The Groomer's Blog

Flea combs might not seem like a very important tool. They are small, inexpensive, and seemingly not terribly useful, right? Think again!

What’s the best shear? That’s one of the most talked about questions in the grooming industry, and a place where you can spend a LOT of money. We all want the absolute best in shears...

Experienced groomers know that the time and skill put into preparing a dog for grooming is the cornerstone to good results. A great groom cannot happen on a pet that has not been cleaned and dried correctly. Getting a clean pet dried appropriately takes a lot of time, but tools are available to make the job go much quicker.

Imagine you are grooming a small, older poodle. To prevent any falls, you put the grooming loop around her neck, making sure it is not too snug, but the dog keeps hanging her head down, and the pressure from the loop makes her cough. She’s a little wobbly on the table, so you want to keep a loop on her for safety’s sake, but she is clearly having a problem with this traditional restraint.

Two of the major enemies of pet groomers, heat and humidity can be difficult for groomers to work with. Since Mother Nature won’t just change the weather to suit us, we need to learn how to work around these hazy, crazy, not so lazy summer days.

By Carol Visser, Journalist, Master Pet Groomer, Certified Dog Trainer, Pet Product Expert

Mentors are the most valuable resources you can tap into when it comes to growing your career.

When I was first starting out, I sought out the wisdom of mentors. I was only 22 when I started my first business and was still in college. One of my first advisors was my college business professor. He encouraged me to open my original business after grading a final paper – a business plan for mobile dog grooming.  I left college in 1983 before earning my degree to start Four Paws Mobile Grooming.

Whether you live in a climate where you have seasonal changes in the weather or you’re simply facing the post-holiday lull, there are ways you can boost your business in the new year.

For many groomers, the number of grooming appointments dips with the temperature. This can be a real problem if you rely on your grooming income to pay your bills! How do you combat that problem? Encourage pre-booking, and educate your clients.

Groomers will often ask us for sound advice on dilution, storage, and dispensing of our products. Occasionally we’ll receive a call concerning possible skin reactions from our products. More often than not we find a direct correlation between one’s particular sanitation protocol and any skin reaction occurrences. It's important to acknowledge that bacteria are the enemy of shampoo and conditioners.

For example, folliculitis is a common skin infection you may have come across characterized by small clusters of itchy bumps. These are typically caused by bacteria that amass in contaminated shampoo bottles due to unsanitary storage, dilution, and dispensing practices. Pseudomonas is another bacterium that’s responsible for many canine skin and ear infections. These bacteria are easily transferred in water and damp environments.

So we’ve put together some detailed guidelines, facts, and tips to help maximize shelf-life, improve your results, and minimize unwanted surprises.

By now, busy pet groomers are bracing for the holiday rush. Thanksgiving. Hanukkah. Christmas. Are you ready?

This isn’t only your busiest season, it’s also the end of the year. It can make or break your earning goals. Will you finish off 2021 with a bang? Will your books be full for January and February of next year?