03/24/2026
Why Grooming Costs Keep Rising — and What Pet Owners Are Doing About It
Over the past few years, many pet owners have noticed the same change: grooming a dog costs more than it used to. Around 2019, a basic wash and grooming service at a typical pet store in Canada or the United States often cost between $40 and $60. By 2024, the same service in many cities has risen to $70–$100, and for large breeds the price can easily exceed $120. For many families, grooming is no longer an occasional expense but a regular part of monthly spending. At a pet store in North York, Toronto, a customer waiting with his Golden Retriever mentioned that since 2021 he has clearly felt the increase. “Before, coming every month felt normal. Now if I bring him every month, I have to think about the budget,” he said. Conversations like this have become more common in recent years.
The reasons behind the price increase are not difficult to understand. Labor costs have been rising steadily, and the pet grooming industry in North America depends heavily on skilled technicians. After the pandemic, many workers left the service industry, and the supply of experienced groomers has not fully recovered. In several provinces in Canada, hourly wages for groomers have increased significantly compared with pre-2020 levels, making it harder for stores to keep prices low. At the same time, operating costs for pet stores continue to rise. Commercial rent, utilities, insurance, and cleaning supplies have all become more expensive, especially in cities such as Vancouver and Toronto where lease renewals after 2022 often came with noticeable increases. Grooming services require water, electricity, equipment maintenance, and trained staff, so these cost changes are quickly reflected in the final price customers pay. A pet store owner in British Columbia with more than ten years of experience commented in an industry forum that the real cost of completing a wash and grooming service today can be 30–40% higher than it was five years ago.
Demand has also changed. In the past, many owners only visited a groomer when their dog was very dirty or needed trimming, but in recent years grooming has become part of routine care. During the pandemic, pet ownership increased across North America, and many first-time dog owners pay closer attention to hygiene and regular cleaning. As a result, grooming appointments have become harder to schedule. Large chains such as Pet Valu and PetSmart have continued to expand their service offerings in many locations, yet in busy urban areas it is still common for weekend appointments to be fully booked several days in advance. Instead of giving up grooming, many owners are looking for more flexible ways to manage both cost and convenience. Some extend the time between professional grooming visits, while others try washing their dogs at home, which can be inconvenient, especially for medium and large breeds.
In this situation, a middle option has become increasingly popular — self-service dog wash stations. Since around 2022, more pet stores across Canada and the United States have added self-wash areas when renovating or upgrading their stores. Customers can wash their dogs themselves, but with professional equipment such as stainless steel tubs, temperature-controlled water, metered shampoo systems, and high-power dryers. The typical price is around $12 to $15 per wash, much lower than full grooming, while still far more convenient than washing a dog at home. For store owners, self-service stations reduce reliance on labor and make better use of floor space, which is why they are becoming a common feature in modern pet retail stores. In Richmond Hill, Ontario, a pet supply store owner who installed a self-wash unit in 2023 noticed that customers who previously only bought shampoo or towels started coming back regularly to use the machine. “People are not trying to spend less on their dogs,” he said. “They just want a way to take care of them without the cost getting out of control. If grooming is over a hundred dollars, they hesitate. But if they can do a wash for around fifteen dollars, they come more often.”
Over the past five years, the pet care industry has been changing in the same way as many other retail sectors. Costs are rising, services are becoming more specialized, and customers expect more choices. Pet owners are still willing to pay for professional grooming when needed, but for basic cleaning, many prefer options that are more flexible and easier to afford. For pet stores, offering different levels of care — from full grooming to self-service washing — is becoming an important way to stay competitive. For pet owners, the goal has not changed: they still want their pets to stay clean, healthy, and comfortable, but they are looking for solutions that make it possible to keep that routine over the long term. As grooming prices continue to rise, the way people care for their dogs is likely to keep evolving, with more stores and more owners choosing practical alternatives that balance quality, cost, and convenience.