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.
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.
Grooming your dog doesn’t have to be a battle—it can be a fun bonding experience for both of you! Whether you’ve got an adorable puppy or a seasoned adult dog, starting early (or with positive training) is the key to a stress-free grooming routine. Trust me, with a bit of patience, a lot of treats, and some positive vibes, you’ll both be enjoying grooming time together in no time!
Let's imagine a grooming scenario. A new customer brings you their dog for the first time. It's a young, medium-sized mixed breed. If you were going to guess, you'd suspect there is some Dachshund and a bit of terrier in there somewhere, along with other breeds, as well. It's a cute dog with a nice coat, and you and the owner come to an agreement about how the pet is to be groomed
I do a lot of thinking when I am blow-drying dogs. Last week, as I was (endlessly) drying a Cocker Spaniel, I began to ponder some "do's and don'ts" that apply to our industry. Here arethree of each that I came up with.
If someone is said to be “sitting down on the job,” it tends to describe a person who is not working diligently. The phrase probably came about during the industrial revolution when many people worked in factories, standing for hours at a time while they worked.
Jodi is a blond cocker/poodle mix that has graced my table every three weeks for many years. She gets a full groom on one session, a bath, fluff, and brush on the next. She's a good and pretty girl, and her signature look involves long, flowing ears.
Maybe the person who taught you how to groom told you to do it. Perhaps you saw dogs that groomers had done this on a breed you were not very familiar with grooming, so you started doing it, too, thinking it was acceptable. It's possible you did it by mistake once and then continued to do it because you didn't know how to fix it.
What is "skimming," and why should a groomer know about it? Skimming is a grooming technique in which a clipper is used to shorten the animal's hair, but not in the typical manner. Regular clipping requires us to lay the clipper blade flat against the dog's skin. The size and shape of the blade determine how much hair is removed as the blade follows the contours of the animal's body.
