ith inflation creeping into every part of our lives, you may have noticed customers trying to make their grooms stretch a bit further by doing some of the grooming themselves at home. And while this can hurt your bottom line, it can also keep dogs in better condition for their professional grooms—if done correctly.

The following are some basic tips you should share with your clients before they attempt any at-home grooming. Any product or tool recommendations should be based on the individual dog.

First and foremost, I really only recommend these tips for a dog that is used to regular grooming. Second, remember that animals pick up on your emotions, so only attempt this with confidence and compassion. Finally, remember that you and your dog will get better with each groom. 

While bathing in a floor-level tub or shower is just fine, I do recommend investing in a Booster Bath. This investment will last many years for the average pet owner and will save your back as well as help ensure you get a thorough rinse. 

Be sure the shampoo you are using is made for dogs. Apply the shampoo, scrub all over and rinse. The first rinse isn’t super important because you’re going to reapply shampoo and scrub a second time. When you rinse the second time, though, be super thorough. I really only recommend a required conditioner on dogs getting bathed once a week.

Do not over complicate drying. Use a towel to dry your dog as much as possible, then put your dog in a warm, safe place to dry a bit more. Once your dog is merely damp, use any hand-held hair dryer to completely dry your dog.

Use a wire slicker brush to do a thorough brush against the grain of the coat to check your work. Follow that with a steel comb, making sure it can glide smoothly through the coat as you lay it back down. 

For any trimming, you’re going to place your dog on an elevated and safe surface. Firmly yet kindly hold your dog by the hair on their chin to control them for their safety. Use a steel comb to comb the hair toward the eyes and use a small pair of hair-cutting scissors to trim the hair on the inside corner of the eye at a 45-degree angle. Then comb your dog’s eyebrows down and use your scissors to trim the hair short on the outside corner of the eye, not across the whole front of the brow. 

To trim the feet, comb all of the hair to the bottom of the dog’s foot and trim a straight line that is parallel with the pads of the feet. 

While we can’t prevent our clients from taking on some of their dogs’ grooming needs at home, we can guide them on how to do it correctly, for both the safety of the dog and a better-maintained coat for us to work with when they do come in for their professional grooming appointments.