What the Pet Grooming Process Actually Looks Like in Practice

Do you treat your pet as part of your family? Did you know that treating pets as part of the family actually has physical and mental health benefits? 

If your pet is part of your family, professional grooming is one way to show them that. Pet grooming is more than just a bath and hair cut. To learn more about the grooming process, read on. 

1. Meet and Greet

If this is your first time taking your dog to a groomer, they'll want to spend some time talking to you about your dog, their behaviors and tendencies, and how you want them groomed. Professional groomers know how to groom dogs of different breeds, so be clear on what you want, whether it's the traditional cut and style for that breed or something else. 

They should also ask you about any medical conditions your dog has, any areas they should be aware of, and will want to review copies of your dog's vaccination records. Most groomers will not take a pet without the records or if they are not up-to-date on their vaccines, so keep that in mind. 

2. Bath

The grooming process will generally begin with a bath. Your pet is bathed using a special shampoo for them that won't strip their coat of natural oils or irritate their skin. 

After they are bathed, they will be dried with a towel and then blow-dried, so they are fully dry for their hair cut. Once they are dry, they get brushed out, and then they are ready for their cut. 

3. Hair Cut

How your pet gets their haircut depends on your preferences, their breed, and the time of year. In some hotter locations, people may choose to have dogs with longer hair cut very short or you might opt for a lion cut for your cat.  

To do the cut, groomers use special tools including special combs for getting out mats, brushes, clippers, and scissors for areas around the face. 

4. Nail Clipping

Nail clipping is an extremely important part of the grooming process. If you allow your dog's nails to get too long, they can start to grow into their paw pad, causing pain and potentially an infection. Nails that are too long can also make it difficult for your dog to walk. 

5. Other Services 

Your pet groomer may also offer other services, such as anal gland expression if your dog needs it, tooth brushing, special shampoos and conditioners for certain skin conditions, and ear cleaning. 

Some groomers may include these in their standard grooming package while others may have them available as ala carte options. 

The Grooming Process For Your Furry Family Member

The pet grooming process can be nerve-wracking for your dog, so make sure you have a groomer who is gentle, will take their time, and truly loves animals. Otherwise, getting groomed will be a traumatic experience for your dog (and you). 

To ease the fear of getting groomed, Trimmed Pets offers in-home mobile grooming services for your dogs and cats of all breeds and sizes. Skip the car ride and let us come to you and your pet. We offer full-service grooms as well as pet sitting. 

Check out our services and use our convenient online booking tool to book your pet's next groom today.