Those of you who have known me for a while are aware that I’ve been a professional dog groomer for 14 years. Many of my clients have been with me for years and we have developed a good working relationship. Although I am transitioning into photography and pursuing my true passion I still want to share with you as much as I can about dog ownership and dog care and so I thought I would write this for the newer people out there who may be looking for a groomer or are just starting to develop a relationship with one. Regular grooming is essential for your dog’s health and well being, even short haired dogs like Bean pictured above, and groomers are often the first to notice when something might be off with your dog. I have noticed on more than one occasion something not quite right or a dog not feeling as it should and reported it to it’s person, and have them report back that it went to the vet and something was indeed wrong. But to get to that point you need to develop a good working relationship with your groomer (and your vet) to keep your pet as healthy as possible for a good long life.
#1 Start Early!
As soon as your puppy has a couple of sets of shots done, most groomer will accept them as new clients. The first groom usually consists of a bath, nails done, face, feet, and fanny trimmed. This is to let your puppy get used to the process. This type of appointment may happen a couple of times, depending on how the puppy responds to the new stimuli and the age of the puppy. I usually do not give full haircuts on puppies under 6 months unless the are in need of it due to matting. The puppy’s coat is changing to adult coat about that age and will start to mat more depending on the breed, so having that early foundation on acceptance of being groomed is very important.
#2 Stay On A Schedule!
This is pretty self explanatory, so I’m not going into a lot of detail on this one. Most coated dog need grooming every 6-8weeks to keep the coats from getting matted. Even with regular at home, maintenance such a brushing and combing, especially ears and tail, there are still things that need done regularly. One of the most important is nail care. A dog cannot walk properly if its nails are three inches long. Neglected nails can ruin a dog’s feet. I’ve seen dew claws that have grown into a dog’s leg and curled around feet into the pads. At the very least go to a shop or store that does walk in nail trims every month to six weeks. This is usually not very expensive and can save your dog a lot of pain and discomfort. So make regular appointments with your groomer to keep your dog’s coat and nails in the best shape possible.
#3 Don’t Miss Your Appointments!
Groomers literally live by their appointments. If you make a grooming appointment for your dog you have made a commitment to that groomer that you will have your dog there at that time. Most private groomer’s have policies that require a fee for missed appointments, so either way you are going to pay something for the appointment. During peak months, groomers are booked out weeks if not months, so getting your dog back on the schedule could be an issue. Groomers are not going to look favorably on you if you frequently miss appointments and they are also a small community who communicate with each other. If other groomers know you don’t keep appointments with someone they know they probably won’t accept you as a client should you ask. So don’t miss your appointment and be prepared to pay for it if you do.
#4 At Home Maintenance
Even with a regular grooming schedule, at home maintenance is important. Your dog should be brushed at least weekly, paying special attention to ears and tail and under the armpits of the front legs. Groomer spend an incredible amount of time demoting ears and tails, which is not pleasant for the dog and doesn’t help with a dog’s attitude toward being groomed. And in some cases, the ears and/or tail will have to be shaved, increasing the risks of hematomas because the matting was so tight on the ears that shaping the head ofter shaving could result in a bloody welt on the ear. Put the dog in your lap if you’re watching TV and spend 30 minutes a week brushing the dog out. Your groomer will love you and it will make grooming more fun for the dog.
#5 Groomers Have a Life Too
Groomers have set hours that they work, just like you do. However these days of instant access to everything and everyone sets a precedent that people can contact their groomer at all hours of the day, night and weekend for appointments, or to reschedule appointments. My phone message states my hours and it is also in the policies that every client is sent, and I still get texts late at night and on weekends, which I do not respond to until the next business day. Please be respectful of our time, we are busy, just like everyone else and don’t appreciate work phone calls or texts on our off time.
These are five ways that you can build a good relationship with your groomer. Your dog is likely to live 10 years or more so it will need regular grooming for a long time. If you are begin your dog’s grooming life early, stay on a schedule, are respectful of your groomer’s time, and keep up maintenance of your dog at home your groomer will not only love you, but look forward to seeing your dog’s name on the schedule!
