I'm a dog groomer- AMA

[one2three4five]

If you want Maybe no one is interested, but I get a lot of questions in real life, so I figured someone might be interested!

Haha yes I always feel sorry for the ladies - hair everywhere - on their coats, in their hair, just everywhere, totally worth the small fortune I pay to not have it at my house!!

One2 Thank you! We use tropiclean fresh breath gel and water additive for her teeth, it's made a real difference (well, that and she had to have 5 removed when she had her spay done ) so I will definitely check out that stuff. Though I'll be honest, any bathing is unlikely to be done by me, we only have a shower, which is a recipe for a flooded bathroom, she'll be going to a groomer for that I reckon! Lola, my first pug was fawn and needed regular bathing and proper heavy duty brushing because she moulted like nothing on earth, Marina, our new addition is black and the difference is like night and day, her coat is so easy to manage!

Fortunately we found a groomer who can get the nails done quickly, it's a two person job, one holds them like a football and the other clips as quickly as possible, Lola HATED it and Marina isn't shaping up to be much better so I'm grateful to have her.

Funnily enough she is a bit snobby about crossbreed dogs come to think of it, every time I go in she talks my ear off about show kennels etc. She's nice enough but she's very old school.

What's the best comb/brush to use for a collie cross? I have had one but recently adopted another and he will not let me brush him on his back end at all. He has soooo much bum fluff! He has long collie type hair.

I have to disagree with your post about qualified groomers. I'm a professional dog groomer OP I've been doing it for nearly ten years. I've never done a course, have absolutely no qualifications in the business. I am insured and first aid trained. Do you think qualifications are more important that experience.

At the moment where I live, there are many, many people going on a quick course and then opening up a business ideally from home and undercut groomers.

They have no experience and have no clue how to handle dogs that don't just sit there and allow them selfs to be groomed therefore resulting in these dogs coming to us and being petrified of being groomed because it is so easy to get a qualification if you have the right amount of money.

It's becoming a job where people think it's a quick and easy way to make money because the course is easy because they work on dogs who are used to grooming.

They then go on to make a huge mess of dogs trust and therefore making them terrified of groomers.

dogaregreat- I apologise, I didn't mean to cause you any offence. Of course your experience is important! I said in my post that I don't think it is a good thing that people can do short courses and then start working as a dog groomer with limited practical experience. Experience is everything in this job, it trumps the qualifications hands down! However, I do feel that the industry should be regulated in some way. To me, it is worrying that at the moment, someone can do an online course, or even no course, and just set up with no formal training or experience. I think the training needs to be overhauled, as like you said, it is way too easy to get if you have the money, and it offers very little in terms of practical experience. I completely appreciate that you have ten years experience, and I totally respect that, you aren't really who I'm talking about when I say that it's worrying that people can work as a groomer with no training.

I don't really know what the answer is, as the industry is a bit worrying in my opinon. Like you said, there are a lot of people setting up on their own with no experience and just a bit of paper. Maybe in light of this, proper training should be a requirement going forward, (for people not yet working in the industry, I don't mean force everyone to qualify if they haven't already got a qualification!) but that would need to be appropriate and comprehensive training, including an adequate amount of experience.

Sorry I didn't mean to come across as you had offended me haha, but yes there does need to be something in place that makes this not such an easy thing to get into

dogaregreat- Phew! I'm glad I didn't offend you, that was not my intention at all! P.S- great username, I agree

Deadbut- They sound lovely Pugs are always such characters! Great that you've found a groomer who can help, you never know, she might learn to love manicures eventually!

Longtime- Aaaaaah, congratulations on your new addition! My colleague is getting a collie in a few weeks, I am so excited to meet him It's tricky to say 100% without seeing the coat, but from what you've said, it sounds like a slicker brush and a rake would be your best options. There is a grooming website called Simpson's online, and they have a fab range of slicker brushes called 'Simpson's pro slicker.' They come in different colours which are good for different coats, but I'd recommend the purple one for you, as it'll be good for detangling and moulting. Rakes don't really look like they do a lot, but they are really good for getting out dead hair on collie type coats (as well as others, they can be great for huskies, retrievers, Newfoundland etc)- although they are best used once all knots have been brushed out, otherwise they will catch on knots and could be a bit painful. Has your dog been to a groomer at all? They can help with the excess puffiness by de-shedding and doing a light scissor trim of feathers and around the back end, to keep it a bit tidier if that's something you want

I was wondering if there's anyone out there who'll groom my cat! She's a large large Maine Coon and VERY hairy. An inside cat so not many mats - but she needs grooming every day in this heat!
Where abouts are you based though as my neighbour is looking for a decent groomer for his Labrador?

Carnt- Aaaah I love Maine coons, I used to have one, such beautiful cats! There are people out there who will groom cats, but not that many unfortunately. If you ring a couple of local groomers, then someone should be able to point you in the right direction of someone in your area who can groom cats

I'm based about ten miles from Oxford

@one2three4five thanks so much. Your reply was so helpful. Think Scottie's maybe generally just don't like the Groomers. My last attempted groomer did say as much. She immediately tried to tough his feet (very gently) and he snatched them back and she laughed and said "typical Scottie".

I will get those clippers but crikey they are expensive so will have to wait a bit. Seemingly they don't come with blades either . Which number blade should I add on for a swift all over clip? Would have to scissor his legs as there's zero chance he will let me put a clipper on them.

Holly- You're more than welcome! I think it can be a terrier thing, they are often very independent, feisty little things I have a Cairn, and my goodness, he's such a diva! Love them though, so much character

Yes they are expensive unfortunately. You could see if you can get hold of a second hand pair? For home grooming, I would imagine that would be fine. Yes blades are extra, such a pain! You don't need the Heiniger blades though. Andis do good blades and they will be cheaper and are usually universal so will fit on most clippers. I'd use either a 5f or a 7f for a scottie (assuming you're not aiming for breed standard trim anyway, as that gets more technical with different lengths on different bits!) Based on the fact that he's not a fan, maybe go for a 7f as this will be pretty short, so you will get away with longer between grooms. If he won't let you clip his legs, maybe get a pair of thinners, as they cut less hair each time, and will be a lot more forgiving and enable you to blend the hair- if that makes any sense?! With straight scissors, it's an all or nothing chop, so can give a choppy finish if you aren't very experienced (no disrespect!) There are lots of great videos on YouTube that can help you out when you come to do it, they will be full of visual tips and advice