There is a phenomenon in pet grooming where dogs develop softer, fuzzier, fluffier coats than expected, sometimes in odd places. This strange, fuzzy coat, sometimes called "spay coat," may be linked to the hormonal changes when pets are spayed or neutered.
My boyfriend gave me a Cocker Spaniel puppy when I was a teenager. His family had owned cockers for years, and his mother kept them groomed. She had learned how from a breeder and passed her knowledge to me. She taught me how to lay my puppy down and brush him "from the skin out" all over. Little did I know these lessons were the seeds that started my long career in grooming.
More than one pet groomer has described themselves as “people pleasers.” Though it may seem nice to be someone who pleases others, it usually means that the groomer lets others walk all over them and becomes overworked, resentful, and burnt out.
A groomer friend introduced me to this concept many years ago, saving me time, effort, and grief. The basic premise is this: when you are grooming a pet dog, take a moment to consider what it will be like to groom that dog on its next visit.
True confession. I read a lot of online grooming forums. I enjoy seeing what other groomers are doing, thinking, and trying. I often learn new tips and tricks and sometimes get good ideas for my blog posts.
Sometimes, pet groomers get some unusual styling requests. I bet you will recognize some of these: "Shave the poodle feet, but do it all the way up to the wrist joint.", "Trim the legs and feet much closer than the body."....
When grooming West Highland White terriers, creating the proper tail shape seems to be confusing to some groomers. Here are some tips to help you nail those tails.
Mixed-breed Millie trots in for her every six-week grooming appointment, and her owner hands you a bottle of shampoo from their veterinarian's office. "Millie is having an allergic reaction to something, and her skin is a mess. The vet told me to ask you to please use this." Here are some things you need to know when you use the prescribed product.
If you ask ten pet owners, "Do cats need baths? " Most of them will say, "No, they keep themselves clean." It is commonly believed that cats can maintain healthy skin and coat because they self-groom. To some extent, this is true. Your average young, healthy, short-haired cat generally keeps themselves quite tidy. But not all cats are young, healthy, or short-haired.
Imagine the following scenarios.
These are all scary examples of things that can easily happen in any grooming environment, even under the watchful eye of the most caring, careful, professional groomer. Accidents and emergencies are always a possibility when working with live animals. How we react when a situation like any of the above happens is paramount.
For this reason, taking a pet first aid course is crucial for groomers. There are a variety of courses available; some can be taken hands-on, which is great because you can try resuscitating and bandaging techniques on model animals, and others can be taken via the internet from the comfort of home, which has its own benefits.
Becoming educated in basic first aid for animals will help you understand what first aid supplies you need to keep on hand and how to respond quickly and efficiently to any medical emergency. It will demonstrate that you are committed to the well-being of the pets in your care while grooming them. Pet owners will be reassured knowing they are entrusting their pet to a groomer who will know how to respond appropriately in case of an accident or illness.
Prices for classes vary widely. You can search online for courses in your area or offered online. Some well-respected classes are Pet Tech and those provided by the American Red Cross
