PIAA Updates Grooming Code as 76% of Salons Back Mandatory Animal Care Training

The Pet Industry Association of Australia is updating grooming standards with state and federal governments after its 2025 member survey found 76% support mandatory animal care qualifications for new entrants. For piaa grooming code welfare, Updated 28 June 2026.

The PIAA Pet Grooming Survey 2025 also reported 79% of respondents find skilled groomers extremely difficult to hire and 92% want better industry statistics. CEO Anthony Ramsey told Pet Industry News in early 2026 that PIAA is collaborating with governments across retail, boarding, and grooming to review codes of practice.

For dog owners, the update matters because welfare headlines from WA and elsewhere are pushing politicians toward regulation. PIAA is trying to shape that response before mandatory licensing arrives state by state.

What the National Code already requires of members

PIAA’s National Code of Practice sets minimum standards for member businesses across grooming, boarding, training, and pet services. Standards use mandatory language: members must meet welfare minimums or risk membership.

The code separates standards from guidelines. Standards describe actions needed for acceptable welfare levels. Guidelines encourage exceeding those minimums through accreditation schemes.

Membership is voluntary for the industry at large. Non-members face fewer contractual obligations even when state animal welfare laws still apply.

What PIAA wants to change next

PIAA says proposed code updates would require new entrants to complete training encompassing core foundation animal welfare and care across grooming, daycare, boarding, walking, and pet sitting.

That aligns with survey sentiment: groomers report burnout, affordability pressure, and training gaps while demand stays strong. Ramsey framed 2026 as a year to advance advocacy, standards, and events like AusGroom in Melbourne and AusPet Expo in Sydney.

news.com.au reported in its grooming investigation that PIAA grooming director Joanne Marden is consulting multiple state governments on qualifications and welfare matters while codes are refreshed.

How this interacts with RSPCA headlines

RSPCA WA investigations and open grooming footage cases fuel public demand for licensing. PIAA responds that isolated incidents should not define the whole sector while still acknowledging enforcement gaps.

Industry peak bodies and welfare inspectors are not opposed on every point. Both want anxious dogs stopped rather than forced, and both want repeat offenders identifiable. disagreement centres on whether voluntary membership can scale fast enough.

Owners should not wait for law reform to choose carefully. PIAA membership or stated compliance with the code is one filter among several we outline in our post-welfare-headlines checklist.

What booking questions look like in 2026

Ask whether staff record coat and skin condition at intake. Confirm the salon will pause if a dog shows panic or collapse risk. Verify breed experience on double-coated dogs before accepting a shave-down recommendation.

Read how to choose a dog groomer for a full question list. Compare multiple businesses on the directory before you commit to a standing four to six week maintenance schedule.

Outlook for the second half of 2026

Expect draft code language to surface through government consultation channels rather than overnight law changes. PIAA events in March through September give members visibility into proposed training pathways.

We will update this summary when PIAA publishes final revised grooming standards or a state announces mandatory licensing tied to those standards.

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