Pet Grooming in St. Joseph

St. Joseph'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.

Ask about experience and licensing

Missouri's Animal Care Facilities Act requires a state license from the Department of Agriculture for a "commercial kennel", which the law defines as a kennel that performs grooming or training services, and licensed facilities are inspected at least once a year. Whether a given salon falls under that license is worth asking about, so ask your groomer whether they hold one and when it was last inspected. Then 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 city license

The City of St. Joseph requires all dogs and cats to be vaccinated for rabies and registered at 3 months of age. Registration is done through the city's Animal Services or online through its licensing partner, and you should bring proof of your pet's rabies vaccine. The registration tag expires one year from the date of purchase, or when the rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first. Groomers will also ask for proof of rabies vaccination.

Summer heat and winter salt

Summers here can be 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 so ice and salt do not build up.

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.