Tagged with 'Pet grooming tips'

Nico is a toy poodle, and I have groomed him every five weeks since he was a puppy. He is now a doddering old man, nearly blind from cataracts, riddled with arthritis, and missing most of his teeth.

I don't know many shops or mobile groomers who don't use a shop or "wet/dry" vacuum regularly. These wonderful tools are endlessly helpful for sucking up all that fur that hits the ground as we work, nabbing cobwebs, cleaning the filters in our dryers, heating systems, fans, and more. But let's be honest, they tend to get smelly. 

When I was training to be a pet groomer, my mentor used to tell me, "You don't have to be the best groomer in the world. If you send home clean dogs that are tangle-free, have a cute face, and a tidy potty area, your customers will be happy." While I strive always to do my best, I realize there is some truth to my mentor's words.

Spring cleaning is traditionally a home chore to prepare for the warmer season. It is time to get rid of the dust, grime, clutter, and debris that has collected over the cold months and make things lighter and brighter. Applying the concept to your grooming space can be a pleasant and practical way to prepare for our industry's typically hectic time of year.

You have brushed, you have combed, you have fretted, but still, there are strange little wispy, fuzzy patches on the dog you are grooming. You know the ones I mean; you have seen them on Golden Retrievers, some Spaniels, Setters, or mixes with similar coats. They are the patches of unusually textured, soft, dull fur that show up on the fronts of the legs, the sides of the thighs, or the ears and maybe cheeks of some of these breeds.

Pet groomers face seasonal challenges as winter loses its grip on much of the country. Get ready for mud, mats, and bugs now to prepare for the coming weeks. For starters, grooming customers who are not on a regular schedule tend to notice that their pets need grooming in the spring, so our calendars get extra busy. These not-so-frequent visitors, as well as the regularly planned dogs, may present you with the following problems to tackle.

Grover is a completely adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He has the breeds typical silky coat, with thick, luxurious furnishings on his ears. So thick, in fact, they are a serious challenge to dry. Most dogs are not fans of the drying process to begin with, and when you work on their sensitive ears, they like it even less. Here are some tips for getting the hair on thickly coated ears dry while keeping the pet as comfortable as possible.

No, AI can't dematt an Old English Sheepdog but believe it or not, artificial intelligence can come in handy for pet groomers. "How in the world could it be useful?" you say. I'm so glad you asked!

Sometimes, when I am grooming a dog, I think, "Oh, it would look so pretty if I left the coat longer." Then I must remind myself that this particular dog walks in the woods often, swims sometimes, and never, ever gets brushed at home. That means that if I leave the coat longer, there is a good chance that it will come riddled with mats and tangles when I see it six weeks later. 

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 isa 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.