Why Your Dog's Groom Is Priced by the Hour

Ask three dog owners what a haircut costs and you will get three different numbers, because no two dogs take the same amount of work. Dog Gone Clean Mobile Pet Salon says so on its own price list: the standard grooming package ranges from $65 - $85 an hour, and there is no set price per cut.

That can feel vague if you are used to a menu with a number next to every breed. It is actually the more honest way to charge. A fixed price per breed overcharges the easy dog or undercharges the hard one, and the groomer is tempted to rush the second to make the numbers work. Pricing by the time a dog really needs lets the groomer do the job properly.

What goes into the hour

Dog Gone Clean lists the factors that decide how long a groom takes. Each one is easy to picture once you have watched a groomer work:

• Amount of scissor work: hand scissoring a full pattern takes far longer than a simple trim.
• Brushing: a thick coat needs a thorough brush-out before anything else can happen.
• Clipping: a full-body clip is a different job than tidying the face and feet.
• Degree of matting: tangles slow every other step in the groom.
• Difficulty of cut: a breed pattern with crisp lines takes more time than a short all-over trim.
• Temperament: a wiggly or worried dog needs patience, and patience takes minutes.
• Drying time: a dense coat holds water and takes longer to dry properly.
• Length of hair: more hair means more brushing, more clipping and more drying.
• Size of pet: a bigger dog has more surface to wash, brush and dry.

How the quote works

When you call, you are given a price range over the phone. That range is based on what you describe: the breed, the size, the coat and the haircut you have in mind. Once the groomer sees your dog in person, the quote becomes firm. That is the part many owners like, because the number you settle on is based on the real dog in your driveway in Woodbridge, not a guess.

The best way to get a close range is to describe your dog the way a groomer would. 'Medium dog, curly coat, last groomed three months ago, nervous at the dryer' tells the groomer far more than a breed name alone. Anything you leave out will show up in the hour, so a complete description is a favor to yourself.

What the hourly rate covers

The standard package includes all natural shampoos, a full brushing out if required, a haircut if required, paws trimmed if required, nail trimming and ear cleaning. Packages are available for all breeds weighing up to 70 pounds. A few extras are priced separately, and each one is a small flat amount:

• Nail grinding: $17.00
• Flea treatment: $17.00
• De-shedding: $17.00
• Gland expression, as needed: $10.00
• De-skunking treatment: $25.00

Because those add-ons are flat, you can see them coming. If you only want the nails ground, that extra is $17.00, and you do not have to wonder how it will change the length of the visit.

How to keep the hour short

You cannot change your dog's size, but you can influence several of the factors above. The biggest lever is brushing between grooms. A coat that is brushed a few times a week arrives with fewer tangles, and fewer tangles mean less time spent on the slowest part of the job. Regular visits help too: a coat groomed on a steady schedule is easier to shape than one that has grown out for months.

A calm dog is also a quicker dog. Practice short handling sessions at home: touch the paws, lift the ears, run a hand along the belly, and give a treat afterward. A dog used to being handled stands still for the nails, and standing still saves minutes. Even five minutes a day, a few days a week, builds that habit.

Coat length matters as well. If you keep your dog in a shorter style between full grooms, there is simply less hair to brush, clip and dry. Talk through the style you want when you call, because the haircut you choose is one of the few factors you control completely.

Is it worth it

Judge a groom by the finished dog and by the straight answers you got along the way. Dog Gone Clean says they guarantee you will love the new look of your dog, and they invite you to call for a range before you book. The number is 203-804-6248. Ask for the range before you commit, and mention anything unusual about the coat.

Two last details. Appointments run by schedule, so a $25 cancellation fee applies when 48 hours' notice is not given. And if a neighbor's dog is also due, ask about the referral incentive programs. Between a clear range up front and a firm quote once the groomer has met your dog, the hourly model is easy to plan around.