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Has your dog ever spent a day at the doogie spa? Then a dog groomer has spent several hours with your pet making him beautiful, clean and well groomed for your enjoyment. But for the dog groomer, it's not always a day at the spa. Here is a look at a typical day in the life of a dog groomer.
For most dog groomers, the day starts by greeting and receiving the day's four-legged clients. Many clients drop off their dogs early in the morning so they can still get to work on time. Many dog groomers begin their day as early as 6:30 or 7 a.m.
When accepting new clients, a dog groomer usually checks his vet records to be sure all vaccines are current and the dog is in good health to be around other dogs. This may require the dog groomer to call or fax paperwork back and forth to a vet clinic before starting work on a pet. -
Once the dog clients are checked in, they wait in a kennel until it is their turn. A groomer may work with an assistant who bathes the dog and prepares him for grooming. If the groomer works alone, he will bathe the dog. The use of special shampoos for coat enhancement, detangling and color-enhancing are common. After the bath, the dog will need to be dried. A dog groomer often uses an industrial dryer on a hose to be able to reach all parts of the dog.
Once the dog is dry, the dog groomer will being the grooming process. Teeth brushing, ear cleaning and a nail trim are all common tasks for a groomer. If requested, some groomers will also drain a dog's anal glands.
Next, a dog groomer will style the pet's hair in a breed-specific cut. A groomer uses shears and electric razors to shorten and thin the dog fur. Often, the pet is placed on a grooming table so the groomer can work at waist height with the dog. Large dogs may need to be trimmed at floor level.
Many groomers will finish the dog with a shine spray and bows on its fur. Some dogs may get a bandana and a scent spray, too. -
A dog groomer will go through the grooming process with several dogs each day. Many of the clients will stop and pick up their dogs after work, making the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. hour very busy at grooming shops.
After all of the dogs are picked up, a dog groomer will clean the shop. Sweeping up fur and mopping the floor with a sanitizer are imperative for keeping the facility clean.
