04/12/2026
Wow! Something to put into perspective.
Dog grooming has changed a lot over the years — and not because groomers suddenly decided to raise prices.
Back in the 1990s, the average full groom was about $40–$50.
If prices had increased just $2 per year since then (like most skilled trades), that same groom would be around $117 today for a small dog weighing 0-15 pounds.
For many years, grooming stayed underpriced while:
• supply costs increased
• insurance increased
• utilities increased
• rent increased
• groomer pay increased
• and the popularity of high-maintenance coats (like doodles) dramatically increased the time required per dog
Most full grooms require 2.5–3.5 hours of hands-on work from a trained professional.
Dog grooming is also one of the most physically demanding careers people don’t often think about.
It’s a female-dominated trade that involves:
• standing 6–8 hours per day
• repetitive wrist and shoulder strain
• lifting large dogs
• breathing hair and dander daily
• working around urine and f***s
• handling nervous or biting dogs
• and continuing to provide calm, compassionate care through it all
Many groomers develop long-term back, shoulder, and respiratory issues over time.
At Zen Dog Grooming, our small-dog haircuts currently start at $90 in 2026 which is still below what grooming would average today if pricing had followed steady increases over the last 30+ years.
We truly love what we do, and we appreciate every client who supports professional grooming and our small business.
