The Importance of Training

Today’s post is an important one but it will branch away from grooming just a little bit. While we are a grooming salon, both Stacey and I have worked in other aspects of the pet care industry. We have seen how these different aspects affect a dog in the grooming salon so every now and again, we will drift ever so slightly away from purely grooming to other topics related to pets.
Today I would like to talk a little bit about training. Not grooming training but training in general. There have been many, many movies in the last few years starring gorgeous and well trained dogs. Lady and the Tramp, Togo, Max, A Dog’s Purpose, A Dog’s Way Home, and Alpha are just a few recent titles. There is no question that we love our dogs in all aspects of our lives, including our entertainment! So much so that there is even a website called “Does The Dog Die?” which allows you to see if any animals are harmed in the plot of a movie in case you tend to get super upset about those things! We are also very fortunate to live near Purina Farms where you can go watch all manner of dog events from breed specific shows to agility trials to herding trials and even the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge!


When we watch these highly trained canine actors and athletes, it is only natural to think, “Wow! I want my dog to be just like that!” I, myself, have long dreamed about having a dog or dogs capable of doing agility, dock diving, barn hunt, bikejoring, carting, and even antler hunting. Watching these dogs then looking at the dogs we share our homes with, it is also very common to think, “Well. You will never be like that,” as Rex runs across the living room with yet another one of your hiking boots or yesterday’s mail!

The good news is that while Rex might never live up to the image of Diesel, the dog who played Togo in Disney’s recent movie of the same name, it is entirely possible for Rex to still be a very well rounded dog! Even Diesel had to start somewhere. It all starts with basic obedience training!


As a former trainer, I can tell you that basic obedience is far more than Sit and Stay. Yes, your dog will learn basic skills like leash walking, sit, stay, come, drop it, and leave it in most classes but this learning is having a far greater affect on your dog than you might realize. These skills seem so easy to us but they are giving your dog a huge confidence boost! Most dogs love to make their people happy. When you have that “Ah ha!” moment and your dog sits on cue, you are excited and happy which in turn makes your dog happy! You are happy because suddenly your dog is paying attention to you and doing what you ask! What happens when you are happy with your dog? You interact with them more! Maybe before classes you were afraid to take them for a walk beyond your own neighborhood. Maybe you were too worried about their lack of attention to you to take them on a hike. The thought of going someplace like Buchheit, Lowes, or Home Depot (all of which are dog friendly!) was just terrifying! Now YOU also have the confidence to take your dog out into public, exposing them to a bigger world and thus making them more confident individuals.


If you can, it is always worth going beyond Level One classes. Most trainers will start with the bare basic necessities like the sit, stay, and come which are skills every dog needs in their every day lives to keep them safe. Beyond that, they might offer workshops on advanced leash walking techniques. There might be a Level Two class where you start learning to add distance to cues. Progressing to a Level Three is usually a prep class for a Canine Good Citizen test. This test is offered through the AKC. Passing the test means your dog is a well rounded canine citizen who is reliable in a variety of situations. They can then progress to passing the advanced levels, Community Canine and Urban Canine Good Citizen. Is it necessary to take your dog’s training to this level? No. Is it fun and rewarding to see your psycho little nut of a puppy train through all the levels and turn into a well rounded adult dog? Yes!

So what connection does basic obedience have with grooming? Why is this a subject we feel is important? It isn’t just because training still has a huge spot in my heart! It isn’t because my poor, long suffering Shaak Ti ends up trying thing after thing after thing because I want to. (Don’t worry. She loves trying and learning new things! Except Barn Hunt. Rats are apparently scary. She didn’t like that. She is never pushed into anything she doesn’t want to do!) Training and trying new things helps your dog gain confidence. Nervous dogs blossom. Shy dogs start to come out of their shells. Over the top energetic dogs learn self control. Uninterested dogs suddenly start paying attention. On the grooming table, a dog who has had training will be more likely to understand that something is expected of him and he needs to be patient while he figures out the process instead of freaking out and jumping around. A dog who has had training is more likely to calmly accept something different. They tend to adopt a curious yet Been There, Done That type of attitude. Does it mean that every Canine Good Citizen will automatically love and accept every part of the grooming process? No! Shaak Ti still hates having her feet messed with as a result of both just not caring for it and a painful foot injury. However, instead of struggling to get away, she whines a bit, maybe pulls the foot that got injured away a bit, but accepts that it will happen and be over soon.


Age doesn’t matter either. At the age of 7 years old, Shaak Ti is now learning to pull a wagon. She has also learned to run with a Kickbike scooter recently and will soon learn to run ahead and pull it (hopefully). If you got a puppy for Christmas, now is the prime time to start that basic training. If you adopted an older puppy or dog recently, even if they seem to know their basics already, that class will help you form a strong and lasting bond. There are even classes to teach tricks. Classes for competing in Rally Obedience. Classes for Dock Diving, Agility, and more. Training doesn’t have to just be sit and stay! Get out there with your dogs! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain even if you just stick with the basics!

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!