Dog grooming includes all manner of dog hygiene and care. Dog grooming is available for dogs of every breed, size and age, as well as those with anxiety, aggression and old age. Frequent requests for services include bath and brush, overall hair trim, complete shave, ear trim, tail trim, nail trim, toothbrushing, dematting, flea and tick removal, gland expression, and deshedding treatments. Several factors affect the cost of dog grooming services.

Breed size

Larger dogs or dogs with difficult fur may cost more for bathing and grooming services than other dogs, while smaller dogs cost less per service. For example, San Francisco Bay Area-based Bliss Bound Hound offers the BlissTotal dog grooming package for $130, which includes up to four hours of dog grooming services such as teeth, nails, ears, gland expression, hair cut and wash. For dogs that require more than four hours of grooming, such as English sheepdogs, dreadlocked komondors or shih tzus who need show dog cuts, each additional hour costs $40. On the other end of the spectrum, Bliss Bound Hound offers a 20 percent discount on the BlissTotal package for smaller breeds requiring less work.

Temperament

Groomers may charge additional fees if a dog has aggression issues or needs special care to ensure groomer safety.

Transportation

Prices may increase for mobile dog grooming services or if the groomer picks up the dog from a client’s house and drops it back off as part of the service.

Region

Bigger cities and areas with a higher cost of living generally have higher rates for dog grooming services.

Service packages

Most dog groomers offer a la carte care services or bundled packages that result in a lower cost per service. Bliss Bound Hound offers the following a la carte and package pricing—note that all of their prices include pickup and drop off:

• Nails: $30 a la carte or $20 when bundled with another service

• Toothbrushing: $30 a la carte or $20 when bundled with another service

• Tooth scraping (removal of plaque from teeth to prevent infection), with anesthesia: $600

• Tooth scraping, without anesthesia: $400.

• Wash and dry: $60

• Ears: $30 a la carte or $20 when bundled with another service

• BlissTotal: $130—includes wash, nails, teeth, ears, gland expression and hair cut

Frequency

Many dog groomers reward loyal customers with discounts when they purchase services regularly. A dog wash that costs $60 as an individual service might cost $55 for a monthly customer who has an ongoing appointment.