reasonable price for grooming

[sara722003]

I recently broke my foot in two places. AND the boy was due for a huge brush out, bath, foot trimming, and a 'tunneling' to help him finish up the summer as a cooler big hairy black dog. I've always done this myself, as I find keeping him brushed out is a de-stresser for me and he seems to relish the attn. With broken foot, I had to get him in to a groomer to do all that. I dropped him off at 8am and picked him up at 3pm. He looked incredible. I paid $175 (which almost put me into shock, b/c I thought it would be more like $150). I tipped them and then wrote a thank you letter this morning and included more tip. They were all raving about him when my son and I went to pick him up yesterday, so I know they did an excellent job and treated him well. Just curious. How much would you folks suggest for a tip? :coffeedrink:

 

[gitchegumee]

Yikes! Seems very high! Most I've paid is like $80 including the tip. That was both in Wisconsin and Colorado.

 

[Thehallk]

I didn't even know you were supposed to tip a groomer! Is that common practice everywhere (ie. petsmart, big chains) or just for smaller in-home groomers?

 

[teahcrew]

petsmart did Story for $65 and that was with medicated bath and a coat conditioner. I tipped the groomer $10 each time. (without the special medicated shampoo and conditioner it was only $40!)

 

[Newfs Forever]

$70.00 is what I pay for Sam, plus $15.00 tip.

 

[lilly06]

Ihave paid anywhere from $65-$125.00.

 

[Jeannie]

I've been a groomer since 1993. Rarely do any customers tip. About the only ones who do are beauticans or waitressess. I've groomed many newfs and never did I get a tip from a newfie owner. I also know doctors and lawyers do not ever tip.

The customers who do tip I rarely raise their grooming rate. I go out of my way to accomodate them. I feel if they care enough to tip, then I least I can do is go that extra bit for them.

 

[OurnewfDarwin]

I pay $50 to have Darwin done. I think it's on a sliding scale with the amount of work, though, and he doesn't have all of his adult coat, so it might get more expensive as he grows. The woman who does him has Newfies, so she may price it based on loving him to bits and pieces, or on knowing how little work it is now...? That being said, I've asked her to buzz around his penis and/or clip his ears a bit, and she's never charged me extra. It has always been $50. I do tip her $10. He is usually there for 2-3 hours.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

When I've called locally around here for Zeke (they'd ask his weight) 170 lbs they'd give me a price range of 150 to 200, signt unseen, I guess if he was loaded with matts it could go higher. (to be honest they gave the attitude like it was to much work, so I do them myself so far) And I would say that a 15% tip would be more than sufficent. Geezzz, I really need to get to a different area....prices here are just crazy!

 

[gitchegumee]

I always tip - usually $15.

 

[RiverTheNewf]

We pay 85 + 15 tip, and it usually takes 2-3 hours. Dawn, I've had the same experience as you once. I walked in and asked how much it would be to groom a Newf, and they just talked like it was too much work, didn't give me a price range or ask if I wanted to make an appointment.

 

[charlieinnj]

It's always in the $75-$80 range where I take mine to...But they do use a sliding scale, too. I always tip 20% and in December when I take Oliver in for his "Christmas-guests-are-coming-to-the-house-so-you have-to-smell-good" grooming, I tip them about 50% for doing a great job all year.

 

[Ksullivan]

Sully's is $38.00, and we tip $20.00. He has an oatmeal shampoo, or it would be I think $3.00 less. We tip so good, because we think it is more than reasonable pricing.

 

[Lauren W]

I have been quoted $80-$120 and I live in the NY metro area. I ALWAYS tip. Usually 20%. It's good Karma.

I brought him to one groomer and she was pretty rough with him but she did a good job, really got all under the belly and back of the legs. $80

I brought him to a closer groomer. I asked her to be gentle with him. She was, but she really didn't get all the undergrowth, especially the belly and thighs. $100

Someone in our Newf Club had their dog groomed for $60. The dog looked great. I guess you really have to shop around. I don't mind paying a little extra if they do a good job, but $60 for a Newf anywhere is good!

PS I hope your foot feels better real soon!!!

 

[nowhavethreebears]

I used to pay 75.00 each. I always tipped at least 15-20 dollars.

 

[2newfs4now]

First, I always tip...up to $25. Secondly, I just found a place that does giant breeds for $80-110. I just had Max done and it included, nails, foot and ear trim, ear cleaning, brush, bath and hand scissor down to about 1-1.5" all over (except his tail

 

[MMtnmom]

I had a terriific groomer who charged anywhere from 90 to 135. I got tired the drive and started going to the groomer at my vets. Don't really like the work he does although they are good to my dogs and tend to charge less. I keep trying to work with him but he just doesn't really get it. I would love to find a groomer close by that does a really good job but so far no luck.

 

[Cascadians]

Love our groomer. $75 includes shampoo, special shampoos, conditioning, de-matting (if necessary, has not been), nails done, ears cleaned, dried, trimmed, showsheened. She has always done whatever we have asked as well as training Orka and me, LOL

We usually add $10 to the check. I have learned to keep Orka in really good shape, brushing and combing him every day. He is silky with no mats or tangles and that undercoat is fine combed. It's a lot of work but now he loves it. He goes to Lisa the Groomer once a month. Even though he swims almost every evening and is groomed every day, by the end of the month he is smelly.

I've started experimenting with the thinning shears. Eventually I'll know how to do it all and be good at it. Baby step by baby step!

 

[only1bmd]

We have a mobile groomer who comes to my house. She charges me 75 I tip her 25. Bailey LOVES her!!

 

[dumainedogs]

Obie's only been to a pro once for a full bath/groom.. It was $80 and I tipped $10 if I remember correctly. She has also done his hygiene clips and summer belly trims. I don't remember the cost for those, but it was cheap!