Adopting a dog involves a lot of responsibilities. Simply feeding your dog and giving him a shelter is not enough. You have to make regular appointments with the vet to get him vaccinated, moreover you also have to pay attention to the hygiene issue. Lack of pet hygiene may lead to various dog illnesses. Regular grooming sessions are a must to ensure that your pet stays clean and looks great. If you do not have the time to groom your dog yourself, you can approach the various dog grooming parlors where you can get your dog groomed for a charge. Prices for grooming dogs are greatly based upon the dog breed as well as the type of job you expect.

Factors Affecting Dog Grooming Prices
Dog grooming is often done by a professional dog groomer. Hence, the prices are most likely to be affected by the personal skill and expertise of the groomer. Location is another factor that influences the price of dog grooming. Prices are about 20% high in the north east states than in mid west. Prices in other states fall anywhere between these two extremes. Dog groomers in big cities charge more than those in other areas. However, high price does not always assure a good job. For instance, many groomers do a mediocre job in spite of charging a hefty fee for it. This is mostly due to the competition in bigger cities. Dog breed, length of the hair, desired style are some of the crucial determinants for grooming prices. You are likely to pay more for larger breeds or dogs with long, thick hair. If you opt for a complicated hairstyle then expect to pay even more. The job of dematting (detangling hair and removing trapped debris) is also charged separately.

What Does Dog Grooming Include
Basic dog grooming includes haircut and stripping or cutting of nails. Full dog grooming includes additional jobs like bathing the dog, ear cleaning, anal gland expression, etc. You can also get your dog bathed in flea-resistant shampoos for extra fees. One thing that you must take into account is, dog bathing does not necessarily include drying. Drying is considered as a separate job, and hence charged separately. Depending upon the mode of drying, the cost also differs. Cage blow drying is less expensive than manual drying. However, manual drying is more desirable as blow drying could overheat your dog.

Dog Grooming Price List
Full Groom with Hand Stripping

Breed Price
Westie / Wire / Fox / Cairn / Miniature $40.00 - $60.00
Schnauzer / Welsh / Lakeland Terrier $40.00 - $60.00
Norfolk / Norwich / Border Terrier / Patterdale $40.00 - $60.00
Cocker Spaniel / Airedale / Standard Schnauzer $50.00 - $70.00

Full Groom with Clipping

Breed Price
Spaniels $40 - $50
Terriers $15 - $40
Poodles $40 - $60
Other Breeds $40 - $50

Besides, if you are interested in only clipping, you are likely to be charged about 50% of the full grooming cost. The cost of clipping dog nails, is about $7 per dog. Puppy grooming comes at a low price and is about $15 for any dog breed.

How to Find Best Dog Grooming Deals
Apart from dedicated grooming shops, dog grooming services are also available at pet stores, pet spas, dog boardings, vet's office, etc. You can get the best grooming deals at a vet's office, if you happen to know him for a while. You can also ask your friends for referrals, so as to get dog grooming at discount prices. Mobile dog grooming stores are a good option for those dog owners who cannot take their pets to the grooming stores. However, these stores charge you an additional convenience charge. You can look for average grooming prices in your locality so as to find the best deals. Visit grooming parlors to check for various intangibles like cleanliness and behavior of staff towards pets, before you leave your pet at their mercy. You can also consider grooming your dog at home if you wish to save money.

Prices for grooming dogs are subject to a lot of variation as many determinants are involved. Expect to pay more if your dog requires any special services. Any health problem concerning the dog should be notified to the groomer before the service.