Pet Grooming in San Diego

San Diego's groomers include neighborhood salons, self-serve dog washes near the beaches, pet resorts with grooming rooms and 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.

Beach dogs

Sand, salt water and sun are part of life for many San Diego dogs. Rinse your dog with fresh water after the beach, and brush out sand before it works into mats. Regular baths and a tidy trim around the paws and belly help keep sand and salt off the skin. For double-coated breeds such as huskies, shepherds and golden retrievers, ask for a de-shed rather than a shave: the undercoat protects them from sun and heat.

Experience and questions to ask

California has no state license for pet groomers, so training and experience vary. 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 how long your dog will stay, and whether you will get a call when it is ready.
• If the coat is badly matted, ask about a short clip rather than hours of brushing out.

Hot cars and busy holidays

San Diego County Animal Services warns that a parked car can reach 120 degrees, so do not leave your dog in the car while you run errands around a grooming appointment. The county also notes that July 5 is the busiest day of the year at animal shelters, after fireworks scare dogs into running: check ID tags and microchip details, and avoid booking a nervous dog in over the holiday.

Your dog's license

The City of San Diego licenses dogs through San Diego Humane Society. A license is due within 30 days of your dog turning four months old, and you need a valid rabies certificate; California requires rabies vaccination from three months old. Groomers will ask for rabies proof too.

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.