You probably had some first aid training from your pet grooming classes. Unfortunately, you probably didn’t have comprehensive training. And if you did? There are too many dog breeds, each with unique needs, for you to just do it once and think you’ve mastered it forever. The only thing you can do to stay sharp is to refresh your skills on a regular basis!
Grooming salons aren’t rare these days. Are the competing grooming businesses in your area giving you a run for your money? If so, focus on improving your skills and career prospects. Taking a first aid course for dog groomers means you’ll learn the most pertinent safety information for your career. It sounds silly to link career growth with doggie CPR, but we bet we can convince you to look into a first aid course by the end of this post. Ready? Let’s jump right in!
1. Improve your career prospects
Nobody in the world would argue that extra skills on your resume wouldn’t give your career as a dog groomer a boost. If you’ve been in the dog grooming business for a while, you need to find ways to continue your growth. Always look for opportunities to continually self-improve! If you don’t, keeping your business afloat against the tsunami of new competitors won’t be easy.
Earning more qualifications than the groomer down the street means having a leg up on your competition. It’s not just about picking up extra skills either—if you’re taking a first aid course, you’ll walk away with an extra certification to hang up on your salon walls! This piece of paper proves that you have the best set of hands to take care of your clients’ pups.
2. Ease your mind
If a client’s dog is seriously injured while in your care, you’ll know that you tried your best while securing the attention of a vet. In some cases, no matter what you do, you probably won’t be able to stop their pain, but you can reduce their suffering. If you act fast enough, you could even save a life.
If word gets out that an accident happened on your grooming table, everyone will want to know what happened. If you knew what to do, your business will walk away unscathed. Accidents can’t be avoided. But having the skills to handle everything that comes your way is something you can acquire!
3. Reassure your clients
It’s one thing to be calm during an emergency situation. But it’s another to be able to soothe any anxieties and panic present in both dogs and their owners. With proper first aid training, you’ll maintain a clear head and prioritize everything that needs to be done, making the dog’s needs are met first.
Consider all the different grooming tools and products. Scissors can nick a dog’s skin or shampoo can cause unexpected allergic reactions—you can’t possibly anticipate when something will go wrong. By having first aid training under your belt, you can reassure your clients that you have the knowledge and practical know-how to prevent accidents and to treat injuries.
4. Provide clients with excellent service
While your primary job is to groom your canine clients, you’ll also have to inspect the physical health of the dogs before you start the grooming process. Nobody is going to expect you to have extensive medical knowledge, but you will be seeing your client’s dogs more often than the vet! Catching any diseases or disorders in their early stages and pointing them to preventative care is, while not necessary as a groomer, incredibly welcome!
Some groomers may not be able to tell the difference between a serious injury and a minor one. For example, a cut on the ears will bleed a lot but it’s only considered a minor wound because these are vascular areas. To be able to identify the type of wound it is, the severity of it, and how to immediately treat it can save dog owners from serious grief… not to mention an expensive trip to the vet!
5. Teach other groomers
Besides the direct on-the-job benefits of having first aid training, you’ll also be able to use your skills to better other groomers. If you’re expanding your business and hire employees who may not have had first aid training, you can use your expertise to give them basic training. It’s not the same as completing a professional course, but you’ll be able to assure all clients that your employees are held to the same standards as you.
Looking beyond your immediate grooming salon, you may be interested in educating other groomers in your local area. Teaching seminars and spreading awareness about the importance of first aid at conferences will not only help you network, but you’ll also know that you’re acting for the safety of dogs everywhere.
Have you had to put your first aid skills to the test? Let us know what happened in a comment!
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