How to choose a groomer for your dog

Regular grooming is a key component of responsible pet care, contributing to an animal’s health, comfort, and overall welfare. It can also strengthen trust between pets and their owners and help pets become accustomed to being handled. Many owners will be comfortable to groom their pets at home, but there may be times when professional help, or even a visit to the vet, may be necessary.

While all groomers must comply with the Code of Welfare for Temporary Housing of Companion Animals and the relevant species-specific Codes of Welfare and animal welfare regulations, there are currently no specific rules or requirements for routine animal welfare inspections of grooming facilities. It is therefore a good idea to do some homework before deciding on a groomer to ensure your pet will be safe, comfortable, and well looked after.

For pets with simple maintenance needs, like short coats, grooming by the owner at home may be all that is required. However, for long-haired or non-shedding breeds or animals prone to mats, professional grooming can be essential to prevent discomfort and health problems. You may also want to seek professional help if you do not feel confident managing your pet’s coat or trimming their nails yourself.

A visit to the groomer may be a good idea if your dog’s coat needs to be shaved closer than preferred to safely remove extensive matting and prevent pain or skin injury. Sometimes, a trip to the vet is necessary, as animals with severe matting may need to be groomed under sedation to prevent pain and stress.

Dogs not used to being groomed or with a timid disposition may find it very uncomfortable being restrained, touched by unfamiliar people, and exposed to noisy equipment.

It is a good idea to do a dog handling assessment and any relevant training before a visit to the groomer, so your dog (and the groomer) can have a good grooming experience.

To start, ask your local vet clinic, family, and friends for recommendations and check online reviews to see what other people have to say about their experience.

Make sure to watch out for red flags. Certain services should only be provided by a vet when medically necessary.

Some groomers may offer anaesthesia-free dentistry services, such as dental scaling. However, appropriate dental care requires comprehensive examination, diagnosis, and treatment, which cannot be performed whilst the animal is conscious. Anaesthesia-free dentistry services compromise the welfare of the animals treated and endanger operators.

Ear plucking (removing hair from inside the ear canal) is sometimes offered, particularly for certain breeds. However, routine plucking of healthy ears is not generally recommended. Removing hair from the ear canal can cause irritation, inflammation, and increase the risk of infection, especially if done unnecessarily or roughly. Ear hair should only be removed if there is a clear clinical reason, and ideally under veterinary guidance.

In healthy dogs, anal glands empty naturally during normal defecation. Routine expression “just because” is generally not recommended unless the dog has a diagnosed medical reason. Improper or frequent expression can cause inflammation or trauma, increase the risk of infection, or lead to chronic irritation. If a dog shows pain, scooting, bleeding, swelling, discharge, or repeated issues, a vet should be consulted to investigate underlying causes.

Qualifications

When choosing a groomer for your pet, you might want to see their qualifications or certifications and ask whether they belong to an industry body, such as the National Dog Groomers Association of New Zealand (NDGANZ). Formal qualifications are quite new to the New Zealand industry, so don’t discount a groomer with years of experience and happy customers. However, it is reassuring if the groomer holds a relevant qualification and has good knowledge of animal handling, behaviour, and welfare, salon and equipment hygiene, and relevant legislation, as well as technical grooming skills. It also gives peace of mind if the groomer has a pet first aid certificate.

The NZ Certificate in Animal Management – Pet Grooming (NZCAM-PG) was the only formal qualification in NZ but is no longer available. However, aspects of grooming may be covered in animal care courses available at various tertiary institutions. New Zealand also has a NZ Certified Master Groomer (NZCMG) certification that covers dogs, but it focuses solely on breed-specific grooming skills. Groomers may also hold international Masters’ certifications that are species specific for dogs, as well as cats and rabbits.

Using handling techniques which minimise fear, anxiety, and stress is important for pet welfare.

Low Stress Handling® and Fear Free® Groomer certifications are therefore highly desirable when dealing with animals and are important to look for.

Some grooming salons host students. If you prefer not to have students working on your pet, check whether the business has a policy on student groomers.

Facilities

Visiting the grooming facility allows dog owners to observe how staff work with the animals. Some things to look for or to ask include:

• Are there two sets of doors or barriers between the grooming area and any external doors to reduce the likelihood of animals escaping?
• Does the facility look and smell clean? Is it noisy? What is the temperature like?
• Are surfaces, including the grooming table, non-slip and easily disinfected?
• Does the layout prevent unfamiliar animals meeting, reducing potentially unpleasant or aggressive interactions?
• How are the animals contained safely whilst not on the grooming table? If applicable, are cats and rabbits in a separate room to dogs?
• Are there desirable items to help make a visit more enjoyable/less stressful such as different treat types, licki mats, pheromone plug-ins or sprays.

It is a good idea to ask about an emergency evacuation plan, and what would happen if an animal escaped. Being prepared can make all the difference.

Health

Part of keeping your dog safe is ensuring they are protected from infectious diseases. Only use a groomer that requires proof of up-to-date vaccinations for core infectious diseases, and check that they have robust cleaning procedures, including disinfecting grooming tables, equipment, water bowls, and containment areas.

Ask the staff whether they do health checks prior to animals being dropped off – if an animal is showing signs of an infectious disease or other significant health concern, are they turned away and referred to a vet? Check if the facility has appropriate isolation facilities and procedures in place should an become sick or injured in their care. It is also important for the facility to have a formal relationship with a nearby veterinary clinic and that they have adequate first aid supplies on hand.

Another question to ask is whether they have professional indemnity insurance.

Fear-free handling & supervision

To ensure your dog has a positive experience, a groomer who uses low stress, force- and fear-free handling methods is recommended. A groomer must also be able to recognise signs of fear, anxiety, or stress in an animal and know how to react appropriately in these situations. Ask the business if they have a written animal welfare policy which includes recommended handling approaches, such as cooperative care.

Supervision is also important. Animals contained in other rooms should be physically checked at least every half hour and there should be records of this occurring. Video surveillance is a great tool for remote monitoring of animals. It is also useful for monitoring the grooming room, allowing review of footage when something unexpected occurs, supporting learning, process improvement, staff training, and safeguarding the animals, clients, groomer, and the business.

By taking the time to better understand what a particular grooming business values and how they care for the animals, you can help ensure that your pet is treated well and kept safe. This sets them up for success for positive future grooming experiences.

SPCA Certified does not presently have grooming-specific standards, however we are committed to improve animal welfare in the pet-care industry and support Fear Free® and Low Stress Handling® education for all groomers.

For a checklist to use during your visits email certified@spca.nz.