Working with a Professional Dog Groomer

You may want a professional groomer if your canine companion’s coat is of the higher-maintenance variety, or if you don’t want to undertake the tasks of claw trimming, ear cleaning, and anal gland expression.

Finding a groomer who works for you and your pet may take some shopping around. Use the same strategy as for finding your canine kid’s vet: ask for recommendations from friends, neighbors, and fellow dog owners. Your vet and the local pet store may have suggestions, and I list local groomers at the end of this column.

Things to look for in a grooming operation include:

• Safety and security. Is there a safety gate and/or double-door arrangement that will keep your furry friend from dashing outside when another client arrives? Are there a few crates for dogs to have rest periods? Do the humans seem to have control over their canine clientele?

• Cleanliness. Don’t expect the environment to be a sterile operating room, but the tools should look clean and well cared-for, and you don’t want to see overflowing ashtrays or other potential mischief for a dog to get into.

• Communication. Does the groomer’s staff give you clear information on services available, charges, and when you can drop off and pick up your pooch? Were you able to get across important information about your dog, such as the medication he is on, or how she hates having her feet handled? Do you like the way the groomer talks to and handles your canine companion?

The bottom line is: do you feel comfortable leaving your canine kid in this groomer’s care?

If you require a particular styling of you dog’s coat, be clear with your instructions to the groomer, but also have realistic expectations. Don’t visit a brand-new groomer days before your pooch needs to sit for your family portrait. Shop around for a groomer well in advance of when your baby needs to look perfect, and give your dog and her groomer a few appointments to get to know each other.

And remember that grooming for dogs isn’t just about looking good; it’s an important part of your dog’s overall health. 

One of my clients recently took her dog to the vet for a routine check, and learned that a bump on his hip was a sarcoma that needed to be surgically removed. In the days between the initial diagnosis and the surgery, Boomer went in for his regular quarterly hair cut (he’s an Irish Water Spaniel, and so has a non-shedding, poodle-type coat that requires periodic trimming).

Boomer’s mom pointed out the bump on his right hip to Joel, the groomer. When she picked Boomer up, Joel pointed out a much smaller bump between two toes on Boomer’s left hind foot that he had found while trimming Boomer’s very furry paws. 

During surgery, the vet removed that bump too, since even if it was benign, its location between his toes might mean trouble (such as infection) down the road. A few days later the lab results on the small bump revealed that it was a potentially life-threatening mast cell tumor. 

More tests revealed they had caught the mast cell tumor before the cancer spread. Boomer is doing well part-way through a several-month course of once-a-week chemotherapy treatments. The drugs should eliminate any cancer cells that escaped surgery and let him live out a normal lifespan. 

His mom says, “We’ll be eternally grateful that Joel spotted that little bump and brought it to our attention early enough for Boomer to have a good outcome.”

One of the reasons Boomer goes to Joel and Susie’s establishment (their contact information is below) is because his mom can drop him off and leave him all day for Joel to work on in small increments. “Boomer tolerates being on the grooming table for ten or fifteen minutes at a time, but any longer than that and he starts struggling,” Boomer’s mom says. “At Joel’s he can get down off the table to play while Joel works on one or two other dogs. Then Joel puts Boomer back on the table and trims away for another ten minutes. Boomer’s a big dog, so it takes the better part of a day until he’s completely trimmed.”

A mobile groomer who had only an hour to work on one dog before going on to the next client would not work for Boomer!

Dogs can be trained to tolerate longer periods on the grooming table. Some dogs are more naturally tolerant of grooming, and smaller dogs won’t have to be patient for as long. Shop around until you find a situation that works for you.

Super Pups -- Susie and Joel -- is in San Mateo on El Camino Real. (650) 349-7877

Pampered Pup is in Half Moon Bay on Main Street. (650) 726-0907 

Class Act Grooming -- Ruth -- is in Half Moon Bay off Hwy One. (650) 726-7092

Happy Tails Doggy Day Care and Grooming is in Montara. (650) 728-7955

Shamrock Ranch is in Pacifica. (650) 359-1627

Pawtastic is in Pacifica. (650) 580-7439

Curbside Cuts is based in Pacifica but they bring their van to you. (650) 455-0761

Kellee’s Mobile Dog Grooming is based in La Honda, but she brings her van to you. (650) 288-2418