Groomers in Stratford, CT

Stratford has five grooming salons, the 11th largest choice in Fairfield County, where Stamford accounts for 18 on its own. That is enough to choose on something other than availability. Ask who is set up for your dog's coat: a salon that hand strips terriers and one that mostly does doodle trims are doing different jobs with different equipment. All of them list a website as well as a phone number.

If nothing here suits, the nearest larger choice is Milford, about 5 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.

Leaf litter, burrs and a thickening coat. This is when to decide what you are doing for winter, because a coat left to grow through the holidays without brushing is the January shave down every groomer sees.