Is It Worth Hiring a Professional Dog Groomer?

Everybody wants their dogs to look and feel good. With expert grooming, that’s possible. How exactly do dogs benefit from professional treatments, though?

Most dog owners complete some form of dog grooming at home. But is that enough to keep your dog healthy and comfortable?

Let’s examine whether or not treatments from professional dog grooming services are worthwhile.

We spoke to Dr Samantha Gaines, RSCPA dog welfare expert, to learn more about how grooming can benefit dogs.

Dr Samantha Gaines is the Head of the Companion Animals Science and Policy department at the RSPCA. She leads a team of animal welfare specialists who use science and other robust evidence to advocate for good lives for pets, working and sporting animals.

Her areas of expertise include dangerous dogs legislation, racing greyhounds, and dogs kept for working purposes. She delivers the secretariat for the Dog Control Coalition which is working towards effective and sustainable dog control as well as repeal of Breed Specific Legislation.

She is also the Chair of the Cut the Chase coalition, which seeks to phase out greyhound racing across the UK’s nations. Previously, she was awarded a PhD from Bristol University after studying the effects of housing and husbandry on the welfare of kennelled dogs.

Needless to say, Dr Gaines has plenty of worthwhile insights when it comes to the wellbeing of dogs.

Owners might be able to trim a dog coat reasonably well. Still, it’s not likely they have the grooming experience to handle every aspect of a full grooming treatment.

That’s where a professional grooming service can help. So, what are the major benefits of professional dog grooming?

Dr Samantha Gaines regards grooming as more than just about your dog looking nice, but about its health and wellbeing.

Explaining, she says "It’s vital to keep a dog groomed to ensure their fur doesn’t matt, and to remove dead hair and dandruff. But it is also a really good opportunity to check your dog over and make sure there are no lumps, bumps or anything else that might be cause for concern.

“If a dog isn’t groomed regularly, this can affect their welfare as it can cause pain and discomfort. Matted fur can ulcerate skin or poo can get stuck in their fur which can cause infection. It can also affect their ability to walk or see properly.

"Over the years, the RSPCA has seen many incidents of dogs that haven’t been regularly groomed and have needed to go to a vet to have their fur clipped, and beneath the fur their skin is in poor condition. It’s heartbreaking."

Clearly then, there are plenty of reasons to hire a dog groomer. Let's dive more deeply into the reasons why.

Protecting health

While appearances matter, nothing is more important than your dog’s health and well-being.

As the professional groomer trims your dog’s coat, handles nail trimming, and even teeth cleaning, they’ll flag health issues.

Only an expert with grooming experience will spot both obvious and early-stage issues. For non-professionals, that’s harder.

Detecting parasites

Fleas, mites, and ticks – as well as other parasites – often take a liking to dogs.

If your dog is suffering, professionals will find the issue quickly. Catching these problems early is critically important. Without treatment, more significant health concerns could crop up.

This is another instance where owners might notice some parasites, but can’t offer comprehensive detection.

Avoiding mishaps

Even dogs that are usually calm and have strong bonds with owners can misbehave during grooming sessions.

Using scissors or nail clippers on your dog when they’re wriggling and resisting can easily lead to an accident. By visiting a dog grooming salon, you’re limiting the likelihood of any cuts for both yourself and your dog.

Dogs react instinctively, so you can’t rule out the possibility that they might lash out while being groomed.

Stylish cuts

Both long and short-hair coats need to be trimmed to keep dogs comfortable. This also ensures dogs continue to look their best.

Giving your dog an industry-standard aesthetic will be a challenge on your own. Taking on these matters by yourself could result in an undignified final outcome for your canine companion.

A dog groomer has the experience and skills needed to achieve the best look for your dog.

Quality grooming products

It’s good to have some grooming supplies at home to keep your dog as clean as possible between appointments. Even so, it’s unlikely that you’ll stock the high-quality grooming products that a professional uses.

Both salons and mobile dog groomers have supplies used for specific breeds and conditions.

This eliminates the chance of skin and hair irritations and ensures your dog is clean and comfortable. It also means money saved on expensive products and equipment.

Enjoyable experiences

Pet grooming falls somewhere between a health check-up and a haircut. Yet, for dogs, it’s more than that.

Massages relax, de-stress, and improve circulation. Alongside bathing, trimming, and a blow-dry, this adds up to a spa treatment for your dog.

Dogs don’t always enjoy grooming, but experts can make the experience something they’ll look forward to.

Instilling confidence

If your dog gets stressed or anxious in public, you might think visiting a grooming parlour is a mistake. Yet, that might not be true.

Regular positive experiences with a dog grooming business can build confidence and self-esteem.

A low-pressure appointment – either one-to-one or around other dogs – could represent a great first step. Eventually, your dog should feel more secure and comfortable in social settings.

When it comes to how frequently your dog needs grooming, there's no simple answer.

According to Dr Gaines, the frequency of dog grooming depends on the type of dog.

Going into detail, she says “How often a dog should be groomed depends on the type of dog. Some, such as short haired breeds, can be brushed on a weekly basis at home while others will benefit from visiting a professional groomer for a regular clip.

“Long haired dogs should be brushed at home once a week to remove dead hair and other breeds or types may need to be brushed more regularly especially when moulting. For dogs which need their fur clipping, this can vary from between every four to 12 weeks.

"Some terrier breeds may need ‘stripping’, which involves removing dead hair from the coat with the hands rather than with a clipper - this often needs doing a few times a year.”

Shirelle Moore, a professional dog groomer based at Wright Scruffs, is in complete agreement, and tells us "This is really breed-specific, depending on the coat. Some breeds need to visit every 4-6 weeks whilst others can go without for longer, every 6-8 weeks."

"Woollen coats and long coats should be groomed a maximum of every 6 weeks. This promotes good coat care, provides skincare, and can prevent ear infections (clearing the ears). It also ensures the dogs don't have parasites/matting and helps avoid potential skin conditions.”

As Shirelle says, short-haired coats need professional grooming less often, with medium and especially long-haired coats needing more frequent attention. Giving your dog grooming treatments regularly enough will help them in various ways.

Since you can easily cause problems with longer-haired dogs when you groom them, taking them to a groomer is always sensible.

Reiterating, Dr Gaines agrees. She says “We don’t recommend clipping your dog yourself. Not only does it risk them coming out with a dodgy haircut, but more importantly it can cause injury to you and your dog.

“Qualified dog groomers have many months of training and their job isn’t as easy as it might look. You can brush your dog yourself and this is something we encourage all dog owners to do. Make it fun for your dog by using reward-based training to get your dog used to grooming.”

That's right, grooming doesn't have to be a chore! When done in the right way, it can be a bonding experience.

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