Grooming Gab
No Grooming Career is Complete without Blood, Sweat, and Tears
by Kathy Hosler
We’ve all heard the idiom “Blood, sweat, and tears,” but what does that saying really mean? Sir Winston Churchill coined this phrase in his famous 1940 speech, and it signifies giving your all and investing a lot of hard work, effort and dedication to achieve a specific goal. And while groomers certainly fit the bill for investing a lot of hard work into their career, it’s oftentimes unavoidable to experience blood, sweat and tears in a literal sense.
Blood
Many groomers are injured by the pets they groom, or attempt to groom. Bites are the most common injury groomers experience, and it only takes one serious bite to end a career. While you can’t entirely eliminate the potential for bites, there are ways to minimize the risk of injury to you.

To start, you can buy and use equipment that aids in both your safety and that of the pet, such as muzzles, grooming slings, etc. Also screen your clients to determine if their pet poses a bite risk. You do not have to accept every cat or dog whose owner requests an appointment. If you get a bad feeling or are unsure about a pet, you should decline the booking.

Do you groom alone? If so, always keep your phone or a panic button within reach so you can get help if you need it. Networking with other local groomers can also help you stay informed and allow you to alert each other when an incident happens. It’s also vital that you secure insurance coverage, including disability insurance, to protect your employees and yourself.

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When an accident does occur—and it likely will at some point in your career—don’t panic.
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Another factor is the blood of the pets you groom. Accidents can happen in the grooming salon regardless of whether you have been grooming for just a week or many years. How you react to and handle an incident significantly impacts the outcome.

All groomers should take a pet first aid and CPR course, have a well-stocked first aid kit, and the phone numbers of area veterinarians and emergency clinics on hand. Having basic first aid supplies at your fingertips allows you to immediately address minor scrapes or nicks, or if it is something more serious, you won’t lose precious time searching for emergency phone numbers.

When an accident does occur—and it likely will at some point in your career—don’t panic. If you’ve planned ahead, you’ll know what to do: administer basic first aid, contact the owner and seek veterinary care, if necessary. Follow up on the pet and see how it is doing the following day.

Sweat

Grooming can be a physically demanding job. You often put in long hours, doing your best to comply with owners’ wishes while working on pets that are difficult on the table—and ones who haven’t seen a brush or comb in quite some time. By the end of the day, you may feel completely exhausted, both physically and mentally.

But there is a way you can change that! You can learn to work smarter, not harder. Knowledge truly is power. Enhance your skills by taking classes, in person and online, and setting personal goals for yourself. Attend shows and seminars to learn timesaving techniques and tips. Invest in tools and equipment that will make your job easier.

Another big one is to get and keep your clients’ pets on a consistent grooming schedule. The pets will stay in better shape when they come in regularly, making the grooming process easier and more enjoyable for you and the pet. Save your sweating for the sports, hobbies and activities you enjoy, like working out, dancing or hiking!

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The Boy Scout motto “Be Prepared” is sound advice every groomer should follow.
Tears
Our line of work comes with its fair share of tears. Some days can be incredibly tough, making us feel overwhelmed and defeated. Dealing with difficult clients can be frustrating—especially those who threaten to leave bad reviews, want an appointment the same day they call, make unreasonable requests or think they can demand a refund because their matted pet was clipped shorter than they wanted.

While not all of these situations are entirely avoidable, having clients sign appropriate pet release forms at check-in and documenting everything is a good place to start. In fact, you should take before and after photos of the pets you groom, and of anything out of the ordinary you see on them. In addition, having clear policies in place makes it easier to say no to uncomfortable requests.

The Boy Scout motto “Be Prepared” is sound advice every groomer should follow. Protect yourself and your business by having adequate insurance coverage. Additionally, installing video cameras in your mobile unit or throughout your salon, as well as in your parking area, could save you countless tears and sleepless nights.

On the flip side, we often build close, meaningful relationships with our clients and their pets. We hear stories about their families—the new babies, the children as they grow up, their crazy relatives and, of course, all the great stories they tell you about their pets. But what do you do when a client’s pet dies? Pet loss is difficult for their families and it affects you as well.

Acknowledging the pet’s life is very important. You should reach out to the owner and at the very least send a heartfelt card. You can also consider sending a pet sympathy gift. These can be purchased wholesale or ordered one at a time online. Some companies can personalize the gift with a card with a message and send it out the same or the next day.

Blood, sweat and tears are a part of life, as well as our careers—but most groomers wouldn’t have it any other way!

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