Go to SendWork
— Free for 7 Days
Full access
Full access
Exploring the reasons behind the growing demand and the future of the industry
The Growing Demand for Mobile Dog Groomers
Dogs have always been known as man’s best friend, and the numbers keep climbing. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), 95 million U.S. households owned at least one pet in 2025, and dog ownership rose from 51% to 53% of households, about 71 million homes. That is roughly 4 million more dog-owning households in a single year. More dogs means more coats to wash, nails to trim, and appointments to book, and a growing share of owners want that done at their door. This post looks at why demand for mobile dog grooming keeps growing and what the future outlook means for groomers.
Why the Demand for Mobile Dog Groomers is Growing
There are several reasons why the demand for mobile dog groomers is increasing.
- Convenience for busy pet owners: Many owners struggle to find the time to drive a dog to a salon, wait, and drive back. A mobile groomer removes the trip entirely, which matters most to households juggling work, children, or more than one dog.
- Personalized attention: Traditional salons often groom several dogs at once, which can stress anxious, elderly, or reactive dogs. A mobile groomer works one-on-one, usually in a quiet van parked outside the owner’s home.
- Health and safety: The COVID-19 pandemic pushed many owners toward services with less contact with other people and animals. Many of those customers stayed with mobile grooming after the pandemic because of the convenience and lower stress for their dogs.
The Future Outlook for the Mobile Dog Grooming Industry
The wider pet market remains strong. APPA reports that U.S. pet industry spending reached $158 billion in 2025, up 3.7% on the year, and projects $165 billion for 2026. Growth is also broadening across generations, with Gen X households among the fastest-growing groups of new pet owners.
There is one trend mobile groomers should watch. APPA’s 2026 Dog Report finds dog owners becoming more value-conscious, with more of them bringing routine care such as grooming into the home. Owners are not cutting back on their dogs, but they are choosing more carefully what they pay for. For a mobile groomer, that makes clear pricing, reliable scheduling, and services owners can’t easily do themselves, such as full coat work, nail care for difficult dogs, and deshedding, more important than ever.
As demand grows, more businesses are likely to enter the market, which means more competition in popular areas. Groomers who make booking easy will have an edge: tools like SendWork (https://sendwork.com) let customers book appointments online and keep groomers’ schedules and routes organized. If you’re weighing whether to join the industry yourself, our guide to starting a mobile dog grooming business covers the costs and first steps.
Conclusion
In conclusion, convenience, personalized attention, and lower stress for dogs continue to drive demand for mobile groomers, and dog ownership is still rising. The opportunity is real, but owners are spending more deliberately, so the groomers who win will be the ones who make every appointment easy and worth the price. If you’re a pet owner looking for a convenient and stress-free way to groom your dog, consider hiring a mobile dog groomer for your next appointment.
Updated September 2026: pet ownership and spending figures now reflect APPA’s 2026 State of the Industry and Dog reports. An earlier market-size projection that could not be verified was removed.
