Pet groomers in the Netherlands

What a groomer does

• Bath and blow-dry with a shampoo that suits the coat and skin.
• Cut or clip to the length or breed style you want.
• Hand-stripping for wire-coated breeds such as terriers and schnauzers.
• De-shedding: removing dead undercoat from double-coated dogs.
• Nail trims, ear cleaning and tidying the paw pads.
• Removing tangles and mats.

How often should you go?

It depends on the coat. Curly and continuously growing coats, such as poodles and doodles, need a cut every 4 to 6 weeks. Dogs with short coats can often go 8 to 12 weeks. Our blog has rules of thumb for each coat type.

How to book a groomer on Petovia

• Search your area and choose "Grooming".
• Compare groomers by treatments, price, distance and rating.
• Choose your pet, a treatment and a time, and confirm your booking online.

What to look for

Check that the groomer has experience with your breed and coat type, and that they groom cats if you have one. A good groomer asks about sensitive areas and behaviour, works calmly and tells you afterwards how the coat and skin look.

What affects the price of a groom?

A small short-haired dog that only needs a bath is done in an hour. A large doodle with mats can take a salon half a day. That's why most groomers price by breed, coat type and treatment, and charge extra when the coat is badly matted.

• Size and weight: more dog means more work washing, drying and cutting.
• Coat type: curly, long and double coats take longer than short coats.
• Treatment: a bath and blow-dry costs less than a full cut or hand-strip.
• Coat condition: working out or clipping off mats and tangles takes extra time.
• Behaviour: a dog that's still getting used to grooming may get a longer slot with breaks.

On Petovia you can see which treatments each groomer offers and what they cost before you book, so you know where you stand.

Your first visit: getting your dog ready

Take your dog out before the appointment so they don't stand on the grooming table with a full bladder. Skip a big meal just beforehand. If you can, brush the coat in the days before, so the groomer has fewer tangles to deal with.

When you drop off, tell the groomer what you'd like: the length, whether the ears and tail should stay long, and any spots where your dog is sensitive. With a puppy, take your time the first time. Many groomers book young dogs in for a short introduction groom, so they get used to the dryer, the table and the sound of the clippers.