I was sitting at a client’s kitchen table after I finished grooming Misty. I was talking to Mrs. about something funny Misty did when Mr. handed me the customer survey I had given him when I first arrived. He told me that the reason they followed me from the shop I worked at was because I had the best customer service they had ever received from a groomer.
The 140th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
I remember the first time I went to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. I was a baby groomer and the school took us on a field trip. I was absolutely floored by the grooming. And I had never seen so many well-behaved dogs at one time. That is until the min pins entered the ring. It was, in two words, awe inspiring.
I set my free security plug-in to alert me whenever someone tried to hack into my website. I would get the occasional notice so it wasn’t annoying, until one night there was over 30 alerts. My phone dinged all night long. The free plug-in I installed would lock out a user after 20 failed attempts. That means there were over 600 attempts at logging on to my website.
I consider one of the most important aspects of a nose to tail assessment during check-in for each pet is noting the condition of the pet’s teeth. Mind you, I do not just willy-nilly open up a pet’s mouth. I exercise caution and approach with care as any pet may pose a bite risk.
As a groomer, why should you care about that pet’s teeth?
Keeping Them Current
Grooming Rosie (AKA The Vibrating Wonderdog) was always a challenge as she vibrated as if she was standing on a washing machine with an unbalanced load during the agitator cycle. Rosie suffered from a neurological disorder and I was always on guard when using any sharp tools around her.
A Mobile Grooming Hazard
Nothing like driving in the pouring rain with all the windows rolled down… Now why would I do something like that?
While windswept, slightly mussy hair might be attractive on someone who looks more like Taylor Swift;
Back when I was in grooming school, the instructor asked a seemingly innocent question. “What would you do if a dog’s eye popped out?” I was dumbstruck. Trust me on this; my jaw doesn’t drop that often. But there it was, on the floor. It had never occurred to me that this could happen. Eyes can just pop out of a head?? Anything else I should be aware of?
The answer to that is yes. As the loss of vision or even the eye itself can happen quickly, prompt veterinarian treatment is essential. It is why you should take a good look at the pet’s eyes during the check-in process.
Every spring a friend of mine lovingly plants flowers along the walkway leading to her shop entrance. Without fail, a client walking their exuberant dog on a retractable lead will decapitate all her flowers. But it is not just the daisies that bear the brunt of a pet that is not in someone’s control.
As I was driving down the aptly named Long Mountain Road just after another snowstorm, I looked to the side and half jokingly thought, “If I drive off the road and land in the ravine, I won’t be found until next spring.” The next thought that crossed my mind was, “ Oh crap, if I drive off the road and land in the ravine, I won’t be found until next spring.”
I decided many years ago that I wanted to be that old lady that zip lines, jumps out of an airplane, and dances to the wee hours of the morning. But, in order to be in a position to do so, I have found it will be far easier to maintain my good health now than trying to repair decades of damage later on.
Mary Oquendo coined this phrase back in the early days of petgroomer.com. It stuck in my mind, because in the grooming profession, you can’t always promise pretty.
In a perfect world, puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats, would stand on our grooming tables like statues.
In the 15 years I have been grooming, one thing I learned is that accidents can and do happen. We do not plan them, but we work with live animals. Being prepared to perform first aid promptly will reduce the pet’s pain and speed healing.
First aid is the prompt care of wounds prior to any necessary veterinary treatment.