Groomers in Desert Hot Springs, CA

Desert Hot Springs has three grooming salons, the 19th largest choice in Riverside County, where Riverside accounts for 29 on its own. That is a small enough choice that it is worth ringing round before you settle. Ask specifically whether they take cats and whether they will handle a coat that has already matted, because those two answers vary more between salons than anything else. Two list a website; the other is reached by phone.

If nothing here suits, the nearest larger choice is Palm Springs, about 10 miles away, with 10 salons. Worth the drive for a first appointment with a difficult coat, less so for a routine tidy up every six weeks.

The rain returns and coats stop drying properly between walks. This is the point in the year to decide whether you are keeping a full coat through winter or taking it shorter, because switching halfway is what produces a matted dog in January.