Why Someone Else’s Bad Review Could Cost You Business
Picture this.
You’ve spent months perfecting your scissoring. You’ve wrapped your head around coat and skin types. You’ve invested in proper education, attended seminars, and built a reputation that makes even the most anxious pawrents feel safe handing over their most prized possession.
And then, somewhere in your postcode, Gazza’s Backyard Grooming sets up shop.
Operating out of a shed, armed with a $30 pair of clippers from Temu and a confidence plucked straight from an arcade claw machine, Gazza delivers a haircut reminiscent of Picasso’s abstract period. And not in a “if you squint, it’s almost artistic” kind of way.
The owner, traumatised and clutching their poor hacked-at hound, takes to Facebook and leaves a review so scathing it could strip paint.
Not your problem, right?
Here’s the issue.
The general public doesn’t differentiate between a trained professional groomer and Gazza. To them, a groomer is a groomer. One bad experience, anywhere, can sour their trust in the entire industry.
And that’s how someone else’s bad review ends up costing you business.
The Dodgy Grooming Domino Effect
Amazing find! (img: Temu)
Dog grooming is a trust-based industry. You’re handling someone’s family member. When owners hear stories about horrible haircuts, injuries, or rough handling, even if it had nothing to do with you, it plants doubt.
A single poor experience can lead to the dreaded:
“I’ll just do it myself”
“I’ll wait until they’re really desperate”
“I’ll only go to top tier, well-established groomers. Everyone else is off limits”
That last one is a real kick in the teeth for new groomers who have done the right thing and invested in proper training.
The root problem isn’t you. And it’s not entirely Gazza either.
It’s the lack of regulation and minimum training requirements in the dog grooming industry.
Why Proper Training Matters for Everyone’s Reputation
Unlike many pet professions, dog grooming is still largely unregulated. Anyone can buy clippers, create a Facebook page, and call themselves a groomer by lunchtime.
The result?
Inconsistent handling practices
Inconsistent safety knowledge
Inconsistent understanding of canine behaviour
No required apprenticeships or supervised training hours
This allows untrained operators with unrealistic pricing to make avoidable mistakes. When that happens, public trust doesn’t just fall on them. It falls on all of us.
The Good News
Until the industry gains stronger regulation, and trust us, we’re always pushing for it, your education is your superpower.
So use it.
Display your qualifications
On your website, on your walls, on your van, in your email signature, and in your social bios. Never assume people know you’re qualified.
Share your ongoing education
Attending a seminar? Completing another course? Say it. “Loved completing the Essential Guide to Asian Styling” tells clients you’re invested in doing better.
Educate through your content
Topics like matting vs maintenance or helping puppies prepare for grooming show owners that your knowledge didn’t come from this morning’s coffee and a YouTube spiral.
Join recognised associations and communities
Memberships add credibility. Clients notice badges. Aligning yourself with groups that uphold professional standards shows you take your work seriously.
Celebrate your good reviews
And encourage them. Sometimes it’s as simple as asking nicely at pick up.
So yes, someone else’s bad review can absolutely cost you business.
But your training, your expertise, and your willingness to show it off are how you counter it. And how you quietly lift the entire profession at the same time.
And maybe, just maybe, for the safety of all dogs, we can finally drown out the Gazza’s of the world.
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