No, AI can't dematt an Old English Sheepdog but believe it or not, artificial intelligence can come in handy for pet groomers. "How in the world could it be useful?" you say. I'm so glad you asked!
The one good thing about the COVID-19 pandemic is that most of us are a little more conscious of preventing the spread of germs. In the pet grooming environment, we are concerned with preventing the spread of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that might be transmittable between the pets we groom.
“How can I groom pets faster?” is a regularly asked question by both new and established groomers. One key to increasing grooming speed is to establish a routine that is used on (almost) every pet. In our shop, we groom pets one-on-one and (usually succeed) in grooming each animal in a one-hour appointment. To make this schedule work, we have found that a routine approach to each pet helps us work swiftly and thoroughly. We have a fifty-pound weight limit, but our method could work with larger dogs by extending the appointment time to one and a half or two hours.
As a new groomer, I had one favorite type of slicker brush. I used it on everything from tiny toy breeds to giant hairy breeds. It worked just fine, but with time and experience, I realized there were other options that might make my job easier. As tools go, slicker brushes are not expensive, so purchasing a variety of styles can be done without breaking the bank.
Sanitizing hand tools between grooming pets can seem like quite a time-consuming chore on a busy day, but it is important to do so in order to prevent bacteria and fungi from being passed from one pet to the next. One simple, inexpensive solution is to keep some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle on hand.
There are a limited number of pets hardworking groomers can style in one day, but by selling a few retail items to your existing customers, you can quickly increase your income without adding a single pet to your busy schedule.
Novice groomers often struggle with setting patterns on breeds such as Schnauzers, Scottish and other terriers, and Spaniels. Properly blending pattern trims like these is an essential skill that will elevate a groom from “meh” to “marvelous!”
If I told you that you could invest around one dollar and have a versatile tool that can prevent a dog from slipping its collar and getting loose as it enters the business, assist you in safely removing a dog from a crate, can be used to guide a dog from point A to point B during the grooming process (for instance, from tub to table) can be turned into a makeshift muzzle in a pinch, can be used as a safety loop or a haunch holder for a brief period or even given as a thoughtful gift, would you believe me?
Dematting pets has been a controversial topic in the pet industry and with good reason. Dematting causes further damage to coats that are already in bad shape from being tangled, can cause irritation or even injury to the pet’s skin, and, most importantly, is painful to the pet.
What do most freshly groomed dogs do when they greet their owner? Jump up on them to offer a happy hello. If you have trimmed their claws but not buffed them, they will be sharp and may deliver a nasty scratch. When it comes to smoothing the sharp edges, groomers have various choices.
