Opal is a pug we bathe monthly. Her coat is short and smooth, and to be honest, she always looks pretty good when she comes in for her appointment. Even though we groom dogs for a living, we still often comment on what a dramatic change good grooming can make on even smooth-coated pets. When her grooming is completed, she looks shinier; her coat looks smoother, and, of course, she smells terrific.
Imagine yourself drying a dog you have groomed regularly for many years. Let's call him Gizmo. He is in his senior years now, perfectly comfortable and familiar with the grooming process. On this day, as you work the high-velocity dryer over the coat, Gizmo suddenly begins barking in a high-pitched tone. He is obviously in distress. He urinates on the table, and when you look at his face, there is no recognition of you or awareness of his surroundings
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.
Sometimes, we find a tool that changes the way we work for the better. It has been almost two decades since I was introduced to such a tool, the Groomers Helper. The starter kit for the Groomers Helper system has become a steadfast companion to me as I work on almost every dog, every day.
These tools can be confusing. When you read their descriptions in catalogs, they’re so similar…They do the same thing, don’t they? No, they don’t. Let me explain.
Both remove undercoat on thick coated dogs. It’s the METHOD of removal that varies. One pulls out dead and shedding coat without cutting the fur. The other has sharp, curved teeth which remove the undercoat but will also cut the coat. One is used primarily on dry coats, both before and after the bath. The other is effective prior to shampooing, during the bathing process, and after the dog is clean and dried.
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.
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.
Pet groomers depend on various tools to practice their craft correctly, and good quality shears are a must-have. Because shears are something we depend on, we should know the proper terms of their parts and how to best take care of them.
Look through most groomers' toolboxes, and you will find that they use regular shears and thinning, blending, and chunking (or texturizing) shears. Each of these tools performs differently and is used to achieve unique results.
When it comes time to purchase grooming shears, the choices can be mind-boggling. There are various metals to choose from, different cutting edges, multiple blade lengths and widths, and even numerous handle styles, from offset to swivel, with or without finger rests, and more. The ability to become confused is real!
