Welcome back to Talking Tails!
Buster has just come back from his “beauty day” at the groomers. He is feeling cooler just in time for warmer weather! We are both of breeds that require regular grooming, with Buster needing a trim every 6-8 weeks and Joey every 10-12 weeks. We love spending time with our pet stylists, Helen and Robin. They are so good to us and keep us looking great!
Our Mom did her homework when she selected our grooming salon. So, if you are looking for a groomer, you may find some of her tips helpful. First, she asked for recommendations from several of her friends and the vet. If you go to a kennel, doggie day care, or the dog park, your humans can ask people there for groomer suggestions. Of course, the next thing is to check out the recommendations on the internet…smart idea!
You and your human should go to the grooming salon and check it out in person. Our Mom is a keen observer and she was looking at its cleanliness, the way the groomers handled and cared for the animals, the competency of the groomers, and the type of pet records they maintained (medical, vaccinations, grooming, and emergency contacts). She recommends trusting your gut when visiting grooming salons. If something does not seem right, but you just can’t put your finger on it, it is a no go!
She was very deliberate in questioning the training of the groomer. She did not want either of us to be hurt or mistreated by the stylist. Find out how and where the groomer was trained. Just as an FYI, some groomers are certified by a grooming school or professional association. Ask how long s/he has been in the grooming business and if experienced in working with dogs of your breed. You may also want to ask for the names of a few current clients to contact as references.
Here is the big whammy…make sure the groomer asks questions about you. Not only should s/he ask about how you want to look, but questions that will help the stylist make the experience as pleasant and comfortable as possible. Look for questions like: How old is your dog? Has your dog been groomed before? If so, how did the sessions usually go? How well does your dog interact with other dogs? Does your dog have certain body parts that s/he does not like handled? Is your dog experiencing sore spots, an injury, or other chronic painful conditions? This was especially important to our Mom since Joey was a rescue and a little bit skittish when we first adopted him. Our Mom did not offer up any information right away, but waited to see if the groomer would ask. If they did not, she crossed them off our list!
Here’s to looking and smelling amazing!
Talk to you soon!
Buster and Joey
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