The Real Cost of a Cheap Groom (And Why Your Dog Is With Us For a Few Hours)

Written by Nikki Carruthers

Let’s just say it up front:

We’re not the cheapest groomers in the city. We’re also not trying to be. If you’re hunting for a $40 express chop done in 20 minutes with a weed whacker and a prayer-those places exist. But this ain’t it.

Here’s the kicker though:

Those “bargain” grooms? They don’t actually save you money. And your dog usually leaves looking like a “before” photo.

What You’re Actually Getting With a Cheap Groom

You might be thinking, “It’s just fur. What’s the big deal?”

Here’s the deal:

You’re not just paying for a haircut. You’re paying for someone to not botch it. You’re paying for safety, skill, and someone who knows a doodle from a disaster.

Cheap grooms cut corners—literally and figuratively. We’ve seen it all:

• Dogs looking like they were shaved with a lawn mower

• Skin burns that belong in a medical journal

• Nails still talon-length

• Matting ignored like last week’s texts

• Stressy, messy, panicked dogs rushed through in record time

• Owners being told, “Oh no, we meant to give him one ear shorter”

• And those horror stories in the news? Almost always the result of rushing, inexperience, or a salon that shouldn’t be in business

We’ve helped dogs so traumatized by a previous groom that they need rehab just to get

brushed again. It’s not cute.

What You’re Paying For With Us

Experience.

Nikki and Carly each have 16+ years in the game. That’s 32 combined years of scissors,

shampoo, and sass. We’ve trained over 20 groomers who are now thriving across

Manitoba—and every single groomer at The Neon Dragon has been personally selected and trained by us.

You don’t build a 3,100+ dog client list by accident.

You do it by knowing what the hell you’re doing.

Time and Technique.

We don’t rush. We don’t guess. We hand-scissor, style, prep, and prime your dog like the

masterpiece they are. If you want a factory line buzzcut, you’ll need to head to aisle 3.

Quality, Canadian Products.

Your dog isn’t getting bathed in dollarama shampoo. We use premium, vet-trusted,

breed-safe products that cater to your dog’s coat, skin, and lifestyle. Sensitive skin? Senior dog? Cursed by allergies? We got something for that and it doesn’t come from the dollar tree.

Safety and Comfort.

We’re not in the business of rushing dogs or pushing limits. We read body language, take

breaks, do full health checks, and create a vibe that doesn’t suck. No dog leaves here

traumatized-or looking like a half-bald walrus.

Why Is My Dog With You For a Few Hours?

Let’s clear this one up, because it’s a common question—and we get it.

No, we’re not playing Pokémon GO while your dog sits in a crate for 4 hours. Here’s what’s

actually going on:

Prep and Assessment.

We don’t just throw your dog in the tub and hope for the best. We check their body, coat,

skin, and vibe. We find matts, parasites, bot flies, ticks, ouchies, nails growing into the pads, and weird stuff we’ve seen too many times to be shocked by anymore.

Bath and Blow Dry.

A real bath. Not a hose-down. We wash, condition, and blow dry your dog properly. A

double-coated dog can take over an hour to dry. Rushing this step causes moldy smells, skin issues, bad bacteria, and Bad Groom Vibes. We’re not here for that.

Styling.

Every groom here is done with skill and intention. Your dog gets clean lines, hand-scissored details, and a style that flatters. No cookie-cutter bowl cuts here. And if your dog wants a mullet? We’ll make it fashion. We really advocate for dog mullets here.

Breaks When Needed.

We’re not monsters. Some dogs need a time-out. We give it. Whether they’re seniors,

babies, or just emotionally unstable like the rest of us -we respect their limits. We’ll never

push them too far, and if you ask us to, the answer will always be: nope.

Appointment Flow.

We book strategically, because chaos sucks. Your dog may have to wait while we finish

another or reset between appointments. That’s not neglect- that’s us refusing to work like

caffeinated squirrels on a conveyor belt. When we have the time to take things at a safe,

efficient pace- you virtually remove the risk of accidents.

The Bottom Line

If you’re just looking for the cheapest groom, we wish you and your wallet well. But if you

want your dog to be handled with kindness, styled with precision, and treated like the

majestic beast they are- welcome to The Neon Dragon.

We’re not fast food.

We’re not a grooming sweatshop.

We’re elite, we’re educated, and we care deeply. Just like our clients.

All of our grooms come with a 3-day satisfaction guarantee. If something’s not right, we’ll fix it—as long as your dog’s coat is still clean. Because dirty fur is like trying to paint on a wet sponge.

Your dog knows the difference.

And honestly, so do you!