DIY dog grooming versus hiring a dog groomer

When it comes to taking care of a dog, you must conduct frequent grooming sessions.  These grooming sessions ensure they remain clean and prevent any potential health issues from arising. However, some dog owners may choose to hire a professional groomer to spruce up their canine companion. Others may decide to handle the grooming session themselves. 

Choosing between the two will all come down to the circumstances you are dealing with in your everyday life. Taking your dog to a professional dog groomer takes up a considerable amount of time and money. Depending on the groomer and services chosen for the grooming session, you may be paying a hefty sum of cash. It’s one of the many reasons why dog owners may prefer to groom their dogs at home by themselves. 

Both of these choices are perfectly acceptable choices, so it’s not an issue of whether which of these two are the best. As a dog owner, you need to consider the pros and cons of both of these choices.  With that said, it’s essential to know what those differences are and how they may impact both you and your dog. For that reason, we are going to go over the pros and cons of hiring a professional dog groomer or DIY grooming. 

Hiring a professional 

Hiring a professional has the benefits of ensuring that your dog can be cared for in all sorts of various ways. These professional dog groomers tend to have years of experience and have gone through training to ensure they know how to take care of many breeds of dogs. Unless you have those right grooming skills and expertise, hiring a professional groomer may be the way to go.

Let's start with the pros that come with hiring a professional groomer.

Knowledge over breeds and hair types

Not every dog owner out there will have the same breed as their companion. Some people may have Golden Retrievers, while others may have a Chihuahua. A dog owner must be aware of the information since that factor impacts the grooming process for a dog. The dog’s breed determines what type of hair the dog has, and there exists a massive number of variants, with many of them being subtle. Depending on the main characteristics of the hair, you can split them into five categories:

• Double coat
• Long hair
• Corded hair
• Wooly hair
• Wiry hair 

Knowing the difference between the various hair types can ensure that your dog’s hair is not damaged in some way during the grooming process. A professional groomer will be familiar with the coats of all breeds and will ensure your dog comes out looking great. They can also offer options when it comes to cuts and styles that can suit them. 

The equipment and supplies

To groom a dog, you will need to have the right equipment and supplies to get the job done. Not all of the tools used by a professional groomer are cheap. While brushes, combs, shampoos, and conditioners may be more affordable to acquire, other things like shears and nail trimmers may cost a hefty sum. The dog’s breeds and needs also need to be taken into consideration. You can’t just buy up any type of shampoo and conditioner for your dog. Some dogs may be allergic to something found in a specific brand or require shampoo that helps with ticks. 

Some dogs may also require frequent clipping because of their particular breed or due to their hairs rapidly growing and becoming problematic, such as obscuring the dog’s vision or matting between the toes. Professional groomers know the best ways to take care of these issues with little effort. 

Do things you don’t want to

A complete grooming session will include the whole body, from head to tail. That means you need to clean the ears, trim nails, and clip between the toes and around the personal parts. This also includes the anal glands, which may require clearing. Not all dog owners want to deal with some of the more unpleasant sides of grooming, hence why hiring a groomer can be beneficial. Even if you don’t mind handling the dirtier side of grooming, it can still be challenging if your dog is not calm and patient.

Now let’s go over several cons you can expect from hiring a professional groomer. 

Expensive

Hiring a professional dog groomer can be a costly affair. The price you need to pay for your dog’s grooming session will depend on several things, such as the professional groomer you decide to hire, the deal you've chosen, and so on. Since dogs require frequent grooming sessions, the amount of money you pay over time can become far too much. If anything, you’ll be saving more money by attempting to do it yourself. 

Commute inconvenience

If you decide to take your dog to a professional groomer, you may discover that taking your dog to the salon is far too troublesome. Some dogs can be too anxious to leave the house and may struggle when putting them in the kennel. Depending on where you live, it could also be a hassle to drive to the salon due to the streets being overcrowded. 

While mobile dog groomers are another option available, they are known for charging far more than a salon. There’s also the fact that you need to concern yourself with ensuring that there is parking space for them, which can be a problem if you live in a crowded area.  Regardless of how you decide to hire a professional groomer, you will still need to deal with the financial and physical stress behind it all. 

Do it yourself (DIY)

If you want to handle the grooming sessions yourself, then you should know the pros and cons behind them. As a dog owner, you may get a bit more benefit from doing the grooming session yourself, but there are sets of challenges you may struggle with along the way. Let’s go over the pros and cons of DIY grooming.

Cost

One of the many reasons anyone would consider DIY grooming is because of the amount of money they will save over time. As mentioned above, hiring professional groomers can impact your financial standing. However, taking care of your dog’s personal grooming needs at home can save you tons of money. Dog’s tend to get dirty very quickly due to all of the running around they enjoy. Activities like that will cause you to spend more money on grooming sessions. Unless you have the pocket money to burn on frequent grooming sessions, you’ll want to start doing it yourself at home. 

Excellent bonding opportunity 

As a dog owner, you want to look out for opportunities to bond over with your dog. That is especially true if you are a new dog owner and your new canine companion is still getting used to being around you. Grooming sessions serve as an excellent opportunity to bond with your furry friend. Grooming and bathing your dog at home enables you to connect with them while sprucing them up. It’s a win-win situation for both of you. 

These home grooming sessions will make your dog feel loved, which will result in them becoming closer with you. Plus, you’ll most likely have a much easier time grooming them compared to a professional groomer since they are already used to your presence. Some dogs become anxious and stressed when dealing with new people.

More comfortable

One of the best parts about DIY is the comfort it brings to your dog. There’s no need to make time to deal with another person or make special arrangements. The only thing you need to do is choose the best time to conduct these grooming sessions. Grooming your furry friend at home offers both of your liberty. You can set the pace of how you wash them and ensure your pup feels comfortable throughout the process. Just make sure that the schedule you establish for future grooming sessions is not too far apart. The longer you wait to groom them, the more work you need to do when sprucing them up. 

Now, let’s go over the cons of DIY grooming. 

Lack of grooming knowledge and experience

Professional groomers tend to have the technical knowledge required to clean up a dog. But that may not be the case with you. Sure, you may have picked up a thing or two, possibly read up, or watched some Youtube videos. Even so, that’s not enough to make you a qualified expert when it comes to grooming, particularly when it comes to the more sensitive parts. It’s crucial to know the various coats, the best techniques for cleaning a dog, and having a better understanding of dog grooming products. If you decide to take your canine pal to a professional, they will receive far better pampering. 

Buying products

Another drawback you need comes from having to deal with choosing the right products for your canine pal. There are far too many dog products available in the market, such as shampoos, conditioners, blams, and other dog grooming items. It can become confusing for most people, especially if you are a new dog owner. Choosing the wrong product could be hazardous for your dog’s health since some products may contain a chemical they could be allergic to. 

Conclusion 

Both of these options have their ups and downs. It all comes down to what your current situation is when it comes to your finances and schedule. For some, professional groomers may be better due to how busy their lives have become, leaving little time to groom their dogs. For others, they may be attempting to save money, so DIY grooming is the way. If you are looking for a professional dog groomer near you, check out our app today.