Things You Must Know Before You Become a Dog Groomer

People who have chosen the job of taking care of animals as their profession would tell you how rewarding it happens to be. It is true – they love what they do and enjoy their time with dogs who come to their tables.

However, dog grooming is like every other career because it has downsides. Only some would enjoy it, as it requires patience that general people do not have. Sometimes, when evaluating a job, people focus on the pros – well, you should think of the cons too!

It is hard on you physically

If you have worked as a bather and a kennel technician and switched to grooming, thinking that it would be less taxing on your body, you are in for a surprise and a nasty one! Having a dog lie on your table is no less exhausting than having one in the tub.

Even as you curl your shoulders and neck forward to get a better angle to do your work, your posture would suffer. If you are proactive, you should get a wrist guard for your dominant hand.

It would prevent issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis.

You must spend money to earn 

If you are working as a groomer, it means you would have to get your tools. It means that you would need a variety of items including, but not limited to, the following:

• blades
• scissors
• brushes
• nail clippers
• grinder
• styptic powder
• ear powder

A set of blades would cost you between 30 and 40 dollars for each piece. Now, you must have knives and scissors if you work as a professional groomer. A decent pair of scissors can be anywhere between 15 and 25 dollars.

Pet parents and owners would not always agree with you 

If you are working as a pet groomer, you would have to accept that there would be times when you would feel underappreciated and beaten down. You want to help the dog as much as possible, but it is hard if its parents or owners are unwilling to listen to what you have to say.

If a dog has severe matting, it must be shaved totally, but if the humans disagree with you, there is not a lot that you can do.

There is no way to brush it, blow it out, or save it in any other way – there must be a fresh start.

Your finances could vary depending on your business

Companies like Petsmart and Petco would offer you hourly wages until you reach a certain level where you can be paid a commission for your work. Most private salons would only pay you a commission for your work.

When you have a loyal following of pet parents and owners who are always looking for appointments with you and requesting that you groom their dogs, earning money becomes a bit easier. However, it may be precarious for you if you are still developing a list of clients as a groomer.

It is a dirty job

You should be habituated to coming home almost daily with dog urine and other bodily waste on your uniforms as a groomer. However, this is not even the worst part. It is the hair – the inescapable entity that clings on to your clothes, your skin, and your eyes.

Hair splinters would break off the clippers and find a place deep inside your skin. You would need tweezers to pluck them out of your arms, between your fingers and chest.

You need soft skills to be successful in this business 

An essential part of grooming a dog is dealing with its humans. When you get to work as a groomer, you will work with a wide range of personalities – people and dogs.

You would have regular customers, nervous first-timers, and everyone else. You would be their point of contact even as you are working on their pups. Experts say this is one job where you get to know the people.

You need to understand what the dog was bred to do

It forms the basis of proper grooming, and as such, it is a significant part of the job. There is more to grooming a dog than just its aesthetic. There is a purpose to every aspect of the haircut of your dog, and this includes the head floor as well.

For example, Poodles were bred to hunt and be sporting dogs. Do you know why they have those pom-poms on their hips? It is supposed to keep their joints warm when in cold water.

You have to be able to manage a problematic behavior 

An adage says you must never work with animals and kids because both can be unpredictable. It is especially so when they are feeling anxious or stressed.

As a professional groomer, you must possess the confidence and skills to read the body language of the dog you are grooming and recognize how to deal with complicated dogs in terms of their behavior.

You might have to groom a cat at times

Dogs tend to be demanding customers but are far from as misbehaved as their feline counterparts. A cat would rarely show up at a pet salon. However, if they do, you can be sure you are in for a challenge in the most absolute sense.

Experts say cats are unlike dogs because they wish to be left to their devices. So, when grooming a cat, you must have someone else with you.

You have to be calm at all times

Dogs can sense how you are feeling. It means that if you are irritated or tense while working with them, it can affect the mood of the dog and the way they behave. Hence, you must be calm when grooming a dog so that they reflect that energy to you.

When you stay calm, you make the experience more enjoyable and fulfilling for everyone and ensure the dog is safe during the procedure. If the dog gets restless, your job only becomes hard.

Conclusion 

Finally, you should know and understand that the parasites inhabiting a dog’s body could make your body their home too. It is evident, especially during lousy tick or flea seasons. In particular, you may have to spend several hours cleaning up fleas after grooming and washing a dog and sending them home.

As a groomer, an occupational hazard is battling fleas. It is especially true in places with a warmer climate where the flea problem is rampant. As a groomer, you are supposed to ensure that these pests do not spread between dogs.

FAQs

Que: What are the challenges of dog grooming?

Ans: Aggression is one of the common challenges that dog groomers face a lot. At times, dogs lash out at the groomer, and in such an instance, biting and scratching is a real possibility. At times, dogs might be unsociable.

Que: Why is dog grooming so hard?

Ans: Working as a dog groomer is a rather physical job. In this role, you would often have to stand all day long, and you may also have to lift a dog, who could very well be 200 pounds, in and out of the table.

Que: Is being a dog groomer stressful?

Ans: Dog grooming is one of the jobs where the rate of burnout is higher than in most other jobs. It is a highly stressful job, especially when running your own business.

Que: What are the disadvantages of being a pet groomer?

Ans: There are several problems with working as a professional pet groomer, such as the following:

• it is demanding work
• you have to think on your feet
• you have to follow a schedule

Que: Can groomers handle difficult dogs?

Ans: Groomers use equipment such as muzzles and loops to restrain the tough dogs and move them to their workstations.