Pet Grooming in Fairfax

Fairfax's groomers range from neighborhood salons and pet-store grooming counters to mobile vans that work from your driveway. A full groom usually covers a bath, haircut, nail trim and ear cleaning; most groomers also offer bath-only visits, de-shedding and quick tidy-ups between full grooms.

City of Fairfax or Fairfax County?

The City of Fairfax and Fairfax County are separate jurisdictions, and many addresses with a Fairfax mailing address are in the county, not the city. Check which one you live in before you look up pet rules, because each sets its own. This guide covers Fairfax County's dog license rules; we could not open the City of Fairfax's official pages, so if you live in the city, ask the city's government how to license your dog.

What Virginia law says about groomers

Virginia's animal care law makes a groomer responsible for giving an animal the care the law requires. If a pet becomes ill or injured while with a groomer, the groomer must provide emergency veterinary treatment; the owner bears the reasonable and necessary cost, unless the injury resulted from the groomer's failure to provide that care or from the groomer's own actions, in which case the groomer pays (Va. Code 3.2-6518).

Experience matters too

A legal duty of care is not a measure of skill, so ask how long the groomer has worked, where they trained and whether they groom your breed often. Before the first visit:

• Tell the groomer about your dog's health, age and temperament.
• Ask how dogs are dried; if a cage dryer is used, someone should check the dog often.
• Ask which vaccines they require, and reschedule if your dog is coughing.
• If the coat is badly matted, ask about a short clip rather than hours of brushing out.

Your dog's license

Fairfax County says all dogs four months of age or older must be licensed. Licenses are bought each year and are good only through December 31 of the year they are issued. The county's animal services page says you need a valid rabies certificate to buy one, and that a dog must wear the license tag whenever it is off the owner's property (county FAQ). The county works with a licensing company, PetData, to sell licenses. Virginia law requires every county and city to tax dog ownership by ordinance (Va. Code 3.2-6528), and a license tag cannot be issued without evidence of rabies vaccination (Va. Code 3.2-6526). Groomers will ask for proof of rabies vaccination too.

Canine flu and shelters

In August 2023, the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association and the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies warned that animal shelters across the state were seeing 25% to 60% more dogs, and that canine influenza was a growing threat. The VVMA said it highly recommends dogs be vaccinated against the virus, and that shelters and boarding facilities are more susceptible to outbreaks because dogs share limited space. Ask your groomer which vaccines they require, and reschedule if your dog is coughing.

Summer heat and winter cold

Summers are hot and humid, so book early-morning appointments, never leave your dog in a parked car, and for double-coated breeds such as huskies and shepherds, ask for a de-shed rather than a shave: the undercoat protects them from heat and sunburn. In winter, wipe your dog's paws after walks on salted sidewalks and ask your groomer to keep the fur between the pads trimmed.

About these listings

Many listings here were added from public business data and have not been claimed by the business yet. Check hours, prices and services with the groomer directly. If you run one of these businesses, you can claim or correct your listing from its page.