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The Last Groom
What end-of-life grooming should be
Angela Dinsmoor
May 23, 2026
In this week’s issue, here’s what we are sniffing out
The day I met Thunder, and what his last groom actually looked like
What changes about grooming at the end of a dog's life - and what doesn't
How to ask for this kind of appointment (and why most groomers will say yes)
Thunder’s Story
Years ago, I had a 12 year old Briard named Thunder on my schedule for a full haircut.
His owner met me at the door in tears. Thunder was on his bed in the next room. He couldn't get up to greet me. He'd been declining for several days, she said. She didn't want to cancel the appointment because she didn't want to mess up my schedule.
I walked over and sat down on the floor next to him.
I could see a full haircut was not in the cards for Thunder that day. What he needed was something different - focused on the things that would actually make the days he had left a little easier. So that's what we did.
I want to tell you about it. Because there's a version of grooming I think most people don't know can exist, and Thunder is the dog who can teach it. Thunder was not the only dog I’ve met this way, so I know this conversation needs to be had.
Three Steps
First, I trimmed the hair in front of his eyes. Briards are wooly dogs - the hair grows long and falls forward into their faces. In a younger dog, that's a look. In an old dog who is dying, it's a barrier. I wanted his mom to be able to look at him and see his eyes. I wanted him to be able to look at her. Those last days, that matters more than almost anything else.
Second, I cleaned up his rear end. I trimmed the hair short around his back end and cleaned the area gently. Dogs at the end of life occasionally lose control of their bowels and bladder, have soft stools, and sometimes struggle to position comfortably to go potty. A clipped, clean rear end means hygiene is easier for both of them. His owner could keep him clean without fighting matted, soiled hair. The skin underneath wouldn’t get irritated, so he’d stay more comfortable, longer.
Third, I did his paws and nails. Long nails change how a dog walks. So does hair growing between the paw pads. For a dog whose hips don't work the way they used to, whose balance is already shaky, even small changes here can be the difference between him wanting to get up and him deciding it's not worth the effort - even if mom is helping him up and down.
That was the whole groom.
No bath, high-velocity dryer, brush-out, or table - he stayed on his own bed the whole time. The total amount of grooming I did probably took 30 minutes, spread across an hour plus.
As I worked and for a little while after, I sat near him while his owner told me his story. His personality. The young dog he’d once been - galloping through snow, following her into her tiny bathroom, the times he ate things he shouldn't have (easier opportunity at his height!). The things that made her laugh. The things she was going to miss most.
I really listened.
Why This Matters
Thunder's owner was already grieving. She knew she was going to lose him soon. What she needed wasn't a perfectly groomed dog - she needed the ability to manage his care more easily, keep him safe, and to be able to see his eyes. She needed someone to sit with her, appreciate the love of her life, and confirm that she was doing the very best that could be done for him. To show her that her dog really matters to someone else, too. Pull forward some of the happier memories that have been buried under the worry.
That, also, was part of his groom.
Thunder was euthanized a few days later. That was his last groom. His mom and I only met each other once, but I remember Thunder to this day.
So What Do You Actually Ask For?
If you're reading this and your dog is in a fragile state - whether that's hospice care, end-stage cognitive decline, or just very advanced age - here’s what to know.
The appointment you booked is not a contract. If your dog has declined since you scheduled it, the appointment can change. Tell the groomer what he can’t handle. That's advocating for him.
Tell your groomer how your dog is doing. Not the dog they saw three months ago. The dog standing - or lying - in front of you today. "He's not doing well. I don't think a full groom is realistic. Can we scale this down to just what matters most for his comfort?" That sentence opens the door.
Ask for Thunder’s three groomed areas: face, feet and tail.
Skip the bath, the dryer, and the body trim. For most fragile dogs, those are the parts that take the most out of them.
Ask for it at home, if you can. A house call, a mobile groomer who'll come to your driveway, or even your regular groomer making an exception for an old client - the absence of car rides, salon noise, and unfamiliar smells matters enormously for a dog who is already overwhelmed. Many groomers will accommodate this for end-of-life clients, even if it's not their normal setup.
What If You Don't Have A Groomer Who Will Do This?
Some of you don't. Some of you have been told by your salon that they can no longer see your dog. Most of you live somewhere that in-home senior dog grooming simply doesn't exist yet.
If that's where you are, you can do versions of them yourself.
For the face: a pair of blunt-tipped scissors, just trim the hair in front of the eyes: bangs and at the inside corners. One snip at a time. Take breaks. It doesn't have to look professional. It just has to make it so she can see you.
For the rear end: a rinse-free shampoo or one drop of soap on a soft, warm, wet washcloth, a few towels. Choose a comfortable moment when your dog is lying down. Trim the hair short around the rear if she'll let you. Clean what needs cleaning. No dryer, just towel her gently and thoroughly. She can dry under a blanket.
For feet and nails: If you’re not already comfortable doing nails, and your dog can still handle a car ride, ask your vet about a nail trim only - they will do it, often for a small fee. Sometimes they’ll even do nails in the back of your SUV so your pup doesn’t have to get in and out of the car so many times. Or ask if a vet tech will come to your house on their day off. Paw pads can be carefully scissored the same as face, one little bit at a time, just be sure you know where the blades are and you cut flush to the pads, not at an angle.
This is not a beautiful groom attempt. You’re simply trying to keep your dog comfortable. Those are different goals, and the second one is much more achievable than the first.
A Word For Groomers
I know a lot of you are here too…
Most of you have already encountered a Thunder. You've seen the dog come in and realized he can’t really handle a groom. You've stood in the doorway and known it. And you've probably had to make a hard call right there in the moment - give it your best shot or refuse altogether.
You don't have to wait for owners to ask for this. You can offer it. You can say: "I want to take a minute and look at him before we start. Can we talk about what he can actually handle today?" That sentence, said with warmth, gives an owner permission to request something they may not have known they were allowed to ask for.
If you agree to just the basics, find a quieter spot - a corner of the lobby, an office, even outside if weather allows. The dog doesn't have to go to the back, and the owner can stay with you.
While the grooming tasks here are simple, the appointment is harder than a normal groom, emotionally. And yet, it's some of the most important work this industry can do. Owners remember it for the rest of their lives. So will you.
You are not alone in figuring this out. The conversation is starting to happen. Keep going.
The Bottom Line
If you're reading this and you are at this point now, remember:
You are not bothering your groomer by asking for less. You’re advocating for an easier groom for both your groomer and your dog.
And the last groom does not have to be sad. It can be done with care, and time spent hearing stories about a good dog. ♥️
🐶 Sniffing Out Senior Dog News 📰
🐾 Muttville Is Waiving All Adoption Fees Through May 31. San Francisco's Muttville Senior Dog Rescue kicked off their Smooch-a-Pooch Adoptathon — every senior dog goes home with no adoption fee, plus two weeks of food and a list of vet resources. Every dog is 7+ and arrives already vetted, with wellness checks, dental work, and surgeries done. If you're in the Bay Area, this is the month. If you know someone who is, forward this. Read more at Patch SF
💰 U.S. News Just Updated Its Pet Insurance Rankings For Older Dogs. ASPCA ranked first, Spot second — but the more useful part is what the piece tells you to look for: no upper age limits, and coverage for prescriptions, cancer treatment, and end-of-life care. A lot of common plans either won't enroll older dogs or quietly exclude what seniors actually need. Worth a read before you renew, or before you assume it's too late to insure your senior. Read more at U.S. News
Senior Dog Meme of the Week
