A while back on our Facebook page, we asked our followers to share some of the advice that they would give to first time groomers.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts, tips and advice. We've learned a lot from what you wrote, and we hope that our blog readers will, too.
P.S. We received so many great responses to this question that we couldn't possibly fit them all into one post. Stayed tuned for Part II later on this week.
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Q: What advice would you give to a first-time groomer?
"Never show fear" — Kerriann Monteferante
"Keep your schedule light. Six dogs a day is plenty if you have no help or no bather." — Rae Clemmons
"Have patience with every dog! They can sense it!" — Carrie Eisenhauer
"Talk to the customer to make sure you are on the same page when it comes to the haircut. Don't give a time frame that will get you stressed out. And stay calm. If you're frazzled, the dog will act up and make your job harder." — Rachel Chrisman
"Great customer service goes a long, long way. I believe I get a lot of my requests because of the extra time and attention that I give to my customers. It really does make a huge difference. — Eveyln Boles
"Don't let a naughty dog ruin your day. Stay calm, walk away for a short break if you have to, but never let them win. For every bad dog there are at least a hundred sweetie pies." — Cheryl Nugent
"Communication with clients is CRUCIAL! Good customer service has to be synonymous with good communication. Secondly, know that every groomer has made mistakes. Be up front and honest about them." — Laura Lindeen Craig
"Stay away from gimmicks! Magic shampoo, conditioner, sprays, magic tools, etc." — Lori Baumann
"Forget almost everything you learned at grooming school!" — Dan Hayes Valdez
"Never ever give up on a dog. They may be muzzle dependent, inexperienced or traumatized. Take your time every week if need be to make that poor animal easily groomed by anyone!" —Lisa Hanlon
"Remember that dogs are nervous, too. We are touching them all over their bodies. Respect the dog, and you will get the respect and trust back that we all need to get along...and get the job done."
— Elizabeth Desjardins
"Be open minded. There are so many different ways to groom! Learn from everyone, and you can decide what works best for you!" — Beth Cornell Rex
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Your Turn
Do you have some advice that you'd like to share with first time groomers? Post your comments here on the blog, or put them our our Facebook wall. The more the merrier!
Thanks and happy grooming :)
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