A gentleman watching me groom his pet last week asked, “Why does he let you do all these things to him? He would never allow me to trim his claws or remove a tangle.” It’s a question groomers encounter occasionally, and it’s interesting to consider the answers.
Sometimes, pet owners ask us for recommendations on what tools they should use to maintain their pet's coat between grooms. This is a happy thing because it means the pet may return to future appointments in better shape.
The days are longer, and the weather is a bit warmer, but pet groomers can tell you that spring is arriving because it is shedding season. Clumps, clouds, and chunks of fur are becoming apparent on dogs everywhere.
It happens pretty often—pet owners who are confused about what breed of dog they have at the end of the leash. It can be humorous, or it can cause problems. Here is an example. A customer calls and schedules an appointment for a Pomeranian. You set a date, planning how long it usually takes you to groom this breed. The customer shows up with a 48-pound dog that looks a whole lot more like a Chow mix than the Pomeranian you were expecting. Your schedule for the day takes a painful hit. This dog is much bigger and fluffier than you had planned on.
The King of Terriers, the Airedale, is an uncommon breed in many parts of the country.Airedales, the largest of the wire-coated terriers, can be 23 inches tall at the shoulder, with a strong, muscular build. Like many terriers, they have unique facial hair that sets them apart from other breeds, and groomers not used to working on this breed may find setting the proper pattern on their faces a little tricky.
As a brand-new groomer, I worked at a veterinary hospital for a while. One of the first things the doctor did was show me how he wanted cages cleaned. The place where I learned to groom was a little, um, relaxed about cleaning, and I’m afraid I didn’t make a good impression on my new boss.
Dandy, the cocker mix, is a dancer. He line dances to see you at the end of his leash, boogies in the bathtub, and wants to tango on the table. Working on a dog this happy is adorable. And exhausting.
Muffy, the American Cocker Spaniel, arrives for her annual spring shave down. Just like every year, Muffy is matted. Her ears are particularly bad, with tennis ball-sized tangles weighing them down.
The days are getting longer, meaning shedding season is just around the corner. Have you ever tried removing loose undercoat in the tub? If not, it's a neat trick to try on double-coated breeds. Here is how.
Mr. Barr arrives for Tiki's grooming appointment and says, "My wife sent instructions," as he hands over a piece of paper. Groomers tend to fall into two different camps when this happens. Camp #1. This groomer is happy to see that piece of paper and eagerly reads it. The words (and sometimes drawings!) are valuable information. They can help set the groomer up for success because they know if they can follow the instructions on the paper, chances are the customer will be happy with their work. Camp # 2. This groomer will have to try hard to prevent the customer from seeing their eye roll. They may even feel angry or insulted that the customer has instructions and resent the implication that their status as the grooming professional is being questioned.
