Full groom or bath and brush: which does your dog need?

When you book with us, the first choice is between a full groom and a bath and brush. They sound similar, and both send your dog home clean and fluffy, but they do different jobs. Choosing the right one saves you money and keeps your dog's coat in better shape.

What a full groom includes

A full groom is the works. Your dog has a bath with a shampoo to suit their coat and skin, a blow dry and a thorough brush out, and then a haircut in the style you choose. Nails are clipped, ears are cleaned, and the paw pads and hygiene areas are tidied.

It is the right choice for any dog whose hair keeps growing: Poodles, doodles, Bichons, Shih Tzus, Yorkies, Schnauzers and spaniels. Without a regular cut, these coats grow over the eyes, knot behind the ears and mat underneath.

What a bath and brush includes

A bath and brush is everything except the haircut: a bath, a dry, a full brush through and de-shed to lift out the loose undercoat, plus nails and ears. It is shorter and costs less.

It suits two kinds of dog:

• Short and double coats that never need cutting: Labradors, Staffies, Beagles, Huskies and Golden Retrievers. A good de-shed makes a real difference to the hair on your sofa.
• Long coats between full grooms. If your doodle has a full groom every eight weeks, a bath and brush in the middle keeps the coat clean and knot-free, so the next full groom is quicker and more comfortable.

How to choose

Ask yourself one question: does your dog's hair need to be shorter? If yes, book a full groom. If you just want them clean, fresh and less shedding, a bath and brush is enough.

The season matters too. In spring and autumn, double-coated dogs drop their undercoat and a de-shed is worth its weight in gold. Through a Leeds winter, after muddy walks round Temple Newsam or Roundhay, many owners keep a longer coat and book baths between cuts to keep the mud in check.

Still not sure? Pick the size of your dog and the service you think is closest when you book online, and add a note. If we think the other service would suit your dog better, we will tell you before we start. All our prices are on the grooming and prices page.