Part of reducing excessive movements is making the repetitive movements we have to do more comfortable, and using tools that require fewer awkward movements. While your average pet groomer will use clippers and snap-on combs for the majority of their grooms, and only use shears for finish work to reduce the excessive movements, there’s no denying that a scissored finish is often considered the pinnacle of our craft.

One of the worst culprits of excessive/repetitive movements that we see is using shears that are improperly fitted to our hands. Your average “old-school” non-swivel-style shear forces your hand into an awkward posture many thousands of times a day. For groomers, maintaining a neutral position is more than just the position of the wrist. Non-swivel shears put your thumb in an awkward position and place pressure on the carpal tunnel. But a correctly fitted pair of swivel shears will keep your thumb in a neutral position and reduce awkward repetitive movements.

The human body is amazing in its function and design, and while our opposable thumbs are a key trait in dexterity, we often come back to the “just because we can do something, doesn’t mean that we should” theory when it comes to repetitive motion. There can be too much of a good thing.

Two more culprits in excessive movements are brushing and velocity drying. These have very similar movements and are both completely necessary to our profession. We can’t get that plush scissor finish without a properly prepped, dried and brushed-out pet. Reducing these excessive movements isn’t as simple as getting a new tool, although there are tools that can help.

The key to an easy brush-out (or easier de-matting) is prep and products. Using the correct product types for the pet’s coat can make a huge difference in drying time and ease of brush-out. If the coat isn’t thoroughly clean and conditioned, it’s going to take forever to dry—not to mention having a negative effect on the finished groom.

Regarding de-matting, mild detangling that can be done without hurting the pet still begins in the tub with the correct products. This is also a time when having a recirculating bathing system (provided you keep it disinfected properly) can be a lifesaver in getting the product worked through the coat thoroughly while being easier on your body.

It bears repeating: a clean, well-conditioned coat is easier and faster to dry and brush out—and that also means well-rinsed. It’s often said that a conditioned coat takes longer to dry, but if you’re using a quality conditioner suited to your coat type and it’s rinsed properly, it won’t take longer to dry. Prep is everything when it comes to ergonomics, as well as finished groom results.

In addition to finding tools that fit your hand properly and using products to help cut time, there’s a simple trick to avoiding excessive movements: Try not to do things more times than you have to! I’m not talking about a second bath when needed—that’s part of proper prep work—I’m talking about rough cuts.

If you were looking for a sign to stop rough-cutting dogs unless they were pelted, here you go. We already know that a clean coat is less damaging to your equipment than a dirty one; that the dirt actually dulls your shears and blades faster. And it’s not just your equipment that you are putting excessive wear on, it’s your body!

It’s time to start being more mindful of ergonomics and treating our body like the irreplaceable tool it is. So why put more strain on it than necessary, working harder than we have to and doing things twice when once will work? That’s excessive.