HOW TO HIRE · PETS

How to hire a dog groomer in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

Dog grooming is unlicensed, so skill varies. Here is what to ask and what a groom should include.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a dog groomer in five steps

  1. Describe the coatBreed, coat type, last groom, any matting.
  2. Agree the stylePhotos help: length, face, feet, ears.
  3. Ask about dryingHand drying or supervised cage drying — never unattended heat.
  4. Share health notesSkin issues, age, nerves, anything sore.
  5. Check at collectionEven finish, nails, ears, skin unbroken.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

Anyone may trade as a dog groomer: England's 2018 Regulations list the licensed animal businesses and grooming is not among them, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have no grooming licence either. Welfare law still applies while your pet is with them.

Ask to see the salon or van and how pets are restrained and dried. legislation.gov.uk →

Welfare while being groomed

While your dog is in their care, the dog groomer is legally responsible for it: the Animal Welfare Act 2006 counts a temporary carer as responsible (section 3) and makes it an offence not to meet an animal's needs (section 9) in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have matching duties in their own Acts.

Ask what they do if your dog stops eating or seems unwell. legislation.gov.uk →

Insurance

No law requires insurance for a dog groomer. The usual cover is public liability plus care, custody and control of the animals; ask whether vet bills for your dog are covered while it is with them.

Ask for the insurer's name and the policy dates.

VAT

Dog grooming is standard-rated, so 20% VAT applies to the bath, the clip, the hand strip and the extras. Over the £90,000 registration threshold a trader has to charge VAT and show it separately, next to its VAT number.

Ask for the salon's VAT number, and whether the groom price for your dog's size includes the 20%. gov.uk →

“Have you groomed my breed of dog before?”

A good answer: Experience with the coat — doodle, terrier, double coat.

“How will the groomer dry my dog?”

A good answer: Hand drying, or cage drying only with the dog watched.

“What if my dog's coat is matted?”

A good answer: An honest view: dematting can hurt; a short clip may be kinder.

“Does the groomer hand strip wire coats?”

A good answer: For wire coats, if wanted, priced separately.

“How long will my dog be at the grooming salon?”

A good answer: A realistic time.

“Is the dog groomer insured?”

A good answer: Yes, with care of animals covered.

“What will the groomer do if my dog is stressed?”

A good answer: Stop, call you, finish another day.

Getting the quote right

  • Who actually attends to your dog — the groomer you spoke to, or another in the salon, employed or subcontracted
  • The groom: bath, clip, trim, hand strip
  • Size and coat surcharge
  • Dematting charge, if any
  • Nails, ears and extras
  • The VAT number, with VAT on the groom as a separate line

Walk away if

  • Dogs left in heated drying cages unwatched
  • Dematting forced on a distressed dog
  • No questions about health
  • Cuts or clipper burn unexplained
LOW
£20
TYPICAL
£43
HIGH
£80

What a dog groomer costs: £20–£80 per groom

Dog grooming is priced per groom, by size, coat type and condition, with hand stripping, dematting and extras added on. Dog Grooming price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Dog groomers near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. ConsultationCoat checked and style agreed.
  2. Brush and bathCoat brushed out and washed with suitable shampoo.
  3. DryHand or supervised drying.
  4. Clip or trimStyled as agreed.
  5. FinishNails, ears and a final check with you.

Hand stripping
Plucking dead hair from wire coats.
Dematting
Removing tangled mats.
Clipper burn
Skin irritation from clippers.
Double coat
A dense undercoat under longer guard hairs.
Puppy cut
An even, short, low-maintenance clip.
Cage drying
Drying in a crate with a dryer — must be supervised.

AFTER

When the job is done

Check the skinLook for nicks, redness or clipper rash in the first day.
Watch your dogScratching or licking a spot needs a call to the groomer.
Book the next groomRegular grooms prevent matting.
Write the reviewSomething wrong? Use make-it-right first and give the groomer a fair chance to sort it before you review.

STEP 1Tell the groomer, in writingSay what happened during the groom and what you want. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires the service to be carried out with reasonable care and skill.
STEP 2Let Locufy follow it upRate the dog groomer under four stars and Locufy asks if you want the groomer to have the chance to fix it before the review is published; we follow it through.
STEP 3Consumer helpline and Trading StandardsNo regulator oversees a dog groomer, so the route for a dispute is the consumer helpline, which can pass a complaint to Trading Standards: Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 in England and Wales, Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060, and Consumerline on 0300 123 6262 in Northern Ireland.
STEP 4Money still in disputeA claim over a dog groomer can go to the small claims track in the county court up to £10,000 in England and Wales, to simple procedure in the sheriff court up to £5,000 in Scotland, or to the small claims court up to £5,000 in Northern Ireland — no solicitor needed.

Hiring a dog groomer: questions people ask

No. Grooming is not a licensed activity in any UK nation.

Yes, while in charge; welfare law requires the dog's needs to be met, including protection from injury.

A receipt; some groomers keep a record card of your dog's grooms.

Usually £20–£80 per groom, with £43 as a typical figure. See the dog grooming price guide for what pushes a price up or down, and search above for dog groomers in your area.

Depends on the coat; many clipped breeds need a groom every six to eight weeks.

See your vet and tell the groomer in writing; the Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires reasonable care and skill.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in pets

How to hire: Mobile Dog GroomingHow to hire: Pet BathingHow to hire: Nail ClippingHow to hire: Cat GroomingHow to hire: Dog WalkingHow to hire: Doggy Day CareHow to hire: Dog TrainingHow to hire: Pet TaxiAll 701 hiring guides →

Dog groomers near you

Dog groomers in LondonDog groomers in ManchesterDog groomers in BirminghamDog groomers in GlasgowDog groomers in BelfastAll dog groomers on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, schedule 1
  2. Animal Welfare Act 2006, section 3 — responsibility for animals
  3. Animal Welfare Act 2006, section 9 — duty to ensure welfare
  4. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  5. gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
  6. mygov.scot — make a court claim for money
  7. nidirect — small claims process
  8. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  9. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register