Never just make an appointment with a groomer and hope for the best. Just
like any other pet care service, and just like taking yourself to a hair
dresser, you must make an informed choice.
You must get as much information as possible from your potential groomer
before taking your dog or cat. Most grooming establishments will tell you that
the most common question people ask when calling is the cost. This is not very
illustrative of the quality of work you can expect: Consider if the groomer is
situated in a very high rent area and you will see that they will have to charge
more. Remember also, that your groomer will need to expect the animal to make an
exact costing.
The grooming experience can be a very stressful time for your pet, and even
if he is used to being groomed at home there may be all kinds of tools and machinery
with the potential to really scare your pet. Ask your groomer all the questions
you want about the actual experience - they will be used to it so don't
worry about putting them out. Some questions you may like to consider are:
 Can you collect your dog within an hour or two of drop off? If not, your
pet may be sat in a cage for hours waiting in a queue
Are all clients (cats or dogs!) up to date with their vaccinations?
What precautions are in place to prevent the spread of parasites?
What kind of drying equipment will be used (this has most potential for
scaring a nervous animal)?
Will your groomer ever use sedatives if the animal is being difficult?
This should never be used since sedatives should really be prescribed on a
per-animal basis by a vet.
If the groomer does not respond to your questions in a friendly, patient
manner, it may be time to look elsewhere. If your questions were answered
satisfactorily, make an appointment. When you first arrive at the groomer,
notice how he/she interacts with your pet. You can judge how comfortable you
think your pet will be after seeing how it interacts with your choice of
groomer. Next, try to make some observations about the grooming shop itself:
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