Large Breed Grooming — Groomers & Salons
Large breed grooming accommodates bigger dogs with appropriate facilities, extra time, and experience handling breeds like Great Danes, Newfoundlands, and Saint Bernards.
213 groomers across 188 cities in Australia
Top-Rated Large Breed Grooming Groomers
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Find Large Breed Grooming Groomers by City
What is Large Breed Grooming Grooming?
Large breed grooming is a full groom scaled for dogs of roughly 25 kg and up: bigger tubs or ramps, high-velocity dryers, and more time on the table. 205 of the 1,728 Australian salons in our directory list it as a service, and expect to pay above the small-dog band, commonly $130–230 for a full groom depending on coat.
Choosing the right groomer for large breed grooming is important for getting the best results. Look for groomers with experience in this service and positive reviews from pet owners. Groomably lists 213 groomers across 188 Australian cities offering large breed grooming.
What large breed grooming includes
- ✓ A bath in a walk-in or ramp-access tub, so the dog is not lifted in and out
- ✓ A full blow-out with a high-velocity dryer, which does most of the de-shedding work on double coats
- ✓ Brushing and undercoat raking through the trousers, ruff and tail, where large dogs mat first
- ✓ Nail trim, ear clean and a hygiene and paw-pad tidy
- ✓ A clip or trim to the owner’s brief, for breeds whose coat is cut rather than shed
- How long it takes
- Two to four hours for most large dogs, and longer for a heavy double coat in spring shed or a big doodle with a full scissor finish. Drying alone can take an hour on a samoyed or a malamute.
- What it costs
- Large dogs sit above the $50–110 full-groom band in our cost guide, because the price tracks time and the time tracks coat volume. Salon menus in our directory show a typical size ladder: one lists a full groom at $133 for a large dog, $163 extra-large and $183 giant; another starts large-dog full grooms from $226. A de-shed-only or bath-and-dry visit is cheaper, often $70–120.
Why big dogs are priced and booked differently
A groom is mostly labour, and a 40 kg dog with a dense coat simply takes longer to wash, dry and finish than a 6 kg one. Shampoo, water and dryer time scale too. That is why almost every salon prices by size, and why "large" and "giant" are separate rows on most menus rather than a single surcharge.
Equipment matters as much as time. A salon set up for small breeds may have a raised tub and a table rated for a toy poodle, which is unsafe for a 50 kg dog that has to be lifted. Large-breed salons use ramps, walk-in tubs and hydraulic tables that lower to the floor, so the dog walks on and the groomer never lifts it. Ask about this when you book.
Large-breed salons in our directory also lean toward the services big coats need. 59.5% of them list de-shedding, against 43.2% of all salons, and 64.9% list nail trimming against 53.4%.
Double coats: de-shed, never shave
Many large breeds carry a double coat: a dense insulating undercoat beneath longer guard hairs. Huskies, samoyeds, german shepherds, malamutes and golden retrievers all fall in this group. The right groom for them is a thorough bath and a high-velocity blow-out that pushes loose undercoat out, followed by raking, not a clip.
Our photo library shows this clearly. Of the classified husky photos with a grooming style tagged, 52% are de-shedding work, and for samoyeds it is 49%. For golden retrievers the share is lower because owners more often book a tidy of the feathering, but a clipped-down golden is still rare.
Shaving a double-coated dog is the most common large-breed mistake. The coat can grow back patchy or not at all, and the guard hairs protect against sun as well as cold. If a groomer suggests shaving a double coat for summer, ask why; the exception is a coat so matted that de-matting would hurt the dog, and that is a welfare decision, not a style.
Large doodles and clipped breeds
Not every big dog sheds. Standard poodles, large groodles, labradoodles and bernedoodles have coats that keep growing and must be cut, and they are among the longest appointments a salon books. A full scissor finish on a 35 kg groodle can take most of a morning.
These coats mat at friction points (behind the ears, under the collar, in the armpits and between the back legs), and on a big dog there is a lot more of all of them. Booking every four to six weeks keeps the groom a style choice. Leaving it twelve weeks usually turns it into a clip-off, because brushing out a fully matted large dog is slow and painful.
If you want the coat kept long, the practical answer is brushing at home to the skin two or three times a week, with a slicker and then a metal comb. If the comb catches, the brush did not reach the skin.
How often a large dog needs a groom
Short-coated large dogs, such as labradors, boxers and great danes, mostly need a bath, a de-shed in shedding season and regular nail trims. Every eight to twelve weeks is plenty, with nails every four to six.
Double-coated breeds benefit from a professional blow-out at least at each seasonal shed, spring and autumn, and ideally every six to eight weeks in between. Heavy coats like a samoyed or malamute do better on the shorter end.
Clipped and doodle-coated large dogs need the most frequent visits, every four to eight weeks, because their coat grows continuously and mats fastest.
Large Breed Grooming guides
Golden Retriever Haircuts: Styles and the Shave Myth
What a golden retriever haircut actually involves — the tidy-up trim, the summer cut debate, de-shedding and why 82% of golden grooms are a bath and blow-dry.
Read the guide →German Shepherd Grooming: Shedding and the Shave Myth
German shepherd grooming explained — why no salon in our photo library clips one, what a de-shedding treatment actually does, and how often a GSD needs a groomer.
Read the guide →
Large Breed Grooming Grooming FAQ
What is large breed grooming grooming?
Large breed grooming accommodates bigger dogs with appropriate facilities, extra time, and experience handling breeds like Great Danes, Newfoundlands, and Saint Bernards.
How much does large breed grooming grooming cost in Australia?
Large Breed Grooming Grooming pricing depends on the breed, coat condition, and the groomer's experience. Contact groomers directly through Groomably for personalised quotes — most offer free consultations to assess your pet's needs.
How do I find a good large breed grooming grooming groomer?
Look for groomers with experience in large breed grooming services and positive reviews from pet owners. Groomably lists 213 groomers across 188 cities — compare services, read reviews, and find the right groomer for your pet.
How often should my pet get large breed grooming grooming?
Most pets benefit from large breed grooming every 4-8 weeks, depending on breed and coat type. Your groomer can recommend the ideal schedule based on your pet's specific needs.
How much does it cost to groom a large dog in Australia?
Commonly $130–230 for a full groom, depending on coat type and size. Menus in our directory step up by size class, for example $133 large, $163 extra-large and $183 giant at one salon. A bath-and-dry or de-shed visit is usually cheaper.
Should I shave my husky or golden retriever for summer?
Generally no. Double coats insulate against heat and sun as well as cold, and a shaved undercoat can grow back patchy. A professional de-shed and blow-out removes the loose undercoat and keeps the dog cooler without the risk.
How long does a large dog groom take?
Two to four hours for most large dogs. Heavy double coats and big doodles with a full scissor finish take longest, and drying alone can take an hour.