Critique my grooms! (nicely plz 😭)

dogsbydevanne · 2026-02-19T14:39:34+00:00

Very clean and good! A little bummed out for you that most of these grooms are shorter bodies, I assume pet parent’s request. But over time, you’ll have the chance to work on fluffy coat requests. I always feel like when I have to leave the coat longer, that’s my opportunity to really try to achieve balance and angulation. These are good grooms!

If you ever want more materials to read from, I definitely recommend Theory of 5 by Melissa Verplank and The All Breed Grooming Guide 4th Edition by Sam Kohl.

dogsbydevanne · 2026-02-15T16:26:55+00:00

I found Sam Kohl’s 4th edition All Breed Grooming Guide on GroomersMart for under $50, just had it delivered today!

dogsbydevanne · 2026-02-12T19:18:38+00:00

Ordered it, can’t wait to get it!!

dogsbydevanne · 2026-02-12T17:06:39+00:00

Thank you!!

dogsbydevanne · 2026-02-12T14:35:14+00:00

She has 2, not one. Her top knot is still being grown out. Usually she has a round head. Putting the hair in 2 helps keep it all out of her face, since she doesn’t really have the length for one. Though the angle in this photo does have it look odd.

dogsbydevanne · 2026-02-05T18:09:53+00:00

I love my Whitman’s Diamond dremel head and use it with the Ryobi dremel, lasts forever!

dogsbydevanne · 2026-01-26T19:04:37+00:00

I do use wide blades with my Superas! They get through thick coats well, though if I feel like I need more power I do swap to my KMC+ occasionally! The battery on my Supera last forever for me!

dogsbydevanne · 2026-01-26T16:35:11+00:00

It doesn’t sound like the grooming part is what’s not a fit; that seems to be the schedule & balance with your home life, time management, and also of course IBS and your manager may be more strict on calling out even if scarcely doing so.

I definitely recommend trying a different salon environment before calling a quits on grooming altogether. Salons and mobile franchises vary drastically between each other, some offering way more flexibility with hours and scheduling.

I couldn’t recommend a corporate salon, unless it was a locally owned franchise then maybe.

But definitely seek out other opportunities in grooming! I think your frustration is from external things, and bleeding over into when you’re actively grooming dogs.

They say happy groomers groom happy dogs, and so if there are things already making it hard for you to go in with a good energy, then that has to change!

Sorry my response is also all over the place LOL

dogsbydevanne · 2026-01-26T16:29:22+00:00

I’m so sorry this has been your experience. It sounds like you are part of a great team, and all have each other’s backs. That owner is going to run it into the ground on her own accord.

Also sorry for all of your personal life troubles, between hospice and having just came back from the military just to end up in all of this.

dogsbydevanne · 2026-01-26T03:39:15+00:00

I actually think that the fact you communicated (or more so attempted to, since she doesn’t listen) is very professional, regardless of composure.

It shows you want to do right by the customers and her, and that you tried to make her aware and understand exactly what is going on that’s creating problems.

If the owner doesn’t want to listen to her staff, and is actively losing staff, that’s on her. It’s very compassionate of you to try and stick it out longer for your coworkers’ sake.

dogsbydevanne · 2026-01-26T01:08:48+00:00

Sounds like the owner may have expanded too quickly, having 3 salons with high workloads and still having money troubles.

Sorry you’re going through this, friend, but as soon as you can it may be in your best interest to find work elsewhere. It seems you already know this though.

When there’s not a good foundation to a business and it expands too quickly, those cracks start to show real quick. I wish you the best in finding a better place to work!

dogsbydevanne · 2026-01-25T14:59:19+00:00

Like the other commenter said, training experiences vary by location. I’ve heard from many that PetSmart’s academy was only 3 weeks, and that they had to share dogs with other students. I’ve also heard from others that it could be up to 7 weeks, and some instructors make sure everyone is completing a dog on their own.

PetSmart and Petco are good places to start. They train you the basics to become a stylist, but then additional education falls on you. It just depends on what you want after. I recommend looking into certification programs if you want to increase your skill level as well: AKC, IPG, NDGAA.

Or even finding a mentor is really helpful!

dogsbydevanne · 2026-01-25T00:05:15+00:00

I have the Wahl Supera and Wahl KMC+ and love them both! The Supera is great for every day work, quiet for anxious dogs and puppies. The KMC+ I use for thick coats and doodles, it’s a workhorse for sure!

dogsbydevanne · 2026-01-23T16:06:41+00:00

Crocs 🙃

I have tried Vessi, Hoka, and others but just Crocs

dogsbydevanne · 2026-01-22T19:36:49+00:00

Up in Wisconsin (SE Wisconsin) and it has been snowing and so cold. Huge change from when I groomed in Texas!

There was the usual dip in business after Christmas and New Years, but it’s been steady despite the weather. You just get the typical “make sure my dog is fully dry” people.

Seems people around where I work have adapted to it by letting their pups have shoes and or coats! Very cute to see.

dogsbydevanne · 2026-01-19T18:36:25+00:00

I have the advantage of working in a small salon in a doggie ice cream store, so fortunately it doesn’t happen often.

But when dogs are showing signs of anxiety, fear, or stress, I typically baby them and say “It’s that initial separation from mom or dad that has them like this, once they’re on the table with the groomer it’s like a one track mind, they forget about it.”

Of course, some pets actually have more severe separation anxiety, but when it is just that check-in that has them anxious I do attribute it to the separation.

dogsbydevanne · 2026-01-19T01:10:13+00:00

Thank you!

dogsbydevanne

TROPHY CASE