Respectable pet groomers provide a variety of treatments intended to improve the health, hygiene and appearance of the dog or cat. Basic treatments and packages include anything from deep-cleaning dental work, ear and eye inspection, to anal sac expression, nail buffing and trimming, as well as coat washing, brushing, and moisturizing. Through these basic routine treatments, groomers have determined how to keep domestic pets in the finest condition inside and out. However, there are some groomers who take pampering and preening to the next level, and offer expensive and bizarre grooming treatments for pets. Look at some of the options that pet-parents can spoil their fur-children with through lavish spa treatments and unusual artistic expressions.
Deluxe Spa and Grooming Treatments
From facials to massages, many upscale groomers mimic high-end human spas with their tea tree oil, peppermint, seaweed, and aromatherapy treatments. Options for pets can include oatmeal face masks, to the recently popular blueberry facials, or sugar body scrubs (though we’re still not positive why a cat or dog’s face is in desperate need of exfoliation…) There are also paw, head and limb massages, bubble bath soaks, hot wraps and skin conditioning treatments. For those that want to help their dogs stay limber, there are even occasional dog YOGA class and chiropractic adjustments offered to indulge health-conscious pets.
Artistic Dyes and Decoration Treatments
Poodle dyed with polka dots
Some groomers add a little flare to the dog’s coat by clipping in a bright feather, or stenciling in chalk “tattoos” onto the pup’s coat. Others like to add temporary splashes of color to give their pooch an individual style. Below are the current artistic trends for pet-parents who want to go the extra mile in dog decoration and pet individuality.
- Stenciling: Groomers can tint or dye dog or cat fur by using stencils to create the exact shape, symbol, or emblem of their choice. The colors can be added to the dog’s fur either by neon-bright permanent dyes or through temporary glitter gels. Many sports fans will stencil their team’s mascot on their pup’s back for the game day, or a add glittery crown on their puppy’s head.
- Jeweling: When the vibrant dyes aren’t eye-catching enough, some owners will pay to have dazzling gems glued on their canine queens. The gems can adorn a pet’s head or bring a sparkle their ears. The glue will wear off after a few weeks if left untouched, and causes no harm to the animal.
- Chalking: Functioning with the same flexibility of temporary dyes; chalking involves brushing dense colored powders onto a dog’s ears, tail, paws, or patches of fur. Some Poodle-parents like brushing bright chalks into fluffy shapes on their pups’ back, or coloring the rosette on the continental clip. Others take the chalking to an extreme, converting the entirety of a dog or cat’s coat into a colorful Halloween costume. The washable chalk allows a pet-parent to disguise or decorate their dog or cat to celebrate an event or simply have fun, without being obligated to keep the look long term.
- Feathering: Many owners enjoy the occasional bright flash of color, but do not want to fully commit to permanent dyes. Instead of paying for a one-time stenciling or chalking, the pet-parent can purchase clip-in or glue-on feathers to add somewhere on their dog’s coat. Grooming services that include feathering usually also offer clip-on bows and ribbons as well.
- Fur-dying: While some pet owners believe this is inadvisable since the chemicals might irritate a dog’s skin, fur-dying is still very popular in many regions. Options range from a classic bleaching wash for those who want to brighten their naturally white pups, or permanently coloring to give the dog dynamic patches on their feet, bodies, ears or tails.
- Fake nails: When the dog or cat’s nails have been trimmed and buffed to bluntness, some grooming locations offer nail painting or nail gels. Ultra-glamorous pooches and pussycats might leave a salon with bright blue glitter polished on their nails or claws, (which is the height of sophistication).
- Sparkle spray: At the end of a dog’s day at the groomers, some owners will pay extra for the pooch to be sprayed with a light dusting of scented glitter to make their coat shimmer in the sunshine.
Though these treatments seem drenched in superfluity and frivolity, this level of pampering and decadence is to be expected in a culture where art and aesthetics may be valued above practicality.
