How much does a Doggy BBL cost?

Why does it cost more than a normal groom?

A clipper trim follows the body. A sculpted shape has to be built with scissors, checked from several angles and matched on both sides. That is slower work, and it is done by the most experienced person in the salon.

Salons say the same about any detailed style. Mimo, the San Diego studio where the trend took off, writes that such styles "often require extensive hand-scissoring, an understanding of anatomy and proportion, and years of practice". Its own grooming services start at US$125 before any styling extras.

What sets the price?

• Size of the dog. A standard poodle takes far longer than a toy poodle.
• Coat type and thickness. Dense, curly coats take the most drying and scissoring time.
• Coat condition on the day. Tangles and mats have to be dealt with before any shaping, and many salons charge for dematting.
• How long the coat is. If the hip coat is too short, the first visit may only set the outline, with the full shape at the next one.
• The rest of the haircut. A BBL on top of a simple short body costs less than a BBL plus a styled face and legs.
• Where you live and who does it. Prices are higher in big cities and with groomers known for scissor work.

How do I get a real quote?

Send three photos of your dog standing: from the side, from behind and from above. Say the breed, the weight, when the last groom was and whether there are any tangles. Ask two questions: what the full price is including the bath and dry, and whether the coat is long enough to do it in one visit.

A good groomer will tell you if your dog is not a candidate yet. That is a fair answer, not a refusal. How to ask your groomer for a Doggy BBL has a message you can copy.

What does it cost to keep?

The first appointment is not the whole cost. A sculpted shape needs a tidy every four to six weeks to stay round, and the longer hip coat needs brushing at home. If the coat mats between visits, the groomer may have to cut the shape off and start again. See Doggy BBL maintenance for a routine that avoids that.

How can I keep the price down?

• Bring the dog in brushed out, with no tangles. Dematting time is the most common extra charge.
• Book regular visits. A tidy on a maintained coat is quicker than rebuilding the shape.
• Keep the rest of the trim simple. A short, neat body makes the rear stand out anyway.
• Ask if the salon offers a shape-only tidy between full grooms.

Common questions

Is a Doggy BBL priced as an add-on or a full groom?

It depends on the salon. Some charge a styled-groom price for the whole appointment, others add a fee to their normal full groom. Ask for the total price including bath and dry.

Why did my groomer quote more after seeing my dog?

Quotes from photos are estimates. If the coat is matted, thicker than it looked, or the dog needs extra handling, the work takes longer. Most salons say so before they start.

Do I tip for a Doggy BBL?

Tipping customs for groomers vary by country. Where tipping is normal, it is usually based on the full price of the appointment.