Being a responsible pet owner can mean more than keeping your pet healthy and happy. Regular grooming visits are often part of the deal.
Sam Cheow, who lives in Manhattan with four Norwich terriers he calls his kids, spends nearly $11,000 a year to groom them and about another $3,000 on “specialty work” like sanitary trims.
His dogs require a grooming technique called hand stripping, and there aren’t many groomers in the city who can do it, he said. Mr. Cheow considers their grooming a worthy expense that’s essential to keeping them healthy and ensuring a long life.
When The New York Times talked to nearly 50 pet owners for this article, we learned many of them had similar sentiments. The perception that pet grooming is essential to wellness has shifted the industry from one providing hygiene services to a tailored approach focused on health and holistic care. A booming human wellness industry is also extending people’s own health beliefs and practices to their pets.
Dogs may not be doing cold plunges or wearing biometric rings, but it’s not uncommon for them to be given anti-aging peptide therapy medication or getting a grooming session that includes a blueberry mask around their eyes that helps brighten their fur.
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A $1,000 Dog Grooming Session? Blame the Wellness Industry.
