Do dogs need to go to grooming salons? A summary of costs and benefits

Grooming is one aspect of dog grooming.

When you hear the word "grooming," you probably imagine grooming your dog to make them look nice and stylish, just like at a beauty salon. However, grooming dogs also aims to improve their coat and ensure a more comfortable life in terms of hygiene and safety.

Grooming salons are a place where your dog can enjoy a stylish look, but they also have many other benefits.

In this article, we'll explain the necessity, costs, and benefits of grooming.

What is grooming?

Grooming a dog means cutting and trimming its fur.

A groomer, a professional who grooms dogs, uses tools like scissors and clippers to remove hair, or uses their fingers or a grooming knife to pluck and trim. You can request grooming at pet shops and grooming salons.

Incidentally, in addition to trimming, there's also the term "grooming" for caring for dogs. Grooming means "grooming" in English. It includes brushing, shampooing, nail clipping, ear cleaning, shampooing, etc. At salons, trimming and grooming are often combined.

Need for trimming

As I mentioned briefly at the beginning, when you hear the word "grooming," you might think of it as something like a visit to a beauty salon, but grooming actually has a much more important meaning.

One of the main purposes of grooming is to keep your dog's body clean.

If your dog's coat becomes too long, humidity levels can increase and food particles can get stuck inside, making it easier for bacteria to grow. Therefore, leaving your dog's coat unattended can lead to skin diseases and infections.

Fur also provides a comfortable environment for pests like fleas and ticks, so even if you use pest control medications, they won't be effective if the hair is too long.

Cutting the overgrown hair through grooming improves ventilation and effectively prevents pests.

Furthermore, grooming also serves the purpose of preventing injury. A dog's paw pads act as a non-slip surface. However, if the hair is too long, it can cover the pads, reducing their ability to provide traction, which can lead to joint problems and injuries. As such, grooming also serves the purpose of preventing injury.

What is the estimated cost of grooming?

Costs vary depending on the grooming salon, but as a guide, a haircut costs approximately ¥5,000 to ¥8,000 for small dogs, ¥6,000 to ¥9,000 for medium-sized dogs, and ¥10,000 to ¥17,000 for large dogs. Prices often vary depending on the breed.

Benefits of Going to a Grooming Salon

＊Stylish Appearance＊

Even if you dress your dog up, it won't look at itself in the mirror, so this is a benefit for the owner: it adds to the enjoyment.

However, for dogs who find grooming stressful, it's not a good idea to force your dog to be groomed just for your own enjoyment. You should never put stress on your dog's mind or body.

＊Effective for Maintaining Health＊

Having your dog regularly groomed at a grooming salon is effective for maintaining its skin and overall health.

Unsanitary conditions can lead to the proliferation of not only hairballs but also tick, flea, and other parasites, as well as bacteria, making your dog more susceptible to skin problems. Therefore, it's a good idea to take your dog to the grooming salon as often as appropriate for your dog.

＊A Comfortable Life＊

During the hot summer months and periods when humidity builds up during shedding, it's a good idea to have your dog's hair trimmed at a grooming salon in addition to regular brushing. Some people cut their dog's hair extremely short in the summer, but this often has the opposite effect on protecting against the heat, so be careful.

For dogs, hair is necessary to protect their delicate skin and their body from external stimuli like sunlight. Avoid cutting it too short, as it can expose the skin to the sun and overheat your dog's body.

*Regular grooming can also lead to early detection of illness*

Grooming can also lead to early detection of illness. In addition to checking the condition of your pet's skin, careful skin observation can also help detect lumps that may develop on the skin. Furthermore, grooming can also help with early detection of parasites such as fleas and ticks, which can hide in the fur or on the skin.

＊Getting Abnormalities Noticed＊

Dogs aren't very good at communicating when they notice something unusual about their skin or body. If your dog only interacts with its owner, if you don't notice, the abnormality may go unnoticed and worsen. By regularly taking your dog to a grooming salon, you can have the third-party eye of a groomer check for any changes.

＊Safe and Secure, Reduced Stress＊

Grooming at home can make your dog feel anxious, frightened, or uncomfortable if you lack the proper knowledge and skills.

On the other hand, going to a grooming salon can be stressful, and some may argue that being groomed by a trusted owner reduces stress. Nevertheless, thanks to the skills and experience of professional groomers, grooming can be done safely. This will also reduce anxiety, fear, and stress for your dog.

Can I groom my dog ​​myself?

Taking your pet to the salon every month can be a financial burden and can be difficult to fit into your schedule.

It's okay to groom your dog at home. However, it's important to do your research beforehand. Careless trimming can injure your dog's skin or cause the scissors to get into their eyes or ears. If your dog refuses, don't force it and just trim their fur.

Grooming at home can be cost-effective. However, since some details can be difficult to maintain, it's best to have a groomer at a salon handle the grooming. If you really want to keep costs down, you can shampoo your dog at home and have the haircut and nail clipping done at a salon.

What is the ideal frequency for grooming?

It's recommended that grooming be done about once a month. Over time, hairballs will spread and the coat will become unmanageable.

The frequency of grooming should also be adjusted based on the breed and coat volume. If hair grows too long around the face, it can get in the eyes. Therefore, keeping the hair around the mouth, paws, and rear end neatly trimmed is essential for your dog's health. Once the hair has grown out to a certain length, owners can trim it.

※Don't overdo it! Grooming can actually be stressful for pets. Overdoing it can cause stress and lead to health problems, so when grooming, be sure to do it in accordance with your pet's physical condition and without overdoing it.

Summary

Just as we humans maintain our bodies, it's important for dogs to maintain their health regularly. Regular grooming is important, not only for appearance reasons, but also to maintain good health.