I am Darby Ryan and Action Magazine has kindly asked me to do a monthly column on pet related topics.
Choosing a groomer for your beloved pet is never an easy task. There’re many wonderful and caring groomers who groom because of their love of animals.

10 Questions To Ask Your Prospective Groomer:

1. Are you a certified groomer? 
   A groomer can claim they have whatever kind of experience. Ask for proof! There’re NO licensing requirements. There’re many impressive and knowledgeable groomers who have gone to school, apprenticed with an excellent groomer, continued their education, competed, won several awards and received their CMG (Certified Master Groomer) They should have their diplomas, certificates, and awards in full view. Although there are many good groomers without certification, you may wish yours to be certified.
   
2. What are your other services?
   Today’s groomer have a whole realm of pet products and services available. Doggie Daycare, Pick-up and Delivery, Pet Food, Spa Services, just to name a few.
   
3. Are you familiar with my breed?
   Some groomers specialize in certain breeds. Most groomers should be able to groom most breeds. The rarer the breed the harder it is to find a decent groomer. Look for a groomer who specializes in show dogs. They will have the connections to find a show breeder to teach them to groom your dog. With the designer dogs that are so popular, owners really need to find a groomer familiar with a lot of different breeds.
   
4. Do you groom other domesticated pets?
   A cat groomer, that is qualified, is hard to find. If you have rabbits or ferrets to be groomed this would be a good question to ask.
   
5. Is it okay for me to stay during the first grooming session?
    YES. If they say no—go elsewhere. I strongly suggest visible grooming areas. This way you can feel assured that your pet is being well taken care of.
   
6. Do you use tranquilizers?
   Avoid groomers who use tranquilizers. Groomers are not veterinarians. We cannot monitor heart rates or respirations. Be upfront with your groomer if your dog can be aggressive.
   
7. How many dogs do you clip in a day?
   It is manageable for one groomer to fully groom 6-8 dogs a day. Assistants will bathe, dry, do prep work, rough cuts and set patterns, so the groomer can do the finish work. This enables the salon to do 14-16 a day. Be leery of someone “squeezing you in”.
   
8. Can you hand strip or scissor?
   It takes years of practice to achieve a smooth finish on a Poodle or Bichon. Stripping the coat of terriers and spaniels is time consuming for that sharp styled precision.
    
9. Can you see their work?
   Most groomers will have pictures of the dogs they have groomed on display. If not, drop by their shop and look at some of the clipped dogs.
   
10. Are you comfortable talking to your groomer?
     The groomer schedule is very busy so keep in mind that there’re other appointments to attend to and we are on a time limit. A good groomer will take 5 minutes to answer your questions or call you after hours.

To find the “perfect groomer” takes time. Those that will do a good job and treat pets with respect are worth every penny.