animals I adore. In addition to the BBB, you could also check with your vet. Chances are clients have either complained about or praised their groomer at the vet, so they will have a good idea of what groomers in town have happy customers.

I know that finding a groomer for your beloved pet is daunting especially when you hear horror stories like this one, but the majority of groomers are not abusing dogs or overheating them in dryers. hundreds of thousands of pups are safely groomed every day and many clients love and trust their groomers more than some family members, haha.

As the article stated, look for a clean salon (just because dogs are groomed there doesn’t mean it has to smell like dog or have grime built up) and professional staff. They should ask you how you want your dog styled and give you time to explain your pet’s needs/health problems/concerns. If someone just grabs the leash and walks away, ask for your dog back and leave the salon. You always deserve a minute of the groomer’s time…if they’re too busy for you, than they are too busy for your dog. The only time that would be acceptable is if you are a return client and you would like the “same as last time”. Even then, I like to at least greet the client and make sure they don’t have any additional requests. It’s just good customer care.

Also, keep in mind the adage, “you get what you pay for”. Any groomer who value’s their skill and ability will charge a fair price. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the highest price in town is the best groomer, but a good groomer is not going to try to undercut the other grooming businesses in town to steal their customers. In order to make that work, they have to groom more dogs in a day, meaning that they are spending less time on your pet and possibly taking dangerous short cuts. I get a lot of people calling and price checking. They usually only come to me AFTER they’ve had a bad experience at the cheaper groomers.

Feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns about finding a groomer. I hope to set an example for the industry that not all groomers are bad.

As far as the complaints about corporation grooming salons – I agree completely. I would NEVER take my pets to the chains. That is not to say everyone in them is bad, but in a corporation it is harder to watch the employees closely and weed out the bad ones. There have also been many, many complaints about the condition of the pets for sale in many of these same stores. Something I have sadly witnessed for myself many times.

Unfortunately, in any industry, there will always be people who are in it just for the money. Yes, the grooming industry should be regulated. All we can do until that time is check for ourselves, and don’t forget – you can always check with the local SPCA, Humane Society, and Better Business Bureau to make sure there haven’t been any complaints against your chosen groomer.

I would LOVE to see the grooming industry regulated and believe that groomers should be certified and licensed, however this still will not prevent stupid careless people from grooming. Look at how many quacks we have for doctors!

The large chains will not allow customers in the grooming or bathing areas because of the liability involved. PLEASE ask lots of questions and, if possible, check with your friends and neighbors regarding their preference of groomers. When my customers bring their furbabies to me they are MY babies while they are there and they receive the very best care. Please don’t think all chain store groomers are hacks. Many of us love your babies like our own!