1. Prepare Your Dog Early

• Get them used to touch: Start touching your dog's paws early on to avoid issues during nail trimming. Learn more about trimming dog nails.
• Start as a puppy: Begin when your dog is young for easier acclimation.
• Comfort with touch: Make sure your pet is comfortable with being handled.

2. Start Grooming Early

• Early grooming: Begin grooming when your dog is a puppy for better adaptability.
• Avoid matting: Early grooming helps prevent matting. More on preventing matting.
• Introductory appointments: Take your puppy for a simple grooming session to get them used to the process.

3. Brush Regularly

• Frequent brushing: Brush your dog's fur at least every few days.
• Prevent knots: Regular brushing prevents knots and makes grooming easier.
• Healthy fur: Keeps your dog's fur healthy and manageable.

4. Check Feet and Ears

• Regular checks: Look at your dog's feet and ears often. Treating ear infections.
• Remove debris: Ensure no debris is causing discomfort.
• Healthy ears: Keep ears clean to prevent infections.

5. Groom Regularly

• Consistent grooming: Schedule regular grooming sessions to maintain your dog's coat and nails.
• Healthy coat: Regular grooming keeps your dog's coat healthy.
• Professional help: Use a professional groomer for the best results.

6. Keep Calm and Carry On

• Stay calm: Your dog senses your anxiety, which can make them nervous.
• Avoid disruptions: Don’t check in frequently, as it excites your dog and makes grooming harder.

7. Be Specific

• Clear instructions: Tell your groomer exactly what you want.
• Use pictures: Bring photos to show the groomer your preferred style.
• Consistent communication: Ensure you and the groomer are on the same page.

8. Listen to Your Groomer

• Trust their expertise: Groomers are trained and have experience with various cuts.
• Consider advice: Be open to their suggestions for the best results.

9. Don’t Be Afraid to Wash

• Regular washing: Washing your dog often is fine with the right shampoo.
• Ask for recommendations: Get shampoo advice from your groomer.
• Prevent skin issues: Proper washing helps avoid skin problems and matting.

10. Avoid Matting

• Serious issue: Matting is uncomfortable and can lead to skin problems.
• Regular brushing: Prevent matting by keeping your dog's fur well-brushed.
• Professional advice: Follow your groomer's advice on de-matting for safety.

 These tips will make the grooming experience better for both your dog and the groomer, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable process for everyone involved.

 Dog groomers are hardworking, patient and dedicated people. They put up with a lot of shenanigans on those tables, and most won’t hesitate to tell you when your dog has been cutting up instead of standing still for their cut.

 But there are some things dog groomers won’t tell you, perhaps because they’re too polite.

 Lucky for you, I’m not too polite. Here are some things your groomer may not mention but that you should know.

Tipping

 Tipping for services is a way of life here in Canada. You tip your bartender, your hair stylist, and just about anyone else who performs a service for you. The same applies to your dog groomer.

• Tip your groomer: Your dog isn’t always an angel on the table, and although they look fresh and renewed, the groomer may have had a tough time.
• Consider extra tips if:

Accidents Happen

 While working with your pooch, groomers use sharp instruments like scissors and clippers. Despite their utmost attention, accidents can happen, especially if your dog is overly active or covered in mats.

• Accidents: Groomers may feel worse about accidentally harming your dog than you can imagine.
• Prevent injuries: Keep your dog brushed and free of mats between professional grooming sessions.

Be Realistic

 Your dog has certain physical characteristics determined by their breed. Some dogs have short coats, some long, some curly, and some straight.

• Understand limitations: Don’t ask your groomer for a cut that isn’t feasible for your dog's coat type.
• Breed-specific grooming: Each breed has grooming styles that suit their fur type and physical traits. These are the grooms I prefer as they are more comfortable for most dogs.
• Shaving isn't always the answer - it's a shortcut!

Please Stop Calling So Much

 Groomers understand that schedules are busy, but many grooming salons don’t have a dedicated phone person.

• Minimize calls: Limit yourself to one phone call. Frequent calls interrupt the grooming process.
• Appointment updates: Groomers will inform you when your dog is ready for pickup or if more time is needed.

Grooming Is Stressful

 Grooming is a labor of love, but it can be stressful for both groomers and dogs.

• Stress factors: Dogs often don’t like being left with strangers in a new environment with unfamiliar smells and sounds.
• Safety measures: Despite precautions like muzzling, accidents can happen if a dog gets loose.
• Be a good client: Be punctual, understanding, and appreciative. A small gesture like bringing a cookie can go a long way.

 By following these guidelines, you can help make the grooming experience smoother and less stressful for everyone involved.

 Pups under three months of age are best groomed at home. Once they’ve had all their vaccinations, that’s when we recommend their first visit with a professional groomer. The first appointment should ideally be all about finding out how much fun a grooming session can be, and not about how cute your pup can look. Too many pups have a scary experience the first time in the grooming salon – after all there is a lot going on they have to get used to.  If you keep your priority on helping them adjust to the process and people, that will prevent a lot of unwanted stress later on down the road. Let the groomers hold your pup and talk to him as they introduce your dog to the noises and vibrations that accompany the grooming process. Try for a short grooming for their first experience, a bath and blow dry, or a quick visit to have their nails trimed. This will make the process much easier on you and especially on him. Not to mention your groomers.

• Depending on breed, your pet may need to be groomed every 6-8 weeks (some breeds like doodles every 4 weeks is best). You may request the same groomer every time so that you and your pet will begin to build a relationship with your groomer who should come to understand all your pet’s quirks and preferences. It makes the experience safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
• We also recommend visiting the salon between trims/baths to help your pup get used to all the sights and sounds. This is a great time for nail trims between grooms.