“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. Here is how we do it:
- Every dog comes in the door and gets right into the bathtub. (The infrequent exception is if a pet is so completely matted it will be pre-shaved. This hardly ever happens because our clients are trained to bring the pets in regularly.)
- The pet is bathed with a bathing system, which saves time, products, and water and results in an exceptionally clean dog. If the dog is very dirty, we will bathe it more than once. Drying and grooming a coat that is not completely cleaned and appropriately conditioned takes longer. Get the prep work right, and you will complete the job more quickly.
- We use an appropriate conditioner to help replace the natural oils the shampoo removed and to smooth the coat, making it easier to remove tangles and loose undercoat.
- Rinse thoroughly to ensure all product has been removed from the coat.
- Clean ears and trim nails.
- Blot the coat with a super-absorbent towel to absorb as much water as possible.
- Squeeze the coat with a terry cloth towel.
- Stand the dog on the drying table, with the terry cloth towel spread under it. This will help absorb water the dryer blows off and reduce drying time. Bonus! It also reduces dryer noise when the nozzle is directed near the tabletop.
- Use your high-velocity dryer to dry the pet methodically and completely. Allow the dryer to do the work of removing loose undercoat when applicable.
- Mist the coat with your favorite detangling or brushing spray. Brush the dog from nose to toes, removing mats, tangles, and loose fur.
- Comb the dog from nose to toes, ensuring your brush didn’t miss anything.
- Using a clipper or trimmer, clip sanitary areas, paw pads, and any other close work you will be doing, such as tidying eye corners or tipping ears on appropriate breeds.
- Do clipper work on the pet as needed. We use a vacuum system, which makes the process much faster.
- Comb again and scissor to achieve the desired finish.
- Trim the head and face to balance with the pet's body clip.
- Spritz with cologne and add a bow or bandana if desired.
- Stand back to get a different perspective and ensure no “sticky outies.”
Our routine may give you some ideas on creating a standard approach for each animal that works best for you. Following the same steps on every pet will allow you to work more efficiently and quickly.
