One part of owning a dog is keeping them regularly clean and groomed. Otherwise, you run the risk of having a pooch that is both smelly and full of matted hair or fur. That won’t make either of you happy. Find what is best for your pet, DIY or professional pet grooming.
You need to decide whether you want to try to do the cleaning and grooming at home yourself or to take your dog to a grooming shop and have a professional do the work for you, where they will use a dog grooming cage to do things safely. Here are things to consider about each side before you make a decision.
Pros of DIY Grooming
One of the main advantages of grooming the dog yourself at home is that you’ll be doing it in an environment that both you and your dog know. That will add a layer of comfort since they will sense that they aren’t going to be taken out of the house or apartment. You will also be in a familiar place—so that you know where they like to hide if they don’t want to take a bath at the time.
You can save money by doing this. Just think, you won’t have to pay for things like gas to get your dog over to the groomer, as well as the fee for cleaning and grooming your dog. That will wind up saving you money in the long run.
While the first time doing this might be a bit of an adventure, if you’re gentle with your dog, this can actually wind up being some quality bonding time between the two of you. Your dog might enjoy you applying and rinsing the shampoo, for example. Bonding will help grooming go much more quickly and easier for you.
Cons of DIY Grooming
If you don’t have experience washing and grooming a dog, the first time could wind up being an exercise in frustration. You want to do right by your dog, but you might find yourself doing the job wrong initially. Over time, you’ll improve, but be ready for some growing pains—and maybe just a tiny bit of growling.
Also, you need to get products that are made specifically for your dog. You can’t just use your dandruff control shampoo on them. Dogs need products that are specifically formulated for their hair or fur. Do some research, too, to make sure that the products do what they say and that they get favorable reviews.
You need to make sure that you get everything that you need. There are plenty of sites out there that will tell you what professional dog groomers use. Be prepared that the items can add up, too.
Let’s not forget what happens after you finish cleaning and grooming your dog. While it might be nice to go sit down and relax afterwards, you have to clean up the mess. That’s going to take time away from any leisure activities. Unless you like having a place that smells like wet dogs and has hair all over the place.
Pros of Professional Dog Grooming
When you bring your dog to a groomer, you’re going to pay someone who has spent plenty of time learning this craft. That’s provided you find a groomer that has been doing the job for a while. While everyone does have to start somewhere, it’s preferable to have an experienced dog groomer in the room with your pooch.
You can pick from a lot of different treatments when it comes to grooming and cleaning. A groomer can do things like clip your dog’s nails, which might have been something that you might have worried about doing yourself. See what the prices are and how they fit in your overall budget.
If you bring your dog to the groomer on a regular basis, this can be very helpful to them health-wise. Your groomer might also notice something about their skin or the rest of their body and point it out to you so that you can take them to the vet. This is something that you might miss if you do the grooming at home yourself.
Cons of Professional Dog Grooming
One of the bigger drawbacks is having to transport your dog to and from the groomer. It can be a big pain to get them into your car and drive over to the groomer’s shop. You’ll possibly wind up tired from chasing the dog around your house.
Another con is how expensive some of the treatments can be. You may have to pick and choose each time you go. That can make you feel like your dog is missing out on something that will make them look and feel good.
You might have to shop around to find a groomer that you feel like you can trust to give the best cleaning and grooming for your dog. That can take time and research to do, which you might not want to devote.
Now that you’ve seen a list of the pros and cons of at-home grooming or having a professional do it, you can weigh each of them. Perhaps you could get rid of the transportation issue by finding a groomer who will be willing to come to your home to do the job. That way, you will be able to watch and make sure that your dog is okay.
There are also a lot of online resources out there for people who want to do the grooming themselves. They can watch plenty of videos on YouTube—it might even be possible to find ones devoted to your specific breed of dog. The best thing about the videos is that you can watch them over and over in case you don’t understand a specific thing.
Ultimately, your goal is to have a nice, clean, happy dog. How you get there will depend on your budget and the time spent. Then you can enjoy bonding with your pooch.
