The one good thing about the COVID-19 pandemic is that most of us are a little more conscious of preventing the spread of germs. In the pet grooming environment, we are concerned with preventing the spread of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that might be transmittable between the pets we groom.
A new photography app on the market is a massive hit with pet groomers. It is called PhotoRoom. You can take it for a test drive for free for a week; after that, it costs around one hundred dollars a year. This app enables groomers to snap a photo of a freshly groomed dog on their table or wherever convenient. The app then removes all the background clutter, including the grooming post and loop, the brush and piles of fur you forgot to remove from the table, your cup of coffee and half-eaten donut from the shelf behind your workstation. From there you can choose from an enormous variety of backdrops.
“How can I groom pets faster?” is a regularly asked question by both new and established groomers. One key to increasing grooming speed is to establish a routine that is used on (almost) every pet. In our shop, we groom pets one-on-one and (usually succeed) in grooming each animal in a one-hour appointment. To make this schedule work, we have found that a routine approach to each pet helps us work swiftly and thoroughly. We have a fifty-pound weight limit, but our method could work with larger dogs by extending the appointment time to one and a half or two hours.
Most groomers try their hardest to make every dog they work on look the best it possibly can. But sometimes, we must be happy with a groom that is merely "good enough." Here are some examples of these times.
As a new groomer, I had one favorite type of slicker brush. I used it on everything from tiny toy breeds to giant hairy breeds. It worked just fine, but with time and experience, I realized there were other options that might make my job easier. As tools go, slicker brushes are not expensive, so purchasing a variety of styles can be done without breaking the bank.
Sanitizing hand tools between grooming pets can seem like quite a time-consuming chore on a busy day, but it is important to do so in order to prevent bacteria and fungi from being passed from one pet to the next. One simple, inexpensive solution is to keep some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle on hand.
As pet groomers, most have experienced lifting a dog to put it on the grooming table or in the tub and feeling a twinge in their back. Many dogs are less than excited about being lifted and show their displeasure by twisting and squirming, which makes that lift much more challenging. There are steps groomers can take to help keep their backs healthy.
There are a limited number of pets hardworking groomers can style in one day, but by selling a few retail items to your existing customers, you can quickly increase your income without adding a single pet to your busy schedule.
Your customer arrives with his dog and a bottle of shampoo from the veterinarian. “Can you please use this? Thumper is one itchy dog, and his doctor wants us to try this to see if it helps.” Read on to see the best way to proceed.
Novice groomers often struggle with setting patterns on breeds such as Schnauzers, Scottish and other terriers, and Spaniels. Properly blending pattern trims like these is an essential skill that will elevate a groom from “meh” to “marvelous!”
