What to look for in a dog groomer? How to prepare for grooming

Look out for four things: a consultation before starting, a binding price after assessment, clean tools and a calm approach with your dog. With us, the Full Groom starts at 79 € and takes 60 to 180 minutes depending on size. The Mini Groom without a haircut starts at 59 €, hand-stripping at 70 € per hour. Your own preparation is just as important: vaccination record, brushed coat and honest information about your dog's coat condition and behaviour. In the ranking by wer kennt den BESTEN, GroomRoom is ranked number 1 among dog groomers in Berlin (as of: 10/2026).

What does dog grooming mean?

Grooming is the professional care of your dog's coat and involves much more than just a haircut. It includes bathing, blow-drying, brushing, dematting, a breed-standard cut or clip, as well as nail clipping, and checking the eyes, paws, ears, and hygiene areas. In German, we call this Hundepflege or an appointment at the dog groomer.

Two terms come up again and again during our consultations. Thinning means that the volume of hair is reduced using special scissors, without changing the length too much. The undercoat is the soft second layer of fur beneath the topcoat, which grows particularly thick on breeds like the Spitz, Pomeranian, or Golden Retriever.

Coat care is part of your dog's normal health routine. Veterinary guides recommend regular brushing, as loose hair can otherwise mat, and matting can irritate the skin. Bathing with a dog shampoo makes sense about once a month, depending on the season and how dirty they get. Human shampoo doesn't belong on a dog's skin because it can cause irritation. It's best not to cut out tight mats with scissors at home, as the skin is right underneath.

Which service suits your dog's coat and breed?

The right service depends on your dog's coat type, size, and coat condition. This overview shows what's included in each of our packages and how much time we schedule for them.

We only offer clipping for breeds whose coats allow it, such as Poodles, Doodles, Bichons, Malteses, or Yorkshires. We don't clip dogs with an undercoat like the Spitz, Pomeranian, Husky, or Golden Retriever; instead, we demat them by hand. With hand stripping, we pluck out the dead topcoat rather than cutting it, which preserves the coat's texture and colour. This is ideal for Terriers, Schnauzers, and Wire-haired Dachshunds.

You can find the details on the Full Groom, Mini Groom, and Hand Stripping pages. All starting prices are listed under Prices. Cats get their own quiet time slot with no dogs in the salon; cat grooming starts from 99 €.

What details does the salon need before booking?

A salon can only plan the time and price if they know which dog is coming. These five details determine the length of the appointment and the choice of groomer.

1. Breed or mix. This decides the technique and cut. A poodle gets scissors and clippers, a wire-haired dachshund is hand-stripped.
2. Weight. It determines the package, tub and duration. The puppy introduction groom applies to puppies up to 10 kg, Junior Grooming also up to 10 kg.
3. Coat condition and last appointment. Tell us when your dog was last groomed and if you've found any knots. Six months without a salon means more time for dematting.
4. Behaviour. Insecurity, sensitivity around the paws or bad experiences should be mentioned when booking. We'll then schedule breaks and a second person if needed.
5. Health and vaccination status. Medication, skin problems and sensitive areas are important. Puppies can come for their first introductory appointment after their second vaccination.

How do you prepare your dog at home?

Ideally, your dog arrives rested, having relieved themselves, and a few hours after their last meal. Go for a quiet walk beforehand so they aren't standing on the grooming table with a full bladder. A small breakfast about two hours before the appointment is enough.

Brush them thoroughly in the days leading up to it, if they are used to it. This is especially true for undercoat and Doodles with curly coats that knot quickly. Matting that you brush out early saves time on the table. You can find out how to prevent knots permanently in our article on preventing matting.

Bring to the appointment:

• Vaccination record or a photo of the latest vaccination entries
• their usual collar or harness with a lead
• A few favourite treats for breaks
• a note about illnesses, medication and sensitive areas
• a photo of the desired cut, if you have one

For your dog's very first salon visit, we've explained how to prepare in detail in our article first visit to the dog groomer.

What do we focus on during the appointment?

We work in six steps: arriving, getting to know each other, taking our time, taking fear seriously, gently dematting, and choosing the right products. With puppies and young dogs, we don't start with a Full Groom right away. First comes getting to know each other, then building trust, and then step-by-step work on the coat. You can find the complete process on the Process and Preparation page.

We never pull on mats. We gently loosen them and, if the coat is severely matted, we'll discuss the best solution with you. This is often a short clip, as it's much kinder to your dog. We choose products based on coat type and skin condition, using pH-neutral natural products by Ecopets. We clip and scissor using Aesculap tools and bathe your dog in a Hydra tub.

Our grooming tables are height-adjustable. Large dogs aren't lifted; the table lowers, the dog steps on, and is then raised to working height. Breaks are part of the process, and we keep a close eye on your dog's well-being the entire time. You can even watch from outside through our shop window on Giesebrechtstraße.

We let anxious dogs settle in first, with no pressure and absolutely no force. Kristina works with us as a Senior Groomer, specialising in nervous dogs. Alina and Natalie are our experts for Pomeranians and Spitzes. We explain exactly how an appointment with a nervous dog works in our article anxious dog at the dog groomer.

What affects the price at the dog groomer?

The price depends on your dog's size, coat type, coat condition, and behaviour. The starting price on our website is a guide; we'll give you a binding final price before the appointment after assessing your dog in person.

Surcharges only apply when necessary. Dematting a severely matted coat costs 15 € per 15 minutes started, while minor tangles are included in the price. For the thick double coat of a Pomeranian, there is a 20 € surcharge for a Mini Groom (already included in the Spitz/Pom Full Groom package). For large dogs, the Full Groom starts at 209 € and takes 180 minutes. Junior Grooming by our Junior Groomer under supervision costs 60 € for dogs under 5 kg and 75 € for dogs between 5 and 10 kg, available to book on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 16:00 to 19:00.

How often should your dog go for grooming?

Breeds with continuously growing coats should visit every 6 to 8 weeks, while short-haired dogs need a groom every 8 to 12 weeks. Breeds with growing coats include Poodles, Doodles, Bichon Frisés, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, and Shih Tzus. Pomeranians and Spitzes need brushing at home several times a week and a salon appointment every 6 to 10 weeks. Depending on the breed, hand-stripping is needed every 8 to 12 weeks.

Between appointments, brushing at home makes all the difference. Long-haired breeds should be brushed daily, medium-length coats several times a week, and short-haired dogs about once a week. Your dog sheds more in spring and autumn, so an extra grooming session is well worth it then. You can find a breed-by-breed overview in our article how often to visit the dog groomer.

After the appointment: what's normal and when to see the vet

It's completely normal for your dog to be tired, sleep deeply, and scratch slightly at freshly clipped areas for the first few hours. Being on the grooming table takes a lot of concentration, but their usual energy is usually back by the next day. A little head shaking after ear cleaning will also settle down on its own.

Pain, bleeding, open skin, severe itching or noticeable hair loss belong at the vet. You should also get any redness that lasts longer than a day checked out by a vet. Let us know anyway, so we can adjust our products and approach for next time.

If you also want to know what to look for when choosing a salon, we've covered that separately in our best dog grooming salon Berlin article. That one is about equipment, qualifications and reviews, whereas here we focus on preparing for and what happens during your appointment.

We are here for you Tuesday to Saturday, 10 to 18; the salon is closed on Monday and Sunday. The address is Giesebrechtstraße 2, 10629 Berlin, a 5-minute walk from the U7 station Adenauerplatz. You can book an appointment online or drop by on weekdays without booking for a free consultation.