If you love your fur babies just as much as we do, you will not only want them to leave the groomer feeling clean, but you will also want them to feel relaxed and pampered, just as you would after a much-needed spa day.

If you plan on pampering your pup with a trip to the dog groomer, you might wonder how long everything will take. We’ve got you covered with all your dog grooming questions here. Let’s talk about how long dog grooming takes so that you can perfectly time your pet’s pampering.

What is Dog Grooming?

Dog grooming is the practice of keeping our furry friends hygienic and healthy. Normally, this means bathing, brushing the fur, trimming their coat, clipping their nails, and anything else that helps them look and feel squeaky clean. 

Brush the Fur Out

With most dogs, brushing their fur out is typically the first step for their grooming. Although your gut instinct might be to bathe your dog first, brushing actually helps prepare your dog’s fur for the bath.

Brushing will do the heavy lifting in getting any chunks of loose fur or other debris out of their coat so that the bath can take care of the smaller stuff. Another great reason that dogs are brushed before their bath is to remove any tangled or matted down fur, which can be much more difficult to brush out when wet.

Related: How to Relieve Dog Itching After Grooming: Effective Solutions

Bath Time

When you take a pup to the pet groomers, they will have the best tools at hand for the job, and that includes specialized shampoos formulated just for dogs. This means that if your dog is experiencing issues with allergies, sensitive skin, or other doggy dermatology issues, the dog groomer can discuss and help you pick the perfect solution for your pup.

If your dog is suffering from fleas, ticks, or other pests, the groomer will have the right tools to safely and effectively get rid of them. 

Related Link: 4 Reasons Why Your Dog May Have Bad Odor

Just a Little Off the Top, Please!

After the dog is completely clean and bathed, the coat can be trimmed if needed. This helps to remove fur and skin cells that are damaged or dead, which will help to mitigate any skin issues in the future, such as matted hair or tangles.

Nail Trimming

One of the most important steps of your dog’s grooming routine is getting their nails trimmed. If you are anything like us, coming home from a long day of work and having your dog jump into your arms is one of our favorite moments of the day. However, if your dog has long nails, their deep affection might end up giving you some pretty deep scratches.

The dog groomer will trim and grind the nails down so that they do not damage your skin when you are cuddling with your dog or even scratch up your favorite couch. Keeping their nails maintained is not only for the comfort of you and your furniture but keep in mind that it is essential to keeping your dog’s paws and nails safe from paw injury or cracked nails.

Keep your dogs smelling fresh between baths by destroying the odor at the source by using our Deodorizer Spray

How Long Does it All Take?

Most dog groomers will be able to finish with most dogs in about two hours of grooming. However, there are a few factors that can affect the length of time it takes for your dog to get a professional grooming service.

Dog Breed

One of the biggest factors that determines how long a trip to the groomer will take is the breed of your dog. If you have a breed that has long hair, like the Afghan Hound, you can expect close to four hours before they are done due to their size and the amount of time it takes to brush all their beautiful hair. 

On the other hand, the American Pit Bull Terrier has a short coat that is resilient to dust and dirt. These dogs require very minimal brushing and a quick bath to get them clean so that they can be out in less than two hours on many occasions.

If you have a dog with long hair, this Detangler Spray is vital to keeping their coat looking its best.

Temperament

Even with the most experienced dog groomers, a dog that is anxious and full of fear can be incredibly difficult to handle. This can add an extra hour of time for grooming since dogs that are this nervous can bite, and the extra time is needed to familiarize them with the groomer and the tools of their trade, such as a loud hair dryer.

If your dog is skittish or if this is their first time going to the groomer, it is completely natural for them to be anxious. Not only are they being separated from you, their protector, but they are also going to be handled by people who might be strangers to them. 

You can prepare them to see the dog groomer by using aromatherapy to help create a calming environment for them. Our Calming Anxiety Oil is a must-have for anxious dogs going to the groomer.

Related: Critical Signs of Stress in Dogs: A Comprehensive Guide

Final Thoughts

Our furry babies deserve to be pampered and given some tender loving care, just as much as we humans do. Knowing how long you should plan to be away from your dog can go a long way in helping you plan a grooming day that will leave them in doggy bliss. Most dogs will take around two hours, but plan for up to four hours for large dogs.