How to Tell Your Groomer What You Want

When you bring your dog to the groomer, it's completely normal to feel unsure about how to explain the haircut or services you want. In the grooming world, this conversation is called a consultation. A consultation isn't just about you choosing a haircut or placing an order like your groomer is at a fast food or coffee counter. It's a chance for your groomer to learn about your dog, your preferences, your lifestyle, and the amount of coat maintenance you're willing or able to do at home. All of those things help the groomer determine the details and which haircut will work best for both you and your pup.

It's important to remember that you're responsible for keeping your dog's coat in good condition between grooming appointments. It is not up to your groomer and not typically included in the base service cost or the usual appointment time for your groomer to spend more than a reasonable 20 minutes or so doing any detangling or de-matting. The haircut you hope for only works if the coat is properly brushed and maintained at home and your pet is tolerant of the process. Your groomer will do their best to match your vision, but your dog's coat condition, structure, lifestyle, and your home maintenance routine all play a huge role in the final result.

Keep It Simple

When describing the length you want, simple words usually work best. Instead of trying to use grooming terminology, tell your groomer things like: Short, Medium Long, Short but no skin, all the same length nose to tail, try to keep the ears out of the water bowl etc. Trying to sound like a groomer often creates more misunderstanding than it helps. Especially since we don’t even use the same terms for the same things from shop to shop.

For example, saying, "Take an inch off," doesn't tell your groomer what length you actually want your dog to be. Grooming lengths are measured by the amount of coat left on the dog, not by how much is removed as might happen with humans. Saying, "I'd like about a half inch left," or "I want him nice and fluffy," gives your groomer a much clearer picture.

 Tell Us About Your Lifestyle

Your dog's lifestyle matters just as much as the haircut itself. Does your dog: Swim regularly? Hike or camp with you? Spend time at the dog park? Wear sweaters or harnesses often? Love rolling in the grass or mud? These things affect how practical certain haircuts will be. A beautiful long coat may look amazing, but it also requires much more brushing if your dog is constantly outdoors or getting wet and long may not be the best option for an active pet or swimmer.

Be Honest About Brushing

One of the most helpful things you can tell your groomer is how often you realistically brush your dog. Not how often you plan to brush. Not how often you wish you brushed. How often you actually do it.

There isn't a right or wrong answer. We aren't judging you. We're simply trying to recommend a haircut that fits your maintenance and lifestyle instead of one that becomes matted before your next appointment. If you hate brushing, tell us. We'd much rather give your dog a cute, easy to maintain haircut than see them uncomfortable in between grooms because the coat couldn't be maintained.

Also... we know the difference. We know when you THINK you're brushing and combing properly but aren't. We know when you aren't brushing the ENTIRE dog. We know when you haven't brushed your dog for months. We know when you bathe your dog and don't brush or dry it properly. We know when your pup wears sweaters. We know that didn't just take a week. Each of those situations has different patterns that WE see every day, so honesty is always the best policy.

We don't judge you. Let’s face it, life happens and not everyone has an hour or three a day to comb out every square inch of their dog. It just helps us help your pup. We also don't mind giving tips on brushing, combing, maintenance, and bathing.

Tell Us What You Love

If there are certain features you absolutely love, let your groomer know. Maybe you love: A round teddy bear face. Long eyelashes. A fluffy as possible tail. Long ears. Short ears, Clean (shaved) feet, A fuller beard or face Those details help your groomer prioritize the features that matter most to you if we can.

Pictures Can Help OR HURT

Pictures are one of the best communication tools you can bring to a grooming appointment. The best photos are actually of your own dog after a previous haircut you loved. If you don't have those, choose pictures of dogs with a similar breed, coat type, coat condition, and body structure. A photo of a perfectly groomed social media dog may not be realistic if your dog has a completely different coat and body and temperament. We can't turn your Lhasa Apso into a Schnauzer or create coat or structural foundation that just isn't there. Just because two dogs are the same breed does not mean they are the same dog and we can make your pup look just like another. Let us find ways to make your pup shine as their own beautiful self if we need to.

Don't Worry About Knowing Grooming Terms

 Every groomer has their own style, preferences, techniques, and shop policies, so never assume everyone uses the same terminology. In fact, trying to speak "groomer" can sometimes create more confusion than simply describing what you want. Instead of saying things like, "Scissor the feet," “scissor the sani” or requesting a specific blade length you've heard online, tell your groomer the result you're hoping for in simple human terms. That tells us far more than trying to direct the technical side of the groom which is what WE trained to do. We will follow up with questions that help us understand and clarify.

A Word About Haircut Names

Terms like "puppy cut," "teddy bear cut," and even "breed cut" don’t actually mean anything at all or have specific details attached to them that describe a whole haircut and can mean different things to different groomers and owners alike. If you use one of those terms be ready to follow it up with a description or a photo and answer questions so everyone is picturing the same haircut.

Matting Changes Everything

If your dog's coat is matted, your groomer may not be able to safely achieve the style you requested. Matting often limits the haircut options because brushing out severe tangles can be painful and may even injure the skin. Sometimes the kindest and safest choice is a shorter haircut that allows the coat to grow back healthy. Your groomer isn't trying to disappoint you. They're putting your dog's comfort and safety first.

Think of It as a Conversation Because That’s What it Is

The best grooming appointments start with good communication. Think of the consultation as a discussion, not placing an order. Your groomer can't see the picture in your head, but they can help you choose a style that fits your dog's coat, your lifestyle, and the amount of maintenance you're comfortable doing at home. If the first haircut isn't exactly what you envisioned, that's okay. Adjustments can almost always be made at the next appointment, and dog hair grows back much faster than ours. Regular grooming every 4 to 10 weeks gives you and your groomer the opportunity to fine-tune the perfect look over time.

Hopefully we've eased some common issues that lead to misunderstandings between groomers and customers and your next appointment goes MUCH more smoothly