With our ever-increasing dog population, and the popularity for poodle cross breeds such as the ‘cockapoos’ and ‘cavapoo’, we are increasingly in need of good, safe groomers who can help maintain your pet’s health and welfare via grooming, clipping and coat care services.
Furthermore, as a very busy person I can completely sympathise with the fact that these regular grooms – sometimes every 4-6 weeks – can be a real chore to get to, whether that be driving out your way, having to work around your busy schedule or even that fact you don’t drive! But of course, it is necessary to maintain your pet’s welfare and needs to be done. So you may consider a mobile dog groomer.
How do we ensure this is the best thing for our dogs?
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Where to look for a mobile groomer?
There are several ways you can start your search for a groomer. However, bear in mind that the grooming industry is currently unregulated; so there is no governing body holding them to account.
To check a mobile groomer and to ensure you are happy with their knowledge and service you may have to investigate a little further.
- Ask your vet for recommendations on good local groomers.
- Ask your dog-owning friends or family if they endorse a groomer.
- Search for local groomers on a search engine and check reviews (although be mindful that people are more likely to complain than leave a good review so don’t exclude purely on this).
- Ask on a local dog page for personal recommendations.
What to consider
It can be hard to know where to look when seeking a pet groomer. Here are a few things to consider:
Service
Certain breeds may require coats to be maintained every 4-8 weeks but also may benefit from different services. All dogs require different ‘treatments’. Some terriers need ‘stripping’; some dog breeds need their undercoat removed when they moult; and some dogs that don’t moult need to have regular clipping to avoid painful mats and tangles.
It is important to research what your pet needs. And check that the groomers have that service available from their mobile service.
It isn’t always just quick trim, some dogs benefit from bathing too. If you need a very large breed to be bathed, you might find that the facilities you have in your home simply aren’t appropriate to avoid both the dog and the groomer hurting themselves wrestling a dog into a small shower cubicle as an example.
Cost
Of course, everyone should charge appropriately for a good service, and you want to ensure that your pet is in safe hands. Expensive isn’t always synonymous with good quality. However, when factoring in how to find a good groomer you must make sure you can afford the cost on a regular basis. So, check out their price list and service list and factor that into your financial planning for your pet.
Mess
Remember, all professional groomers will ensure that they tidy up afterwards. But there are some breeds that will produce huge amounts of fluff and mess. Some groomers work out of the back of their large van or mobile unit, others may do the grooming within your home. Be prepared to check which one this is so that you don’t end up with hair everywhere when you weren’t expecting it! You may have a garage or outbuilding they can use but, if you don’t, just be aware that no matter how well they clean and tidy afterwards you may be left with a certain amount of ‘fluff’ inside your home.
What qualities they should possess
Knowledge and training
Whether a groomer is based in a permanent location or mobile, there are still several things you can do to check their qualifications.
There are many courses available to people wanting to become a dog groomer, some more credible than others. Although it is not mandatory for groomers to have official training, it can be a valuable addition to help you choose.
Over time people can gain incredible hands-on experience, but the addition of qualifications can potentially help guide your choice.
These considerations include:
- Are they a member of the British Dog Groomers’ Association (BDGA)
- Do they have dog first aid training?
- Where did they get their qualifications, training or experience? (One of the most recognised qualifications in the UK is the City and Guilds)
- Do they have any dog behaviour training? (Dog grooming salons can be scary for dogs, having a groomer who has tried to further their knowledge in dog behaviour is a really proactive sign!)
- Are members of trade bodies such as the Pet Care Trust or the Pet Industry Federation.
- Does the groomer check that your dog is up-to-date with preventative treatment like vaccinations, flea and worm treatments? (This is crucial in preventing the spread of diseases)
Home from home
Every dog is an individual and copes with groomers in different ways. You may find that your dog is a lot calmer and more settled being groomed in your house than they would be if you dropped them off for an appointment at a salon. The aim of the game is that grooming is a positive, happy experience for dogs. And if having a home groomer makes your dog more settled and relaxed then this is a real positive.
Groomers should not force a dog to undergo treatments if they are scared and distressed. The service should be personal to your dog, considering their needs and character. Some groomers even when coming into your home may require several slow and positive sessions before your dog is fully happy.
Most groomers I know have been compassionate, understanding and patient with dogs who are worried. They should want to spend time making your dog feel comfortable with the treatment so that the experience is a positive one.
Alternatively, some dogs guard their home – and the presence of a ‘stranger’, AKA the groomer, may be very unsettling! This is a recipe for disaster and in the cases of dogs who guard their home, it may be safest that they are taken away from that environment to get groomed.
Red flags for any groomer (mobile or not)
Giving unsolicited veterinary advice
No one should diagnose animals apart from veterinary surgeons. Your groomer should not be giving you extensive health advice on your pets or trying to diagnose any issues they find while grooming.
Any issue should be flagged immediately to you and the advice should be ‘go see your veterinary team’.
The best place for animal health advice is your vets, and groomers should not be imposing strong views on you with regards to any advice or treatment a veterinary surgeon has given. If in doubt about your pet’s health – contact your vet.
Offering inappropriate procedures
There are loads of new procedures coming onto the pet welfare market, some of them are fantastic ideas and inventions to help maintain our pet’s welfare.
However, some of them are not appropriate, but are being marketed to groomers who want to help your pet but may not understand how damaging they can be.
One big issue at the moment is ‘anaesthesia free’ dentals. These should not be offered at all – read more about why here.
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