by Kristen Manning / December 31, 2024
Pet owners often wonder "Why is grooming so costly and why do prices vary so widely?" The price of a grooming session can be influenced by several factors. Knowing these factors will enable you to make informed choices regarding your pet's grooming requirements.
Dog's Breed & Coat
Dog breeds vary greatly in size, coat type, and grooming requirements. Breeds with thick, double coats or those that require specific haircuts, such as Poodles, Doodles or Shih Tzus, may have higher grooming costs. Also, pets with thick or long fur need more work and care, which makes grooming costlier. For example, Poodles and Collies require detailed grooming, making their care more expensive than other pets.
Dog's Size, Weight & Age
The size, weight, and age of your dog can greatly influence the duration of a grooming session. The larger the size and girth of the dog, the more fur coverage there is to handle. For example, a Maltese's small size allows for a quicker bath compared to the significant time and effort needed for a St. Bernard.
Young puppies often have difficulty staying still, while older dogs might have sensitive skin and struggle to stand for long periods. These aspects can lead to increased work and the need for frequent breaks, resulting in extended grooming sessions.
The size, weight and age also play a factor in the physical requirements of the groom. Pet groomers have to navigate physical challenges like contorting their body into different positions and picking up heavy animals, and these challenges can cause wear and tear on the pet stylist’s body. Common injuries include carpal tunnel, back and neck problems, shoulder injuries, hip and knee injuries, arthritis, bites and scratches. If the injury is severe enough, it can abruptly end a career.
Temperament
Extra time, patience, and often specialized training that not all groomers have are required when grooming a reactive or aggressive dog. It can be challenging for a dog owner to find a groomer who is able and willing to handle a reactive or aggressive dog, and the expenses for these services can be considerably higher. Because the safety risks, many salons will not consider grooming these types of dogs. The well-being of the dog and the safety of the groomer are of utmost importance and unfortunately, not all salons are equipped to handle the stress and possible risks involved.
Those who do typically add an additional fee to compensate for the extra time, specialized training, effort, and risks. Precautions and equipment that a groomer will take include: muzzles, special equipment and additional personal to ensure the process is safe for the groomer and the dog.
Services Requested
Knowledge of breed specific trims including, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, or Schnauzers, can cost between $50 and $150 or more. These breeds require additional attention and expertise from professional groomers. Groomers will often charge additional fees for services such as nail grinding, flea & tick shampoos and anal gland expression due to specialized training or costs of products used.
The groomers training and expertise also impacts your grooming costs. Typically a groomer who has certifications, training and extensive knowledge will charge a higher price for their services.
Groomers Training, Facility & Location
The groomers training and expertise also impacts your grooming costs. Typically a groomer who has certifications, training and extensive knowledge will charge a higher price for their services.
The location of your groomer can also affect your grooming prices. Larger cities will typically cost more due to higher operating costs than rural areas, who are more competitively priced. High-end pet spas that offer specialized training in services such as massages, will charge more than a small maintenance grooming shop. We hear a lot of complaining about the grooming prices in Salina being too high however if you were to call salons in Wichita, Topeka or Kansas City, you would be shocked by the price hike! I can say from experience, the salons in Salina definitely do compete with each other on pricing and I personally try to take into account the cost of living in Saline county and when choosing prices.
Equipment Upkeep & Tools
Grooming tools and equipment are extremely important to a groomer. Quality grooming supplies are not cheap and neither is the maintenance-which is constant. Persistent cleaning, sharpening and part replacements are necessary for all tools & equipment to stay in optimal condition, which adds to the overall cost of running a grooming business.
Clipper blades for example, require constant part maintenance, part replacement, sharpening by a professional and complete replacement. Groomers have multiple pairs of different styles of shears. Each pair also requires the same maintenance as blades do. Unfortunately, these tools are easily knocked on the floor by a dog moving on the table and if a tooth is broken off a blade or the shears are slightly bent or chipped, they will require sharpening by a professional or complete replacement.
Overhead Costs
Operating a successful grooming business involves overhead costs, such as rent, utilities, insurance, taxes, marketing expenses, and constant supply replacement such as shampoos, ear cleaners and fragrances. Even free products such as bandanas require fabric that comes out of the groomers business expenditures. These expenditures are necessary to maintain a safe and comfortable grooming environment for the groomer, client and pet.
Remember, every dedicated groomer who genuinely cares for your dogs is providing a labor-intensive job that requires a massive amount of skill, patience, multi-tasking and attention to detail. Just like any other professional who has years of experience, groomers deserve to earn a fair and livable wage for their expertise and hard work without being questioned negotiated with or berated for the costs. If you want a cheap groom, you are libel to get an inexperienced groomer, low-quality products and higher risk of injury for your pet.
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