Groomingdales guide

Dog Grooming Prices by Breed

Give owners realistic pricing expectations and explain why one breed’s grooming bill rises faster than another’s.

PublishedApril 30, 2026

Dog grooming prices by breed usually change for three reasons: coat workload, dog size, and how much precision work the groom requires. A short bath-and-brush Labrador and a fully trimmed doodle can take very different amounts of time even if they weigh roughly the same, which is why salon menus often feel inconsistent until you separate bath service from full grooming.

The ranges below are practical national planning ranges compiled from salon menu structures, common add-on pricing, and breed-level coat workload. They are not fixed quotes, but they do show which breeds stay in the bath-and-brush category and which ones move quickly into higher full-groom pricing because clipping, coat prep, or dematting risk is built into the visit.

Quick read

Key takeaways

Clipping and line-brushing breeds usually hit higher full-groom prices than bath-and-brush breeds of the same size.
Deshedding add-ons are driven by undercoat workload, not just by how much the dog sheds on your couch.
The cheapest way to control grooming cost is often better coat maintenance between visits, not skipping visits until the coat is harder to handle.

What These Grooming Price Ranges Mean

The pricing bands below reflect mainstream U.S. salon-style grooming, not luxury boutique services, mobile van premiums, or major metro extremes. They are useful because they separate three common jobs: a basic bath and brush, a full groom with clipping and styling, and quick add-ons like nail trims or deshedding treatment.

If your local quote lands above the range, the reason is usually visible in the coat plan. Longer trim time, heavier dematting risk, thick undercoat release, behavior handling, or very large size can all push the final price beyond the simple menu number.

Basic groom means bath, blow-dry, brush-out, and light finishing without a full haircut.
Full groom means clipping, scissoring, or breed-pattern shaping on top of the basic prep work.
Add-on pricing rises when coat density or packed undercoat adds time, drying work, or product use.

Dog Grooming Price Table by Breed

These ranges work best for comparison shopping. Owners should still ask whether the quoted full groom includes nail trim, ear cleaning, sanitary work, and face or feet detailing because salons package those items differently.

Typical national planning ranges for common professional grooming services by breed.

Breed	Basic Groom	Full Groom	Nail Trim	Deshed Add-On	Why Cost Climbs
Poodle	$70–$100	$95–$150	$15–$25	Usually not needed	Clipping, drying, and coat prep time
Goldendoodle	$80–$110	$110–$170	$15–$25	Sometimes $20–$35	Dense mixed coat, line brushing, haircut time
Shih Tzu	$55–$80	$75–$115	$15–$25	Rarely needed	Face work, sanitary care, frequent haircut maintenance
Yorkshire Terrier	$50–$75	$70–$105	$15–$25	Rarely needed	Long silky coat, face and feet detailing
Cocker Spaniel	$60–$85	$85–$125	$15–$25	$15–$30	Feathering, mat risk, ear and trim detail
Golden Retriever	$65–$95	$85–$120	$15–$25	$20–$40	Undercoat release and feathering cleanup
Labrador Retriever	$50–$75	Usually basic service only	$15–$25	$15–$30	Heavy short-coat de-shedding in season
German Shepherd	$70–$100	Usually basic service only	$15–$25	$20–$45	Size plus dense undercoat workload
Siberian Husky	$75–$110	Usually basic service only	$15–$25	$25–$50	Size, packed undercoat, long drying time
Border Collie	$60–$90	$85–$120	$15–$25	$20–$35	Medium double coat with feathering and undercoat
Pug	$45–$65	Usually basic service only	$15–$25	$10–$20	Short heavy shedding and facial fold cleanup
Maltese	$55–$80	$80–$120	$15–$25	Usually not needed	Haircut precision and tangles in long coat

Price bands are planning ranges, not fixed quotes, and can rise meaningfully in high-cost cities or mobile grooming setups.
If the coat is matted, many salons charge additional prep or dematting fees or recommend a shorter reset groom.

Why Doodles, Poodles, and Shih Tzus Cost More Than Bath-Only Breeds

The extra price is not just a “designer dog” tax. These coats need more controlled drying, more section work, and more time spent preparing the coat before clipping or scissoring can even start. If brushing at home slips, the groomer spends even more time separating coat safely before the haircut shape can be finished cleanly.

That is why the price gap between a Labrador bath and a Goldendoodle full groom can be large even when both dogs are friendly and similarly sized. One service is mostly wash, dry, and deshed. The other is prep-intensive haircut work.

Haircut breeds pay for time, precision, and coat condition more than they pay for soap alone.
Owners can often hold prices down by arriving on schedule and keeping mats from forming between visits.
A shorter practical trim usually costs less to maintain over time than a longer style that tangles quickly.

How Owners Can Keep Grooming Costs Predictable

The cheapest grooming visit is usually the one that arrives before the coat becomes a rescue job. Regular brushing, keeping the dog on a workable trim length, and booking the next appointment before you leave the salon all help more than shopping for the lowest sticker price after the coat has already built up.

Ask the salon what is included in the menu line, whether the dog is priced by weight or coat workload, and when dematting or behavior fees start. Those three questions usually explain most of the surprise charges owners run into.

Request a maintenance schedule that matches your preferred coat length, not just your budget target.
Treat nail trims and sanitary cleanups as routine maintenance instead of emergency add-ons.
If your dog is a heavy shedder, ask whether a seasonal deshed package is more efficient than repeating extra baths.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which breeds usually have the highest full-groom prices?

Poodles, doodles, Shih Tzus, Maltese, and similar haircut breeds usually climb highest because their appointments include coat prep, careful drying, clipping, face and feet detail work, and more risk that delayed maintenance will add extra labor. That keeps dog grooming prices by breed practical for normal home care instead of making the routine harder than it needs to be.

Why is a Labrador often cheaper to groom than a Goldendoodle?

A Labrador usually needs a bath, drying, brushing, and sometimes a deshed treatment, but it rarely needs a full haircut. A Goldendoodle often needs the same bath prep plus line brushing, clipping, scissoring, and more time dealing with mixed texture or hidden knots. For dog grooming prices by breed, that usually points back to buildup, friction, moisture, or a missed maintenance step rather than one random bad day.

What service should owners compare first when checking salon prices?

Compare the full groom line first if your dog needs haircuts, then confirm what is included inside that price. For bath-only breeds, compare basic bath-and-brush plus deshed pricing together, because the add-on often explains more of the bill than the base bath number alone. For dog grooming prices by breed, make the call based on comfort, coat condition, and whether the step actually removes the problem instead of adding more work later.