Your pet needs as much grooming care as a human and that’s a task that you, unfortunately, may not be able to handle all by yourself. That’s why hiring a professional pet groomer is something you should consider. However, choosing a pet groomer isn’t a small responsibility. The last thing you want to do is just pick up the phone and dial any random pet groomer’s number.
Pet grooming is serious business. So, make sure you engage in some research before settling for the right pet groomer. Many pet owners have had to deal with issues other than just bad grooming, as a result of choosing the wrong pet groomer. For example, one of the most common complaints is injury to the pet by the unqualified groomer.
So, here are a few suggestions to guide you.
Take a Tour
The first thing you actually need to do is a get a visual idea of what the groomer’s work location looks like. Never make a commitment until you do this. Once you reach the groomer’s location, observe how organized they are. If they seem chaotic or disorganized, then it indicates a lack of professionalism. Also, assess the hygiene levels of the place. If it doesn’t look clean enough for you, it most likely isn’t.
Qualifications
Make sure that your groomer is aware of how things work. They should possess some kind of qualification in the area of pet grooming. Ask them for certificates and other forms of documentation that can verify their authenticity. In fact, groomers are required to possess the necessary licenses and certificates in a lot of states. In order to get certified and licensed, they even need to clear practical and written exams. Find out if pet groomers are required to follow this in your state.
Other than that, you can also interview your prospective pet groomers to see if they have the right amount of expertise. If you notice that they seem to be evasive with answers, then it could indicate a lack of knowledge or expertise.
Products
Examine the products used by the pet groomer. A good pet groomer will insist on using healthy, natural and safe products. On the other hand, a run of the mill pet groomer would just use anything they can get their hands on. Most of the time, this will include commercial, rough, and chemical-heavy products.
These are just a few ways in which you can make sure that you’re hiring the right pet groomer. You can also ask other pet owners for suggestions. That way, you’ll be able to narrow down the list and make the task easier.
This is some really interesting and unique advice, I particularly like that you recommend your readers actually tour the groomer’s salon before sending their pet there. I do agree however, that a lot of disorganization and chaos is a sign that that particular groomer might not be the one for you. Not only is a calm and organized office a sign of professionalism, it can also be a sign of cleanliness which is a huge thing to keep in mind when choosing a groomer for your dog.
These are some great tips, and I appreciate your advice to take a tour of the facilities when choosing a dog groomer. My husband and I just moved into a new area, and we need to find a good groomer to keep our dog looking nice. We’ll definitely make sure to visit any that we’re considering in person so we can get a feel for the cleanliness of the facilities. Thanks for the great post!
I really like the idea of taking a walking tour of the groomer. This will make my wife feel better about leaving our dog with someone to get the dog hair cut. She is very protective over our little dog.
Taking a tour of the facility is a good idea so that you can get some sort of idea of what the place and people are like. If the facility is clean and well-kept, then it may be a good option for your pup. You can also talk with the staff to get an idea of what they are like!
I love my dog so much, so finding the right groomer is very important to me. I haven’t been able to find one that really fits us yet, but I’ll have to keep this in mind as I search! I really like that you mentioned that you should find out exactly what products they use. That way you can know that your dog is being taken care of.
I agree that checking a groomer’s qualifications before you choose them is important. I would imagine that finding out about experience and certifications would help you ensure your dog gets treated right. I’m looking for a new groomer for my dog so I’ll have to find someone who is properly qualified to do it.