What Is Involved In Pet Grooming?

Pet grooming normally involves the washing, cutting and brushing of dog and cat hair. It may also involve other tasks such as the emptying of a dog's anal glands and clipping toenails.

Professional pet groomers should have formal training in the craft or worked as an apprentice to a pet groomer. There are a number of skills required to be a pet groomer, such as how to perform certain haircuts on different animals, and how to keep the pet relaxed in a stressful environment.

Washing and Flea Baths

An owner may wish to have their dogs washed by the pet groomer when they are brought in to be groomed. Some animals who have been attacked by fleas will require a flea bath. You should call your groomer ahead of time and let them know if you think your cat or dog has a flea infestation. Some grooming salons may not want to take in animals that have fleas for fear that they could jump from one animal to another client's dog or cat unknowingly taking home fleas. Other groomers may have a side entrance in which you can bring an animal into the wash room where they are given a flea bath. This keeps the fleas isolated and away from other dogs and cats. Groomers will wash, rinse and dry the dog or cat and then brush them out.

Grooming

Pet grooming involves using certain types of tools for each type of animal. Some dogs have fur while others have hair. The groomer will need different types of brushes for these dogs to brush out their fur, especially if they are shedding. Clipping tools are needed to cut hair on certain dogs. Poodles are one breed that normally undergoes a certain type of haircut. Owners may want certain areas on their poodle's body shaved while other areas are only trimmed. Certain cat breeds will also need their hair trimmed. A groomer will have to know about different breeds of cats and dogs and how to groom them correctly.

Restraints

Pet grooming not only involves washing and cutting an animal's hair, but trying to keep them stress free as possible. For the protection of the groomer, the animals will be put in restraints. These restraints do not hurt the animal but they won't like or understand why they must be in them. A good groomer will get the animal in the restraints as quickly as possible so they will start to relax instead of struggling. Once inside the restraints the groomer can commence with the appointment.

Finding Pet Grooming

Pet grooming can be found at pet stores or by a business dedicated to pet grooming. When looking for a place to take your pet, visit it first to see how clean and stress free the area is. You may want to take you pet with you on a visit to see how it reacts. If your pet reacts negatively to the facility you may want to keep searching until you find one that isn't too upsetting for them. Many pets may find all grooming facilities unsettling, so you may have to see if there is a mobile pet groomer in your vicinity.

Mobile Pet Groomer

A mobile pet groomer normally has a vehicle that has been converted into their grooming station, complete with a large sink or tub to wash animals, and a table and restraints for grooming. The groomer comes to your house and grooms your pet in the driveway. This type of grooming service allows you the convenience of someone coming to your home a long with your pet not having to be stressed out by other animals.