Is Grooming More than Aesthetics?

 If you are washing them yourself, I don't see any reason to HAVE to have a dog at the groomer.  Not for a dog with fur.  And if she has never been before, she may not see it as 'fun,' either, lol.

Dogs with hair, like poodles, bichons, etc. their hair is like ours - can mat if you don't brush it out regularly (some say daily), keeps on growing and needs to be trimmed, shaped and so forth.  I learned to do my bichons once I had 5 as it was just too expensive to take them to the professional. I invested in the professional grade equipment (clippers, dryer etc).  Took me almost a year to be able to do them well.  And I was doing 5 every 2 weeks!  So there is a reason to take dogs with hair.  Dogs with fur, not so much.

I've never taken my GSDs to the groomer and can't think of any reason I would, but I took Coke last week and will probably take him more regularly as I like what they did.  He has an insane amount of coat and I don't have the right tools to keep him groomed how I like.

 I take Tootsie because it kills my back to do it myself and they do a much better job than me. She also looks so pretty afterwords.

 Luke has been washed or had a nail trim or something at a fundraiser, but aside from that, he has never been to an actual groomer. He pretty much requires a quick going over with a brush daily, and more thorough combing once or twice a week, depending on his activities, to remove the nature from his hair and catch mats before they get big. For him, grooming wouldn't really help me very much, unless I were going to get him shaved, and I will not do that unless there is  a medical reason for it. They would have a dryer, and he does get cold when he dries. I usually turn on a space heater and let the room get warm for him, and he dries quickly.  Callie just requires the occasional once over with the brush.

It's an individual thing -- Charlie **supposedly** is a Cavalier King Chas like Jen's -- however, trust me -- there was a cocker in that woodpile somewhere (but oh my, I have papers!! *sigh*).  so yeah, he gets groomed but not often -- he almost has a hybrid coat.  He sheds a *little* but it grows and needs to be cut every few months - but she just hand-scissors him.

Luna and Tink -- I happily have them groomed once a month.  (*remember it's HOT here* in FL) -- they bathe them and than sit them in front of gonzo big dryers which BLOWS a lot of hair out of them and they love it.  Luna has black nails and Tink has tiny feets -- so I'm HAPPIER to have their nails done there (I am a certified *wuss* about doing dog nails)

But for me, like above, this is easier on my back and I love the groomer I use and she IS great with Charlie. 

Even when I had fluffy Foxy (sheltie/corgi) I never had him groomed but did him myself.  Suddenly, *grin* this is turning into a "I have them groomed because I'm a lazy old lady" thing LOL

But to be honest - I am SUCH a wuss with nails that alone makes it worth the trip for me.

 I own wash and wear dogs but I make a point to visit groomers monthly just for them to say hi and get a cookie.  I do all the grooming myself. It's a time for me to go over them with a fine tooth comb. Now my cat on the other hand.. I'm on the hunt to find a groomer to shave my cat's belly.. I value my hands to much to try it my self..

 3 double coated dogs is too expensive to take to the groomer so I do all my own grooming at home. Once in a very great while I will send one of them off to the groomer if they happened to roll in something I can't deal with and can't get the odor out. I don't think any of them have been to the groomer in over a year though.

I don't think dogs see going to the groomer as a spa day like we do. They probably don't care where they get their bath.

oranges81

I'm on the hunt to find a groomer to shave my cat's belly..

Why?

JackieG

oranges81

I'm on the hunt to find a groomer to shave my cat's belly..

Why?

oranges81

JackieG

oranges81

I'm on the hunt to find a groomer to shave my cat's belly..

Why?

She has wicked mats on her belly (came with them) and I can not touch her belly without loosing my hand. She also lays in the sink/bathtub/anywhere that has water so her belly is constantly damp. She smells yeasty and I want to make sure that there's no infection there. Plus once the mats are gone, I can (hopefully) train her to accept (or at least tolerate) my brushing her belly.

Poor kitty.  Mats can get really bad and be extremely painful so I hope you can get her some help soon. 

 Yeah.. When I can touch her belly, I can feel some pretty hard mats. I'm gonna take a chance and call my vet and see if they do cat grooming..

I've always done all my dogs' grooming.  Most of them haven't needed much other than brushing, bathing and toenails. I now have a Shih Tzu who of course requires clipping.  But even that I find quite easy to do myself.

So IMO unless you have some physical limitations, time constraints or would just prefer to not do the job yourself, there's no reason to use a groomer.  I don't think being away from home and being handled by a stranger is something most dogs find enjoyable at all.  Certainly not relaxing like a human might find a spa day.