Whether or not you decide to take your dog to a professional dog groomer will in the end depend on a number of factors. One important consideration will depend on the breed of the dog and whether you feel at ease with the idea of someone else grooming your dog. Some owners who have a long-haired dog find that the dog’s hair mats together in a tangled mess and needs the attention of a professional groomer to bring the coat to its original condition. It must be understood that grooming a dog is much more than just brushing and will also consist of a hair trim and many other aspects of hygiene including bathing, clipping of nails, brushing and shaving or cutting of matted hair. It also consists of caring for the dog’s ears and clearing you pet of external parasites such as fleas or ticks. Some breeds, such as poodles need special attention as they usually have their fur groomed in a particular way and a professional groomer would probably be most qualified to do justice to the dog’s coat. Other breeds of dogs should be clipped seasonally and sometimes more often than that. A professional dog groomer would be more capable at giving medicated baths and removing severely matted hair, eradicating bad odors that somehow dogs acquire, not to mention removing other harmful substances that have become embedded in the dog’s fur. The choice of a dog groomer is most important as you will not want to trust your dog into the hands of just anyone. A certain degree of risk is involved in grooming as the use of sharp instruments such as scissors and clippers are employed. It makes sense to talk to other dog owners before coming to a final decision. Family members, friends and neighbors who have dogs may be able to recommend a good professional dog groomer. Your vet would most probably be the best source of finding a reliable competent dog groomer. If someone recommends a particular dog groomer don’t take the recommendation at face value. Investigate it a little further and telephone the dig groomer to ask some very pointed questions. Did they undertake a diploma course at a school for groomers or did they serve an apprenticeship with a qualified and experienced groomer. Also determine how long they have been in business and how much experience they have with your particular breed of dog. In the United States there is a national organization called National Dog Groomers of America Association and many states have their own organizations for dog groomers incorporated. It would do no harm to find out if the dog groomer in question belongs to any of these associations. Many states make it mandatory for groomers to be licensed as well as certified in the use and application of flea and tick medications. Before coming to a decision find out whether the dog groomer is certified. At the end of the day you should also rely on your intuition. If after your initial conversation with the dog groomer you feel comfortable with the information the dog groomer has supplied then more than likely you will be happy with the service they will provide. However, if you feel the person has not been honest or reluctant in their answers then it might be a good idea to keep on looking. It might also be considered a good idea to arrange a visit to their office to asses their operation before making a final decision..
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