Many educational social media page groomers ask this question: "How can I groom faster?" I have a suggestion. Start timing yourself. Most of us always keep our cell phones nearby, and the clock on our phones has a stopwatch feature. Using it and jotting notes on how long various aspects of the grooming process take, you can illuminate areas where you may be able to shave a few minutes here and there. Those minutes add up. I recently timed myself as I groomed a fifty-pound Golden retriever/poodle mix.
A new groomer asked, “How do I safely use a #7 blade?” She had previously nicked a dog while using one and was hesitant to try again. Here is the deal. Number seven blades are great for shaving down matted coats. Becauseof how their teeth are spaced and shaped, they can often get under tight matting while still leaving a tiny bit of length and a smooth finish. They are handy tools. However....
Sometimes, pet owners ask us for recommendations on what tools they should use to maintain their pet's coat between grooms. This is a happy thing because it means the pet may return to future appointments in better shape.
The days are longer, and the weather is a bit warmer, but pet groomers can tell you that spring is arriving because it is shedding season. Clumps, clouds, and chunks of fur are becoming apparent on dogs everywhere.
As a brand-new groomer, I worked at a veterinary hospital for a while. One of the first things the doctor did was show me how he wanted cages cleaned. The place where I learned to groom was a little, um, relaxed about cleaning, and I’m afraid I didn’t make a good impression on my new boss.
Dandy, the cocker mix, is a dancer. He line dances to see you at the end of his leash, boogies in the bathtub, and wants to tango on the table. Working on a dog this happy is adorable. And exhausting.
If you want to stir up some arguments among a group of groomers, bring up the topic of offering “shedless treatments” as an add-on service. The three most significant points that groomers argue about when it comes to this discussion are:
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.
Each year, the AKC releases its list of top 10 most popular breeds. Many of the breeds don’t have a lot of coat. How does a grooming business proactively maintain its volume when haircut dogs are less popular? You build your bath and brush business!
Have you checked on the condition of the walls in your grooming space lately? Chances are, they have some grime that needs attention. The walls in our grooming areas get blasted with moisture regularly, especially near the bathing and drying areas. Moisture captures dust, hair, and dander (so much dander), and it all sticks as the walls dry out again.
