Holiday Adornments

Holiday Adornments

Pet grooming during the winter holiday season tends to be brisk. As pet owners prepare to travel with their animals or welcome family and friends to their homes, having freshly groomed pets is a top priority. The whole family needs to look spiffy for family photos! Adding a little extra bling to freshly groomed pets is fun and festive for us and often warmly welcomed by pet owners. 

Here are a few thoughts on “decking the pets.” 

  • Remember that not everyone celebrates Christmas. Have some options that are appropriate for Hanukkah, other religious holidays that fall around this time, or are simply winter-themed.
  • When in doubt, let your customer choose what bow or bandana they prefer.
  • Placing bows on collars is often a good choice. For instance, if you suspect the owner will leave the bow in the pet’s fur until the next groom, causing a tangled mess, slip the band over the collar instead. This is also a good idea if there are small children in the house who might remove the bow and reattach it in a way that might harm the pet.
  • Consider festive bowties for male dogs. Some customers don’t think a bow is appropriate for boys but get excited when they see their dog in a unique bowtie.
  • Bandanas are suitable for both male and female dogs and look especially fine on medium and larger breeds. 

It’s not just about bows and bandanas, either. A little nail polish to surprise your customers is often a hit. Choosing polish with a little glitter makes customers’ faces light up. Sometimes we alternate colors (one red nail, one green) or paint a solid base with a white tip ala “French” style human manicures. If you paint nails on a fluffy-footed dog, try slipping a knee-high panty-hose stocking over the dog’s leg, allowing the nails to poke through the fabric. This will keep the hair out of the way. After the polish has dried, slip the stocking off, and you will have a lovely, finished paw. 

Some groomers offer special seasonal scents during the holidays. It can be fun to mix things up a little and send the pets home smelling extra special. If you tend to use one signature perfume all year, try buying a bottle of something new to layer in an additional “wow” factor to your work.

We groomers work hard this time of year, and adding extra holiday adornments can help keep our jobs fresh and fun.

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Daryl Conner, MPS Meritus, CMCG has been devoted to making dogs and cats more comfortable and beautiful for 40 years.  You can find her happily working at FairWinds Grooming Studio with her daughter or typing away at her latest grooming-related article. Daryl was awarded both a Cardinal Crystal Award and Barkleigh Honors Award for journalism.  She shares her meadow-hugged antique Maine farmhouse with her practically perfect husband and a lot of animals.