Pet-care cost data
What should pet grooming actually cost?
Transparent grooming, boarding, and training price estimates for 140 dog breeds across 121 U.S. metro areas, modelled from breed size, coat complexity, and regional cost of living.
- 140
- Dog breeds
- 8
- Services priced
- 121
- U.S. metros
The national picture
The costliest breed to groom is the St. Bernard (up to $195), while the costliest to board is the Tibetan Mastiff (up to $80). The most expensive grooming breed and the most expensive boarding breed are different dogs.
- $195
- grooming · St. Bernard
- $80
- boarding · Tibetan Mastiff
- 140
- breeds priced
- 121
- metros covered
Every figure on the site is a transparent model, base grooming rates adjusted for breed size, coat complexity, and a metro cost-of-living index. See methodology for how it's built.
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics regional cost-of-living data, which calibrates this model's metro index, professional pet-care prices vary by roughly 97% between the cheapest and most expensive U.S. markets modeled here. PlainPetCare models 3,872 metro-level grooming, boarding, and training price estimates across 121 U.S. metro areas and 140 dog breeds, last refreshed in May 2026. Every figure is a transparent estimate, not a surveyed quote, see our methodology for exactly how each price is built.
Popular breeds
View all breeds →Pet care services
View all →Full bath, brush-out, ear cleaning, and nail trim.
Supervised overnight boarding at a professional facility.
Specialized de-shedding treatment for heavy-shedding breeds.
Medicated flea bath with treatment shampoo.
Complete haircut with breed-appropriate styling, bath, brush-out, nail trim, and ear cleaning.
Professional nail clipping to a safe length.
Professional dental hygiene brushing with dog-safe enzymatic toothpaste.
Professional dog training session, either group class or private instruction.
Grooming costs by city
Most expensive
Pet care guides
Practical guides for understanding pet care costs, finding quality providers, and budgeting for your pet.
How Often Should You Groom Your Dog?
Recommendations for grooming frequency based on coat type, breed, and activity level.
How to Choose a Dog Groomer
How to find the right dog groomer, red flags to avoid, questions to ask, and certifications to look for.
Pet Care Budgeting Guide
Annual budget breakdown for dog ownership including grooming, food, training, and supplies by dog size.
Download the metro price-index extract: metro-price-index.csv (same CSV as /statistics).
About this data
How PlainPetCare works, and why you can trust these numbers
What this site is
PlainPetCare turns AKC breed standards, BLS regional cost-of-living data, Census Bureau metro definitions, and published industry rate surveys into breed- and metro-specific pet care price estimates. These are baseline estimates for comparison, not personal quotes, and are never veterinary or medical guidance.
Editorial process
- Source. Pull breed size and coat type from AKC breed standards, regional cost calibration from BLS data, metro boundaries from Census Bureau CBSA definitions, and base service prices from published national grooming-chain and industry rate surveys.
- Verify. Each price estimate is validated against the source data before publication by the editorial pipeline, and cross-checked for consistency across breed and metro combinations.
- Publish. Compile per-breed and per-metro pricing pages with the underlying data sources documented on the methodology page.
Editorial independence & corrections
The PlainPetCare does not accept payment, sponsorship, or promoted placement from grooming chains, boarding facilities, trainers, or any pet care provider or industry association. Found an error? Contact us via the contact page. See our methodology for full source attribution.
Disclaimer: Prices are modelled estimates for informational budgeting only and do not constitute professional or veterinary advice. Confirm with a local provider before making decisions.