True confession time. When I was a brand-new groomer, we used many products on pets that were NOT designed with that purpose in mind. “Like what?” you may ask. Like, Downy fabric softener for conditioner, believe it or not. Mind you, this was back when Downy was its original scent, it smelled like sunshine and your favorite denim and happiness, but I digress. So why did we do this?
Mrs. M. was a challenging customer, no doubt about it. She was the human on the end of the leash of Precious, an adorable little Shih Tzu. Mrs. M. started every conversation with those most dreaded two words, "Last time." "Last time she was too short," or "Last time she was too long," or "Last time you didn't wash her, did you?" The flavor and tone of the "last time" complaints changed regularly. At one point, her regular complaint was, "Last time Precious got a terrible eye infection after you groomed her." Now, this alarmed me!
A long-time customer with two busy West Highland White Terriers recently asked me, “How do they make Westie heads so round on the show dogs?” He was clearly hoping I could make his dog’s heads look just the ones he saw on Westminster. I explained to him how chalk is applied to show coats and that those round heads are washed after the show. He gave me a grin and said, “Just do your usual.”
As pet groomers, we dance around the delicate issue of anal sacs more than most of us would wish. We hear customers make a wide variety of requests on the topic. “Can you squeeze his butt?” “Will you pop his glands?” “Can you do that anal thing?” It can be hard to keep a straight face while having these conversations, but even more difficult is knowing what to do when met with a request to express anal sacs.
Knowing how to perform basic first aid on the animals in our care is essential for all pet care professionals. Once groomers have a good understanding of how to care for pets in the event of an emergency, they should consider assembling a first aid kit to keep at hand. A good basic kit will have items to treat minor injuries on both humans and pets.
In a perfect world, no pet groomer would ever need to use any form of first aid on any pet they groom, but the last time I checked, the world still wasn’t perfect. In the grooming environment, all kinds of emergencies can crop up.
Some dogs come in to be groomed, looking like their feet have not touched the ground since the last time we saw them. They are still clean. They are still fluffy. They look like they have not had a bit of fun. Most come in dirty. Here are some tips to make bathing challenges a little easier to handle.
Cellular phones with built-in cameras have made taking pictures of the pets we groom easy and convenient. Groomers can take quick snapshots of pets on the grooming table or even set up a dedicated space with backdrops to take more formal portraits of pets. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your photo sessions.
Modern technology has changed the way we groom. Here is an example. In past years, many groomers brushed and clipped pets before bathing them. Once some of the hair was removed, the pet got washed, dried, and finished. The advent of more effective pet hair care products and, perhaps more importantly, bathing systems helped turn the tide. Now, most contemporary stylists put almost all the dogs they groom in the tub before doing anything else. There are many benefits to pre-washing pets.
The most crucial grooming tool you have is your body. Pet grooming can strain the back, hands, feet, and legs tremendously. It is not too late to start if you have not taken good care of yourself up until now.
Here are some ideas that will help you support your body.
