My friend from South Africa has a Bichon Frise named Luna. Luna is basically a white fluffball that requires professional grooming every 6 weeks.
In Cape Town, grooming cost R600 (~¥250) and took 3 hours.
In Shanghai, my friend discovered Chinese pet grooming.
The discovery:
She found a pet grooming shop on her apartment complex's ground floor. Small storefront. Pink sign. Photos of perfectly coiffed dogs in the window.
She walked in. Showed them a photo of Luna.
"Bichon? Yes. Full groom. Wash, cut, nails, ears. ¥120."
My friend: "When can I pick her up?"
"3 hours."
The process:
She dropped Luna off at 10 AM.
At 1 PM, she returned.
Luna was... transformed.
• Her fur was perfectly rounded into a sphere
• Her paws were trimmed into little pom-poms
• Her ears were shaped into perfect triangles
• She smelled like peach shampoo
• They had tied a pink bow around her neck
• They gave my friend a photo collage of Luna's "spa day"
Total cost: ¥120 ($16).
My friend almost cried.
What Chinese pet grooming includes:
Basic groom (¥80-150):
• Bath with premium shampoo (you pick the scent: peach, cherry blossom, milk)
• Blow dry + brush
• Full body cut
• Nail trim
• Ear cleaning
• Anal gland expression (they do this without asking)
Premium groom (¥200-400):
• All of the above
• Teeth cleaning
• Paw pad treatment
• Aromatherapy
• "Styling" (creative cuts, dye, accessories)
The extras:
• Photo shoot: ¥50-100
• Costume rental: ¥30-50
• Pet massage: ¥80-150
• "Pet hotel" daycare while you travel: ¥80-200/day
The pet economy in China:
China's pet industry is massive. Shanghai alone has 1,000+ pet grooming shops.
Pet services you can find:
• Pet grooming (every neighborhood)
• Pet hospitals (open 24/7 in big cities)
• Pet hotels (luxury boarding)
• Pet swimming pools (yes, really)
• Pet bakeries (homemade dog treats)
• Pet photography studios
• Pet funeral services
• Pet DNA testing
The vet experience:
Luna needed vaccines. My friend took her to a pet hospital.
The vet spoke English. The facilities were cleaner than some human hospitals my friend had seen.
Tips for foreign pet owners in China:
• Bring your pet's vaccination records from home
• Register your dog with local authorities (required in most cities)
• Large dogs (over 35cm shoulder height) are banned in some city centers
• Keep your dog on a leash in public - enforcement is strict
• Many parks don't allow dogs - check before you go
• Pet stores on Taobao are cheaper than physical stores for food and supplies
The one weird thing:
The groomer gave my friend a "grooming report card." It rated Luna's behavior: "Cooperativeness: A+. Anxiety: B. Fur quality: A-."
My friend framed it.
"I came to China worried about how Luna would adjust. Instead, she's living a better life than I am. She has a spa day every month. I haven't had a massage in a year."
Any other pet owners in China? How does your fur baby like it here?
Posted on 2026-5-25 15:27:24