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The 60 € Question Per Month

Every owner of a long-haired or curly dog has asked themselves: "Can I trim it myself or should I go to the groomer?".

The answer is nuanced:

  • For some things: yes, at home.
  • For others: absolutely no.

Poor cutting can cause:

  • Injured skin.
  • Terrible appearance.
  • Trauma for the dog.
  • Extra costs to "fix" it.

Let's see what you can do at home and what should be left to professionals.

What You Can Do at Home

1. Daily Brushing

Always at home.

  • A few minutes a day.
  • Breed-dependent (see specific article).
  • Keeps the coat healthy.

2. Periodic Bathing

Feasible at home for:

  • Small and medium dogs.
  • Breeeds with simple coats.

See detailed washing guide.

3. Nail Trimming

Possible but requires:

  • Specific nail clippers.
  • Correct technique.
  • Dog accustomed to it.

Many owners delegate this to the groomer.

4. Ear Cleaning

At home: external cleaning with specific product.

5. Trimming Specific Areas

Short-haired breeds: nothing to trim.

Long-haired breeds:

  • Paws: trim hair between toes (grows).
  • Tail: trim tips.
  • Ears: clean around.
  • Under the tail: hygiene.

Round-tipped scissors, patience.

6. "Puppy Cut" Trimming (specific dogs)

For some breeds (Yorkshire, Maltese, adult Shih Tzu), the "puppy cut" is a uniform short cut all over the body, maintainable at home with an electric clipper.

Pros:

  • Cost saving.
  • Consistent routine.

Cons:

  • Less professional result.
  • Needs practice.

What You CANNOT Do at Home (without expertise)

1. "Show" or "Breed-Specific" Cutting

Breeds with characteristic cuts:

  • Poodle: "Continental", "English" clip, etc.
  • Cocker Spaniel: specific silhouette.
  • Bichon Frisé: round "powder puff".
  • Schnauzer: characteristic beard and mustaches.

These require years of experience.

2. Stripping

Hard-haired breeds (Schnauzer, Wire Fox Terrier, Border Terrier, Spinone) require stripping:

  • Manual removal of dead hair.
  • Keeps the correct texture.
  • Requires specific technique.

Never shave a hard-haired dog: it ruins the texture for years.

3. Grooming Very Large/Aggressive Dogs

Dogs > 30 kg or difficult dogs:

  • Difficult to manage at home.
  • Risk of injury (yours and theirs).
  • Groomers with adequate facilities.

4. Specific Cases

  • Severe mats: worse at home, a professional can solve it.
  • Scared dog: experienced groomer calms.
  • Puppies for the first time: better with a professional.

The Basic Tools for Home Care

Brushes

Slicker brush (with metal teeth):

  • For nearly all breeds.
  • Removes dead hair.
  • 10-25 €.

Metal comb:

  • For long-haired dogs.
  • Detangles knots.
  • 8-15 €.

Rubber glove:

  • For short-haired dogs.
  • Massage + collects hair.
  • 8-15 €.

Scissors

Round-tipped scissors:

  • For paws, face, ears.
  • Safe.
  • 10-20 €.

Electric Clipper (for "puppy cut")

Models for dogs:

  • Brands: Andis, Wahl, Oster.
  • 50-200 €.

Features:

  • Low noise.
  • Interchangeable blades.
  • Suitable for home use.

Never use a human clipper for dogs (inappropriate blades).

Nail Clipper

Guillotine style (small/medium dogs):

  • 10-20 €.

Scissor style (large dogs):

  • 15-25 €.

Electric nail grinder (Dremel):

  • 30-80 €.
  • Safer, less noisy.

Products

  • Specific shampoo for dogs.
  • Conditioner (for long hair).
  • Detangler.
  • Hemostatic powder (for nail cutting).

Groomer Rates

Typical costs in Italy:

Simple bath (small dog): 25-40 €.

Simple bath (large dog): 40-70 €.

Bath + cut (small dog): 40-70 €.

Bath + cut (large dog): 60-120 €.

Stripping: 70-150 €.

Show cut: 80-200 € (specific breeds).

Frequency: every 1-3 months (variable by breed).

Average annual cost: 200-1,200 €.

The Numbers: At Home vs Groomer

Scenario 1: Poodle

Groomer:

  • Every month: 70 €.
  • Annual: 840 €.

At home (puppy cut with clipper):

  • Clipper: 100-200 € (one-time).
  • Shampoo, accessories: 30-50 €/year.
  • Practice: challenging initially.
  • Annual: ~100 € + time.

Saving: 700+ €/year.

Practice needed: high. Good course or YouTube tutorial.

Scenario 2: Labrador

Groomer:

  • Every 2-3 months: 50-70 €.
  • Annual: 200-350 €.

At home:

  • Daily brushing: easy.
  • Occasional bathing: at home.
  • Annual: 30-50 €.

Saving: 200-300 €/year.

Practice: easy.

Scenario 3: Yorkshire (puppy cut)

Groomer:

  • Every 6 weeks: 50-70 €.
  • Annual: 400-600 €.

At home:

  • Initial: 200-300 € (clipper + accessories).
  • Annual: 50-80 €.

Saving: 300-500 €/year.

The Advantages of the Groomer

Professional pros:

  1. Experience:
    • Years of practice.
    • Excellent results.
  2. Facilities:
    • Adjustable tables.
    • Professional dryers.
    • Escape-proof systems.
  3. Handling Difficult Dogs:
    • Calm and technical.
  4. Specific Cuts:
    • Breed-standard.
  5. Early Diagnosis:
    • See skin, problems.

The Advantages of DIY

Home pros:

  1. Saving:
    • 200-1,000 € a year.
  2. Bonding with the Dog:
    • Care time.
  3. Less Stress (for some dogs):
    • Familiar environment.
  4. Consistent Routine:
    • Weekly brushing.
  5. Control:
    • See problems early.

The Dog's Perspective

Some dogs:

  • Adore the groomer (social area, paparazzi).
  • Adore at-home care (with trusted person).
  • Fear both.

Know your dog and decide accordingly.

The Middle Ground: Learning

For many owners, the ideal is:

  1. Groomer every 2-3 months for:
    • Complete bath.
    • Possible cut.
    • Nail care.
    • Professional ear cleaning.
  2. Home daily for:
    • Brushing.
    • Paw trimming.
    • Eye cleaning.
    • External ear cleaning.

Combination = great appearance + savings + bonding.

How to Learn to Cut at Home

Resources:

  1. YouTube tutorials:
    • For every breed.
    • Free.
  2. Specific books:
    • Grooming manual for your breed.
    • 20-40 €.
  3. Practical courses:
    • 1-2 days of training.
    • 200-500 €.
    • Groomers who teach.
  4. "First time" with groomer:
    • Ask to observe.
    • Note the technique.
    • Replicate at home.

The Truth

For many breeds (Labrador, Beagle, Bulldog, Bouledogue, Boxer):

  • Home care is sufficient.
  • Groomer = luxury, not necessity.

For other breeds (Poodle, Yorkshire, Maltese, Shih Tzu, Schnauzer, Cocker):

  • Groomer or know-how are essential.
  • Without: mats, ugliness, skin problems.

For hard-haired breeds (Spinone, Wire Fox, Schnauzer):

  • Professional stripping to maintain texture.

Giant breeds (Great Dane, Saint Bernard):

  • Brushing at home.
  • Occasional bathing (preferably at groomer with suitable facilities).

Decide based on:

  • Breed of your dog.
  • Time you have.
  • Budget.
  • Willingness to learn.

The "trendy dog" isn't worth the 60 € a month wasted if you can learn to do it yourself. The "professionally cared for dog" is worth every euro if you have a breed that requires expertise.

Know your situation, and choose wisely.

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