We're on the move a lot in our fifth wheel (7 to 10 days in any one park).  We'd like to get the dogs groomed regularly and wondered what works best.  Use a 'chain' type service (like PetsMart) or ask around at the park for a local service?  Thanks so much - you all have been so helpful with our questions!

Getting the dog groomed is a lot like getting your human hair cut.  You win some, you lose some.  Asking at the campground sometimes works, or asking another camper whose dog looks like they just got groomed and looks good.  Often we have used PetSmart or Petco and have been pretty happy with both.

Lately, we had very good results with Petco in Mission, TX.  The price was very good, and the cut was good too.  And we learned they have a deal of buy 8 cuts, get 1 free.  Doesn't have to be the same store.  Can be any Petco.  Just sign up for the Petco card and show it every time you get a groom.  That will keep track of the number of times you get groomed at any Petco.

Good luck.

We haven't actually gone out on the road yet but we have 2 grandpups (Springer Spaniels) that require regular grooming. We got tired of paying $60+ each every time they needed a haircut so we bought a pair of the professional quality clippers at Pet Smart. They weren't perfectly even the first couple of times we clipped them but it was passable. With a little practice you can't tell now that they weren't groomed by a professional. At least I haven't heard any complaints from them anyway. Besides, DW has been cutting my hair for 22 years now and they aren't any better than I am. If I have to suffer so should they.

hmm...sounds like we need to be prepared by crossing our fingers no matter what. At least hair grows back eventually! Asawang, I've actually attempted trimming the dogs myself a few times - we have a springer too and she's just too antsy for me! The little 9 lb schnoodle isn't so bad. Professional clippers would probably be a big plus for a DIY job. Skill would help too - I had hair clippers for my dh (to cut hair cut costs) and scalped him right above his ear on my first (and last) try. My kids did have to suffer with my hair cutting skills for awhile, but I've thrown in the towel (and the clippers)! Thanks all!

Another idea is to check with local veterinarians.   Sometimes they will have a groomer on staff, or if not, will know who the good groomers are in the area.

Oh, and one other tip - Dogster.com has good listings and lots of local reviews. There are places to avoid that you DO want to be aware of.

We've been using Petco when available for the last 6 months or so. We've found the quality to be consistent and the price reasonable. The mom & pops can be quite erratic, but as someone has pointed out, it's hair and grows back quickly.

What I worry about with Petco is less the quality of the groom (this varies, it just depends who you get on the day ;P) and more the safety record. The big chain shops all use cage dryers and do little to no drying by hand. Cage dryers are reasonably safe as long as the bathers and groomers are conscientious and check on the dogs regularly, but heat exhaustion is a real worry if dogs are left in them unsupervised.

We've never had any luck with Petco or PetSmart here in Las Vegas. We tried 4 privates before 1 worked out. But what the hay? I'm 61 and only had 1 regular Barber back east that was consistant. My daughter is a hairstylist, South Carolina, and I remind her all of the time that consistency will bring people back and build up a clientele. I'm not sure if she listens even at 28, probably not. We've even taken pictures in to groomers to no avail. I did tell my wife that a hairstylist or dog groomer could make a really good living on the road with RVers. Did anyone besides me notice Fred Wishnie's hair style change during his Alaska trip via their journal? Fred would appear to be getting younger by the mile. :) Ron

pattiron in vegas, try Debs dog grooming on desert inn and mojave. they are wonderful.

We will be looking for great dog and cat boarders in November when we are in Las Vegas-any suggestions?

in the long run i would think the best choice would be to do it yourself. remember dogs provide unconditional love! professional dog groomers learned at some point in their lives why can't you. besides, might be a good way to earn a little extra on the road once people know you do it. might be worth the up front expense of getting training on it before you go FT'ing. best choice however, get a low maintenance dog. short haired are the best. i have always had dobies all my life.

One other thing... make sure you have copies of your dog's vaccination records. Lots of groomers will require those prior to grooming. Last summer we had planned to have Sage groomed on the road, but couldn't do it because we hadn't taken her shot records with...