By business · Pets

Instagram auto-replies for pet groomers

A groomer has wet hands and a dog on the table when the messages arrive: how much for a cockapoo, can you fit us in this week, my dog is matted. Comment-to-DM answers while you work. Below are the words, four set-ups, freebies and what to check.

Updated 6 October 2026

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Comment words for pet groomers

Ask people to comment one word in your caption or video. Each word sends something different.

PRICES: A price guide by breed or size and coat type, with what the full groom includes and which extras, such as de-shedding, cost more.
PUPPY: Your first-groom introduction for puppies: the age you start, the vaccinations you ask for and how short, gentle visits build confidence.
MATTED: What happens when a coat is already matted: when a groomer can brush it out, when it must be clipped short, and why.
DESHED: Your de-shedding treatment: the breeds it suits, how long it takes, the price and how often it makes sense.
CAT: Cat grooming: whether you take cats, what the appointment involves, how a long-haired cat is handled and the price.
DEPOSIT: Your booking and cancellation policy: the deposit, the notice you need for a change and what happens after a no-show.
SLOTS: The free appointments for the next two weeks, for people who reply to a Story that shows the diary.

4 set-ups to try

Each one shows the conversation it creates. After a comment, the first DM is plain text, as Meta requires, and the link follows once they answer.

Prices from a before-and-after groom Reel
Someone comments on your post
PRICES
Public reply under their comment
The price guide is in your DMs 🐶
First DM (plain text)
Thanks for the comment. What breed is your dog, and how long is the coat now, short or long and fluffy? Reply and I'll send the prices for your dog's size and how often most owners book.Yes pleaseGrooming prices by size and coatSee the prices
Price depends on the breed and the coat, not just a dog's weight, so a price list without a question causes arguments at the door. The coat answer lets you spot early which dogs need extra time.
Matted-coat enquiries from a shave-down post
Someone comments on your post
MATTED
Public reply under their comment
Details are in your DMs, thanks for asking
First DM (plain text)
Thanks for asking. Is the matting mostly behind the ears and under the legs, or all over the body? Reply and I'll explain what we can and can't brush out, and how a short clip helps a dog that is uncomfortable.Yes pleaseMatted coats: what to expectRead the guide
A badly matted coat can't always be saved, and an owner who finds out at the table feels ambushed. Asking where the mats are helps you decide before booking whether to allow a longer slot or suggest a short clip.
Free slots from the Monday diary Story
Replied to your story
SLOTSThanks for replying. What breed is your dog, and have they been groomed before? Reply and I'll send the days I have space this fortnight and how to book.Free appointmentsSee the diary
A Story reply means they wrote first, so the card can follow their answer at once. First-time dogs need a longer slot, and the breed answer shows how much time to block before you offer a time.
Deposit and cancellation rules for “what if I can't come?”
DEPOSITThanks for asking. Is this for a first booking, or have you already got an appointment you need to change? Reply and I'll send how the deposit works and how much notice we need.Deposits and cancellationsRead the policy
A no-show leaves a table empty and a dog-sized gap in the day. Putting the policy where owners see it before they book means you can point to it later without it feeling like a telling-off.

Freebies worth commenting for

A brushing guide for double-coated breeds, with what to use in the spring moult
A coat-care routine for poodle crosses between salon visits, with the tools to use and the areas that mat first
A checklist for a puppy's first groom: what to practise at home with paws, ears and the dryer
A how-often-to-book chart by breed and coat length
What to expect on your dog's first day: drop-off, how long it takes and what the dog is doing in each stage
A guide to nail clipping and ear cleaning, and when to leave it to a groomer or a vet
A summer coat guide: why shaving a double coat is not always the answer
A pre-visit form for coat, temperament and health, kept in your own form rather than in DMs

What pet owners ask a groomer in DMs

Most messages start with a breed and a photo. The answer to nearly all of them is “it depends on the coat”, so ask about the coat in the first message and let the card carry the fixed information.

They ask	Send automatically	Answer yourself when
How much for a labradoodle?	The PRICES guide, with the coat-length question	The dog is very large or the coat is unusual
Can you do a puppy who's had one jab?	The PUPPY page with your vaccination rules	The owner is unsure of the schedule: suggest they ask their vet
My dog's coat is all knots. Can you fix it?	The MATTED guide	They send a photo and want you to judge it
Do you take cats?	The CAT page, or a clear note that you don't	The cat is anxious or old
Can you fit us in tomorrow?	The SLOTS diary	A regular wants a change or an extra visit
My dog bites at the dryer. Is that a problem?	Nothing: this one is yours	Always, so you can decide whether you can safely take the dog

Posts that earn comments for a grooming salon

A before-and-after of a full groom, with the owner's permission, and PRICES for the guide. Show a smooth finish, not just the cute face.
A puppy's first visit in a short clip, with PUPPY for how to prepare at home.
A matted coat before it is clipped short, with a caption explaining why, and MATTED for the guide. Honest explanations tend to win trust.
A Reel of a double-coated dog being de-shed, with DESHED for the treatment details.
A cat having a trim, with CAT for what you do and don't take on.
A Monday Story of the diary with gaps, with SLOTS in the text.

Bookings climb before holidays, weddings and in late spring when heavy coats start to moult. Have SLOTS and DEPOSIT working before those weeks, since that is when the diary fills and the cancellations start.

From a DM to a booked appointment

The first DM asks the breed or the coat, so the card shows the right price and the right slot length.
The card opens your booking page or form. DMFast does not hold appointments or take a deposit, so say there that a slot is held only once you confirm it.
Use email capture for the coat-care guide and export the list as a CSV, so you can email regulars when spring bookings open.
Switch on the reminder for people who asked for prices and went quiet. Owners often compare two or three salons before booking.

A groomer in India can use the DMFast store to sell a coat-care guide as a digital product or hand it over for an email, with payments through Razorpay. Appointments and deposits stay in your own booking system.

Welfare and rules to check

Vaccinations and parasites. Many salons ask for up-to-date vaccinations and no fleas. Write your own rule on the card and ask owners to check their vet's records, not to guess.
Health. Don't advise on a lump, a skin problem or a limp. Suggest the owner talks to a vet, and note the concern for yourself.
Aggression and stress. Be honest about dogs you can't safely groom. A reply that promises a calm result for a frightened dog sets everyone up for a bad day.
Claims. Don't say a treatment will stop shedding. It reduces loose hair, and a double-coated dog will still shed.
Regulation. Whether groomers need a licence or qualification differs by country and region. Check what applies where you work before you describe yourself as qualified.
Photos. Ask the owner before posting, and avoid any image of a dog in distress.

Tip: Keywords match whole words wherever they appear, so CAT would also fire on “my cat hates the bath” under a dog post. Attach it to the one post about cats.

Messages to copy

Questions people ask

Can it give a price from a photo of the dog?

No. Keyword replies send your fixed message and the card. Ask for the breed and coat in the first DM, show the price by size and coat on the card, and give the exact quote yourself after you have seen the dog.

Can it book the appointment and take the deposit?

No. DMFast sends the reply and the card, and your booking page holds the slot and takes any deposit. In India, its store can take Razorpay payments for digital products and 1-on-1 call bookings, but it is not an appointment diary for grooming.

Can I message everyone who is due a groom?

Not through Instagram. Automated messages go only to people who wrote to you in the last 24 hours, and official tools can't send mass DMs. Post a Story with a reply word for the quiet weeks, and use the email list for reminders.

People comment PRICES on posts that aren't mine to price. What then?

Set the word on one post at a time so unrelated comments don't trigger it. Each person is also answered only once a day per auto-reply, and comments that are just links or promotions are skipped.

Does it work for a mobile groomer?

Yes, with an Instagram Creator or Business account. Change the cards to explain the area you cover, what the van or visit includes and how far ahead people should book.

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Words to know

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Answer every PRICES comment in seconds

Pick a post and the word. DMFast replies under each comment, sends the DM and follows with your link once they answer, day and night. It can collect emails on the way. Free plan, no card.

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