The Hunterdon Scoop / Hire

Pet groomers in Hunterdon County

New Jersey does not license pet groomers. Read that twice, then read how to choose one anyway.

Skip to all 11 businesses filed under Pet Grooming in the county directory ↓

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What it costs

Full-service grooms nationally run about $55 to $95 for small and medium dogs, up to $150 to $200+ for extra-large or heavily matted dogs (Homeguide, 2026 Dog Grooming Prices guide). The premium spa-style shops in this county post rates at the top of that band, roughly $120 for a small dog to $210 for a 100-pound dog. Most smaller independents publish no flat rate card at all, so get a quote by weight and coat condition.

Before you hire

  1. NJ does not license or certify pet groomers, anyone can hang a sign and call themselves a groomer, so ask directly how long the specific person handling your dog (not just the shop) has been grooming, and whether they've completed any formal program (e.g., a named grooming school) versus learned entirely on the job.
  2. Ask what happens if your dog has a medical event (nicked skin, anxiety-related injury, heatstroke in a dryer cage) mid-groom, get the answer in writing or texted, not verbal reassurance. Groomers carry no state-mandated insurance, so confirm they carry their own liability coverage voluntarily.
  3. For a first visit, ask to tour the actual grooming area (not just the lobby) and see where dogs wait in crates/cages between steps, unattended-dryer and cage-safety incidents are the most common serious complaint nationally in this unlicensed trade.
  4. Get the cut described in plain terms before drop-off (blade length or 'leave 1 inch,' not just breed-standard names) and confirm in writing, 'bad haircut' disputes are the single most common complaint against groomers, and vague verbal instructions are usually the root cause.
  5. For mobile/in-home groomers, confirm exactly what's in the van (water heater, generator noise level, restraint setup) before booking, since your dog will be handled and restrained inside a trailer or van out of your direct sight for the full appointment.

Pet grooming is not a licensed occupation in New Jersey. There is no state registry, no exam, and no mandatory credential. The Pet Groomers Licensing Act (Bijou's Law), which would create a New Jersey State Board of Pet Groomers, has been introduced repeatedly but never enacted. Insurance and any formal training or certification (National Dog Groomers Association of America certification, for example) are entirely voluntary. With no registry to check, complaint history, review track record, and years in business are what you have.

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The local picture

Independent groomers here are mostly small shops, plus mobile operators covering the rural western towns where no storefront exists.

Questions neighbors actually ask

Do dog groomers in New Jersey need a license?

No. New Jersey has no state license or certification requirement for pet groomers. A bill to create one (nicknamed 'Bijou's Law,' which would set up a State Board of Pet Groomers) has been introduced in the legislature multiple times but has not passed. Anyone can open a grooming business today with zero mandated training, testing, or inspection.

How do I check if a groomer has any complaints against them, if there's no license to look up?

Check the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org) for a complaint history, most Hunterdon groomers are not BBB-accredited, but the complaint file itself is still public and free to search. Beyond that, cross-check Google, Yelp, and Nextdoor together rather than trusting one site, since a groomer can have a strong Yelp page and a thin or one-sided Google page.

What does a full groom typically cost in this area?

Nationally, full-service grooms run roughly $55 to $95 for small-to-large dogs and can exceed $150 to $200+ for extra-large or heavy-coated breeds, with size, coat condition, and matting driving most of the variation (Homeguide 2026 pricing guide). Local prices span that same range, with the premium spa-style shops listing roughly $120 for a small dog to $210 for a 100-pound dog. Get a quote by weight and coat condition before booking anywhere.

11 businesses filed under Pet Grooming in the county directory, A–Z

Everything filed under Pet Grooming in the county directory, alphabetically. It is a broad category, so it takes in neighboring lines of work as well as pet groomers. No ordering, no ranking, no picks.

Names, towns and numbers come from The Hunterdon Scoop business directory, pulled July 28, 2026. Want this list narrowed to your town? Browse Pet Grooming by town. A business appearing here is not a recommendation, and no business pays to be on it.

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