
How Much To Tip Dog Groomer?
You may bathe, brush, and trim your dog’s nails at home. But some breeds require more than that. In that case, you have to take them to a professional groomer for a specialized grooming session. This most include shampooing long hair, special cut, detangling, clipping, or nail trims.
Dog groomers are professionals who are trained to groom dogs of all breeds. They know what needs to be done and how to make your pooch look good. If you want the best grooming for your furry friend, no one can do it better than a professional groomer. They are not only skilled but also have the equipment that is needed for grooming.
There’s no doubt, professional dog groomers do a great job. They fulfill your grooming demands regarding your pooch and give you the best results. To show appreciation dog owners often tip the groomer. Now the question is whether you should tip a groomer? If yes, how much should you tip? If you want answers to these questions, then give this article a read.
Should I tip my dog groomer?
We tip groomers to show our appreciation for the work they have done. Pet owners give a tip when they are happy with the results.
But is it mandatory to pay a tip? Well, the answer is no! It completely depends on you whether you want to tip the groomer or not. To be more precise, groomers don’t expect you to tip. But they surely appreciate a good tip at the end of their service. After all, who wouldn’t love some extra money, isn’t?
However, not everyone is that generous. Some people have set a budget and that is understandable. Dog grooming can be expensive depending on the services you are getting for your pet. Whether you want to tip your groomer or not is up to you. There’s no pressure as such.
How much should I tip a groomer?
Now coming to the main part, how much should you pay a dog groomer? Frankly, this is totally up to you how much you want to pay a tip. The groomer won’t ask or force you to tip them. But usually, people tip 15% – 20% for adequate service and around 20% – 25% for high-quality pet grooming.
Dog grooming services usually involves the following:
- A nice bath with shampoo
- A blow-dry
- Hair cut or trimming
- Ear cleaning
- Nail trimming
Some pet groomers also include teeth brushing, conditioning, and fixing matted hair. Besides that, you can also ask for extras like fur styling, accessories for dog hair, etc.
How Much Does Dog Grooming Cost?

Grooming services are usually pretty expensive. The cost will depend on the specific service you have availed though, with a basic pet groomer session including bathing and blow-drying for dogs or cats respectively but also offering specialized anal gland expression in addition to other standard ones like nail trimmings etcetera! A typical dog grooming costs about $30-$90 whereas our clients can expect an average human hair cut at around 15-20 bucks depending on where they go – see what’s best suited financially speaking after reading through this passage then let me know which option sounds better if any!”
The cost of dog grooming varies depending on the size and length of your pet’s coat. It also falls out with more fur, which means it takes longer to groom! The longer it is, the more expensive it becomes to groom your pup!
Other factors that add to the cost are:
Matted Hair
Brushing your dog’s hair regularly at home keeps mats from forming. If your pet has long hair, you should brush it often. By doing so, you can avoid paying extra for dealing with matted hair. The cost usually increases when there are more than two tangles.
Breed-Specific Patterns
Terriers, poodles, schnauzers, and a few other breeds have specific haircut patterns that give them a certain look. Whenever you ask for a special haircut, you are required to pay more.
Location
The cost of dog grooming also depends on where you are located. That’s because some areas are more expensive than others when it comes to dog grooming.
How often do groomers get tipped?
As per record, 70% of the clients tip their dog groomers. However, this may vary depending on the location.
Things like economic upswings or downturns also affect the tipping behaviour of pet owners. But this is completely understandable.
Groomers take tipping as an indication that they are doing a great job. It’s the best way you can show your appreciation to them. But you are certainly not bound to tip if you don’t want to.
If you cannot afford to tip, you can at least leave your honest feedback or spread the word around.
Here’s an interesting thing about tipping. You would assume wealthy clients to tip more than others. However, that’s just the opposite. In most cases, rich clients tip less, and sometimes they don’t even tip.
On the other hand, middle-class people nearly always tip. Even elderly people tip too. However, they offer only a small amount as they usually have a limited budget.
How often should you take your dog for grooming?

This is a very common question asked by owners. To put it straight, the frequency of grooming depends on your pet.
Dogs with thicker and longer coats usually require more grooming than breeds with short hair. If your pups have long hair, you should take it for grooming once a month. As far as low-maintenance pets are concerned, groom them at least once a quarter.
You don’t always have to get a full grooming session done. Sometimes, you can just for nail trims, which is more important for your pet. You shouldn’t let your dog’s nails grow too long as it makes them extremely uncomfortable. If you hear your dog’s nails clicking on the floor, you know it’s time for a trim.
Many owners trim their dog’s nails at home. However, if you are not comfortable doing it yourself or you have a difficult dog, then taking it to a groomer is the best idea.
Do you tip a self-employed dog groomer?
Whether self-employed or not, you can always tip a groomer if you want to. Even self-employed dog groomers are working hard to impress their clients. Therefore, they should be given equal appreciation as other dog groomers.
If you like their work, you can tip them. The standard tipping rate is around 15% – 20%. However, it is up to you how much you tip.
How much to tip a mobile dog groomer?
Mobile dog grooming services are usually more expensive as they include the transportation cost as well. Just like other groomers, the standard tipping rate is 15% – 20% for mobile groomers.
There are various advantages of hiring a mobile dog grooming service. Instead of you visiting a grooming parlor, the groomer comes to you and provides the services you need. This is why they charge more than other groomers.
This type of grooming service is great for elderly people and owners who don’t have time to visit a grooming parlor.
Before hiring a mobile dog grooming service make sure to check their price rates. You need to determine whether you can afford their service or not. Even though mobile groomers charge more, tipping them is considered good. It is a good way of showing your appreciation for their service.
How much to tip a dog groomer at Christmas?
If you go to the same dog groomer every time, you should consider gifting him/her a small gift or tip them 30% – 40% during the holidays. It will surely make them happy and feel appreciated.
No groomer asks you to tip them. But you should be considerate enough to tip them for their wonderful service. After all, dog grooming is not an easy task. They have to deal with different pets including the unruly ones.
What to do if you can’t afford to tip?
As already mentioned once, no one is forcing you to tip. You should tip only when you can afford it or want to.
Not all dog owners are wealthy people. Some of them are on a tight budget and paying a tip may not be on their budget list. In this case, you can do other things to show your appreciation for their service. For example, you can write them a “thank you” note.
You can also leave your honest feedback to make them feel appreciated. But the best thing would be to promote the groomer to your friends and neighbors who own dogs. Tell them about the service and help them boost their business.
You can also post a picture of your groomed dog on social media and tag the groomer. By doing so, you can promote their business and let other dog owners know about their business. Sometimes acts like this can get you a generous discount from your groomer.
When should you tip your groomer extra?
The job of a groomer is not an easy one. They have to often deal with difficult and aggressive dogs. Some groomers also go to the extent to make your pet feel comfortable. They ensure that your pooch leaves the grooming salon looking glamorous.
If any of these things happen while grooming your dog, then you should consider giving a little extra tip to the groomer:
- If your dog takes a leak while grooming.
- If your dog scratches or bites the groomer.
- If your dog has extreme matting.
- If your dog is extremely dirty.
- If your dog is overweight or very old to stand during the grooming process.
Do dog groomers rely on tips?
This is an important question that needs to be answered. According to FiveThirtyEight data, dog groomers work hard to earn minimum wage in the US. A typical working groomer receives a straight commission from each appointment, instead of hourly pay.
The total amount of money earned by groomers depends on the incoming clients. For instance, some days/weeks are busy and some are slow. This is where tipping comes in to bridge the gap.
So in a way you can say that groomers depend on tips to make their ends meet. This is especially true during a slow week. Next time, when you visit a grooming parlor be considerate enough to extend a tip. You never know how much they needed it. Also, tipping motivates them to work hard and put in the extra effort.
Why is grooming your dog important?
Now you may ask why grooming a dog is important. Well, there are plenty of reasons why grooming makes an important part of owning a dog.
Ungroomed dogs can suffer from various health issues. For instance, matting will tighten over time, and thus, leading to severe skin lesions or bruising. Not just that, but unkempt pets usually have difficulties pooping. This may cause bacterial build-up and diseases.
When you keep your dog ungroomed for a long time, it causes dirt and oil to build upon the surface of the skin. This will eventually deteriorate the overall health of your pet. In that case, you will need to take him to a vet which will leave you with a heavy bill.
Whether you can afford a tip or not is a different thing, but grooming your pet is important. If you decide to own a dog, you will need to be financially prepared to get it groomed once every month. You can ask your local groomers for discounts or low-income options at the max.
Final Words
Grooming is an important part of owning a dog. It is crucial for the overall health of your pup. It doesn’t matter how many times you bathe and trim your dog’s nail at home, sometimes they need special grooming like when their hair grow long. A groomer does an excellent job of making your pet look and smells good. If it doesn’t affect your budget too much, you should consider tipping the groomer. The tipping rate usually revolves around 15% – 20%. In case, you cannot afford to tip, you can help promote their business by telling other owners about their business.