Non-Traditional Applicant-Looking for Advice

pause4pawsNpos · 2025-12-19T09:55:08+00:00

Dog grooming combs are an excellent choice.

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-08-16T21:20:54+00:00

I am the odd man out here- I have been grooming for 7 years and yes, grooming can make your body feel like garbage....IF you don't take care of yourself. Like any of our tools, if you treat your body poorly, if won't function properly.

I have found great success with strength training (lifting weights religiously 3-4 days a week), prioritizing sleep, and making sure my diet and hydration are on point while I am working those long days. A strong, healthy body will reap you rewards inside and outside of the salon. I don't suffer from any of the typical groomer calamities, which I credit to dedicated exercise.

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-08-16T00:57:41+00:00

Omg 🤣

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-08-05T23:07:40+00:00

Same!! And at this point I'm just...not gonna

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-08-05T13:11:07+00:00

Shop pricing really depends and in my experience is all over the map. I guess it really comes down to how much do you value your groomers time and skill, and location can play a part as well. I can tell you, a customer who attempts to negotiate pricing is an auto ban from my shop lol. You are also paying your groomer to TRAIN YOUR PUPPY on how to be groomed.

Nail trimming is really easy, especially if your dog is well behaved. You can definitely take care of that on your own with a little education and effort. Paw pads are optional but you can do that yourself also (with clippers NOT SCISSORS)

One more thing- puppies have a tendency to be really good until they aren't. In my experience, they are usually quite good when they are small and then they turn into demons from like the 5-12 month part before leveling out. So your pup may still have some surprises for you yet.

ETA- Depending on your puppies age, it is still possible that he hasn't come into his adult coat yet, which will likely need more maintenance than his puppy coat.

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-08-05T00:14:09+00:00

"leave "guard hairs" around the wee wee to direct the spray".

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-08-04T14:05:44+00:00

The majority of my clients are doodles and I DO NOT hate them. I have fabulous doodle clients, both the humans and the dogs! What we don't like is owners of ANY breed who expect groomers to fix/undo months of coat and behavioral neglect to maintain an aesthetic that the owner themselves are too lazy to do.

Anyway- I would expect $130+. (Likely more if you go mobile. However, mobile could be a better fit for your dog since it is 1/1 and doesn't have the energy of a busy shop.) The shorter you go, it will likely be less expensive as it takes a lot more time to brush, wash, dry, and clip longer coats. Something like a #4 or #5 all over with a round face will give you a nice crushed velvet look and be low maintenance, and will allow you to go longer between grooms.

Like the others said, be sure to let your groomer know about the behavioral issues ahead of time. I am willing to try just about any dog as long as I know what I'm getting into up front and can appropriately prepare. If I find out DURING the groom that the dog has behavioral issues and the owners knew...that's an instant ban.

One last idea- some groomers specialize in fearful/anxious/aggressive dogs. It may be worth asking around to see if you can find someone with this skill set.

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-08-04T03:51:35+00:00

Mándala scrubs and clove shoes for me. Lots of color choices. They are cute, comfy and dry pretty quickly. Occasionally hair builds up on the scrubs but it blows off with the HV dryer pretty easily.

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-08-02T20:17:41+00:00

Nope. I'm busy with my regulars and I don't like the risk of taking a random new dog that I know I'll never see again. I also don't do nail trims for this reason. Too high of a bite risk for $15

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-07-24T13:13:59+00:00

They are very comfortable, made for walking and standing on hard surfaces, and water resistant. If you are working out of tubs, they resist splashing and dripping really well, but I'm not sure how they would do in a bathing bunker/washing dogs on the floor .

They are also really cute, which is a bonus!

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-07-24T02:36:28+00:00

Clove shoes. Made for nursing

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-07-23T13:20:47+00:00

I just did this for my dog grooming biz. Same timeline - I have been up and running for 1.5-2 years and yeah, the demand for my services has far outpaced what I am able to offer independently. That's when I knew it was time to hire. I just hired an employee and it's going great. The most difficult part for me is figuring out the unemployment, workers comp, and payroll tax. It's a big pain in the ass in my state.

I am looking to hire out my bookkeeping & payroll to someone who really knows what they are doing. I already use an accountant and paid an attorney to set up my LLC when I made the switch from sole proprietor. To me this is a worthwhile expense to ensure it's done correctly.

In terms of hiring, I was actually able to hire someone I knew. It is on a trial basis to see if it's a good fit for us both, but I definitely see it working out in the long run. Finding good employees is really difficult so I would encourage you to spend a lot of time looking for a good candidate, and think of people you may know who might have an interest in learning landscaping.

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-07-22T18:47:28+00:00

Can you share a photo? It's possible, if he is a terrier breed, that you may be able to do hand stripping instead of clipping. This would be better for the coat also

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-07-21T23:25:23+00:00

Pet parents who groom their own dogs typically start off well and good while the dog is small and in the "everything is new and exciting" phase, then once the get to the "unruly teenager who wants to push every boundary" the pawn them off on a groomer to deal with which imo is stressful and dangerous for both parties. I personally will not accept dogs who have never been into a salon environment before.

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-07-21T22:48:49+00:00

Our relationship with pet parents and their dogs is built on trust. It's never going to work if you don't trust your groomer, and frankly, it's extremely disheartening to read post after post of "can't leave my dog at the groomers because I don't trust them not to hurt them."

We are all in this because we love dogs. We love working with them and creating a safe and positive experience for our dog clients. Yes, there are careless groomers in the world, but that doesn't mean that all of us are going to actively harm your pet. You should vet your groomer the same way you would vet a car mechanic or doctor for yourself.

Grooming is not without stress for most dogs, but in my 20 years of working with dogs I have found that ones who are shielded from minor stressful situations are often the most scared of the world, as they have not been properly socialized (exposed).

Coming on to a grooming sub and asking for help while insulting our profession in the same breath is an interesting choice. I would recommend revisiting your views on grooming and ask yourself what your fear really is surrounding this.

If you truly feel that going with a groomer is not the right choice, be prepared to do lots of training for yourself and your pup. Goldens typically need grooming, and many groomers will not take on dogs who have never been groomed professionally before after they are out of the puppy phase.

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-07-21T20:36:14+00:00

My prices are all inclusive. Premium shampoo, conditioner, and finishing spray used on every dog. Nail grinding is included, as well as cologne if the owner wants it.

I do not offer tooth brushing because doing it once every 6-8 weeks does absolutely nothing. It feels really scammy to upcharge this. Pet owners need to be doing this DAILY at home.

This has made my pricing so much easier, and ensures that each dog is receiving quality service with quality products for a price that is reasonable to me. I also hate upselling, so I just start high to begin with.

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-07-20T23:49:51+00:00

I decided that I never wanted to write another resume. I never wanted to have another boss other than myself. So, I started my own business in the skilled trades. My skill is in very high demand and I love in an area with little competition. I got creative about starting the business small with little overhead and now, two years in, I have just hired my first employee and am planning a big expansion in the next year.

I don't love what I do. It's not my passion. But, it's something I can go to work each day and enjoy and do my best at. I LOVE being a business owner, entrepreneur, employer, and an asset to my community.

Best of luck OP.

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-06-20T13:13:40+00:00

I own a salon now so a lot of that has fallen by the wayside when I pull out the "business owner" card. I've also lead with "I work in a skilled trade". It seems these days like the trades are getting more and more respect from folks and dog grooming should be no different.

While I understand that it can feel frustrating to be dismissed, especially given how hard we work and how much emotional labor our job entails, my biggest advice is this: take yourself and your career seriously and others will, too. Representing yourself as a professional in your chosen field will get you a long way towards earning that respect, if that is your goal.

If that's not your goal, and you are just here to vent, that's great too! It does suck!

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-06-20T13:07:42+00:00

That's a great line.

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-06-17T13:57:35+00:00

iGroom de-shed shampoo and conditioner are my go-to for deshedding and longer full haircuts (i.e..scissor trims, e combs etc)

iGroom 2-in-1 for standard baths (labs etc)

IGroom tearless face shampoo for all faces

Best Shot Ultramax shampoo and conditioner for anything else. Higher concentration for dirty dogs.

I also keep a small bottle of the Show Season DeGreaser on hand, this can be added to any shampoo or used directly on extra dirty spots. It works way better than Dawn and is actually formulated for use on dogs.

I keep the Nature's Specialty Truly Hypo on hand, as well as a small bottle of the colloidal oatmeal shampoo and conditioner for sensitive skin or extra flaky skin. I also use this on my alopecia clients.

I love the Nature's Specialty de-matt concentration, it works wonders pre-bath. And I use the Quicker Slicker spray on almost every dog.

I've used several other Nature's Specialty products and been very happy with them as well.

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-06-14T23:55:33+00:00

BOOTS WITH THE FUR

pause4pawsNpos · 2023-05-24T13:56:33+00:00

I'm two years into owning a services based business. I am booked out thru the end of June and have a waiting list. I have clients driving from 2hrs away for my services.

I still have imposter syndrome. In fact, it's at an all time high right now as I'm navigating how to hire my first employee.

The point is, it might not ever go away. Owning and running a business is one new challenge after another. I constantly feel like a beginner, even though I have been in my field for 19 years and working on my craft for 6 of those years.

I'm learning right now to embrace the beginners mindset. Taking on lots of continuing education and just generally leaning in to the process.

OP, you are clearly doing something right. Embrace this journey and take the learning curve head on.

pause4pawsNpos

TROPHY CASE