tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26869141434004766092024-03-20T19:05:20.597-04:00Groomerisms and the Art of Zen<p>Like a sculptor in an earthquake, a professional pet groomer is a balancer of aesthetic obsession, practicality, athleticism, efficiency, patience, and perseverance.</p>
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Somewhere between passion and objectivity there stands a perfectly groomed companion animal.</p>
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And an exhausted groomer. Cuz he sure wasn't standing like that the whole time.</p>Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-13900468550252568672022-03-30T18:06:00.002-04:002022-04-21T15:43:00.760-04:00Quicked Nail Help!What to do if your dog's nail starts bleeding because it was cut too short at the groomers:1. Keep calm. It can be stressful to deal with a quicked nail, but the calmer you are, the less distressed your pet will be. A lightly quicked nail is uncomfortable - briefly - for your pet, but as long as you don't get too upset, your pet will soon forget it ever happened. 2. If you're still nearby, bring Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-21708647251692694882020-12-29T13:13:00.001-05:002020-12-29T13:14:41.768-05:00 A User’s Manual for Anxious Cats:There’s a window of time between 2 and 14 weeks of age when kittens develop most of their opinions about the world. One of the questions their little brains work to figure out is, “Are humans safe or dangerous?” Kittens born outdoors learn vigilance and distrust as a matter of survival. If humans don’t intervene to convince them otherwise, those kittens willGroomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-60487196378987373892018-09-23T21:00:00.000-04:002018-09-25T11:16:05.332-04:00Reassuring Clients After Reports of Grooming Tragedies in the News
I speak as a professional pet groomer in the industry for over 20 years. Below is my response to the spate of articles that came out in September 2018 covering 47 deaths over a 10 year period tied to grooming at Petsmart: (including the original story at NJ.com and related pieces at Cleveland.com and Time.com)
How do you report 47 tragedies without mentioning the roughly 2 billion safe Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-32007702289891930592017-07-31T13:49:00.000-04:002017-07-31T13:49:04.543-04:00Grooming How-To: Asian Fusion Inspired Trim on a Poodle MixWith the popularity of poodle hybrids on the rise, we've all seen an influx of clients dealing with the high-maintenance needs of poodle-type coat who aren't interested in a poodle-type look. For many, that means a full, shaggy headpiece (what I like to call a "muppet head") that's prone to matting and all the usual wet beard issues we see in sheepdogs, schnauzers, and other dogs with a lot of Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-54296907013378303402017-07-24T15:55:00.001-04:002017-07-25T00:36:55.870-04:00Grooming How-To: Lion Clip on a Pomeranian and CatsPomeranians come in a variety of shapes and sizes and, similarly, there are many variations on the lion clip that you can do on them. This is my preferred pattern placement for lion clips in general with some customization to suit this particular dog.
The lion clip (or lion cut) is a nice compromise between long and short styles, allowing the dog (or cat) to show off some of the natural shine Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-43729088831276403682017-05-26T16:58:00.004-04:002018-03-09T20:22:33.590-05:00Preventing Mats and Tangles
Coat Maintenance Q&A for Pet Grooming Clients
Q: Why are tangles a problem?
A: Tangles turn into mats. While tangles are generally straight-forward to brush and comb out, matting is a tangle of tangles. A mat or two can be removed with advanced grooming techniques on a patient pet. Large mats or large numbers of smaller mats are best removed by clipping them out.
At best, mats are Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-18516267510836703772016-06-16T04:30:00.000-04:002016-06-16T04:30:01.195-04:00Brushing Your Pet at Home Between Professional GroomingsNothing beats a professional grooming to get your pet clean, conditioned, and styled. But without some at-home grooming between appointments, you may not be giving your groomer the chance to do his or her finest work. While the best grooming is an art form that pampers your pet, excessive dirt and tangles can turn Fluffy's spa session into a bathing marathon followed by disaster recovery.
Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-68705514034976529552016-06-06T03:32:00.002-04:002017-12-22T21:57:51.274-05:00Recirculating Systems for Better Pet BathingWhat's a recirculating system?
Essentially, it's a water pump with a hose and a nozzle attached. There are several commercially available models including the Hanvey Bathing Beauty and the Oster Deluxe Pet Power Bathing System, It's also relatively straight-forward to assemble one on your own with parts available online or at your local home improvement store (I'll give Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-68130322449805276352016-05-31T13:31:00.000-04:002018-10-11T17:01:10.407-04:00How Clients Can Help Reduce Their Groomer's StressA groomer does her best work when she is calm and comfortable. A rushed, distracted groomer is more likely to make mistakes, resulting in accidents that injure us or the pet we're working with. An unhappy, stressed-out groomer projects her emotions, creating an uneasy environment for the pets in her care.
Groomers know this, but no matter how thoughtful and strong-willed she is, no groomer can Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-73588951183595320312015-07-20T08:30:00.000-04:002015-07-20T08:30:01.720-04:00Luke vs the Skunk
Spoiler alert.
It was about 10pm and I was out with my two German Shepherd boys, watching them compete in their daily pre-bedtime marking contest. Pax was into it, but Luke's participation was half-hearted. I know he'd heard or smelled or seen an animal in the yard earlier that night because I'd caught him fussing at the window.
Instead of peeing, he was sniffing around, hoping the Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-69901351412143888692015-07-16T17:27:00.000-04:002015-07-17T17:29:56.965-04:00Look at me!In order to make Groomerisms work, I have to get comfortable with being noticed.
Like "regularly finding multiple four and five-leaf clovers" Irish.
I've never been the "look at me" type. I came from a big Irish family where only the loudest get heard. Rather than compete, I opted early on never to shout. I preferred to go my own way, by myself. As a child, I spent free afternoons visiting Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-74288531105532682612015-07-13T20:06:00.003-04:002015-07-14T21:17:22.903-04:00The Whole StoryMy last post to this blog was 4 years ago. I thought about cutting ties and starting a brand new blog, but some of these older posts are good. And although my life has changed drastically in many ways since I wrote them, even the cut threads of my personal narrative are part of the continuous woven tapestry of my life.
Since you're probably new here, let me introduce myself.
My name is Vania Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-32688810679854987002011-07-06T10:28:00.010-04:002015-07-14T21:18:12.694-04:00Cat GroomingGrooming cats can be tricky business. I haven't yet met a cat who will stand calmly for grooming. The best you can really hope for is not-too-passive indifference. Cats who do enjoy the attentions of clippering and brushing tend to walk around a lot and try to rub themselves on the equipment, which is at best, inconvenient, and at worst, dangerous. The most resistant cats can turn into Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-72218313935596299262010-04-10T08:23:00.005-04:002015-07-14T21:19:54.950-04:00The Matted StripIt's an unfortunate reality of grooming that sometimes pets' coats are not cared for well enough to prevent the dreaded matted strip. Dreaded by groomers not because the "poor thing will be so ugly/cold/itchy afterwards," but because the animal has been suffering with that uncomfortable pelt for so many months, because it's tricky to safely remove, and because it can be very challenging to help Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-39521371096974937882010-01-20T16:29:00.007-05:002015-07-14T21:22:25.617-04:00Operant ConditioningMany clients ask me for training advice and help with specific behavioral issues. It's tough sometimes to give them a short answer! Changing behavior can be very challenging out in the world with all of its complications and conditions and distractions. And there are so many options! But when you boil it down to its most basic level -- at the level of operant conditioning, as described by B.F. Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-25702017919264342802009-12-30T11:25:00.004-05:002015-07-14T21:21:41.813-04:00Setting Goals for the New YearI've long believed that setting goals is a great way to lend clarity of purpose and a sense of power and control to the otherwise overwhelming vastness that is the future. It's like editing your potential. And it's something that I've always done quite naturally. In fact, as a young child, I was notorious for making proclamations about how things are, how they ought to be, and how they would be.Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-11427022429692156852009-11-06T16:14:00.003-05:002015-07-14T15:12:38.859-04:00Winter GroomingThe best kind of grooming is regular grooming. Whether your pet is a fluffed out poodle princess or a seasonally shedding sheltie, there is an appropriate grooming interval that a discussion with your groomer about the specific needs of both you and your pet can help reveal. If that interval is 4-6 weeks, as it typically is for most drop-coated or curly-coated breeds, or closer to 8-12 weeks, Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-62088738665377590222009-10-28T11:23:00.008-04:002009-11-11T20:54:43.631-05:00My Ideal ClientRecently, I was listening to an audiobook called Book Yourself Solid: the fastest, easiest, and most reliable system for Getting More Clients Than You Can Handle Even if you Hate Marketing and Selling by Michael Port and Tim Sanders. Although it seems at first glance to be a handbook for pulling in huge numbers of people, the book actually emphasizes quality over quantity. By cultivating Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-30009751765539430112009-07-25T09:12:00.003-04:002009-07-25T09:21:26.432-04:00Solon Home DaysYesterday, my shop assistant and I spent our evening over at Solon Home Days with the Kelley's Kritters booth and some adoptable kittens. I brought over the two remaining "dumpster kittens," who are staying at my house. Although they were initially a bit anxious about the crowds, they relaxed after a while and enjoyed a lot of affection from passing children. Kelley found a home for one kittenGroomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-65359486550388814202009-06-27T11:11:00.003-04:002009-06-27T12:09:07.285-04:00Reiki Time!Almost a decade ago, my husband, Mike, was turned on to reiki by a friend of his. He said that over lunch one day, this friend -- Christy -- put her hand over his on the table and said, "Just keep talking, don't pay attention to your hand." At some point during the conversation, Mike began to feel a strange sensation. It was the feeling of a hot, swirling energy on his hand. "It was very Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-64361754226957374102009-06-04T09:28:00.005-04:002009-06-04T10:37:58.908-04:00Adventures in KittensYesterday a client dropping off mentioned that there were some "kittens out there.""Where?" I asked."We saw them as we were driving in," she replied.She saw three, huddled together, next to the dumpsters, as a matter of fact.Another client had also spotted them and the two of us managed to wrangle them up. The first was easy to catch. The other two darted back behind the dumpster, amid the pilesGroomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-36109816994938853772009-05-28T09:53:00.003-04:002009-05-28T10:22:37.832-04:00Beating the HeatIn the spring and summer, a lot of clients come to me for shave downs. While the right haircut and regular grooming can certainly help keep pets more comfortable, in most cases, the length of his coat is really not contributing a whole lot to the problem. Dogs don't regulate their temperature the same way people do. Humans sweat and the evaporation of that moisture helps us cool off. Dogs Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-57501461282436653712009-05-28T08:21:00.003-04:002009-05-28T20:40:33.748-04:00Shave Time!This is the time of year when the hair starts flying! I've been shearing shedding dogs and matted dogs alike like sheep since the weather warmed up. Cats, too! Here are some insights about spring and summer shave-downs.1. Non-shedding dogs with extensive matting, matted cats, and shedding dogs with packed undercoat are not the only pets who can benefit from a good, short clip. In fact, I Groomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-12438241767182258632009-05-16T10:19:00.006-04:002009-05-16T13:49:24.919-04:00More on Anxiety"Sometimes I think the primary difference between how my dog and I experience fear is that he tends to be afraid when there is legitimate danger, while I have the capacity -- and the inclination -- to scare myself with my highly evolved mind in the absence of any real threat." - Thom Rutledge, Embracing FearWhile I love the insight behind this statement, I think dogs are not quite immune from ourGroomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686914143400476609.post-10399600000691434092009-04-29T16:40:00.003-04:002009-04-29T18:09:03.601-04:00Stress-less groomingThere really is no such thing as stress-free grooming, but with some understanding, practice, patience, and cooperation, it is certainly possible to minimize your pet's stress level throughout the grooming process. Some animals naturally resonate at a more anxious frequency, but the goal should always be not perfection, but continuous improvement. So here are some tips to help your pet find hisGroomerismshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11426753505249314607noreply@blogger.com1