Hey Woofa’s,

I recently had a run in with a potential customer.

She was running late, this was her second time running late, for her dog grooming appointment.

Yes this is an issue when you work one on one with dogs and book by appointment only.

I allow certain time slots for what grooming is required for certain dog breeds etc.

By the time this lady was going to reach my salon she would’ve already been 30mins late!!!!

That’s 30mins less I have to work on her dog properly and it adds stress to the groom because I’m trying to finish with less time before the next customer is due to arrive.

So I suggested we reschedule to an afternoon as she seemed to be struggling getting to an early morning appointment.

I tried to explain given that I’d never done this dog before I needed time to allow her dog to become familiar with the salon – i.e. allow her dog to walk around and sniff the salon, all the while I’m sussing out the dog’s behaviour, speaking with the customer about what type of groom they want etc.

By being 30mins late it doesn’t allow for this to happen and the groom becomes rushed etc.

She wasn’t happy!

She told me I make it too hard (because I expect people to turn up on time for their appointments) and that she doesn’t need time to become familiar with her surroundings at her hairdressers!!!!!!

This last comment threw me for a loop!!  I kept thinking but you’re not a dog!!!!!!

I didn’t continue the conversation and left it with – that’s not how I work and I obviously wasn’t the groomer for her.

And that’s fine you’ve got to find the groomer that works for you I totally get that.

This conversation prompted this post.

Also over the years I’ve had people say to me – ‘Geez it costs less for me at the hairdressers than it does for my dog to be groomed!’

So I thought I’d set it straight as to why your dog groomer is not the same as your hairdresser!!

 

REASONS WHY YOUR DOG GROOMER IS NOT THE SAME AS YOUR HAIRDRESSER!

 

1. Your hairdresser is working on 2-legged human beings whereas your dog groomer is working on your dog!

This is pretty self explanatory.

Dogs are hairy all over and need an all over body groom!

 

2. Your hairdresser just brushes, colours, trims, washes and styles the hair on your head whereas your dog groomer does this to your dog’s whole body!

Your dog groomer works on your dog’s whole body.  Legs, feet, head, body, underarms, inside back legs, tail, face, ears, genitals…………you name it we’re working on it!

Dog groomers brush the hair all over your dog’s body, we’re washing the hair all over your dog’s body and we’re drying it and styling ………….the hair ALL OVER YOUR DOG’S BODY!

Not just the head.

 

3. Dog Groomers will also cut your dog’s nails!

Not all dogs like having their nails trimmed or filed down.

Your dog groomer risks being bitten while doing your dog’s nails.

4. Dog groomers are shaving your dog’s butt  – generally because there’s poop stuck to it!!

I’ve never seen or been to a hairdresser that does this!

 

5. Hairdressers are not picking eye gunk out of your eye!

But your dog groomer is picking the eye gunk out of your dog’s eye!

 

6. When was the last time yourtook a pee or poop on the  floor or chair at the hairdressers?

Because many dog groomers are always cleaning up dog pee or poop off the salon floor, off the grooming table or even from in the bath.

Or they’re re-bathing the dog because it’s walked through it or sat in it etc

 

7. Do you take a bath at the hairdressers?

Because dog groomers bathe your whole dog’s body.

 

8.  Do you try to bite your hairdresser when they’re doing something you don’t like?

All dog groomers risk this on a daily basis.

Some dogs you have to take extra time with because they’re afraid of the whole process and they try to fight their way out of it.

 

9. Have you tried to hump your hairdresser’s leg while they’re doing your hair?

I’ve had this happen on many occasions.

It’s not fun but it’s something you have to deal with when a dog is doing it to you while you’re trying to groom them.

 

10. Do you constantly wriggle when your hairdresser is trying to cut your hair?

Not many dogs I know sit stock standard still while I’m grooming them.

I’m always trying to work around their movements.

 

11.  Do you try to constantly lick your hairdresser’s face, or stick your tongue in their ear or up their nose?

Yes I have dogs that do this to me.

 

12. Does your hairdresser cut/trim/style the hair on your feet, face, ears or tail?

Because yes your dog groomer does this to your dog!

 

13. Does your hairdresser have to read your body language?

It’s important as a dog groomer to read a dog’s body language to gauge where they are at emotionally!

There are many anxious dogs out there that need to be groomed.

And older dogs that you need to take extra TLC with.

 

13. Do you try to mouth your hairdresser’s hands when they’re trying to cut your hair?

Many dogs do this especially puppies.

 

14. Have you ever presented your hair to the hairdresser never having brushed it for a good 3-6-12 months?

And then stand there and beg them not to cut it off short!!!

There are dog owners who do this a lot!!

 

15. Have you ever refused to pay the price of your hair cut at the hairdressers?

This hasn’t happened to me personally but I know a few groomers who once they had finished the job, the owner refused to pay the asking price and only wanted to pay what they thought it was worth!!!!!

 

16.  Has anyone ever undermined your hairdresser’s skills?

A good trusted dog groomer has had training in their profession, and constantly hones their skills.

Yet we get comments like – ‘oh I could do this myself!’  or ‘you’re just a dog groomer!’

 

 

17.  Do you need to be tethered to the chair at the hairdressers?

While grooming, many dogs need to be tethered to the groom table due to wriggling and/or trying to get off the table.

 

18. Have you tried to bite the brush, blow dryer or the water in the bath while having your hair done?

I’ve had many dogs try to bite the end of the blow dryer or brush while I’m trying to groom them.

 

19. Have you farted in your hairdresser’s face while they’re grooming your butt?

Yes this does happen and has happened to me and other groomers I’ve spoken with!!!!

 

20.  Does your behaviour change if a thunderstorm is coming, while at your hairdressers?

I have quite a few anxious dogs that I groom.

They’re already anxious and if I know they’re scared of thunderstorms, I will offer to reschedule their appointment because their anxiety is already heightened by the storm.

You don’t want to make it worse by adding grooming to the mix as well.

 

 

So hopefully by now you get the idea about how different dog groomers and hairdressers are.

I acknowledge that we are both in the hair grooming industry and some of our tools are the same but that’s about where it ends.

Who or the being we are working on requires very different things.

NOTE – I’m not undermining either profession here, both require training and skills, just acknowledging the different clientele that are worked on.

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?

Stop comparing your Dog Groomer to your Hairdresser.

There are many differences between the two.

The main one being who they are working on and their behaviours.

 

IN THE COMMENTS BELOW – BILLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW – HOW YOUR HAIRDRESSER DIFFERS FROM YOUR DOG GROOMER?