As the holiday rush nears, the need for speed grows. Time is always the most common concern for professionals in this industry. What areas in your day are robbing you of precious minutes?
Top 10 Areas Where Pet Pros Can Improve
1. Always start with the end result in mind
The better you know where you are headed – the easier it will be to get there. Know what a high-quality trim looks like. Know what balance and style is. Know what a beautifully brushed out dog looks and feels like. If you’re working on a purebred, know what a beautiful specimen should look like.
2. Don’t start with elbow grease - always let products and tools do the work first
In the past 30 years, there have been great developments in products and tools that make our jobs easier. Explore your options, and find out what products and tools the top pros use at their grooming tables.
3. If water can penetrate the coat, wash the pet first
Don’t waste time pre-clipping a dog that comes then every six weeks or less. Get it straight to the tub. The same thing goes with a dog that is matted or is shedding. If the water can penetrate the coat, get them right into the tub. A majority of mats and tangles are held together by dirt. Remove the dirt and the job just got easier.
4. A powerful high velocity dryer is the professional stylist’s greatest asset in time management
Put simply, (if used correctly) this tool produces the fastest results with the highest quality on any given coat type.
• it dries the coat with lightning speed
• it can straighten the coat for a beautiful fluff dry
• when used prior to the bath it will loosening dirt next to the skin
• it effectively removes most mats or tangles
• it is extremely efficient with the removal of shedding fur
5. Towel Dry - Towel Dry - Towel Dry
It never ceases to amaze me how many people miss this step. Incomplete towel drying costs precious minutes in the drying process.
Multiply that by six or eight dogs and you’ve lost 30 to 60 minutes out of your day. Here’s my goal: towel dry thoroughly enough so that spray does not come off the dog once I start working with a high velocity dryer.
6. Three clipper passes or less!
If your dog is bathed and blown out properly, the goal is to make three clipper passes - or less - to get it absolutely smooth. The first pass knocks out the longest coat. The second pass smooth’s it out. The third pass eliminates high spots that I’ve missed. Three times around the dog with the clippers - period. If you can get done quicker than that - bonus!
7. Create a routine for everything you do
You should have a routine for every dog that comes into your salon. Stick to your routine so you never miss a step.
8. Cheat like crazy with attach on combs
If there was ever a cheat tool in your toolbox, this is it! They let you establish a depth of coat just by following the dog’s body. For most people, this is much simpler than to master exquisite hand scissoring. It allows you to mold and sculpt the fur quickly and efficiently. With knowledge of proper canine structure and creative use of your guard combs, you can create a highly stylized trim in no time.
9. Never work on a pet that you feel is dangerous to itself or to you
With so many cooperative pets to work on, there is no reason for you to tackle a highly aggressive dog. Your hands are your livelihood. I’d rather have a client who is upset with me for refusing to do their dog than have a groom result in injury.
10. Love What You Do
Being a professional pet groomer or stylist has huge rewards. For many, it’s one of the most gratifying and creative jobs they have ever held. In order to be a valuable member of a pet grooming team, you need to have to have a burning desire – the need for speed. The more pets you can get through safely, without sacrificing compassion and quality, the more valuable you are to your salon.
By Mellissa Verplank, CMG
Ms. Verplank is an industry speaker, author, two time Cardinal Crystal Achievement award winner, Barkleigh Honors award winner and contest grooming judge. During her formative years she ran a fleet of mobile grooming units and a busy grooming salon.
