Mobile groomers -- How much should you tip?
 

I wanted to get my puppy trimmed up & groomed, and I am starting to look at mobile groomers. (I don't really like the idea of dropping her off at a groomers most of the day at 5 months of age).

With human hair dressers, I have always read that you don't tip the shop owner, but you do tip those that rent a chair from the owners. Even though most of the mobile groomers own the business, it just seems to me that by coming to your home they are providing an extra service / convenience, and while that might be built into the price, a tip might be in order?

Opinions appreciated -- yeah or nay and, if so, how much? A flat number, or a %?

Thanks!

I have always tipped groomers 5 dollars per dog, whether they were mobile, in shop, the owner, or not.

i tip based on the size and temperment of the dog
Gatsby-5 lbs very good will sit and let you do anything-$6
pokey-6lbs mean and will snap if you pull his skin-$8
ripley-45lbs very good but hyper and i can see the problem-$6 on a good day and-$10 on a hyper day
all the other dogs fall in somewhere along those lines
i pay like $40 for a full groom

I always just do between $8-$10. I pay $50 for a grooming here, plus tip.
I was lucky to find a groomer who is in a small shop by herself and he only
stays there for 2-3 hours max and I can pick him up. :) But I have looked
into the mobile groomers because he doesn't particularly like being groomed,
but they were all almost $80.

Thanks, all. That gives me a good idea how to handle the situation. I talked with a mobile groomer today that charges $49 for a full grooming.

Up until now, I have only had to trim ears and feet (she's only 5 months old). When she was younger, I was able to handle ears and pad trimming when she was "sleeping," but now when I try she becomes alert and resists big time. I can still bathe and dry her (with much resistance! ), but I think it is time to introduce her to much more, since I want to keep her in a shorter cut. Every groomer I have ever been involved with wants them there first thing in the morning and then calls to come pick them up "whenever," and that can be late afternoon. If I could find one that would give me an appointment time and let me stay (or even let me pick her up in two hours or so), I would do that in a heartbeat but I haven't seen anyone that does that.

I have a senior Maltese that is much more docile and I can groom her myself, and I had two other Yorkies that I was able to groom, but I took them in when they were 9 and 11 months old so their "intro to grooming 101" was done by someone else. At this point I need a professional to work with my 5 mo old Jezebel.

Again, thanks for your responses. I think I will go with a $10 tip.

Heading to the groomer this weekend. First time for 5 month old Chloe... should be interesting since she barely lets me brush her! We're having a heck of a time combing her ( she's now full of knots ) and brushing her teeth! Funny how a little 3# ball of fur is stronger than us! LOL

I will definitely be tipping the groomer! She'll make her money that day!