Choosing the right dog groomer is essential for your pet’s health and happiness. A trustworthy groomer with experience makes all the difference – they’ll have a better understanding of how to handle different temperaments and levels of anxiety. Dog grooming, bathing and drying can be a scary experience for dogs if they aren’t completely comfortable with the groomer, so this is paramount.
Experience ensures your pet looks great and feels at ease during its grooming session. We’ve compiled a list of the best dog grooming salons in Canberra by Google rating so you can choose one that suits your needs and budget.
Adore Pet Grooming, Fyshwick
Adore Pet Grooming in Fyshwick offers essential grooming services, including washes, haircuts, nail trimming, and ear cleaning. They focus on using high-quality products to ensure pets are comfortable and well-cared for. Aside from just regular grooms, they also offer more specific services like de-shedding, teeth scaling, flea treatments, and nail grinding.
One thing that really appeals to me about Adore Pet Grooming is its commitment to creating a stress-free environment during dog grooming services and practising gentle handling with anxious dogs. My dog has anxiety surrounding grooming – he starts shaking in his boots the moment he hears clippers – so knowing the groomers are experienced and will practice patience is important to me.
They have an average rating on Google of 4.8 stars. Here’s one of their Google reviews:
‘Took my 3 Westies to Adore today and hands down they look the best they have in years, after trying many Canberra groomers. Lovely place, lovely owner and my dogs came home calm and happy compared to stressed and anxious at other places. We’ll be back!’
Website: https://adorepet.com.au/
Price: $129 for a full groom on a medium-sized dog.
Scooby And Friends Dog Grooming, Lyneham
Scooby & Friends Dog Grooming is a grooming salon specially designed for small to medium-sized dogs. The salon is in the Canberra Vet Hospital and is managed by a team of skilled and enthusiastic individuals who provide a whole range of services to keep your pooch looking and smelling great. The team is run by Sarah Russo, who has over 9 years of experience.
A full groom at Scooby And Friends includes everything from full clips and styling, baths with shampoo and conditioning, facial cleanse and massage, blow dry, brushing and combing, to nail clipping, followed by a cologne spritz. Additional services offered include de-shedding treatments for long-haired dogs, sensitive and medicated shampooing, flea treatment, and more specialised care like full paw shaving.
Aside from grooming services, Scooby & Friends Dog Grooming also supports various rescue dog groups and sanctuaries in Canberra, such as Greyhound Rescue and Little Oak Sanctuary. If you’re interested in making a positive impact on the lives of animals by adopting, fostering, volunteering, or donating, be sure to visit Scooby & Friends the next time your furry friend needs a little pampering.
They have an average rating on Google of 4.7 stars. Here’s one of their Google reviews:
‘I can’t recommend Scooby & Friends highly enough. We have 3 gorgeous greyhounds who adore Sarah and love their trips to the salon. One of our girls is particularly shy and cautious of humans and Sarah has worked very hard in building up her confidence. It’s amazing to see how far she’s come, she will even jump on the grooming table herself, it must be love! The girls come home looking great and smelling beautiful with a cute ribbon to boot.’
Website: https://www.scoobyandfriendsdoggrooming.com.au/
Price: A full groom is $150 for a medium-sized dog.
WOOOF Dog Grooming, Manuka
WOOOF Dog Grooming, based in Manuka, Canberra, focuses on providing grooming services that emphasize coat, skin, and muscular health for dogs. They utilize natural, pH-balanced grooming products that are 100% vegan and free from synthetic perfumes, chemicals, or palm oils, aiming to avoid harm to dogs or the environment. Their range of grooming services includes options for dogs of all breeds and coat types, from basic washes to full grooming sessions, with specific treatments for anxious pets, like a free Meet & Greet to familiarize dogs with the salon environment.
If you want your dog to be truly pampered, they offer doggy spa treatments with a warm, temperature-controlled bath infused with botanicals and therapy-grade essential oils. They start the treatment with a mud or activated charcoal exfoliant to remove surface dirt and dead skin cells, followed by a double wash and conditioning treatment. The ozone-enriched bubbles of the hydrospa then gently massage the coat and skin to help oxidise bacteria, mould and yeast spores, leaving the coat fresh and with a natural shine. They finish it off with a soft towel dry, blow dry and gentle Dyson Supersonic hand dry on the face area. I’m tempted to go get the treatment myself.
They also provide breed-specific grooming, which I love! My cocker spaniel never looked so good. They put dogs in their shop window when the groom is over, and I loved seeing people admiring my transformed dog wagging his tail in the window when I came to pick him up. Here’s what he looked like after his groom:
They have an average rating on Google of 4.4 stars. Here’s one of their Google reviews:
‘I was super stressed about getting my dog groomed for the first time, especially as she had gotten incredibly matted in the weeks leading up to the appointment. I was super pleased with the end result, they did such a great job with a difficult situation. The team also gave me some advice and showed me how to groom/maintain the dog’s coat in the future. I really appreciated all of their help!’
Website: https://www.wooof.com.au/
Price: A full groom is $168 for a medium-sized dog.
The Dog Barber, Amaroo
The Dog Barber in Amaroo, Canberra, is a family-owned grooming service run by life partners Josh and Dee, who share a deep passion for animals. Established in 2016, they bring a personal touch to their grooming services, operating out of their home-based dog grooming salon. They focus on a calm and assertive approach, ensuring each dog receives individualised care. Their services cater to all dogs, regardless of size or breed, with the aim of sending dogs home looking and feeling great every time.
Their grooming services range from basic full grooms, which include a one-length cut all over, to more specialised services like de-shedding and style full grooms (Teddy Bear or Asian Fusion Style). They also provide wash and dry services and a groom-out option for longer-coated dogs that require undercoat removal and light trimming around the hygiene area if required.
Josh and Dee are dedicated to using only the finest quality products and tools, and they continually update their skills and techniques through new training to stay ahead in the grooming industry. They believe in the importance of grooming for a dog’s health and see their work as a way to enhance the relaxation, happiness, and joy dogs bring into human lives.
They have an average rating on Google of 4.8 stars. Here’s one of their Google reviews:
‘The team at The Dog Barber are amazing! Our Husky Ziebell has honestly never looked better after he started going here. Ziebell can be pretty cheeky but they are so good with him. We’ve never had any problems, they are worth every cent!!’
Website: https://www.dogbarber.com.au/
Price: A full groom is $130 for a medium size dog.
Pups4Fun, Fisher
Pups4Fun was founded in 2008 by Rhiannon Beach as a dog-walking service. Since then, it’s evolved into one of Canberra’s most popular dog daycares and professional dog grooming salons. They also offer dog playgroups, training, and access to private dog parks. In terms of their dog grooming, their ‘gold’ level groom includes a bath and blow dry, full-body style clip and sanitary trim and tidy, ear cleaning, nail trim, and premium cologne.
They recommend a full groom every 6-8 weeks, depending on the coat type and length of different breeds. If your dog needs to be groomed every 6 weeks, it can add up pretty quickly—but Pups4Fun has an answer. They offer the only member-based grooming experience in Canberra, which includes discounted premium dog grooming, priority booking, and unlimited trims for your dog’s nails. If you have a high-maintenance dog, this might be well worth your while. It’ll run you $129 a month, and you have to be waitlisted due to high demand.
They have an average rating on Google of 4.7 stars. Here’s one of their Google reviews:
‘These guys are the real deal, possibly the most organised, well-oiled dog grooming company I’ve yet to come across. They are experts and professionals in every sense of the word. Rest assured that regardless of your breed, they can make them look stunning. My dogs, unfortunately, don’t get along and have to be separated, and they were more than accommodating and understanding. Having a annual subscription model and future booked appointments is also a great idea, they are light years ahead in terms of organisation and innovation compared to any other groomer in Canberra.’
Website: https://www.pups4fun.com.au/
Price: A full groom for a medium-sized dog costs $142 for VIP members and $152 for non-VIP members.
Get A Quote Upon Booking
It’s important to note that the price of dog grooming will change based on the size of your dog and its coat type. Small, short-haired breeds like Jack Russels will often be cheaper to groom than large, long-haired dogs like poodles or border collies as they require deshedding and a lot more work. The prices we have listed above are only guidelines sourced from the groomers’ websites. Be sure to get a quote when making a booking with professional groomers so you don’t get caught off guard. Confusion about pricing was the most common complaint I saw while browsing reviews, so clarifying never hurts.
How Often Should You Take Your Dog To The Dog Groomers?
It’s essential to maintain a regular grooming routine for your pup. It can significantly impact their overall health, appearance, and comfort. Your dog’s grooming needs may vary depending on their breed, coat type, and lifestyle. However, as a general guideline, it’s recommended that you schedule professional grooming sessions every 4 to 6 weeks. This interval helps keep your dog’s coat healthy, prevent matting, manage shedding, and reduce the risk of skin issues.
If you have a short-haired breed with minimal grooming needs, you can stretch the grooming visits to 6-8 weeks. In this case, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and occasional baths should be your focus. But, if your dog has longer fur or a specialised coat type, such as those prone to matting or with significant grooming needs, you may need to schedule more frequent visits to help keep their coat healthy, especially during the hotter months when they’re at higher risk of overheating.
A Proactive Approach To Pet Care
Apart from making your dog look and feel great, regular grooming sessions can provide an opportunity for professional groomers to assess your dog’s skin health, identify any emerging issues, and offer recommendations for at-home care. Taking a preventive approach can help catch potential health concerns early and contribute to your dog’s overall well-being. I groom my dog every 8 weeks, and experienced groomers have been able to catch grass seeds in his paws that I wouldn’t be able to see otherwise. This allowed me to take him to the vet before they became a much more serious health concern.
It’s important to remember that every dog is unique, and factors such as their activity level, age, and health can influence the ideal grooming schedule. Don’t hesitate to consult with any of the professional groomers on this list about your dog’s specific needs -I’m sure they’d be happy to help. Together, you can establish a routine that keeps your furry friend looking and feeling their best all year round.