Risky Business: Why You Need a Dog Grooming Course

For any experienced groomer, there’s undoubtedly a few funny (and not so funny) stories that come from the salon. Since every dog and owner is different, you always need to be vigilant during an appointment. Grooming can be a lot of fun, but there are a few aspects that require professional training to keep both groomer and pup safe.

Whether you’re just starting out or you have a few years under your belt, taking a dog grooming course can improve both your techniques and knowledge. Safety comes first in this career, so read on to find out how a grooming class can prepare you for the unexpected!

First Aid Training

First things first — be sure you’re always prepared for a medical emergency! We have high hopes that no harm will befall you, your clients, or your furry friends in your salon – but there’s never a guarantee. After all, the world is unpredictable and even complete training can’t rule out a medical situation.

Now, if your dog grooming class includes a unit on first aid, you’re good to go. Be sure to study hard in this section, since you’ll need to be prepared for every step of your grooming career. If you don’t have access to first aid training in your grooming classes, be sure to find one ASAP! Simple hazards, like choking on a treat or a small cut from your trimmers, will need to be tended to immediately.

As long as you’re prepared, you have nothing to fear. Be at the ready by keeping a first aid manual on hand or in your salon.

Emergency Plans

Just like in everyday life, there’s no telling what will happen from day to day in your salon. There could be a winter storm or a tornado, or you could face a pipe leak and other building problems. It’s always hard to adjust when unexpected situations come up, but having an emergency plan in place will save you from distress.

A complete dog grooming course will help you create prevention and response plans for your business – whether you’re planning to open your own salon or be a freelance groomer. You’ll need to create plans that abide by local laws, so learning which steps to take from a grooming course saves you a lot of time and research!

Saving Yourself

In your grooming space, you need to be vigilant about what could potentially be hazardous and harmful to yourself and others in the salon. Look at your furnishings and equipment, as well as your products and tools. Is everything in a safe and secure space? If not, you have some accident-proofing to do!

You should also take into consideration your safety when working with various animals. Think about grooming a new dog that walks into your salon – you’ll need to do a full assessment to make sure he’s been vaccinated and isn’t going to bring any health problems to other dogs. You’ll need to know about dog behavior, and common stress signs, so you can protect yourself. The easiest way to stay safe? Refuse an appointment to any dog that is acting too rough with you or other furry friends.

Don’t put yourself at risk just to satisfy one client. As a professional groomer, you know that you’re trained to do your very best and trust your judgement. If your instincts make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, pass on giving that client an appointment until their dog is better trained!

Plus, there’s personal safety equipment that you need to have in your salon to save your skin! If you’re bathing dogs with various products, you need to be certain that your skin will not be irritated by them. Using gloves, as well as eye protection, will save you from a bad reaction.