08/24/2026
This is a long one… but please take the time to read if you have a pet. This will give you a lot of knowledge from your groomers perspective 🐾❤️
🐾 A Groomer’s Honest Conversation — The “Why” Behind My Policies 🐾
I’m going to talk about something that, as a groomer, is never fun to address.
This post is NOT meant to shame, embarrass, or call out anyone. I love my clients, I love your dogs, and I am incredibly thankful that you trust me with them.
But sometimes I think people see the finished groom without seeing everything that happens behind the scenes.
So today, I want to explain the WHY behind some of my policies, recommendations, additional fees, and decisions.
And it starts with something very simple:
Grooming is not just about making a dog look pretty. It is part of maintaining their comfort, skin, coat, feet, ears, nails, and overall well-being.
🐩 LONG, CURLY & CONTINUOUSLY GROWING COATS
If you own a Poodle, Doodle, Shih Tzu, Maltese, Yorkie, Havanese, Bichon, Cocker Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, long-coated mixed breed, or another dog with a long, curly, silky, or continuously growing coat, there is simply no way around it:
They have to be brushed AND combed at home.
For many longer or denser coats, brushing needs to happen several times a week, and some coats maintained long may require attention nearly every day.
And brushing only the surface isn’t enough.
You need to work all the way through the coat in sections and follow behind your brush with a metal grooming comb to make sure you can reach from the ends of the hair toward the skin without repeatedly getting caught.
If a comb cannot pass through the coat, there are still tangles, packed coat, or mats hiding underneath.
Professional grooming schedules depend on the breed, coat length, lifestyle, and how much maintenance is being done at home, but many high-maintenance coats do best on approximately a 4–6 week schedule, sometimes sooner when kept very long.
Common high-friction matting areas include:
• Behind and underneath the ears
• Armpits
• Where the legs meet the body
• Chest
• Belly and groin
• Neck/collar area
• Under harnesses and clothing
• Tail and rear end
• Legs and feet
• Between the toes and paw pads
• Anywhere the coat rubs against itself
And here’s another important piece:
Water does not replace brushing.
If a tangled coat gets wet and isn’t properly worked through and thoroughly dried, those tangles can become tighter and more difficult to remove. Moisture can also remain trapped close to the skin beneath dense or matted coat, contributing to irritation and creating conditions where skin problems can develop.
That is why bathing a tangled dog at home and allowing them to air dry can sometimes make my job harder rather than easier.
🐕 DOUBLE-COATED DOG OWNERS — THIS INCLUDES YOU TOO!
Huskies, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, Pomeranians, Corgis, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Great Pyrenees, Newfoundlands, Samoyeds, Malamutes, Labs and many other breeds have an undercoat underneath their outer guard hairs.
That undercoat naturally sheds.
When dead undercoat isn’t removed, it can become packed or compacted underneath the topcoat, especially during heavy shedding seasons. Dense neglected coats can eventually tangle or mat and can hold moisture and debris close to the skin.
These dogs need regular brushing at home that actually reaches the undercoat, and many benefit tremendously from professional bath, blowout and deshedding appointments.
For many double coats, weekly brushing is a good baseline, with more frequent brushing during heavy shedding periods.
And no — shaving a healthy double coat simply because it sheds is generally not the answer. Proper brushing, bathing, drying and deshedding are much better routine maintenance.
🐶 WHAT ABOUT SHORT-HAIRED DOGS?
Yes, you need grooming too!
Think Beagles, Boxers, Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Pit Bull-type dogs, short-haired Chihuahuas, Great Danes, Dobermans and other smooth-coated breeds.
They may not need haircuts, but they still shed, collect dirt and dander, need nail care, and benefit from regular skin and coat maintenance.
A good routine generally includes weekly brushing with an appropriate rubber brush, grooming mitt or similar tool, regular baths as needed for the individual dog, nail trims, ear checks, paw checks and skin checks.
Professional grooming can still be extremely helpful even when your dog doesn’t need a haircut.
🦷 EVERY DOG NEEDS MAINTENANCE
Regardless of breed or coat type, routine care should include:
• Brushing appropriate for the coat
• Checking the skin for irritation, sores, lumps, parasites or unusual changes
• Checking paws and between toes for debris, mats, stickers, grass seeds, cuts or irritation
• Nail trims before nails become overgrown
• Checking ears for redness, odor, discharge or excessive debris
• Ear cleaning when appropriate for that individual dog
• Regular dental care — ideally brushing teeth daily when possible
• Flea and tick prevention recommended by your veterinarian
• Regular veterinary care
• Appropriate professional grooming based on coat type
One important clarification: not every dog’s ears need frequent cleaning or hair plucking. Over-cleaning an ear can actually cause irritation. Red, swollen, painful, foul-smelling or heavily draining ears may need veterinary attention rather than simply more cleaning.
💔 NOW LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENS ON MY SIDE OF THE TABLE.
If I see your dog only every 6 weeks — or sometimes MUCH longer — and there has been little to no thorough brushing and comb-checking between appointments, I may receive a dog with:
Mats.
Tangles.
Packed undercoat.
Debris embedded in the coat.
Stickers, burrs or plant material tangled between the toes.
Overgrown nails.
Dirty or irritated ears.
Sore skin.
Fleas.
Ticks.
Or a combination of several of these things.
At that point, it doesn’t matter how talented I am with a pair of shears.
I cannot undo weeks or months of coat maintenance in a few hours without considering what is fair to the dog.
And this is the part that breaks my heart.
Your dog doesn’t understand that the matting happened gradually at home.
They understand that I am the person touching the painful area today.
I’m the one asking them to stand.
I’m the one holding their face.
I’m the one touching an already tender ear.
I’m the one working around sore feet.
I’m the one trying to safely get clippers underneath tight matting while determining where the mat ends and the skin begins.
I’m the one trying to work through tangles while the coat pulls against their skin.
And suddenly…
I am the bad guy.
There have been appointments where I am literally apologizing to a dog, kissing their little muzzle and telling them how sorry I am while I’m trying to help them through something I did not cause.
I try very hard to save coats when it can be done safely, humanely and without putting the dog through unnecessary discomfort.
But sometimes I have to stop.
If your dog has been standing for hours, is exhausted, crying, becoming increasingly stressed, trying to escape or beginning to nip because they have reached their limit, their welfare becomes more important than the haircut.
At that point, continuing simply to achieve a particular look is not fair to them.
Sometimes the kindest choice is a shorter haircut.
Sometimes we have to split services.
Sometimes I have to say, “That’s enough for today.”
That does not mean I gave up on your dog.
It means I listened to your dog.
And I understand that you may be disappointed because it isn’t the haircut you pictured.
But please understand my side too.
I may have spent hours trying to save that coat. I’ve used additional shampoo, conditioner, sprays, blades, tools and time. Severe matting and packed coat also create additional wear on expensive grooming equipment.
Most importantly, your dog and I may have spent hours having an experience neither of us wanted.
You leave disappointed.
Your dog leaves exhausted.
I leave heartbroken because I couldn’t give you what you wanted without asking too much of your baby.
Nobody wins.
🪲 NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT FLEAS & TICKS.
This is another policy that isn’t about punishment.
Fleas don’t politely stay on one dog.
Flea eggs can fall from an animal into the environment. Fleas and their immature life stages can end up in bedding, cracks, flooring and other areas, which is why established infestations can be difficult to eliminate.
Ticks also pose health risks to both animals and humans and can transmit disease.
So when I discover an active parasite problem, I have to address it.
Depending on what I find and what is safe and appropriate for that dog, that can mean stopping the normal groom, providing an appropriate flea service, removing parasites when appropriate, cleaning and disinfecting my equipment and work area, removing contaminated hair and debris, laundering or cleaning materials, and taking precautions before another client’s pet uses that space.
That takes additional product, additional time and additional cleaning — which is why there is an additional charge.
It isn’t a punishment.
It is me protecting your dog, the next dog, my salon and myself.
And ticks are particularly serious for me personally.
I have Alpha-gal Syndrome, a potentially serious allergy associated with tick bites. Additional tick bites are something people with Alpha-gal are specifically advised to avoid because new bites may reactivate or worsen allergic sensitivity.
Alpha-gal reactions can range from mild to severe and can include anaphylaxis, which is life-threatening. Some people with Alpha-gal ultimately need emergency epinephrine prescribed by their healthcare provider.
So when I ask that your pet stay on veterinarian-recommended flea and tick prevention, please understand:
I’m not just being picky. I’m protecting my health while protecting every animal that enters my salon.
💉 WHY DO I REQUIRE VACCINATION RECORDS?
Because grooming salons are environments where multiple dogs come through the same facility.
Vaccinations reduce the risk of serious preventable diseases, and certain lifestyle-based vaccines may be especially important for dogs who regularly interact with other dogs or visit grooming, boarding, daycare and similar environments.
Some canine respiratory illnesses spread readily where dogs gather.
Rabies vaccination is also an important public-health safeguard and is legally regulated.
My vaccination requirements aren’t there to inconvenience anyone.
They’re there to help protect your dog, other clients’ dogs, me, my business and everyone who walks through my doors.
❤️ AND NOW FOR THE PART I REALLY WANT EVERYONE TO HEAR.
You’ve probably seen those TikToks and Facebook videos:
“Why did my dog’s groom take so long?”
“Why does grooming cost that much?”
“Why did my groomer charge a dematting fee?”
“Why is there a hard-to-handle fee?”
“Why couldn’t they finish my dog?”
Those videos are real life for groomers.
I see these situations every day. I just don’t normally talk publicly about them.
When I tell you that your dog struggled for something, I’m not insulting your dog.
When I tell you your dog tried to bite, screamed, fought for their feet, hated the dryer, couldn’t tolerate their face being held, or became overwhelmed, I’m giving you information.
I need you to know so we can work together before the behavior becomes worse.
It also protects both of us.
If I’ve told you after multiple appointments that your dog requires substantially more time or assistance to groom safely, I don’t want you blindsided later if a hard-to-handle fee becomes necessary.
That fee isn’t because I dislike your dog.
It’s because a dog requiring significantly more time, additional handling, repeated breaks or additional safety precautions changes the amount of labor required for that appointment.
🎥 AND YES — I HAVE CAMERAS.
I believe in transparency.
If you ever have a genuine concern about how your baby was treated, or you need to understand what I mean when I explain a behavior that occurred during grooming, please talk to me.
My salon has cameras, and when appropriate I can review available footage with you.
I don’t expect anyone to blindly trust me simply because I’m the groomer.
Your dog cannot come home and explain their day to you. I understand why owners want reassurance, and I have absolutely nothing to hide about the way I handle and care for your babies.
🐾 PLEASE REMEMBER…
This is my career.
This is how I support myself.
This is how I build a future for my children.
But beyond that, these are living animals in my hands.
I work with sharp scissors and clipper blades around dogs who wiggle, kick, lick, jump, sit unexpectedly and sometimes bite.
I lift dogs.
I get scratched.
I get peed on.
I get covered in hair.
I work around fleas and ticks.
I comfort nervous dogs.
I give breaks when they need them.
I spend extra time trying to save coats.
I talk to your dogs like they’re little people.
And yes… sometimes I kiss their face and apologize while doing something necessary that they absolutely do not appreciate. 😂❤️
I love what I do.
My rules aren’t meant to make anyone’s life harder.
My policies aren’t meant to nickel-and-dime anyone.
And this post isn’t meant to shame a single person.
I’m simply asking you to understand the WHY.
Why maintenance matters.
Why schedules matter.
Why I sometimes have to shave.
Why I sometimes have to stop.
Why some appointments cost more.
Why fleas and ticks matter.
Why vaccines matter.
Why I tell you about behavior.
Why I have policies.
And why I need your help between appointments.
Your dog’s grooming is a partnership.
I can do my part inside the salon.
I need you to help me do yours at home.
When we work together, your dog has a much better chance of having a comfortable, predictable grooming experience — and THAT is always my goal.
To all of my absolutely amazing clients who trust me, communicate with me, work with me and bring your babies back to me again and again:
THANK YOU.
Thank you for supporting my career.
Thank you for trusting me with members of your family.
Thank you for listening when I tell you something isn’t working.
Thank you for understanding when I have to make a decision based on your dog’s comfort instead of appearance.
And thank you for continuing to support my little business.
I love your babies, and I am always going to choose their safety, comfort and well-being first. 🐾❤️
— Doggy Style Baths & Grooms
