A Shih Tzu owner in JVC messaged us last month with a simple question. She’d been booking the cheapest grooming option every few weeks, and her dog came back clean, soft and smelling great every time. So why, three months in, was his fringe covering his eyes, the fur between his paw pads matting into felt, and his coat looking shaggier after every visit?
The answer was in what the basic package leaves out. It’s a question we hear constantly. Nin9 Tails grew out of years of pet grooming in Dubai, and since expanding to Dubai, we’ve found that most owners choosing between packages aren’t really asking “which is cheaper?” They’re asking “what will my dog actually get, and is the difference worth paying for?”
This guide answers exactly that, using our current 2026 Dubai package pricing, so you can pick the right groom for your dog’s breed, coat and routine.
Quick answer: In Dubai, a basic dog groom covers bathing, conditioning, blow-drying, nails, ears, eyes, hygiene trim, paw trim and teeth brushing. A full groom includes all of that plus a haircut. At Nin9 Tails, basic grooming starts from AED 180 and full grooming from AED 275 for a small dog. Short-coated dogs usually only need a basic groom; dogs with continuously growing hair need a full groom regularly.
Basic vs Full Groom: What’s Actually Included
Here’s how our two Dubai dog grooming packages compare, service by service:
| Service | Basic Groom (“Splash N’ Dash”) | Full Groom (“The Whole 9”) |
|---|---|---|
| Shower and conditioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blow dry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nail clipping and filing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ear cleaning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Eye cleaning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hygiene trim | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paw trimming | ✓ | ✓ |
| Teeth brushing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Haircut | ✗ | ✓ |
The key insight: The two packages share eight services. The only difference is the haircut. So the real question isn’t “basic or full?” It’s “does my dog’s coat need cutting?”
2026 Dog Grooming Prices in Dubai
Prices depend on your dog’s size. These are our current Dubai rates:
| Dog size | Basic Groom | Full Groom (current offer) | Full Groom (regular price) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | AED 180 | AED 275 | AED 340 |
| Medium | AED 200 | AED 330 | AED 410 |
| Large | AED 225 | AED 380 | AED 470 |
| XL-Large | AED 245 | AED 430 | AED 535 |
The full groom is currently offered at 20% off. If you’re unsure which size band your dog falls into, confirm it when booking so there are no surprises on the day.
At the current offer price, the step up from basic to full is AED 95 for a small dog and AED 185 for an XL dog. That’s effectively the price of a professional, breed-appropriate haircut done in the same session. For a wider view of how prices compare across pets and emirates, our breakdown of pet grooming costs across Abu Dhabi and Dubai covers cats, rabbits and birds too.
Which Package Does Your Dog Need?
Coat type decides this far more than size or price.
| Coat type | Example breeds | Best package |
|---|---|---|
| Short, smooth coat | Labrador, Beagle, French Bulldog, Pug, Boxer | Basic groom; a haircut adds little |
| Double coat | Husky, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Pomeranian | Basic groom, with deshedding as an add-on |
| Continuously growing hair | Shih Tzu, Poodle, Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, Bichon Frisé | Full groom regularly |
| Wire or long feathered coat | Schnauzer, Cocker Spaniel, Cavalier King Charles | Full groom every few visits, basic in between |
A note on double coats in Dubai’s heat
It’s tempting to shave a Husky or Golden Retriever for summer. Resist it. A double coat’s undercoat works as insulation against heat as well as cold, and shaving can disrupt how it grows back and regulates temperature. What these dogs actually need is regular removal of the loose undercoat, which is exactly what a deshedding treatment does.
The owner in JVC
For the Shih Tzu from our intro, the fix was simple. His coat grows continuously, so a basic groom kept him clean but did nothing about length. We switched him to a full groom, with a tidy face trim and paw pads cleared, and suggested a basic groom between full ones to keep his coat clean without paying for a haircut every time.
A Smart Schedule: Mixing Both Packages
Many Dubai owners don’t need to choose one package forever. For dogs with growing hair, a mixed routine often works best:
- Full groom every 6 to 8 weeks to keep the coat at a manageable length.
- Basic groom in between to handle bathing, nails, ears and hygiene.
This keeps the coat under control without paying for a haircut on every visit. Short-coated dogs can simply stay on basic grooms at whatever interval suits their activity and skin.
Your dog’s lifestyle matters too. Apartment dogs who spend summer mostly indoors often need less frequent bathing but still need nails and paws kept short on hard floors.
Add-Ons Worth Knowing About
Beyond the two main packages, we also offer targeted treatments that you can discuss when booking:
- Deshedding treatment: for double-coated and heavy-shedding breeds.
- Medicated baths: using vet-approved shampoos for sensitive skin, allergies or skin conditions.
- Breed-specific haircuts: styled to your dog’s breed and coat.
- Puppy grooming: a gentle first experience to build positive habits.
Older dogs may need a different approach altogether. If your dog is stiff or sore, our advice on grooming a senior dog with arthritis explains which positions and steps to adjust or skip.
How Long Does Each Package Take?
A basic groom is naturally quicker, since there’s no cutting or styling. A full groom takes longer, especially for breeds with dense or matted coats, where de-matting has to come before any cut. Timing also depends on your dog’s size and temperament. For realistic timings, see our guide on how long a grooming session takes in Dubai.
In Dubai, all our dog grooming is delivered at your door in a fully equipped, air-conditioned van, so whichever package you choose, your dog skips the car ride and the waiting room. You can see full details of our dog grooming in Dubai, or explore what a complete session covers on our full grooming in Dubai page.
Frequently Asked Question
1. What’s the difference between a basic and full dog groom?
Both include bathing, conditioning, blow-drying, nails, ears, eyes, hygiene trim, paw trim and teeth brushing. A full groom adds a haircut.
2. How much does dog grooming cost in Dubai?
At Nin9 Tails, basic grooming ranges from AED 180 to AED 245 and full grooming from AED 275 to AED 430 at the current offer, depending on your dog’s size.
3. Does my short-haired dog need a full groom?
Usually not. Short-coated breeds like Labradors, Beagles and French Bulldogs rarely need a haircut, so a basic groom covers what they need.
4. Should I shave my double-coated dog in summer?
No. A double coat helps regulate temperature. Regular deshedding to remove loose undercoat is the better option in Dubai’s heat.
5. How often should my dog be groomed?
Dogs with continuously growing hair usually need a full groom every 6 to 8 weeks, with basic grooms in between. Short-coated dogs can be groomed less often, depending on activity and skin.
