PART GOOD READ, PART RESOURCE GUIDE, THIS IS OUR

A-Z OF DOG GROOMING

Golden retriever puppy lying down with a large beige letter C to its left on a white background.
An illustrated lowercase letter d next to a long-haired dachshund dog with a brown and black coat on a white background.
Close-up of a brown and white English Springer Spaniel dog with long ears against a white background.
A black and gray dog lying down with its tongue out next to a large blue letter 'f' on a white background.
A happy Golden Retriever dog with tongue out, positioned next to a large beige letter G on a white background.
Photo of a small fluffy dog with brown, black, and white fur standing on a white background.

  • Gentle isn’t weak. It’s a decision you make, sometimes repeatedly, on days when your patience is being tested.

    Dogs can’t explain themselves with words. They don’t know what we’re asking, why we’re asking it, or how long it will take. All they can do is react with the tools they have. That’s where things can get difficult.

    Being gentle doesn’t mean letting everything slide, it means remembering that they’re small creatures doing their best in a situation they didn’t choose. How you handle those moments matters.

    Gentleness isn’t about being soft. It’s about being fair, consistent, and calm, even when the job is pushing back at you. ♥

    If this struck a chord, check out →

  • Your hands do this job. They hold dogs, guide tools, take vibration, and carry the strain day after day, usually without much attention until something starts to ache.

    How you use your hands matters. Grip, wrist position, pressure, the way you repeat the same movements over and over. Small habits build quietly, and they don’t always show up until they’ve already done some damage.

    Looking after your hands isn’t a nice idea, it’s practical. You still need them tomorrow, and the day after that!

    Related reads →

    Body Pain, no Gain (free on the Blog)

    Overworked Scissorhands & File This Under Necessary (free advice from Barb)

    Restore (the best hand cream ever - available at the Groomers Store)

A red Irish Setter dog lying down on a white background next to a large gray letter 'I'.
White fluffy dog sitting next to a large light blue letter J on a white background.

  • Yes, you really do!

    This job takes a lot out of you. Physically, mentally, emotionally. Even on good days, it asks for constant focus and patience.

    When you’re worn down, it shows. Dogs feel it. Your tolerance drops. Things that normally wouldn’t bother you suddenly do. That’s usually the sign, not that you’re failing, but that you’re tired.

    Taking a break doesn’t mean you don’t care. It means you’re paying attention. Stepping back for a moment, or longer if you can, is often what lets everything settle again.

    Don’t wait until you’re completely done. It’s much easier to come back from a pause than from burnout.

    If this struck a chord, check out →

  • This job turns you into a juggler without asking first. Dogs, time, energy, equipment, cancellations, no-shows, and the constant reshuffle that happens mid-morning.

    Benny cancels, so that means you could fit Coco in. Except Coco hates the bath and today is not the day for that. Bruno can move up instead and come in at 11. That frees the afternoon to drop blades at Barry’s for sharpening. Which also means you might as well grab your favourite Chinese takeaway on the way home. All of this is decided in about 10 seconds, usually while holding a wet dog and a phone.

    You make these decisions quickly, and then move on. The schedule changes, the day shifts, and you adapt without thinking too hard about it.

    Now, can we have some of those dumplings please?

    If you would like to remove one ball from your juggling act, check out →

A fluffy brown and black dog with its tongue out, looking to the right, against a black background, with a large gray letter 'K' in the foreground.
Image of a happy, fluffy dog with a tan and black coat sitting on a white background next to a large, semi-transparent letter 'L'.

  • This industry moves, whether you do or not. Techniques shift, standards change, and the dogs we see now aren’t the same as the dogs we saw ten years ago.

    Keeping up doesn’t mean chasing every new idea or reinventing how you work every six months. It means staying connected. Watching how others approach things. Refreshing your knowledge. Not assuming that once you know something, you know it forever.

    Good groomers don’t stop learning because they’ve finished. They keep learning because the job keeps asking more of them.

    If this struck a chord, check out →

  • Many groomers work alone. The rhythm, the quiet, the dogs. It can feel calm and contained, right up until you realise you haven’t spoken to another adult all week and you’re explaining your weekend plans out loud to a Mini Schnauzer.

    Dogs are great company, but they don’t talk back. And as much as this job suits people who like their own space, it’s still work that benefits from connection. Comparing notes, laughing about the weird bits, sanity-checking the hard days.

    Having people who understand the job makes a difference. Not constantly, just enough to remind you that it’s not just you.

    If this struck a chord, check out →

Close-up of a small white dog, possibly a Maltese, with a black background and a large gray lowercase letter 'm' behind it.
A cute brown puppy lying down with a large, gold letter N in the background.

  • Quicking a nail happens to everyone. It’s practically a rite of passage!

    For many dogs, nails are the hardest part of the groom. They’re personal, unfamiliar, and often come at the end, when patience is already wearing thin. One bad experience can turn into a full performance every time after (hello Pugs) especially with dogs who already feel big feelings about their feet.

    That’s why time matters here. Taking it slower when you can, particularly with puppies, gives dogs a chance to build tolerance instead of anticipation. A calm, uneventful nail trim is worth far more than getting it done quickly.

    When it does go wrong, you deal with it, clean it up, and move on. The dog settles. You settle. And the job carries on.

    Good to know →

A cute, fluffy puppy with a brown and black coat lying down with tongue out on a white background, and a large light blue letter "O" in the top left corner.
A small dog sitting next to a large letter P on a white background.

  • No one warns you that you’ll use more towels than a small hotel. They multiply overnight, vanish mid-day, and reappear damp when you’re closing up.

    They catch shake-offs, wrap nervous dogs, soak up shampoo spills, and quietly deal with whatever the day throws at them. Towels see everything.

    Over time, you get faster, more efficient, and better at managing the endless cycle of washing, drying, folding, and redistributing. It’s not glamorous, but it’s part of how the day keeps moving.

    There are always more towels. Somehow.

    Did you know →

    • Chamois reduce drying time by a third!

  • There’s a lot of pressure in this job, and most of it sits quietly in the background, square on your shoulders (and sometimes in your bladder!) Pressure to get the groom right. Pressure to meet expectations. Pressure to move faster, fit more in, and make it look easy.

    Some of it comes from clients. Some from schedules. Some from money. A surprising amount comes from yourself. Wanting to do a good job, not disappoint anyone, not fall behind.

    Pressure isn’t always obvious, but it shapes decisions. How long you spend on a dog. Whether you push through or pause. What you agree to, including the quiet pressure to wield a magic wand.

    Being aware of it doesn’t make it disappear, but it does make it easier to recognise when something feels off. And sometimes that’s enough to change the outcome.

    If this struck a chord, check out →

A cute, light brown poodle puppy with fluffy curly fur sitting on a white background, with a large, semi-transparent letter 'g' in the background.
A happy Rottweiler dog sitting with its tongue out next to a large gray letter 'd' on a white background.

  • Some dogs come into the world with more stacked against them than others. Puppy farms, rushed breeding, trends that value looks over function. Oodles and brachycephalic dogs often sit right in the middle of that reality.

    You see it in coats that are hard to manage, bodies that overheat easily, breathing that works harder than it should, or dogs who find handling stressful through no fault of their own.

    But the dog in front of you didn’t choose any of that.

    They’re not difficult on purpose. They’re not a trend. They’re just a dog, doing their best with the body and early experiences they were given.

    Whatever you think about the bigger picture, this part is simple. Care still matters. Kind handling still matters. The dog still deserves your best.

    If this struck a chord, check out →

  • It takes a village to raise a dog. Grooming included.

    We do our part, but we don’t live with the dog. What happens at home matters just as much, sometimes more. Puppies need handling before they need haircuts. Coats need brushing before they need rescuing. Feet, faces and tools shouldn’t be brand new experiences every six weeks.

    This is about health too. Matted coats hurt. They pull, trap moisture, hide problems and make everything harder than it needs to be. A bit of brushing between grooms goes a long way.

    Grooming works best when it’s a team sport. When everyone’s involved, dogs cope better and progress actually sticks.

    Helpful resources →

A smiling Shetland Sheepdog sitting on a white background with a large, partially visible letter 'S' in beige to the left.
A small dog with fluffy fur and a serious expression standing on a white background.

  • Not the sexiest topic, but future you is absolutely paying attention.

    If you work for yourself, super is on you. No boss, no safety net, no magical account quietly filling itself up in the background. Even small, regular contributions matter more than waiting for the “right time”.

    If you’re employed, it’s still worth knowing what’s happening with your super. Where it’s going, whether it’s actually being paid, and whether it matches the hours and effort you’re putting in. How many accounts have you got? Consolidating them to one is worth looking into.

    Grooming is physical work, and most of us plan to do it for a long time. Looking after your body is one part of that, looking after your future is another.

    Related reads →

  • There are days in this job that sit with you longer than others, and they don’t always announce themselves when you wake up in the morning.

    You’ll see dogs in situations that are hard to forget, grooms that don’t go the way you hoped, and moments where you feel the weight of caring a bit more than usual. That’s part of working closely with animals and people, and it can sneak up on you when you least expect it.

    Tough days don’t mean you’re failing or burning out. More often, they’re a sign that you’re paying attention and taking your role seriously. The aim isn’t to toughen up or shut it down, it’s to let the day be what it is without letting it follow you home forever.

    Some days you reset quickly. Other days you need a bit more space around the edges. Both are normal, and both are allowed.

    If this struck a chord, check out →

A small black and white puppy with a fluffy coat, sitting on a black background with large gray letters behind it.
Close-up of a brown dog with floppy ears looking slightly upward against a white background with a blue geometric design.
Large gray letter W above a photo of a gray puppy lying down on a white background.
Part of a small black animal, possibly a dog or a cat, with a smooth coat and long tail, lying on a flat surface.
A Yorkshire Terrier with a red bow on its head sitting against a black background with a large gray letter 'Y'.
Adorable puppy lying on a white surface with a large, beige letter Z in the background.

  • Most groomers don’t have a grand mission statement. We show up, we get on with it, and we do the work.

    Maybe you’re here because dogs are easier than people. Maybe you value the independence, or you discovered you’re good at something that needs both hands and your brain switched on. Maybe grooming simply fits your life in a way nothing else ever has.

    Your why is allowed to change. Some days it’s the satisfaction of getting a shape right, or seeing something you’ve been practising finally click. Some days it’s the money. Some years you feel deeply connected to the work, other years you’re just moving steadily through it with a decent playlist.

    But on the days when you’re tired, distracted, or running low, your why matters for a different reason. Because the dog in front of you doesn’t get your leftovers. They get what you bring to the moment.

    Remembering why you do this doesn’t mean making it profound. It just means slowing yourself enough to be present, steady, and fair with the animal trusting you.

    If you’re still showing up with care, attention, and respect for the dog in front of you, even on the hard days, that’s the why that counts.

  • The unglamorous side of grooming, but a real one. Zoonoses are the things dogs can pass on to us, and vice versa. Fungal infections, parasites, bacteria, viruses. Not scary, just… real.

    You don’t need to panic, but you do need to pay attention. Wash your hands properly. Cover broken skin. Don’t ignore rashes, bites, or that “this feels off” feeling. If something shows up, deal with it early before it turns into a saga.

    Protecting yourself is part of protecting the dogs. You can’t do this job well if you’re run down, unwell, or trying to power through something that should have been checked weeks ago.

    Gloves, hygiene, common sense. Not dramatic - just smart!

    Feeling a little underprepared? Check out →

A black and white Border Collie puppy sitting next to a large aqua letter B on a white background.
Close-up of a Borzoi dog with long, flowing fur and dark eyes, against a black background.

  • If the prep isn’t right, the groom won’t be either. Bathing is where the coat is properly prepared for grooming, not just cleaned.

    Different coat types need different approaches. How a coat is washed, brushed, and dried directly affects how it clips, scissors, and finishes later.

    Bathing is often where groomers begin, but it is not a low-skill job. Done well, it sets the entire groom up for success. Done poorly, it makes every step that follows harder than it needs to be.

    If this struck a chord, check out:

    If this struck a chord, check out →

  • Everything you do sits on the dog’s structure. Not coat, not products, not tools. The actual dog underneath it all.

    Once you understand the skeleton, the language of grooming starts to make sense. Point of shoulder, rib cage, stifle, hock, occiput, zygomatic arches. These aren’t fancy words, they’re points of reference. They tell you where balance comes from, where angles come from, and why some dogs will never stand or move the way you wish they would.

    It also explains why different dogs need to be handled differently. Puppies aren’t finished yet. Their bones are still developing and moving, which is why they wobble, sit crooked, and feel awkward on the table. Senior dogs come with their own history. Old injuries, arthritis, stiffness, compensation patterns you can’t see but absolutely feel.

    Anatomy gives you context. It explains what you’re seeing, and what the dog’s body is capable of on that day.

    Related links and reads →

  • Dogs are the reason any of us do this. They’re the superstars, the heroes, the angels of the job (/world?), and they show up exactly as they are every single day. Honest, present, forgiving, and endlessly patient with us, even when we don’t get it right.

    They communicate constantly, without drama or ego. A soft blink, a shift of weight, a pause, a sigh. They tell you how they’re feeling, what they can handle, and when they need you to slow down, all without saying a word.

    The longer you work with dogs, the more obvious it becomes how generous they are. They forgive yesterday’s mistakes. They meet you where you are today. When you listen and respond with care, they offer trust freely.

    Be gentle. Be grateful. And never forget how lucky we are to work with them.

    If this struck a chord, check out →

  • Behind every dog is a human, and that relationship shapes the groom more than most people realise. Managing customers well is part of the work, whether it’s setting expectations, explaining limitations, or simply being clear about how things run.

    Clients don’t naturally speak groomer, and they don’t need to. It’s our job to translate what’s realistic, what’s safe, and what will actually work for the dog in front of us. You can usually tell a groom is going to be harder than it needs to be the moment you hear “just a tidy” before the dog has even come through the door.

    Clear boundaries and honest conversations matter just as much as technical skill. The best client relationships are built quietly, through consistency, clarity, and mutual respect.

    If this struck a chord, check out →

  • Possibly the most popular blade in grooming, the number five earns its place for a reason. It’s ideal for summer cuts that leave just enough length to look tidy, while still being soft and comfortable for both dogs and their owners.

    In the hotter parts of Australia, the seven definitely gets a workout, but for many of us, the five is the sweet spot. Short enough to be practical, long enough to still look like a groom rather than a reset.

    Familiar, reliable, and easy to work with across a wide range of coats, it’s the blade you reach for without thinking. Which is exactly why you should always have more than one on hand.

    Two at a minimum. Three once summer hits. When a blade works this hard, it pays to be prepared!

    If this struck a chord, check out →

  • Dogs pick up on your state long before you touch them. How you walk in, how you move, how you breathe. All of it sets the tone for the groom.

    This job rewards steadiness. When you’re rushed or flustered, the work feels harder. When you’re calm and grounded, dogs tend to meet you there. It’s not about control, it’s about awareness.

    Over time, most groomers learn that managing their own energy is part of the skill set. When a dog softens because you slowed down first, you know you’re doing something right.

    If this struck a chord, check out →

    How to Avoid Anxiety Transferrance when you are Grooming (free on the blog)

    Zen and the Art of Handling (Members)

  • Somewhere along the way, grooming demands organisation, and it doesn’t really ask permission.

    Tools need cleaning and tracking. Spaces need resetting. Blades need sharpening before they bite back. Shampoos need rotating so the oldest gets used first and nothing mysterious expires at the back of the shelf. Diaries fill, shift, and refill. Notes matter. Stock matters.

    If you work solo, it’s all on you. If you employ people, multiply that by ten and add rosters, forms, policies, and legal bits you never thought you’d care about but absolutely must. Clients, terms and conditions, expectations, boundaries. None of it runs itself.

    Over time, systems appear. Not perfect ones, but workable ones. You start knowing where things live, what needs doing next, and how to stop small chaos becoming big chaos. The job quietly sharpens your organisational skills whether you asked for it or not.

    This industry rewards people who get organised enough to breathe. And once that clicks, everything runs a little smoother.

    Helpful reads →

  • There are few things in grooming more comforting than “the usual”.

    Same dog. Same trim. Same notes that still make sense. No surprises lurking under the coat, no new requests to decode, no sudden personality shift halfway through the appointment. You know where the cowlick lives, which foot they’ll pull away, and roughly how long it’ll take if the universe behaves. Check-in is easy and quick, and there’s that quiet little twinkle of joy that comes from an easy relationship with both the client and the dog.

    The real magic, though, is when the usuals stack up. A full day of familiar faces, predictable grooms, steady pacing. No curveballs. No emergency reshuffles. Just dogs you know, trims you’ve done a hundred times, and a rhythm that feels almost… calm.

    It’s rare, but when it happens, it feels like the grooming gods are smiling down on you.

    Usuals are earned. They come from consistency, trust, and relationships that work.

    If you know, you know!

  • Sometimes it’s not about the dog.
    Sometimes it’s not even about the client - it’s about the ‘fit.’

    Not every client belongs in your business forever. Needs change. Expectations drift. Boundaries get tested. And occasionally, the relationship just stops working, no matter how much effort you put in.

    Exiting a client (firing them, as they say) doesn’t mean you’ve failed! It means you’re paying attention to your capacity, standards, and what you can realistically offer without resentment creeping in sideways.

    Handled well, letting a client go can actually protect everyone involved. The dog gets a setup that suits them better. The client gets clarity. And you get to keep showing up for the dogs and people who do fit.

    It’s a professional skill, even if no one teaches it out loud.

    For related reads, check out →

  • Wide blades are one of those things you don’t realise you needed… until you use them. And then suddenly grooming big dogs feels less like a workout and more like a plan.

    Fewer passes. Cleaner lines. Less time on the table. Less strain on your wrists and shoulders. For large bodies, heavy coats, and dogs who’ve had enough already, wide blades can be a genuine game-changer.

    This isn’t about going faster for the sake of it, but about working more efficiently in a way that’s kinder to the dog, easier on your body, and more sustainable across a full day of grooming.

    Wide blades don’t replace skill. They support it. And once you’ve felt the difference on a big, boofy coat, it’s very hard to go back.

    Wide blades are a Win Win Win!

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