Dog Grooming Tricks of the Trade for Professionals
Whether you’ve been working as a professional dog groomer for a few weeks or several years, there’s still so much to learn about the industry. After all, every dog has different needs, and it’s up to you as the specialist to find the best ways to meet them. Fortunately, there are several key strategies professional dog groomers use to make the job more efficient for them and take better care of their clients at the same time. So, if you’re looking to take your grooming experience and results to the next level, try some of these dog grooming tricks of the trade for professionals.
Remove Loose Hair Prior To the Bath
While this might seem like fundamental knowledge on the surface, it’s common for groomers to focus on the cut only after they’ve already bathed the dog. Doing this, however, actually increases the amount of fur you’ll need to handle during the session and makes a bigger mess for you to clean up later. As such, it’s often helpful to start each appointment with a quick brushing to remove any loose fur from the dog’s coat.
Cut the Fur as It Falls
When you do finally get to the cutting portion of the visit, you may want to try trimming the fur as it falls in certain areas of the dog’s body. This technique makes it easier to make snips that conform to the unique curves along the dog’s frame and make the cuts blend together more smoothly. With fewer scissor marks visible along the coat, you’ll be able to create a more consistent and fitting style for the dog you’re working on.
Sharpen Your Grooming Shears Regularly
It also makes the job much more efficient if you sharpen your grooming shears on a regular basis. If you don’t properly care for them, shears can dull and become less effective at cutting course dog fur. Over time, this can require you to put more strain on your hands and may lead you to develop carpal tunnel syndrome. A few signs your grooming shears need sharpening include a crunching sound as the blades fold together, an inaccurate or ineffective cut of the fur, and visible dullness.
Build a Toolkit for Any Situation
One of the most important dog grooming tricks of the trade for professionals is to prepare for anything. Depending on the breeds of your clients, you’ll be regularly handling fur of various textures, thicknesses, and styles. For this reason, it’s best to switch your shears to accommodate these specific traits. To do this, you’ll need to have them on-hand at all times. Keeping shears of different curves and lengths nearby will allow you to easily work with a series of breeds and accommodate some of their more sensitive areas such as the feet and ears.
