The growing need for dog grooming professionals in the UK

In our last article, we selected some of the most popular breeds of dogs which require regular grooming to maintain their well-being, health, and vitality, whilst also looking their absolute best.

At Highway Shearing, we are strong advocates of dog groomers and the essential services they provide, to keep owners’ beloved dogs in prime condition. Many dog grooming businesses now take specialist qualifications such as those offered by City & Guilds in dog grooming training courses which are available at colleges and specialist centres across the UK.

We believe that dog grooming is not simply a brush or a comb it is so much more than that. Dog grooming businesses take what they do very seriously. It takes great skill, knowledge, and expertise to be a dog groomer.

There are breeds as we have previously stated which require even more specialist knowledge because certain breeds require additional care and intricate attention to detail when being groomed. Dog groomers work very hard to ensure that every dog they groom is cleaned, brushed and clipped with absolute precision and skill every time.

Highway Shearing knows this because we deal with a lot of dog grooming businesses that require the right tools for the job when it comes to precision clipping when grooming the breeds they work on.

A healthy well groomed dog brings more benefits than you may think.

Keeping your dog groomed regularly means it is healthier and happier and that transcends to your well-being too. Some studies have shown that owning a dog can boost your mental well-being, whilst the physical activity of owning a dog also brings obvious benefits.

It’s fair to say that dog groomers are in high demand and rightly so, some breeds can cost thousands of pounds and care for them can also be expensive, especially when you factor in food, vet visits, and medical bills, which may not be covered by insurance (insurance cover). Always remember to check your policy coverage to see what you’re not covered for, as that is as important as what you are covered for.

Whilst many of us are cutting back on certain luxuries, due to rising food, fuel, and energy costs to save money. Any person or family who owns a dog treats them as being very much part of the family, therefore it is fair to say that their care is as important as your own.

Some breeds require more maintenance than you may think, we are not just talking about regular daily walks, twice a day here, but specialist breeds may require expert grooming care and some breeds could require the services of a dog groomer, perhaps 6-8 times per year, should the need arise, or even more frequently than that with some breeds.

A reminder of the statistics for dog grooming

Depending on what you read on the internet because there are so many sources available. It is estimated that that there are just over 10,000 dog grooming businesses in the UK, some of these will be on the high street, whilst many others will be mobile dog groomers.

If we consider that there are between 13-14 million dogs in the UK, then the ratio of dog groomers to dogs owned is less than 0.01%. So, it is fair to say that dog groomers are in extremely high demand, and many dog groomers must be flexible to fit in with a dog owner’s working day if the owners are working.

To summarise

To keep your dogs in prime condition, source a local dog grooming business or ask a friend who may recommend one. Remember dog groomers provide an essential service which helps to maintain a dog’s optimum health and well-being, so it pays to find a dog groomer who has been recommended to you.

If you cannot obtain a recommendation, you should consider joining a dog owners’ club or an owner’s internet forum, preferably one near you, as they may be able to help you source a dog grooming business, failing that it will be down to your due diligence and judgement to select your own.

At Highway Shearing Ltd, we have a range of specialist dog grooming clippers and precision blades which are used to trim to finite precision which we sell to dog grooming businesses, including advice on the most suitable clippers for you.

The clippers and blades which we stock are provided by manufacturers who specialise in dog grooming, such as Heiniger, a Swiss-owned family business that prides itself in excellence with its range of clippers and blade types. We also stock Lister dog clippers and blades, amongst other brands too.

At Highway Shearing, we have years of experience in this sector. We can also sharpen blades and provide clipper repairs as well as tips on general maintenance for your dog grooming clippers.

To find out more simply give us a call on 01768 899 659 or email us at

**@hi*************.com











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