Do you have a favorite comb? One that you have had so long it is like a well-loved pet? One that you tend to use on every single animal you groom? True confession time, I do. Mine is old, and the model is no longer made. If you tried to take it from me, you'd have a fight on your hands. I love how it feels, how it goes through the coat, and its size, weight, and shape. But since they don't make it anymore, I often buy other combs, trying to find one I like as well. I haven't yet, but I have discovered some dandy combs that work great for specific purposes.
Most groomers try their hardest to make every dog they work on look the best it possibly can. But sometimes, we must be happy with a groom that is merely "good enough." Here are some examples of these times.
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.
Sanitizing hand tools between grooming pets can seem like quite a time-consuming chore on a busy day, but it is important to do so in order to prevent bacteria and fungi from being passed from one pet to the next. One simple, inexpensive solution is to keep some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle on hand.
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.
Think briefly about something you don't know much about, for example, the inner workings of automotive engines. If a mechanic starts telling you about something to do with a complex engine repair, chances are you will not be able to understand much of what they are telling you. For many pet owners, talking to a groomer is a similar experience.
Sometimes, customers arrive for their grooming appointment with a bottle of shampoo in hand. It is often a medicated product prescribed by their veterinarian, but sometimes it is an off-the-shelf pet shampoo or even something not intended for animal use. What is a groomer to do?
It may happen with a dog you have safely handled many times before, or it may be a new-to-you grooming client on the table, but suddenly, the pet tries to bite. I believe that most dog-to-groomer bites happen because the dog is uncomfortable. It may be that the dog is frightened by some part of the process or (more likely) because some area of its body is painful
We work with moving animals and sharp tools, so ensuring we have great lighting at our grooming table is a must. Unfortunately, not all workplaces are equipped with optimal lighting options, leaving us grooming with parts of the animal poorly lit. The inability to clearly see what we are working on can lead to a poor finish at best and injuries to the pet at worst. Inadequate light also contributes to eye strain on the stylist's part, and who has time for that?
As pet groomers, most have experienced lifting a dog to put it on the grooming table or in the tub and feeling a twinge in their back. Many dogs are less than excited about being lifted and show their displeasure by twisting and squirming, which makes that lift much more challenging. There are steps groomers can take to help keep their backs healthy.
