There’s nothing like getting an excellent haircut from a professional groomer. It makes us feel clean, confident, and grateful for not having to deal with too much out-of-place hair. The same can hold for our canine friends. Grooming not only ensures that your dog looks its best, but even the simplest grooming session can cause our dogs to feel great as well.
There’s nothing like getting an excellent haircut from a professional groomer. It makes us feel clean, confident, and grateful for not having to deal with too much out-of-place hair. The same can hold for our canine friends. Grooming not only ensures that your dog looks its best, but even the simplest grooming session can cause our dogs to feel great as well.
Most importantly, grooming ensures that our canine pal remains healthy. These grooming sessions help remove any dirt and grime that has layered itself on their coats. It also services as an excellent opportunity to check if they have any bumps or lumps that could cause any potential health concerns. Plus, it removes any unwanted tagalongs, such as fleas and ticks that could have jumped onto their coat during a recent walk to the park.
Dog groomers need the appropriate equipment to ensure the dog receives the best possible care. They also need to be aware of the type of coat a dog has before grooming them. Different breeds of dogs will require different needs when it comes to their grooming sessions.
A crucial aspect of dog grooming is knowing the type of dog a groomer will be sprucing up. If it’s a long-haired and double-coated breed, they will need far more than a fur coming and coating care than short-haired breeds. On the other hand, canines with furry, floppy ears require a more consistent ear cleaning. It’s necessary to inform the dog groomer what type of dog they are dealing with. That way, they can prepare once they come around for the grooming session.
Most grooming methods are benign and safe, but not all practices can be considered suitable for all breeds of dogs. It’s also crucial to take the dog’s age and current health into consideration as well. Older dogs may need extra caution so as not to cause them further health problems. Speaking to a vet can help with establishing a proper cleaning procedure. For example, if your dog just received surgery, your veterinarian may recommend avoiding any baths.
With that said, let’s go over some of the tools you can expect to see a dog groomer use to spruce up your canine pal.
While a grooming table may not seem like a professional tool, it has become valuable for dog groomers in recent years. It’s especially crucial for any dog groomer that is performing mobile or home-based grooming. With so many people calling for groomers to come to them, these grooming tables have become an essential part of a groomer's tools. Not only do these tables ensure the grooming session goes smoothly, but they also keep the dog from escaping from the middle of the grooming session. Groomer tables also come with areas the allow the groomer to hook a dog tether to ensure the dog remains in a single place. Some of these tables even fold up, which is excellent for mobile dog groomers.
As mentioned above, dogs tend to have all sorts of different coats. The market contains a wide assortment of tools that ensure the needs of varying breeds. For that reason, you can expect to see a wide variety of brushes and combs from a groomer. The type of brush or comb a groomer uses depends on the breed they are working on. Some dogs may even benefit from more than a single type of brush or comb.
Bristle brushes: These types of brushes are excellent for most breeds. Bristle brushes can vary from soft to firm and long to short. The shorter and softer bristles are best suitable for dogs with little and fine hair. Long and sturdy bristles are best suited for breeds that have thicker hair.
Flea combs: Groomers use these types of combs to check and remove any fleas that have invaded the dog’s coat. These tools are not able to eliminate any severe flea infestation.
Curry brushes and combs: These are used to remove any dirt or debris. A groomer may first use this type before switching to another. The tiny rubber tips stimulate the natural oils in a dog’s skin. Dog’s that have pretty short hair may only require the occasional use of this type.
Another tool a dog groomer can use to brush a dog is through the use of a grooming glove. The item tends to have bristles on each finger that allows the dog groomer to run their hands through the dog’s coat. It’s a recommended item for dogs that become anxious during the grooming session.
One of the first steps that happen in a grooming session is the need to remove all of the dirt and debris gathered in their coats. The best way to go about this is by giving them a good scrubbing in the bathtub, which is why dog groomers will carry with them a bathing station to perform these duties.
Some dog groomers may decide to use either the sink or the bathroom tub. But that’s not really advisable since a dog’s fur can potentially clog the drains and damage the pipes. A dog tub with a hose attachment is best for this part of the grooming session.
The products that are used on a dog during the grooming process will ensure they come out looking fresh and healthy. Furthermore, the shampoo and conditioner used during the process must be safe for the dog. Some dogs may have allergic reactions to specific products or may be dealing with a health condition that requires special attention. There is a wide assortment of dog-safe flea shampoos, deshedding shampoos, white coat products, and quality conditioners. Either way, these are two items that are a must-have tool for any dog groomer.
Dog’s tend to get a lot of dirt and grim around the ears and eyes. If it goes washed appropriately, the residue could cause potential infections. Ear and eye cleaning have become another popular service for many dog groomers. For that reason, getting a tool or kit that is specifically made for cleaning a dog’s eyes and ears is necessary to ensure the whole process is done safely. Some of these kits even come with special eye drops that protect a dog’s eyes from shampoo runoff.
Cutting the dog’s hair is another part of the grooming process. Dog groomers need to have the best quality shears around to achieve the best results. For the most part, investing in these tools can be a bit expensive for dog groomers, but it’s essential overall. After all, dealing with a pair of dull shears in the middle of a grooming session can be quite troublesome in the long run.
Not every dog needs to undergo a haircut. Short-haired dogs don’t need to go through a shaving process, while some dogs with medium to long hair can benefit from a frequent hair trim but shouldn’t be entirely shaved down. Even so, dogs with hair that continues to expand, such as Poodles, need to be groomed regularly. Some owners may decide to keep their dog’s coat shaved short, while others may prefer to have it grow longer. That usually requires the dog to be brushed frequently.
Dog groomers will sometimes use electric clippers to give a dog a much quicker and uniform cut. The most experienced groomers could potentially use hair-cutting scissors to neatly trim or touch up some parts of the long hair.
Some breeds of dogs should never be trimmed with traditional shears. Terriers are one of these examples. Instead, they require their coats stripped to maintain their look and texture. Dog stripping does need the groomer to go under special training, but groomers that take the effort to learn this technique will ensure their client base expands even further.
Teeth cleaning is a service not always available on a dog groomer's menu, but the ones that offer this service can provide an opportunity to clean the dog’s mouth. Plaque and tartar buildup are just as bad for dogs as they are for humans. Unlike humans, dogs can't brush their teeth, nor can they inform their owners when they have a sore tooth and require a dentist appointment. Hence, the reason why a dog owner would be interested in choosing this service.
Dog groomers will need to have the best dental supplies on their hands that can clean the dog’s mouth thoroughly. Some may even have multiple types of toothpaste in flavors that may entice the dog to remain calm during the cleaning process. Even so, if a dog groomer is provided this service, they must get varying amounts of toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Dog groomers need to have the appropriate equipment on hand to get the job done. Everything we mentioned above plays a crucial role in ensuring that the dog groomer can perform all of the services they were paid to perform. It enables them to remain flexible and groom different breeds of dogs. If you want to find a dog groomer near you, check out our app today.
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