Daryl Conner

Life

The Art of Setting Expectations

By Daryl Conner /

Sometimes a customer is unhappy with your grooming. In my experience, a huge percentage of the time this is due to the pet owner having an expectation of what the end result of the groom is going to look like, which is different from what the experienced groomer knows the pet will look like. Here is an example: A customer comes in with a 9 month old Shih Tzu puppy for its first groom. The dog has not been brushed or combed since birth and is encased in some very impressive matts and tangles.

Equipment

The Importance of ‘Liquid Tools’

By Daryl Conner /

Back in ancient times, when I was a new groomer, the variety of shampoos and conditioners designed for pet use could be counted on one hand. There were just a few brands, and those brands had a very limited variety of products. They could be depended on to get dogs clean, keep static down and maybe help a bit with detangling…

Life

Happy Feet

By Daryl Conner /

Groomers do a lot of their work standing up, and there is a good bit of walking involved in our work as well. Did you know that with every mile we walk we experience 200,000 to 300,000 pounds of stress on our feet? Considering that in our business we are often carrying a dog when we walk, you can multiply those numbers.

Business

Ten Tips to Improve Grooming Speed

By Daryl Conner /

“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” —William Penn
On internet grooming forums the following question crops up over and over: “How can I groom faster?” Most often this question is posed by people who are newer to our industry, those who have been grooming for five or fewer years.

Business

The 60 Minute Spaniel

By Daryl Conner /

The old expression “time is money” certainly applies to the job of pet styling. Groomers walk a fine line, trying to groom pets in an efficient manner, without cutting corners or rushing in a way that can cause stress or accidents. After more than three decades in this industry, I have learned to streamline the way I work so that I groom pets rather quickly.

Life

Holding on to Happiness

By Daryl Conner /

What is it that makes some people able to maintain a sunny outlook while others seem to become mired in the negative minutia of day to day existence? Believe it or not, happiness can be a choice. This idea was first introduced to me when I was a sullen college student. “Man is master of his mood,” Dr. Ken West told a full classroom. I was dumbstruck. Until that moment I thought my hormone driven moods were the master of me.

Business

Why Buy Insurance?

By Daryl Conner /

“I estimate that 60 percent of pet stylists are not properly insured,” says Jeff Reynolds, executive director of National Dog Groomers Association of America, Inc. (Clark, PA.) “Several factors contribute to this industry-wide problem. Also, many groomers do not know that there are agencies available that specialize in the pet grooming industry and can offer both guidance and proper insurance.

First Aid Kit
Business

When Accidents Happen

By Daryl Conner /

An obviously upset groomer recently contacted me via social media. She had accidentally nicked a dog while grooming. I have had similar experiences on more than one occasion during the past 30 years, and could well empathize with her. I vividly remember the first time a dog I was grooming required medical care.

Life

In with the New

By Daryl Conner /

It’s a brand spanking new year and I don’t know about you, but I find that to be rather exhilarating! I like to think of things I can do to make my life a little more fun, easier or more exciting during this time of reflection and planning. I also like to apply these principles to my grooming. Here is a list of 12 ideas that you might like to incorporate into your new year, or maybe you will think of things that suit you better.

Equipment

Holiday Wish List

By Daryl Conner /

During this time of holiday gifting, I suggest you take some time to consider some grooming tools that you could (and should) either ask for as gifts or put your holiday tip money towards. Why? For several reasons:
You work hard and deserve to have the best tools for your work.

Life

The “Whole” Pet

By Daryl Conner /

The Dirt on Holistic Grooming
The word “holistic” is currently a bit of a buzzword in the American language. It brings up connotations of woo-woo-crunchy-granola-touchy-feely-New Age feel-goodism. But what exactly does it mean and how does it pertain to the grooming industry?

Business

Salon Details Certification

By Daryl Conner /

What if there was a certification for groomers that wasn’t based on perfect poodle top knots or beautiful bevels on a cocker leg, but on those oh-so-crucial everyday skills such as knowledge of canine behavior, anatomy, bathing techniques, safety, first aid, and ethical business practices, among other things?

Scroll to Top