Sarasota Dog

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Is your pet safe at the Groomer?

By Aubrey Bird, Professional Pet Groomer

There has been a lot in the news lately about accidents and even dogs dying at the groomer. I think we can all agree that no one wants something like this to happen, but there are two sides to every story.

I have been a groomer for over six years now, I’ve indeed seen accidents and even had accidents myself. When you are working with sharp objects and moving animals it is unfortunately inevitable that occasionally someone gets hurt (in my case it is usually myself). So let’s talk about what exactly goes on during grooming, where there are dangers and risks, and what good groomers do to prevent them.

First topic on my mind is of course the kennel dryers. We have all heard about dogs dying from kennel dryers. Let’s be very clear about this, there are many kinds of kennel dryers and when used properly they are all perfectly safe. Most kennel dryers operate in a similar manner to a large fan, blowing room temperature air on a dog no harder than a fan would. Some groomers use kennel dryers with a heating element. These are the dryers that can be unsafe if the dog is not properly monitored. Any good groomer will only use these on well ventilated kennels with a thermometer installed inside the kennel, and in an area the dog can be constantly monitored. When used in this way these dryers are also perfectly safe.

Kennel dryers are a necessity in the grooming world, they make things easier and less stressful on both the dogs and the groomers. For young puppies and senior dogs hand dryers can be too loud and scary to be safely used. However in the comfort of a kennel with a towel and a dryer gently blowing on them they can be dried without going into a panic. Bottom line is, if you are going to a new groomer for the first time ask about their drying process. Ask if their kennel dryers are heated or not? Make sure the pets and temperatures are constantly monitored. Even ask if you can see the grooming area. Your pet is a member of the family, your groomer understands that and wants both you and your pet to feel at ease.

Now let’s look at the actual grooming process. Yes, we work with scissors and clippers. Yes these items are sharp and dangerous. Yes, we as groomers cut ourselves and probably have cut a dog at some point as well. So what can be done to prevent this?

Grooming the yorkshire terrier

It is especially dangerous when a dog is scared, and either biting or jumping around on the table. With an adult dog there is only so much we, as groomers, can do to improve this behavior, so it’s important to start training your dog early to be good at the groomer’s. When you bring your puppy for his/her first groom he has no idea what is going on, they are in a strange place with strange smells and scary sounds. No matter how your puppy may behave for you at home, they will behave totally different for a strange person in a strange place. So how can you make it easier on your puppy for their first visit?

First, get your puppy to the groomer early to ease them into it. Usually for most puppies it’s good to get them in between 3-4 months so the groomer can do a “puppy training groom”. This usually includes a bath, nail trim, sanitary shave and trimming around the eyes (if needed). They spend extra time making sure this is a pleasant experience for the puppy so when they are ready for their full groom they’re not scared or defensive but rather happy and willing.

Before (and after) a puppy’s first groom there are some things you can work on at home to help. Most puppies have the hardest time with the sound and feeling of the clippers, their feet and legs being held, and of course brushing. If your groomer is trying to clip around your dog’s face and he jerks suddenly that can be an accident, so they need to get used to this kind of attention. Find something that makes a humming noise and vibrates similar to clippers. Usually this can be accomplished with an electric toothbrush. Just sit with your puppy and let him sniff the toothbrush, touch it lightly to his head, cheeks and body. When he is behaving make sure to give lots of treats and praise.

Get her used to her feet and legs being held. You can do this while you’re sitting together on the couch, and again give her treats when she lets you hold her legs, trying to gradually increase the time she lets you hold them.German Shepherd puppy and human hand

No puppy is going to like brushing right off, but unless you plan on keeping your dog shaved, your dog will have to think of this as a part of life, not punishment. For most dogs you want to use a slicker brush and metal comb and make sure to lightly go over every body part. As a puppy their hair is usually easy to brush out, but you want to keep brushing anyway to make sure your puppy will grow up to tolerate it for prolonged periods. Taking these steps to prepare your puppy will help make sure your dog is calm and at ease while being groomed. If your dog is scared or anxious risk of accidents greatly increases. Also, regular visits are very important to keep your dog calm at the groomer. Remember, a dog that visits the groomer every 6 weeks thinks it is a part of life, a dog the gets groomed every 6 months thinks it is being punished.

Many news articles, as well as P.E.T.A, have been recently recommending you groom your dog at home. For some people with low maintenance dogs this is certainly a viable option. However, I would like to reiterate, with moving animals and sharp objects accidents are bound to happen. Groomers are well trained, (often times through both a school and apprenticeship) to use these types of tools and handle your dogs in a safe way. We know the best way to hold the clippers, and the best way to react to your dog’s movements. We would rather cut ourselves than your dog, and your dog’s health and safety will always be a good groomer’s number one priority.

The most important thing to remember is to ask questions! Spend the time to look for a groomer willing to answer your questions. Do your research online and through word of mouth to find someone with plenty of experience and who has proven reliable. Keep in mind that sometimes good quality costs a little bit more, but finding a groomer you can trust makes it all worthwhile. Yes, there is always the risk of an accident, even with the most experienced groomer. Good groomers treat their client’s pet like they were their own, and when an accident does happen it is probably more upsetting for your groomer than for you. The last person who wants to see your dog hurt is your groomer. We are in this business because our passion is dogs.

Aubrey Bird is a Sarasota dog groomer with Bayside Pet Resort and Bayside Pet Spa, she has been a groomer for more than 6  years and is a mom to a  Standard Poodle named Eva, a Dachshund named Brown dog, Cairn named Toby, Bichon named Yogi, and coparents her boyfriend’s pups a Lab named Lamar and Bull Terrier named Mya.  Before that she was a chemist, but  Aubrey tells us “Let’s face it, grooming is way more fun!”