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Health and Welfare

Going to a dog groomer

Ensuring your dog's coat is kept in good condition is important for their health and wellbeing. Grooming removes excess hair and dirt from your pet's coat, and may also involve clipping their coat if needed. Here's more on what to keep in mind if you're thinking about taking your four-legged friend to a professional dog groomer.

animal care assistant brushing an english bull terrier on a grooming table

Finding the right dog groomer for you

Although the dog grooming industry is currently unregulated, there are a number of things that you can consider when choosing a reputable groomer, which will help you to be confident that they will meet your pet's needs. Have a look at the information and links below to help you find a great groomer for your pooch.

Have a good chat with the groomer and a good look around the premises. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

A dog groomer's responsibility

A dog groomer is responsible for meeting your pet's needs while they're in their care. However, there have been recent cases that have highlighted the need for owners to think particularly carefully when choosing a groomer. Dogs have suffered severe burns or even died in grooming establishments when equipment has been faulty or where animals have been left unsupervised while being dried.

Making sure your dog is happy

If you decide to use a professional groomer, make sure that your dog is happy to be groomed. Socialisation is important, as is the use of reward-based training methods to gradually get your dog used to any grooming equipment and products, as well as the environment as a whole. It's important that dogs visit your groomer as soon as they're fully vaccinated so they learn that it's a fun place to visit.

Patience is key to making grooming an enjoyable experience for your dog - don't force them to be groomed if they don't enjoy it. If you're having problems, you could also ask your vet to refer you to a suitably qualified animal behaviourist. They'll check your dog over first to make sure they have no underlying injuries or illnesses.

Follow the links below to find out more about choosing a dog groomer:

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