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Fired
When your old dog gets booted from the groomer - and why it doesn't have to be that way
Angela Dinsmoor
April 11, 2026
In this week’s issue, here’s what we are sniffing out
Why senior dogs get "fired" by their groomers (hint: it's not the dog's fault)
Why four hours of training can’t cut it
A change is coming
It Happens More Than You Know
Here's something that doesn't get talked about enough: elderly dogs get fired from groomers all the time.
Not because they're bad dogs, or because they did anything wrong. But most grooming salons aren't set up to handle the care that really old dogs actually need. Also, many corporate chains have age cutoffs baked right into their policies. When your dog turns 15, many corporate policies have a hard stop - or even if they’re 12 with a serious health condition - suddenly you get the refusal: "We're not able to groom her anymore."
And just like that, a dog who's been going to the groomer for years is out - no solution to a healthcare need that continues for the rest of the dog’s life.
For owners, it feels like a slap in the face. For the dog, it's a loss of care at the exact stage of life when care matters most. And for the grooming industry, it's a gap that we need to start talking about honestly.
Why Groomers Turn Senior Dogs Away
I want to be clear here - most groomers aren't turning your dog away out of lack of compassion. On the contrary, they care about your dog - they know your dog can’t handle the process, and that’s WHY they make the call. They're doing it because in many cases, they were never taught how to handle an aging dog safely.
There are numerous reasons. Here are just a few:
Pain or other illness they can't see. A senior dog with arthritis may not yelp when you extend a leg for a paw trim - but internally, that joint can still be screaming. If a groomer can’t recognize the signs of pain and other diseases and conditions your older dog lives with, they may not be equipped to manage them safely on the table.
Equipment that doesn't adapt. High-velocity force dryers, which are standard in most salons, can trigger seizures in elderly dogs. Tables sometimes shake more the more a big dog’s muscles tremble. Slick bottom tubs are a nightmare at bath time. The standard grooming setup is designed for young, healthy dogs.
Time pressure. Senior dogs take longer. They need breaks. They need to sit down. A salon working on set interval appointments doesn't have time for that built into the days.
Liability fear. If a senior dog has a seizure, collapse, or cardiac distress on the table, the groomer is understandably concerned about being blamed. After all, you didn’t see what happened - they were alone with your dog at the moment of crisis. Will you believe them when they tell you what happened? So the safest practice is not to take the dog at all.
This Is an Industry Problem, Not a Dog Problem
Four hours.
That's how long the only geriatric grooming certificate course I'm aware of takes to complete. It's an elective offered at grooming expos. It's not part of any core certification. It's not required anywhere. Four hours to learn how to handle a dog with neurological problems who can't stand on a grooming table. A dog with cognitive decline who panics in unfamiliar environments. A dog with endocrine disorders that are worsened by stress. A dog whose heart could be stressed by the physical demands of a bath. I've taken it twice. It's a good start, but it's not enough.
The first time I signed up for that course years ago, I was thrilled. I thought I was finally going to find my people. Other groomers who were doing the work I was doing, figuring out what I was figuring out. I walked in ready to learn. But the material ended before it ever arrived at the dogs I was already seeing every day - dogs who were sicker, older, and more complex than anything that course covered. I'd been working with those dogs for years already. I was overqualified before I sat down. By the way, the ending of the course was still “explain to the owner why you can no longer see the dog, and tell them to find a vet who offers sedated grooming.”
Currently, there is no required education one must complete to become a groomer. A person can decide they want to groom, teach themselves (or not), and start working. Those looking to join the industry can watch videos on YouTube, take courses online, do an apprenticeship, go to a brick-and-mortar school for groomers, or work their way up via a learn-on-the-job program at a salon. Regardless of the process, the standard grooming "curriculum" covers puppy cuts, breed trims, de-matting, bathing and drying techniques, and sometimes a little anxiety management — all built around younger, healthy, largely cooperative dogs.
The equipment is designed for healthier dogs. The appointment blocks are timed for dogs who can cooperate without needing breaks. The layout of the salon is designed for younger dogs. The business model is built around volume, and elderly dogs don't fit a volume model. They need more time, more patience, and a completely different skill set.
So what happens? Groomers who genuinely care about dogs - and most of them do - find themselves standing in front of a 13-year-old Pomeranian with a bad heart and no idea how to safely get through the appointment. They're not heartless. They're undertrained. And instead of admitting there's a gap in the educational offerings, the industry's answer has been to just... stop taking the dog.
That's not a safety decision. That's surrender.
And the oldest dogs who need grooming the most - the ones with overgrown, matted coats, hair that grows in front of the eyes and cakes to the discharge from their eyes, who can’t walk because of mats between paw pads, and curling nails are curling that nobody will trim - those are the dogs paying for it.
Four hours isn't going to fix that. Senior dog grooming needs to be taught, practiced, and treated as the specialty it is. Until it is, dogs will keep getting fired for the crime of getting old.
A change is coming 📣
I've spent years grooming senior dogs, and the number one thing I hear from dog owners is: "My dog was fired from the groomer." The number one thing I hear from other groomers is: "I did my best for him as long as I could, but now I just can't handle him."
That's why I’m going to be offering something I wish had existed when I started in this industry ages ago.
I'm building a series of courses for professional groomers on senior dog grooming - the kind of comprehensive, specialized education this industry has never had. Safe handling. Pain recognition. Equipment adaptations. Health red flags. How to build a practice that doesn't age dogs out. The first course is launching soon, and it's just the beginning.
More details are coming very soon. If you're a groomer (or know one who wants to learn more), stay tuned - I'll have a link for you in the next issue.
Our old dogs deserve better than getting fired. And the groomers who want to serve them deserve the training to do so.
🐶 Sniffing Out Senior Dog News 📰
🧠 Can a Growth Hormone Explain Why Old Dogs Lose Their Edge? The University of Arizona just launched SIGNAL, a two-year study tracking 75 dogs to see how the hormone IGF-1 affects cognitive aging. The twist: big dogs die younger than small dogs, but their brains don't seem to decline any faster. Researchers think IGF-1 may actually help neurons repair and grow — even as it shortens lifespan in other ways. Read more at University of Arizona News
⚠️ "Forever Chemicals" Found in Commercial Pet Food A new study published in Environmental Pollution tested 100 commercial dog and cat foods and found PFAS contamination across the board. Wet food may deliver higher total exposure per meal, and fish-based formulas tested especially high. There are currently no regulatory limits on PFAS in pet food. Worth a conversation with your vet about what's in the bowl. Read more at Phys.org
📊 Senior Dogs Have a 25% Adoption Rate — But Social Media Is Helping New data shows senior dogs are adopted at less than half the rate of younger dogs. The bright spot: social media exposure has boosted adoption rates by 66%. Share those grey faces. Read more at DogMom
Senior Dog Meme of the Week
