What Do Professional Dog Groomers Actually Use? Honest Recommendations From Dogs Delight's Expert Team

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We reached out to the award winning dog grooming salon and training centre, Dogs Delight in Chiswick for a snapshot overview of what a professional dog grooming salon rates as the best grooming products.

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The guys couldn’t have been more enthusiastic and helpful, giving us genuine review recommendations and were keen to point out that they are not sponsored by any of these product brands or companies.

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Here’s what they said:

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Choosing the right scissors is an important decision for every dog groomer. They represent a considerable investment, costing from £50 to £200 a pair, that will need to last, survive multiple sharpenings and be reliable for continual use. Professional groomers don’t have just one pair either, often holding 4 or 5 for specific uses; straight blade finishing scissors for precision clean cuts, bull nose for more delicate work around sensitive areas, thinning blades for blending and feathering, curved for shaping and so on.

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Katie is one of the grooming teachers at Dogs Delight, specialising in silky coats, and recommends Sitka, particularly the Blue Bell scissor from the range. The salon groomers favour Sitka as one of the more durable brands and rate their reliability that daily salon use demands, lasting a long time between sharpening.

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Brushing both at the grooming appointment and at home is essential for keeping your dog's coat healthy. Using the right brush helps to remove dead hair and prevents matting but also stimulates the skin, reduces shedding and is truly a bond building exercise between owner and dog.

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The groomers at Dog’s Delight are big fans of Artero dog grooming products and for brushes, the range covers virtually every coat type. They think the quality is excellent and consistent throughout, with Dekota, the salon’s junior groomer, commenting “I love the variety in the range, whatever the coat type, Artero always seems to have the perfect brush for the job”. 

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Dekota isn’t alone; other independent reviews, for both professional groomers and pet owners, are overwhelmingly positive.

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The Artero recommendations don’t stop at brushes, Dogs Delight rate the brand's Flash conditioning spray as their favourite finishing product, which they say leaves the coat feeling really silky and soft. The salon manager, Patsy says she uses this “on my own dog at home all the time. Clients are always asking how we get coats looking so shiny, this is definitely one of our secrets”.

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Whoops! Not so secret now!

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Abbie, who also teaches at the training centre, specialises in hand-stripped breeds. She recommends the Artero Juno stripping knives, explaining that “they are perfect for long-legged terriers that need both stripping and carding, giving a really clean and natural finish”. 

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Abbie’s recommendation does come with a caveat however. Whereas brushing and bathing are things that owners can, and in most cases should do, between grooming appointments, hand stripping is not. It is a skill that requires specific training that only a professional groomer should perform. Without understanding the correct techniques and developing the skills to use handstripping tools correctly a dog’s coat can be ruined.

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Combing is another essential process during grooming and ongoing coat maintenance with a plethora of combing tools used to detangle knots, remove dead undercoat, and check for hidden mats whilst distributing natural oils. They also help fluff the coat for styling, and to check a coat is tangle-free before bathing or clipping.

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The salon’s apprentice, Eva, highly recommends Colin Taylor Ultimate finishing and Greyhound combs, saying they are excellent quality and durable and, unlike many combs, they do not tend to lose pins if accidentally dropped.

Eva's comb recommendation rounds off what has been a genuinely impressive and candid insight into the tools that a busy, award-winning professional salon trusts day in and day out. No sponsored opinions, no brand deals — just the honest preferences of groomers who use this equipment on dozens of dogs every week.

A sincere thank you to the whole team at Dogs Delight — Katie, Dekota, Abbie, Patsy and Eva — for their time, generosity and expertise. If you're in the Chiswick area and looking for a groomer you can trust, they're well worth a visit.

Dogs Delight — 4 Station Parade, Burlington Lane, London W4 3HD — Instagram: @dogsdelightuk

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