By Rebecca Olsen
There’s a lot to learn when you first become a pet groomer. As you get accustomed to the career and your clientele, you often start to plateau in your work. But you should always push yourself to learn more and do better, no matter how new or experienced you are. Keep reading to learn how to improve your dog grooming abilities so that you can continue to grow in your career field.
Make Sure You Have the Right Tools
Every career field has certain types of equipment that makes the job easier and dog grooming is no exception. While people who are inexperienced may think that just a pair of scissors will do, you need to make sure you’ve chosen the right pet grooming shears for the job. For example, if you’re hoping to expand from dog grooming to cat grooming as well, you may need to invest in a different set of shears. Or, if you’ve previously only worked with short-haired dogs and want to start working with long-hair dogs, you may also need a different type of shear. Lastly, do not use sheers for humans on dogs and vice versa. Make sure you have the right tools to get the job done, and you’ll see an improvement in your work.
Get Help When You Need It
Dogs are unpredictable, especially if you’re cutting their hair and trimming their nails for the first time. Some groomers assume that since they love dogs and have experience with them, they’ll be able to easily handle any new client, but that isn’t always the case. You may need help to calm an agitated dog or keep a previously abused dog comfortable. Having an assistant on hand who can focus on the dog while you concentrate on grooming will allow you to do your job to the best of your ability. It will also keep both you and the dog safe, as an unexpected move from the animal could result in one of you getting hurt.
Stay Organized
You may think that organization is for the office and dog grooming abilities are for the workspace. What do these things have to do with each other? The organization will permeate every part of your workplace, including where and how you groom. Keeping good records that you can easily access will help you know exactly how to trim a repeat customer. For example, if a client comes in and says they liked the shampoo you used last time or wants their dog’s paw pads clipped shorter than they previously were, you need to be able to look up their information so that you can use the same shampoo and cut the paw pads appropriately. Keeping well-organized records will help you groom more quicker and more efficiently.
Now you know how to improve your dog grooming abilities with the right tools, a helping hand, and good organization. As you continue to grow in your career, you’ll learn more ways to improve your abilities, but these are three great ways to start.
