Pet Search is a mother-daughter run blog. Together we have over 40+ years of professional pet grooming experience and we hope to pass some of that on to our readers throughout our in-depth and non-bias reviews and buyers guides.
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This review guide was updated in February 2019.
Getting a dog is comparable to having a child.
You will need to feed and care for it to ensure that it remains healthy throughout its life. You will also need to groom your dog.
If you are a busy bee and have no time to look after the latter needs of your pooch, the most practical thing to do is bring it to a trustworthy pet salon that offers such services.
The most frequent question from first-time owners, however, is, “Do you tip dog groomers?”
Now we’re slightly biased here, both my Mom and I who work on Pet Search are professional dog groomers. So for this article we enlisted the help of a close friend (who may also be slightly biased) who will take over from here:
Yep, I do, but it isn’t the same case for all. To be real with you, it is a question that doesn’t even need to be asked because these people tidy up your animal way better than anyone else can.
They do something nice for the pet, so you have to at least display your appreciation by giving them a few extra bucks when you pick up the pooch.Why should you tip dog groomers?The professionals who preen your dog are most likely employees of a grooming salon.
It means that you may pay 40 dollars or more at the counter, yet only a portion of it will go into their pockets. This does not seem enough, especially if you have an overexcited dog that won’t cooperate during the entire process, right?
You cannot change the rates they have agreed on with the business owner, but you can hand them a commission if you like what these pros have done for your beloved dog.
When do you tip pet groomers?
Some pet owners may do it during special holidays, while others offer monetary incentives to their dog groomer whenever they go to the shop.
Nevertheless, many circumstances come to mind in which you may be seen as insensitive or ungrateful if you refuse to give them tips.
Find these situations below:
- The pet cannot walk or stand – It is a likely scenario when your dog hasgone over the average weight or is too old to move.A veteran groomer will never ask you to take it to another place, of course, but know that grooming these kinds of animals can be physically challenging.Imagine, if you already have a hard time getting your dog to the salon, the work can be more difficult to the attendee once the pooch goes through the cleaning procedure.It probably won’t be a one-man job either, so you could always be generous enough to tip both the groomer and the helper.
- The dog injured the professional – An animal that is not used to being groomed by a stranger can sometimes show erratic behavior and may cause injury to the person tending to it.This can be as small as a scratch or as scary as a bite. You cannot argue that the groomer will be fine since your pet gets regular vaccinations; the fact remains that the wound may affect the number of clients they can accept while the wound is still fresh.In this case, as well, it’s common to stop the grooming and return your payment, so the groomer ends up with an injury and zero commission – a double negative.Hence, as the owner of the pooch, you should take the initiative to tip this individual.
- The animal has fecal problems – If you brought your dog to the salon when it has loose bowel movement or because some fecal matter got stuck on its paws or other body parts that you can’t remove, you truly should give the groomer additional compensation.Although it is among the things that an expert in the field does, it’s still a dirty part of the job, literally speaking.Your groomer will never ask for a tip but remember that they have just taken care of important work that you may be irked to do.For that reason alone, a small tip is a nice gesture.
- The pooch comes out tangle-free – There is probably nothing better than combing your fingers through your dog’s thick fur and not having them trapped in one matted mess.The hairs are bound to get snarled in case you allow it to roam without restriction in the backyard or a park, and dirt and various debris can clump together to create a thick layer of mat.Some situations call for completely shaving off the fur, but in other scenarios, they can merely undergo a dematting process and perhaps a beautiful trim.Whichever you choose for your pet you ought to reward the groomer if they do a great job.
- The dog has not been traumatized – It is typical for animals to feel nervous when they enter a shop and notice that it isn’t their master sprucing them up.A pooch, in particular, can become uneasy in this circumstance, so it takes a real expert to calm them down.If you pick up your pet and it seems like it did not receive the pampering you paid for, don’t leave a tip and instead look for different groomers in the future. But if you notice how energetic and good your pooch looks and smells, then that groomer should earn a tip, don’t you think?
How much to tip dog groomers?
How much is a reasonable amount to give to a dog groomer, you may ask?
It all depends on the grooming that has been carried out.
Typical tasks include bathing, combing, drying, and cutting nails but will differ depending on the service you have requested and the needs of your pet on that particular visit.
It is advised you tip anywhere from 15% to 20% of the actual rate for the service like you would at your favorite restaurant.
In Conclusion
Do you tip dog groomers?
If you do, then kudos to you. If you don’t, perhaps you should begin considering it now, and we hope this article has helped to explain why.