Grooming Costs

Why is Grooming so expensive?

Owning an exotic breed.
In the context of fur and coat, ownership of contemporary popular and exotic breeds is very different to that of say, a fox-terrier or greyhound. The thicker coats of these breeds require very regular (read daily) brushing and also regular trimming or shaving to prevent discomfort and hygiene problems for the dog.
When mats form, this can be very painful for the animal and even cause behavioural problems due to constant irritation and pulling at the roots, especially if knotted underneath armpits and private parts.

YOU CAN PERFORM A SIMPLE TEST:
IF A COMB CANNOT PASS THROUGH THE FUR FROM THE HAIR ROOTS TO THE ENDS ACROSS THE ENTIRE COAT, THERE ARE KNOTS AND MATS.

So the reality is that keeping an exotic breed in a condition that you can be proud of, will require ongoing cost and effort.

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If this is not done the grooming costs will increase as the time required and complexity inflates. Bathing becomes a problem as the water does not easily penetrate the mats to the skin.
The mats also will not dry properly as the hot air can also not penetrate, so I may also have to clip the coat "wet" which means the blade will rust and dull, and then go straight to the sharpener or bin after the groom. The blades have a limited number of times they can be re-sharpened, and if small stones and twigs are stuck in the knots it usually breaks the clipper comb-teeth.
 

When the mats are really severe, I am often asked to "save" the coat, but this is mostly not salvageable and has to be clipped right down to within 1mm off the skin. This will take a lot of time as the clippers will not go through the nots easily.

The extra time taken will also impact on the wellbeing of your pup as there is a limited amount of tolerance that each dogs has for this type of stressing activity.

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In addition, for me a groom or wash is not finished when you pick up your dog, I have to dry and oil scissors and blades, clean the equipment, bath and filters between dogs to keep it hygienic, functional and safe.

Bear in mind that if you have your Vet and their nurse perform a full clip-down under general anaesthesia it will be around $350 minimum for a small dog. (And it will not be a styled cut!)

Why are large dogs so much more expensive:
Strong, large and boisterous dogs strain my body more physically, and I do fewer customers on such days. I have to even work on the ground in some of these cases which takes a toll on my posture. 

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