12 Tips for Becoming a “Greener” Groomer
Before I was a dog groomer, I was an animal lover. I was also a recycler. …
Robyn Michaels
The Dreaded Shedding Season
It’s that time of year. It’s getting warm, and dog owners are starting to complain about …
Neglect Of Owner’s Duties
Show of hands: how many of you have friends or relatives who think you play with dogs all day? Who believes your shop is like something out of a movie or situation comedy? That every dog is happy and well cared for?
Selling Dog Grooming
Most of us successful dog groomers are making a living at this because we not only love dogs and handling them, but because we have an aesthetic eye for the dog
Stuff I Tell My Clients
How do you get new grooming clients? Most of mine have either come from seeing a dog I groomed and talking with the owner, or often something I’ve said to a dog owner who repeated it to another dog owner. For example, as I get to know my clients, I always ask how the dog is at home, and, in so many words, if the owner is happy with the dog’s behavior.
Keeping the Fluffball Fluffy
Cute! Cute! Cute! Isn’t this why we became groomers? To cuddle the cute fluffy ones? Now that we’ve disabused ourselves of the notion that they are all going to be cute fluff balls ….what do we do?
I am so happy when the owner of a young pup brings the dog in for a first grooming. Everything is new to a puppy;
How short is short?
We’ve all had this request: “Make him as short as possible.” I know that for many dog owners, it’s that they don’t want to pay for grooming, and they don’t want to brush the dog. I always ask why they want the dog shaved — and I’ve learned that there are other explanations.
They are Brushing the Dog!
But I do brush him!” We’ve all heard it. We’re all cynical, because we all know the dog would not be matted if he had been actually brushed… right?
Except – have you visited a retail pet shop in the past 30 years? The top selling brush in America has pins on one side, bristles on the other.