A trip to his veterinarian confirmed what I already suspected: Abner had a cruciate ligament injury to his back leg. Suddenly, I was faced with decisions—surgery, a brace, pain medication, conservative management. It wasn’t a decision I took lightly, but I also didn’t feel alone in it. I have complete trust in my veterinarian.

We talked through the options, discussed Abner’s age, activity level and overall health, and together we decided to try conservative treatment with a brace first. And I’m happy to say that Abner is healing well and is almost completely back to being his happy, bouncy, waggy self.

Somewhere in the middle of all the research, the appointments and the careful monitoring, I realized something very important: I never once questioned whether my veterinarian had my dog’s best interest at heart. I began thinking about the entire experience and about the total trust I had in her to guide me every step of the way in Abner’s treatment and recovery. That also made me think about the kind of trust our grooming clients place in us every single day.

They ask us questions such as, “How often should I brush my dog?” “What shampoo should I use at home?” “Do you know a good daycare?” and “Can you recommend a veterinarian?” because they believe that we know what we’re talking about. And the truth is, we should.

Whether we planned on it or not, professional groomers become educators by default. In many cases, we are the professional that pet owners see most frequently. We notice subtle changes over time, such as skin issues, ear problems, parasites, lumps and bumps. Sometimes we’re the first ones to say, “You might want to have your veterinarian take a look at this.” And that carries weight.

Just like I trusted my veterinarian to guide me toward the best decision for Lil Abner, our clients trust us to guide them toward what’s best for their pets. However, that doesn’t mean we diagnose, prescribe or step outside our scope, but it does mean we owe it to them to be informed and responsible with the advice we give.

Before we ever pick up a brush, the dog is already navigating height, restraint, scent overload, noise and uncertainty. The grooming table is not neutral territory—it is a place where balance matters, where leverage matters and where small changes in pressure are amplified.

Now imagine you have mild arthritis, a tight muscle or a pinched nerve you did not know was there. That quick flinch or tiny head jerk makes sense when you consider what the nervous system is protecting.

When the cervical spine is stretched or compressed, the body reacts quickly to guard the spinal cord and airway. That reaction is reflexive. It is not drama—it is protection.

When we lift a beard high to straighten a line, we change the angle of the neck and shift balance. We may not mean to create strain, but strain can still occur.

When we extend a rear leg straight back or out to the side, we rotate the pelvis and load the lower spine. The opposite limb absorbs more weight and stabilizing muscles engage hard to keep the body upright. If the dog has tight hips, early arthritis, a previous cruciate injury or simply weakness from age, the body feels that shift immediately and responds by shifting weight.

That shift is not stubbornness, it is redistribution. The body is unloading discomfort and trying to maintain balance. If we continue pushing past a comfortable range, pain increases. Sometimes the growl is not attitude but a boundary.

Hair follicles are rich with nerve endings, and sustained tension activates those receptors repeatedly. The discomfort builds gradually, which is why a dog may tolerate brushing for a minute or two before reacting. The reaction feels sudden to us, but the pain was cumulative.

When we are working through mats under tension, we are applying leverage close to the skin. Even when we are careful, the body feels that pull. If the dog cannot move away or communicate clearly, the nervous system will eventually do it for them.

Stillness can feel safer than fighting when fighting has not worked. A still dog is not always a comfortable dog. Compliance is not always consent.

We cannot remove every discomfort from grooming; some level of manipulation is necessary. Maintenance requires positioning, but we control height, angle, duration and pressure. And that is not a small responsibility.

We can lower the leg a few inches, support under the elbow instead of pulling from the wrist, let the neck return to neutral between passes or shorten the time a joint is extended. Work within range instead of at the edge of it.

Most dogs are trying very hard to cooperate with us. Our job is not just to finish the haircut but to notice when cooperation turns into coping. The body whispers before it shouts. The question is whether we are watching closely enough to hear it.

Because we work in a high-exposure environment, prevention must be consistent. Wash hands between pets, disinfect tools and surfaces, launder towels in hot water, avoid bringing work shoes into your home, change clothes after heavily infested cases and keep personal items away from grooming areas. These habits protect not only us but also our families and our own pets.

Parasites are not a sign of neglect. Even well-cared-for pets can pick them up from parks, trails, beaches or other animals. Our responsibility is not to judge but to recognize, manage and prevent spread.

Parasites may always make us a little uncomfortable, and that reaction is natural, but knowledge turns fear into control. By understanding how parasites spread and committing to strong hygiene and environmental practices, we can dramatically reduce risk. In this industry, awareness is not optional; it is part of professionalism.

Dr. Cliff Faver graduated with a BS in Biology/BA in Chemistry before getting a Veterinary degree in 1987. He is the past owner of Animal Health Services in Cave Creek, Arizona and now the US distributor for Iv San Bernard products, teaches the ISB Pet Aesthetician Certification program, and speaks internationally on hair and skin. His passion is to merge groomers and veterinarians to aid in helping and healing pets. He is also a member of AVMA, AAHA, AZVMA, Board member with Burbank Kennel Club, and has served on Novartis Lead Committee, Hill’s International Global Veterinary Board, and a Veterinary Management Group.

Interestingly, the location came before the fully formed business plan. The couple found a 1,750-square-foot space that felt right and began negotiating the lease while continuing to refine their concept. Even before officially signing, Arjun was teaching himself about plumbing requirements, electrical needs and water systems so they could manage buildout costs. Together, they assembled equipment, built out tubs and worked late nights preparing the space themselves.

With more than 20 years of experience, Lisa became instrumental in shaping the salon’s grooming operations. While the couple focused on overall business structure and customer experience, Lisa helped establish workflow, equipment decisions and day-to-day grooming standards.

“She played a big role in helping us understand how things should be done,” Monika shares. “It really felt like a partnership.”

Today, The Modern Canine employs six groomers, and scheduling is handled collaboratively rather than dictated by quotas. The couple is clear that they did not want a numbers-driven environment.

“I love seeing when dogs start with us and they’re really anxious, then you see them get more comfortable with each visit.” she shares.

Because The Modern Canine also includes retail, balancing both sides of the business requires thoughtful boundaries. Monika describes it as running two related but distinct operations. One decision they made early on was not to pressure groomers into selling retail products. Having seen that model elsewhere, they wanted to keep responsibilities clear.

“The groomers are there to groom,” Monika stresses. “I don’t need them worrying about selling food or supplements.”

“We don’t push,” Arjun adds. “If someone walks out without buying anything, that’s fine. If it’s right for them, they’ll come back.”

Their marketing has followed that same organic philosophy. Arjun’s background in branding allowed them to build visibility before they even opened. They established social media accounts months in advance, engaged in local online groups and prioritized strong Google presence. Many of Monika’s former dog walking clients naturally transitioned into grooming customers. Even now, much of their growth comes from word-of-mouth referrals and online reviews.

After two and a half years, the couple is thinking ahead. A second location is a long-term goal, ideally within a short drive of their current shop. If they expand, they hope to incorporate everything they’ve learned about layout efficiency, workflow and space planning. But growth will only happen if they can maintain the culture they’ve worked intentionally to build.

“There’s a misconception sometimes,” she explains. “Of course we’re not going to understand everything the way a groomer does. But we really try to go above and beyond to understand the day-to-day challenges.”

Both she and Arjun step in when needed, helping with prep work during busy periods or when someone calls out. They continue researching tools, shampoos and educational opportunities. For them, improvement is ongoing.

“I feel like you can never be at one hundred percent,” Arjun shares. “It’s always evolving.”

Ultimately, The Modern Canine exists because Monika and Arjun believed grooming could feel different—calmer for dogs, more collaborative for groomers and more personal for clients.

What began as a simple thought has evolved into a salon built on presence, partnership and a standard they hold themselves to every day: If they wouldn’t bring their own dogs there, they won’t expect anyone else to.

The beauty industry, for example, in all 50 states requires two years of mandatory schooling in a state-licensed school and a passing mark on state board exams. Only then are they licensed and can begin to work in the industry. Most states even require that they maintain their state licenses by taking required continuing education units (CEUs) that keep them current on the latest best practices and any changes in the science of their trade.

Licenses governing business activities are required by governmental agencies at various levels—city, county, state and federal—depending on the business in question. You must get a license to operate a business, to take in money and employ workers, etc., but a general business license does not specify or regulate how to do your job. There are a few universal regulations on groomers such as our collection and retention of records for each pet’s required rabies vaccination information.

As of this writing, the only jurisdiction that requires a recognized form of groomer certification that includes any kind of competency testing is the city of El Paso, Texas. After a rash of pet deaths, the city passed a law requiring groomers to maintain a recognized certification credential from amongst a list of approved courses. These do not mandate hands-on grooming skill testing, but instead they focus on safety education.

Other states have tried to license groomers, New Jersey and California being the most notorious. They failed because the bills were bad, to which groomers organized significant and well-informed opposition. Some legislators, not knowledgeable about our industry, even suggested that animal control officers be put in charge of licensing.

After these serious but ill-informed efforts at groomer licensing were beaten back, grooming industry leaders from many organizations got together and worked hard for several years to write the PPGSA Standards of Safety, Care and Sanitation.¹ This document remains the lone internally created, industry-wide set of standards.

However, the PPGSA standards, while written to be easily adoptable for legislative purposes, are not mandatorily being used throughout our industry. And even if the PPGSA standards were to be universally adopted, there still is no required component for skills-based testing. These standards do not address in any way, nor were they ever meant to, how we are to cut and style dog hair.

Realistically, we know that there are many people all over this nation taking money to groom a pet that really don’t know what they are doing. Worse yet, some may not really care about getting better at it, and pets are certainly suffering at their hands. Like so many, though, they often mean well but simply don’t know better because they only know what they were taught.

Another advantage to credentialing is the ability to sanction groomers that do harm to their clients and the industry’s reputation. Credentials could be withdrawn after due process is given, taking those groomers out of circulation and protecting their clients from further harm. One of the most important responsibilities of industry organizations is ensuring quality and policing their members.

With terms like certificate, certificate course and certification being thrown around more than ever, there are still some groomers—and understandably so—who are not clear about the terminology regarding our voluntary industry credentials.

A certificate shows that the attendee has completed a course or training, proving they have learned specific skills, often in a specialized area. Certificates are for foundational knowledge and typically don’t require testing. For example, “Difficult Dog Certificate Course,” “Groomers Guide to the 15 Coat Types Certificate Course,” “Skin Assessment Certificate Course” or “Feline Safety Grooming Certificate Course.”

A certification validates that the individual has met industry-set standards for competence through a professional body. Certifications signify expertise, often for career advancement, and are provided by a national or international groomer association, which includes written and practical evaluations, and usually requires renewal or continuing education. For example, Certified Professional Groomer (CPG)², National Certified Master Groomer® (NCMG)³, International Certified Professional Groomer (ICPG)⁴ or Certified Feline Master Groomer™ (CFMG™).⁵

It is likely, given the longevity and international reach of these outstanding programs that, should groomer certification ever become mandated as it is in other trades, these existing certification programs would likely become institutionalized. And in the meantime, it is exciting to see our own industry peers working so hard in such large numbers to gain education and credentials not because they have to, but because they want to.

1. PPGSA Standards. https://petgroomersandstylists.org/standards/
2. International Professional Groomers, Inc. https://www.ipgicmg.com/
3. National Dog Groomers Association of America. https://nationaldoggroomers.com/
4. The International Society of Canine Cosmetologists. https://isccmembers.com/
5. National Cat Groomers Institute. https://nationalcatgroomers.com/

The same considerations should apply to pets referred to you by the veterinary office. Discuss expectations clearly, including:

An innocent comment such as, “I think your dog has a skin infection,” can easily be misinterpreted when the client repeats it to their veterinarian as, “The groomer said my dog has a skin infection.” Instead of diagnosing, describe what you observe, such as, “The skin appears inflamed and flaky in several areas.”

After pointing out your observation, recommend a veterinary exam. This protects you, respects the veterinarian’s role and reinforces professionalism.

Planning together before disaster strikes can make a tremendous difference. When pet professionals collaborate ahead of time, more pets can be helped during emergencies. A united network is stronger than isolated businesses scrambling independently.

At the end of the day, veterinarians and groomers share the same goal: healthy, safe and well-cared-for pets. When we shift from defensiveness to collaboration, incredible opportunities open up—referrals increase, communication improves, emergencies feel more manageable and clients gain confidence in both professions.

Bridging the gap doesn’t require grand gestures. It starts with a phone call, a meeting, a conversation built on respect. By taking the initiative to build professional relationships within your local pet community, you strengthen not only your own business but the entire network of care surrounding the pets you serve. And when groomers and veterinarians stand side by side instead of across from one another, the real winners are always the animals in our care.

While these ups and downs are normal, a team that has everything under control leaves a better impression. Clients want to know that when their pet is in your care, the system your salon counts on is working correctly. Wouldn’t you feel better leaving your own pet with someone who is focused, organized and calm?

The way you present yourself says a lot about what goes on after a client walks out the door. Taking a moment to breathe and smile before you answer the phone or greet a customer at the front desk demonstrates your professionalism rather than whatever challenge you encountered moments earlier.

If you want to be even more detailed, one idea is to walk through the process as if you were a client. Ask yourself what the client sees first when they walk in with their pet and what the intake process is like, then repeat this for the pick-up process. Striving to see from an outside perspective can help inspire you.

At dog shows, fine-tuning every groom to perfection—right up until you get in front of the judge—is normal. In the salon, the same can be true. Before the dog walks out to the client, make a point of blowing off any excess hair and taking one final look. It doesn’t have to take much time either. The secret is creating a routine so you naturally remember the details at each step.

One way to start noticing even the smallest flyaways is by studying purebred dogs. Get to know breed standards and watch how handlers make dogs stand out, both in grooming and in how they present them. Handlers don’t rush through their motions; they take the time to bring the judge’s eye exactly where they want it to be on the dog. This is a unique skill that pet groomers can take inspiration from.

Don’t keep your commitment to making sure your work stands out to yourself, either. Are there any areas you are particularly proud of that you want to point out to your client? Demonstrating a passion for your work shows just how much you care.

When you’re committed to being the best groomer you can be, people will notice. This doesn’t just mean learning how to groom; it also means coming up with a routine that allows you to move with calm, confident style, and that guarantees no detail is overlooked.

As professionals, our priority is the biomechanical safety of the dog. Understanding how the salon environment impacts a compromised joint is the only way to ensure a safe outcome for the pet and protect the business from liability.

When a dog stands on a grooming table, that ligament is under constant tension. If the ligament is partially torn or weakened by a recent surgery, the dog’s brain must compensate by over-firing the muscles to hold the joint in place.

Imagine trying to stand perfectly still on one leg for three to four hours while someone scrubs, dries and trims you. That is the invisible marathon the dog runs every time they visit the salon during recovery.

Furthermore, fat tissue is an active inflammatory state. It secretes hormones like leptin, which actually breaks down cartilage and weakens ligaments. On a grooming table, an obese dog is experiencing peak force on their surgical site with every minor turn or pivot.

While a vet may prescribe a pet-specific anti-inflammatory like Rimadyl, owners should never attempt to dose their pets with over-the-counter Aspirin. Even at low dosages, Aspirin can cause severe stomach ulcers and blood-thinning issues that complicate surgery or cause excessive bleeding if a nail is accidentally quicked.

If the dog is in pain, they need a professional protocol from their vet—never a grab-off-the-shelf human solution. Our role is to report the dog’s fatigue and mobility back to the owner so they can consult their veterinarian.

The protocol should be a no-bath, no-dry, lateral comfort groom, where the dog is placed on their side on a padded surface with an assistant providing gentle restraint. To maximize safety and speed, a clipper vacuum system can be used to dry shave the dog lying down. This removes the coat quickly and keeps the blades cool without the need for the dog to stand.

Liability is the silent partner in every grooming salon. A surgical repair can cost upwards of $9,000. If a dog slips in a tub or snaps a ligament while fighting a nail trim, the financial and reputational stakes are enormous.

Every dog with a history of knee issues must have a paper trail in our system, including digital notes on their behavior and a signed medical waiver for every visit. This ensures the owner acknowledges that we are prioritizing the animal’s physical safety over the perfection of the haircut.

At the end of the day, our clippers can always fix a messy coat, but we cannot fix a broken knee. As professionals, we are the last line of defense for these dogs. While the owner might see a shaggy dog, we see a vulnerable joint that is one slip away from a surgical failure.

By holding the line on your 12-week policy and mastering the lateral comfort groom, you aren’t just doing your job—you are practicing high-level animal advocacy. Trust your gut: If a dog is too unstable to stand, or if an owner is pushing you to bypass safety for the sake of a cute haircut, have the professional courage to say no.

Our goal is to return every pet to their owner in better condition than they arrived. When we prioritize biomechanical safety over aesthetics, we protect the dog’s future mobility, our shop’s reputation and the integrity of the grooming profession.

Suppose you find yourself drawn to a customer that you would like to develop a friendship with. First, set some guidelines. When you give them your cell phone number (which is often the first step towards building a relationship in today’s society), tell them you reserve that number for personal communication only. Should they forget and text you about a grooming matter, simply say, “Please call me during business hours at work, and I’ll be happy to take care of that for you.” Most people don’t need to be reminded twice. If they do, you might reconsider your choice.

If you have a social media presence, you may have customers find you there and want to interact via that medium. If you like them, this may work out well; if you have no interest in expanding your professional relationship, just tell them you reserve your personal social media for non-work-related interactions.

Business relationships can still be friendly without developing into friendships. It is up to you to discern which people you want to allow into your personal life, then set boundaries to maintain the relationship on two different planes: the service/work connection and the growing friendship.

You can maintain your professionalism and create a joyful relationship if you are mindful of the people you choose and the parameters you set.