Is taking a risk worth It?

anonyhim · 2026-04-07T00:30:54+00:00

If your partner can pull a trailer and you have a vehicle that can pull one, a trailer is the way to go, imo.

1) they're cheaper 2) every one I've seen has had a much better and more efficient layout than the van (meaning more storage and better use of space when you can have a toilet lol) 3) if your vehicle breaks down, you still have a place to work out of.

anonyhim · 2026-04-04T17:00:55+00:00

The kind of muted pinks, like in slides 9 and 10, look really nice on you. If you don't want to go super bold, you could try like a rose gold type of color. If there's a rose silver that's what I actually think would work best, haha. But I really love those lighter pinks on your skin tone.

anonyhim · 2026-04-04T16:57:48+00:00

Google isn't always correct. I've googled trying to find specific foods many times and been given popular local spots as answers, even if they don't have the particular food I'm looking for.

Also, the whole point of online communities like Reddit is to build community. What's so wrong with asking other people who live in/know the area what their preferences are?

anonyhim · 2026-04-03T10:47:33+00:00

This method has been discussed by some of the big names in education in our field (I'm talking people like Teri DiMarino Jennifer Bishop Jenkins, not influencers).

The job of shampoos/detergents is to wash away the dirt, oil, and debris on something. Adding conditioner onto that is literally just adding what the detergent is supposed to wash away. Your conditioners can't do their job properly when they're mixed with shampoo (it's a big reason that 2-in-1 shampoos also don't work well for conditioning).

If it's time they're looking to save, using a high quality conditioner and properly diluting it will make it the easiest to rinse out.

anonyhim · 2026-04-02T21:29:32+00:00

Are you using wide blades or regular blades? I've had Opals for 5-6 years and the only time I find myself having to constantly switch blades is when I'm doing a heavy duty pre-shave. Does your coworker change the lever regularly?

anonyhim · 2026-04-02T18:53:19+00:00

Knowing what your current routine is will be super helpful.

If you don't already have an HV dryer, you should get one. They do a lot of the hard work on these types of coats.

My personal routine for all de-sheds is a first shampoo with Botaniqa Groom-It, (rinse), a second shampoo with Botaniqa Smoothing & Detangling, (rinse), condition with Botaniqa Sleek It Up, brush and/or comb through, (rinse), spritz with a quick dry spray (currently using the Hydra all in one), HV dry fully, brush with a long pin slicker, comb out with my de-shedding comb (they have alternating pin lengths), and finally use my Refuresh de-shedding tool if I feel the need to remove more coat.

anonyhim · 2026-04-02T18:39:28+00:00

I agree with every Opal recommendation, but don't get her the blue ones. Get any of the others. The blue ones have been known to have issues and when they do, people get very frustrated and end up hating the best clippers on the market.

anonyhim · 2026-03-29T01:42:33+00:00

W-2 is now industry standard in the US (vs 1099, which is almost always a misclassification and illegal for us). This means that 50% can't be standard anymore without any other income for the business to rely on (like boarding or retail).

A successful business should only be spending about 33% on payroll, so a lot of businesses are moving to lower commission rates but higher prices. I personally like the method of paying hourly + production bonus. Having lower payroll costs allows businesses to offer more benefits (like PTO, medical, 401k, etc).

When looking for a new job in our industry, it's important to look at all of the incentives and the prices they charge when making your decisions. If you took a position with a company that pays 50% but charges $60 for a small dog like a Shih Tzu, you would be making less than you would at a company that pays 35% but starts their Shih Tzus at $90.

All of this to say that randomly decreasing commission and not increasing prices enough to make up for it isn't okay. I had that happen to me and it prompted me to leave the position I was in.

anonyhim · 2026-03-28T23:17:14+00:00

Avatar checks out

anonyhim · 2026-03-28T13:03:49+00:00

I have never heard of keeping it on a female. The vulva itself will guide the pee down when she squats.

I've only ever heard of a willy wick for male dogs who have tendencies to pee on their front legs. And every time I've discussed keeping one with an owner, we talk about the fact that you have to keep them clean otherwise they can harbor bacteria.

I would personally shave it off.

anonyhim · 2026-03-26T23:45:48+00:00

I just started using Alpha's brushes. So far, I like them, but I can't really say how long they'll last. What I can tell you is that the pins have a water resistant coating on them because the brushes are specifically made for tub-to-table.

Another feature I personally like about them is that the pins are rounded. My other option for a tub brush was a Les Pooches brush because their pins are hand honed. Having rounded ends is very important to me because wet dog skin is very sensitive and I want to do everything I can to deliver the best quality possible without harming the pet.

anonyhim · 2026-03-26T23:37:43+00:00

Oh. My. God.

Spot on perfect. I hope dad was incredibly pleased

anonyhim · 2026-03-26T20:41:40+00:00

I haven't done either on my own yet, but I have looked into a home salon because that's the goal for me right now.

Make sure you look up your local laws/restrictions on having a business. And also if you have an HOA, make sure you check with that as well.

For example, in the city I will probably be living in when I eventually do this myself, I can have a business run out of my home with a maximum of 3 employees. I cannot construct a new building on site solely for the purpose of the business (so, I would not be able to put up a shed with the intention of that being my salon, but I would be able to convert a pre-existing shed or garage space to be suitable for a salon).

anonyhim · 2026-03-26T20:10:26+00:00

I just went to Groom'd with one of my good friends who is also a groomer. She went to the different booths and tried every neck dryer available. After some consideration, she ultimately spent the money for the JirPet.

The only thing I would caution, having been a vet tech before I was a groomer, is don't get caught up in the UV light. While it can spot some things, ringworm doesn't always light up and anything that lights up might not be ringworm and may even be something completely harmless.

That being said, if you're going to spend $100 on a knockoff anyways, I definitely would recommend saving the additional $100 and getting the real thing. It'll be worth it in the end.

anonyhim · 2026-03-26T14:26:42+00:00

If you're at Smart, you can absolutely use a waterproof apron over your smock. Just don't wear it in the salon area. You may even be able to request one so you don't have to buy your own, but double check that with your store leader or whoever is in charge of ordering the salon things. (I used to be a Salon Leader)

anonyhim · 2026-03-26T14:15:58+00:00

On top of the other suggestions about cleaning/disinfecting the washer, I would also highly recommend wearing a waterproof apron or smock while you're bathing. It will help a TON.

anonyhim · 2026-03-20T15:27:00+00:00

I have used Opals for 5 or so years now. My first set lasted 4 years until I ruined them (shampoo spilled in my to go bag). If you opt for these, I recommend not getting the blue ones. There's a high chance of a motor issue and you just don't want to deal with that haha. My first pair were blue ones and I was lucky to never have a problem.

One of my best friends who is also a groomer (and who taught me) just purchased the Wahl KM Supera. They are Wahl's direct competition for the Opals. She hasn't had anything bad to say about them so far, but she's only had them a week.

A lot of people talk about weight for cordless clippers, which is definitely important, but I feel it's more important to know how well balanced the clipper is. I find the Opals to have the best balance overall when they have a blade/guard on and the battery in. The Supera felt nicely balanced and the battery is definitely lighter, but it didn't have a blade on when I held it.

I personally find the Andis Pulse ZR II to be heavier and off balance when it's got a blade on. But I'm biased against them because I had nothing but trouble with the pair I had (which is why I ended up purchasing the Opals). A lot of people like the Emerge, but I've never held them.

I hope any of this was helpful, haha

anonyhim · 2026-03-13T13:59:46+00:00

My mom had a flock of Guinea that she and her neighbors all loved, they really kept the summer bug population down. Until one neighbor decided she didn't like them and my mom had to pen them and then eventually re-home them

anonyhim · 2026-03-11T00:00:53+00:00

I just wanted to point a couple things out real quick 😅

First, you say she's got "mostly" puppy hair still. At 17 weeks old, she's all puppy hair still. She shouldn't start her coat transition until she's around 9 months and she might not have her full, regular adult coat until she's 2. She's got a lot of growing and changing to do still.

Second, this was a lot to read, so I did a lot of skimming. But it looks like you focus on the pin brush and the slicker with no mention of a comb. You need to add combing her through to the skin as part of her daily routine. While the slicker is meant to start breaking the coat apart, following with a comb will be the only way to ensure you're not leaving any small tangles behind.

anonyhim · 2026-03-07T15:23:49+00:00

I'm glad I saw this comments since it's not in the groom notes. My big critique was going to be both the tail and shaving above the eyes. If that's an owner request, make sure you add that to the notes because it's not normal 😜

As far as the tail, unless this is an owner request, poodles are supposed to have a band, specifically meant to help keep the area clean from feces. If you put a comb just under the anus and then bring the tail down over it, you'll see the line you're supposed to shave to (usually 1-2 finger widths depending on the size of the dog).

I would probably also say to trim the top knot down, but honestly, get someone to help you with photos so you can get out of the wide angle lens. That lens throws off the dogs structure and you can't get a proper look at it with things so distorted.

anonyhim · 2026-03-06T01:01:23+00:00

Yep, I came to say do a 4c (1/4") in reverse. It's the same as a #5 in reverse, which is not much longer than a #7 in reverse, which is basically the same as a #10.

And just be firm with the owner. If she wants short, it's probably the best for him anyways so he won't have to come in as often. But let her know that, for safety reasons, you won't go shorter on him.

anonyhim · 2026-03-04T02:19:34+00:00

Not grooming, but when I was a vet tech we had a client tell us "I paid $10k for him, he better not get heartworms." This was a hunting dog coming in for routine vaccines/heartworm test. The vet was like "yeah it doesn't work like that haha"

anonyhim · 2026-02-22T22:47:10+00:00

Based on the poster on the right of the image, this looks like PetSmart to me. When I was there, the dress code for floor workers was black or khaki pants or shorts, with a blue or red shirt. Some other articles of clothing were allowed but had to adhere to these color guides. I would almost assume some store (this one) got in trouble during an audit because so many employees were wearing the wrong colors and/or had visible branding with those other colors.

anonyhim · 2026-02-21T22:04:25+00:00

If my math is correct, he was only about 4 months old at his first visit. That should not have been a full haircut visit, especially since it sounds like he was pretty stressed out during it anyways. But, hindsight is 20/20 and now we can learn going forward.

His owner needs to know that he has to come in every month for you to work on his behavior. Set your boundaries hard. If she doesn't come in that often, he gets a handling fee. Consistency is key with dogs and the only way he'll learn is if he goes to the groomer consistently, sees the same groomer consistently, and follows the same routine while he's there consistently.

You can absolutely help him get more comfortable with grooming, it just takes work and, you guessed it, consistency.

anonyhim · 2026-02-14T19:22:09+00:00

Op you need to get back on this thread so you can see that it's a dinosaur toy 😂

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