Canberra's dog groomers are up to their arms in pups.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Co-owner of the Dog Barber, Josh Belmonte, said they're booked up months in advance. He and his partner Dee operate out of Amaroo and Mr Belmonte will be opening a new salon in a few weeks to cope with the demand.
"I'd say just everybody loves their dogs, so grooming is a necessity," he said.
"Everybody wants to get their dog groomed, and they love bringing their dog in and having them smell and look good after we've finished."
In 2022 Australians spent $1.2 billion on grooming their pets, with households spending an average of $196 a year on dog haircuts.
And with one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, it's clear Australians are ready to fork out on the dogs. While dog grooming may strike some as a luxury expense, Mr Belmonte said their customer base is more diverse than ever before.
"There's definitely some who are higher income earners, and there's some who aren't earning as much," he said.
"But for the most part, I think people understand that it's a necessity to have their dog groomed.
Staff has become a problem in the industry - Mr Belmonte said he struggles to find workers, and because there's no formal training programs for dog groomers, he usually has to train new employees himself.
Dog groomer employee Wren Rowland said that the lack of formal regulation in the industry makes things difficult.
"You can literally make some business cards tomorrow and start calling yourself a dog trainer," she said.
"I was a dog trainer for five years, and the amount of uncertified people in the industry, who have either learnt by doing, or not-doing, is a bit of a problem."