Grooming and Oranges? Our Pricing Explained.

Without question, the most common inquiry any dog groomer gets is "How much does it cost to groom my dog?"

Without question, that is also one of the hardest questions to answer! It is very often followed up with "Wow that is expensive! Why does it cost so much?" Since we are all about being 100% open and honest here at TLC Pet Services, we are going to explain why we charge what we charge and why it is also extremely hard to give a flat rate for all dogs.

So how much does it cost to groom my dog? And why can't we give an exact price? Think of dog grooming like buying produce. Most items have a base price of a few dollars a pound. How much you end up paying highly depends on how much you buy. Six oranges could cost you $3.00 or $8.00 depending on the type, size, quality, and brand. Time of the year and over all availability is a big factor as well. It is almost impossible to say "Six oranges will cost $4.50 every single day" unless you are buying a bagged product. But you also get what you pay for. Are those six oranges in the $4.50 bag the same quality as the six you picked yourself and paid $8 for? One size fits all pricing doesn't work for produce and it doesn't really work for dog grooming either! 

We'll use Shaak Ti the Wonder Noodle (above) as an example. Shaak Ti is affectionately known as a Mississippi Mutt or a Black Mystery Dog. Her mix is completely unknown. She bounces between 45 and 50 pounds. She has medium length hair but also has long feathering on her legs and hind end. And we can't forget about her glorious tail! How much it costs to groom her depends on several factors. Do you want just a bath and a brush out? Do you want a deshedding treatment (which we highly recommend for all double coated breeds!)? Do you want a light trim, a heavy trim, or do you want her cut short or even shaved (which we do NOT recommend for all double coated breeds!)? What is her temperament like? Does she fidget in the tub? Dance on the table? Fight going into the kennel? Freak out for a nail trim? Is she an angel or are those devil horns there for a reason? Is she well brushed at home or does she have tangles in her tail? Matts in her pants? Do we need to do any comfort shaving?

With all these factors, it is no surprise that we can't give you a flat price! So we typically will give an estimated range based upon the service you pick. Basic bath? Probably $40-60. Deshed? $50-70. Light trim? $45-65. Heavy trim/all over cut? $60-80. If you aren't sure, we are likely to quote you anywhere from $40-80.

Wow. That does look like a lot of money! We realize that it does. Even the base price of $40 to bathe Noodle might seem like a lot. But what does that $40 get you? That $40 bath includes our Tropiclean Spa or Extra Mild Espree shampoos, a matching conditioner, a blow dry, brush out, ear cleaning, sanitary shave (if needed), paw pad shave (if needed), toe hair trim (if needed), nail grinding (if tolerated), and a cologne to make sure Noodle smells her best! Now that base price of $40 might go up a little depending on how she behaves or what the condition of her coat is. If she is naughty or hard to handle, there might be fees. Any matting can incur additional fees. So your $40 base price might end up being $50. The high end of $60 is for upgraded products. Along with our Tropiclean Spa line, we also carry Espree Rainforest, a deep conditioning, more natural, aloe based shampoo. Not only does it smell wonderful, longer haired dogs' coats stay fluffy and bouncy longer! Shorter dogs stay shiny! We also have a specialty treatment shampoo made by EPI. This is wonderful for dogs who might have an extra doggy odor to them or for those with itchy, dry skin. EPI isn't quite a miracle cure, but it is pretty close! These two options do cost a bit more simply due to the fact that they cost us a bit more. But I can assure you that they are worth it! 

Some other salons will charge you extra for the grinding of your dog's nails and the conditioning of their coat. We have done a great deal of, and will continue to do a great deal of, further education. We recently learned that every single dog benefits from a conditioner. It helps their skin stay healthy, prevents dryness, and can even help with the shedding issues! Nail grinding is not only gets their nails as short as possible, it can actually help encourage long quicks to shorten over time when done on a regular schedule! Shaak Ti's base price at another salon might be only $35 but if I want her coat conditioned and her nails ground, I will be charged $18 to $33 more depending on the package I chose! That gives us a total of up to $67 with good behavior, more if she decides to be naughty!

It really is a matter of apples to oranges. Not every dog of the same breed will end up paying the same price. One yorkie might be a perfect angel for an all over hair cut and pay only $45 while another is a demon and pays $55. A fit, properly sized beagle might be only $30 for a bath and brush while one that is 10 pounds over weight might pay $40. There are so many factors! If you have concerns about prices, talk to us. Be as specific as you possibly can be when telling us what you want done. Be honest about your dog's condition, size, health, and behavior. We won't judge you if you tell us your dog is 10 pounds over weight, has matting, and has hated every other groomer out there! We will listen, talk to you about what we will probably need to do, and give you a more accurate estimate.

As always, we are an open book! We aren't out to get rich by grooming dogs. We are out here to provide a top of the line service designed to make your pet feel happy, be healthy, and most of all be beautiful!