How Long Does Dog Grooming Take?

Apr 11, 2025
Montana Mackovic
News

Dog grooming time depends on several factors like breed, size, coat types, temperament, and the services needed. Larger dogs or those with thick, curly coats take longer to groom, especially if their fur is matted or they’re anxious. Regular at-home brushing and early grooming habits can reduce professional grooming time. This blog breaks down typical timeframes, the full grooming process, and tips for pet parents to make each session smoother, faster, and stress-free for their dogs.

You, as an individual, take a bath, comb your hair, brush your teeth. You do it to keep your hygiene up, get rid of any bacteria or dirt on you, it feels good and, let’s admit it, because we look good afterwards. That exact same logic applies to dogs, though we do believe they don’t particularly care much about the looks as much as us humans.

The duration of a dog’s grooming session depends upon various factors like their breed, coat type, size, temperament, and/or if any specific services are required. In this blog post, we’ll lay down these factors so it is easier for pet parents to better anticipate the time they’re going to have to take out to tend to their dog’s grooming needs.

Factors Influencing Grooming Duration

Let’s not beat around the bush and get straight to the factors that determine how long a grooming session may take for your pup:

Breed and Coat Type

The breed and coat of a dog is what makes a huge difference. A dog of the same size but different coat types, length and density would have widely different grooming times. Dogs with long, dense or curly coats like Poodles require more time compared to short-haired dogs like, say, the Chihuahua.

Size of the Dog

This should be fairly obvious. The bigger a dog is, the more surface area there is that needs to be groomed. So, a small dog with a short coat might be groomed in under an hour whereas a large dog with a thick coat can potentially take three hours or even more! Teacup pups are looking really attractive right about now.

Condition of the Coat

If you take baths every day, as one should, you don’t need much time bathing yourself. Similarly, if a dog’s coat is well maintained—meaning it isn’t matted, it’s clean and has no tangles—grooming takes much less time and effort. Otherwise, in order to safely and comfortably detangle a furball is no task done within minutes; patience must be practiced, which increases grooming duration.

Dog's Temperament

A dog’s behavior makes a huge difference in terms of grooming efficiency. See, when the dog is chill and just lets the groomer do their job, they’re done ASAP. However, if the dog is anxious, uncooperative or not accustomed to grooming, then they may require more time and patience, which extends the overall session’s length.

Specific Services Requested

The range of services included in a grooming session also dictates its length. Basic services like bathing and nail trimming are quicker, while a complete package that includes haircuts, styling, ear cleaning, and dental care will take longer.

Typical Grooming Timeframes

So, grooming timeframes vary greatly as we stated but generally speaking, here are the grooming durations as found in most grooming parlours:

• Small, short haired dogs usually take around 1 hours

• Big chonky dogs can take around 3 hours and even more, at times.

• A complete package takes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours.

The Grooming Process Breakdown

To go even further, let us take a look at all the things that are involved in a grooming session:

1) The groomer’s sees the dog’s coat, its type, conditions along with skin health as well as any specific needs they may have.

2) They brush and detangle to remove loose hair, mats, and tangles

3) Deep clean the coat using dog-friendly shampoo and conditioner

4) Dry the fur using a towel and a blow dryer, depending on what’s the dog’s comfort level with

5) The coat is trimmed to a desirable length and style

6) Nails are trimmed to a comfortable and natural length

7) Ears are cleaned and checked for infections

8) Final touches and good to go!

Tips to Minimize Grooming Time

See, grooming your dog doesn’t necessarily have to be a 4-hour ordeal for which one must mentally prepare for, both the pet parent and the pup, and take precious time out of the day. Sure, there is no avoiding it and you would need to dedicate some amount of time for it, but here are some ways to minimize it in a healthy manner, without cutting corners:

• Regular grooming at home makes a huge difference. No matter which dog you have, brushing them daily is a no-brainer.

• During their puppyhood, familiarize them with grooming so when they grow up, they do not freak out at the sound of scissors or the blow dryer.

• Let the groomer know beforehand what your dog’s needs or any special requirements are to make the process smoother.

Conclusion

Grooming durations clearly vary from one dog to another, similar to us people. More hair? More time. Bigger body? Great surface area and thus more time. The logic is simple and right there. Do your part as a pet parent and keep your dog as clean and well-groomed as possible. So, when you do take them to a professional groomer, nobody involved needs to spend too much time there.

FAQs

How Can I Help My Dog Become More Comfortable with Grooming?

Introduce grooming routines gradually and use positive reinforcement to create a stress-free experience.

Is It Necessary to Groom Short-Haired Dogs as Frequently as Long-Haired Ones?

While short-haired dogs may not require as extensive grooming, regular sessions are still important for hygiene and health.

What Should I Do If My Dog's Coat Becomes Matted Between Grooming Sessions?

Regular at-home brushing can prevent matting; if mats develop, consult a professional groomer for safe removal.