Tallying up the costs of dog grooming

By Margaret H.Bonham

Now that you know that good dog grooming is necessary for your dog’s health and well-being, you may wonder just how much it costs to have a good-looking dog. You may have visited the local groomer and asked how much bathing and/or clipping your dog costs. If you’ve done the math, you know it can be a bit pricey, especially when money’s in short supply.

The truth is that when you start grooming your dog, you can do things just to get by, all the  hile keeping an eye out for the many places where you can buy really good equipment and supplies for not a lot of money.

Your investment, however, isn’t gauged entirely in terms of money. Your time is worth something, and grooming requires some of that, too.

You may find that grooming is expensive in time and money, or you may find it relatively inexpensive. Much of the cost of grooming depends on what kind of dog you have, what type of hair your dog has, and whether you’re grooming your dog as a pet or for show. Regardless of cost, grooming is a part of dog ownership, and as a pet owner, you must take care of your dog for her health and well-being  not to mention how really spiffy she’ll look.

Anyway, the sections that follow can help you figure out how much time and money you need to keep your pup well-groomed.

 

The cost in money

Most people think and talk about costs in terms of money. You know how much in dollars is this or that going to cost? Well, the bad news is that getting stocked up with dog grooming equipment and supplies is fairly expensive. The good news is that after you dole out the initial investment for your equipment, you probably won’t encounter that expense again unless something breaks or wears out, and by comparison, the cost of buying your own supplies is relatively cheap.

How much does at-home grooming cost compared to a year’s worth of dog grooming sessions from a pro? Well, if you’re paying from $20 to $50 a month in grooming, you’re paying $240 to $600 a year. You can buy some pretty nice grooming equipment for that amount of money, and doing it yourself pays off during the first year or two.

Some dogs need more grooming equipment and supplies than others. For example, a dog who needs daily brushing and regular clipping is going to need more equipment than a dog with a wash-and-wear coat.

The cost in time

Although the old adage that time is money is true where dog grooming is concerned, you nevertheless need to think about the work and the fun you can  have when you bathe or brush your dog. As you know, grooming your dog is as much a necessity as housetraining your dog or taking him to the vet for an annual exam.

When taking time into account, be aware that

·         The shorter the natural coat of the dog, the less grooming he’s going to need.

·         The smaller the dog, the less grooming he’s going to need.

·         Dogs who need stripping or clipping usually take more time than dogs who don’t.

·         A dog with long hair or a double coat takes more time to groom than one with a medium- or short-haired coat.

·         Different procedures take different amounts of time. A quick brushing

with a well-maintained coat takes less time than a bath.

·         The condition of your dog’s coat dictates the amount of time grooming takes. Brushing out a clean dog with a well-maintained coat takes very

little time when compared to one with a dirty and matted coat.

·         Dogs with wash-and-wear coats can usually get away with once-a-week grooming.

·         Dogs with average coats can usually get away with twice-a-week grooming.

·         Dogs with high-maintenance coats need to be groomed three times or more per week. When some dogs are adolescents or when they’re shedding, they require coat care every day.

When planning your initial dog grooming session, you need to set aside at least two hours, because you’ll be going more slowly and your dog’s coat may not be in the best condition. Later, you can whittle down your grooming sessions to an hour or even a half-hour as you get better at grooming and your dog’s coat is better maintained.

If you don’t have the time to groom your dog’s coat into good shape, consider first taking him to a professional groomer and then maintaining the coat after the groomer works it into manageable shape. Doing so reduces the hassle of trying to groom your dog’s coat into the proper condition without using too much of your valuable time.

Sources:  Dog Grooming For Dummies