Is it better to groom your dog at home or have it done by a professional groomer?

It depends on the dog. If it's a dog that just needs to be bathed and brushed, you've gotten them very comfortable doing that at home, and you can ensure that the ears get cleaned out appropriately, we're not getting soap in the eyes, and that it's not super stressful for the pet, then there's nothing wrong with doing that type of grooming care at home. And I would encourage it to get the pet used to it and make it a positive experience. Anything beyond that, though, such as any grooming that involves clipping or shaving, should really be done by a professional groomer.

I think if you have a short coated dog and they just need a good bath and their nails trimmed a little bit, that's certainly something that you can do at home. But when dogs really need their hair to be cut, it’s probably best left to groomers. They know how to do it safely. They know what the breed standards are and they are trained professionals on how to get it done so they can get it done quickly and your dog is happy to have that done.

I don't know that I can say for everyone that there's one answer. Whether to go to a professional groomer depends on your dog's breed, what you're looking for, your dog's anxiety, or concerns around grooming—all of these things can make a big difference one way or the other. And so situations that I think a professional groomer can be helpful are in dogs that need regular trims of their hair because of their breed. For example, in the case of a Yorkie that you do not want to maintain a show cut on, you probably want to get a little puppy cut regularly. Dogs that have a constantly-growing coat, like poodles, need to be groomed regularly. And by having a professional groomer do this, you end up with a better result than trying to do it ourselves. Grooming is something that they've spent a lot of time learning to do and honing their skills, so they can often come up with a better finished product than we may be able to.

When you have a situation where you need to bathe your dog every once in a while, and you don't mind the mess and the hair, there's no problem with doing it at home. But say you have a Newfoundland or a Great Dane and it's the dead of winter, it may be worth looking at getting a professional to help you with that so that you don't have your giant 150-pound dog crammed into your shower. When you do the bath on your own, these large dogs are often drying for a few days because of the thickness of their coat.

There are many things to consider there. And if your dog has mild anxiety or fear around visiting a groomer, chat with us. We may be able to help you work with that, either with some anti-anxiety medications or some counterconditioning work to get them comfortable with visiting the groomer.

Every dog is different. Some dogs need professional grooming help. Some dogs can just require bathing and nail trims at home. I would consult your veterinarian and your groomer for more advice.

That depends on the dog, but also you. So if you have a bad back or you have trouble getting the pet in and out of the tub, of course, I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself doing it at home. But if you have the supplies, you feel comfortable doing it; you know what you're doing; I think it's OK to do the bathing at home. That's what I do for my dogs. But if you have a certain breed that requires haircutting, you need to go to a groomer. Because obviously, they're trained to do that. They have the right equipment. One thing I do want to mention for sure is you never, ever want to use scissors on your pet at home. I've seen a lot of pets come in with cuts on their skin, especially cats. Their skin is just so thin and you don't realize that you're pulling up on it to cut out a mat. Just never, ever use scissors. It's just really scary. And sometimes, I have to put stitches in these cats. So be careful.

So that's your comfort level. I have owners that take their dogs to a professional groomer, and we have owners that do the grooming at home because their dog is stressed or at the groomer. I would also encourage you to make sure that you are comfortable doing it as well. Of course, what we don't ever want to see is somebody accidentally cutting an ear with a pair of scissors or maybe getting too short on their nail trim or things like that. And so, the best thing to do is maybe if you're not comfortable in doing it is to seek help from somebody that can help you or find those professional groomers out there.

Ten times out of 10, I'm going to say a professional. The quality and safety you'll get can only be achieved when you go to a professional groomer. When you bring them in, it's also a great opportunity for someone to look your dog over and make sure they're as healthy as they can be. You're going to get the best possible results.

As far as getting a bath at home goes, it is up to you. Often, a lot of dogs just don't cooperate, and what should be a 20, or 25-minute experience turns into an hour circus. Nobody wins in that situation. Your dog's traumatized, and you're traumatized. No, don't do it. It's just easier to try to take them someplace else to be bathed. We often find that sometimes just getting your dog out of the environment helps. Maybe take them to a local farm supply or feed store, someplace where they do have do-it-yourself bathing. We have a couple of locations where that is available, and a lot of people love to take advantage of that because they don't have to destroy their own bathrooms and get them all wet, and dogs are shaking all over the place. Let them do it someplace else, not in your house. During the summertime, do it outside if you need to. But as far as the mechanics of actually doing it goes, it really boils down to if your dog cooperates or not. If they do great, try it yourself. If not, by all means, take them to a groomer. Especially if you are going to get a haircut, they will also be bathing them.

I think a lot of that is a personal preference. For those of you who have tried to groom your dog and failed, you understand why it is worth bringing your dog to a professional groomer sometimes. It is not an easy job. Groomers are well-trained and well-experienced in handling dogs for haircuts, so more often than not, it is worth your time and your expense to take your dog to a professional.

Whether to groom your dog at home or have it done by a professional largely depends on your own confidence and ability to handle the grooming process. Most dogs will see a professional groomer, but if you have nail trimmers, clippers, and other grooming equipment, you can groom your dog at home. It ultimately comes down to your comfort level and what works best for you and your dog.

It is recommended to have your pet professionally groomed regularly. For longer coat dogs like Shih Tzus or Yorkies, go every 2 to 4 weeks, depending on hair growth. For short breed dogs like Dobermans, go every six weeks for brushing out and bathing. In between professional grooms, perform regular care at home, such as combing hair, trimming nails, and giving baths as needed.