Special Services You Can Offer as a Professional Dog Groomer

If you’re a dog owner, chances are you’ve visited a groomer before. If this is the case, then maybe you’re familiar with all the services your groomer has to offer. If not, you have a lot to learn. This is especially true if you’ve begun to consider dog grooming as a career. You may be surprised to hear that many dog groomers do more than just groom dogs! Some salons offer a wide variety of services to help cater to the differing needs of their clients. Plus, the more services, the more opportunities to  bring in money. Keep reading to find out how!

Grooming Basics v. Grooming Extras

We can’t say this enough: dogs and humans are very similar! Different people have different hair types and face shapes. Therefore, people require different cuts when they visit the salon. Some people just want a trim and others want a complete style. The point is that people and their hair vary and we’re here to tell you that dogs are no different!

Salons should always offer consultations. Without a consult it’s hard to determine what kind of cut is appropriate for the dog, what the owner wants, and whether or not it’s possible. Sometimes there are extra fees for these consultations, although this isn’t often the case. There may be a one-time charge the first time a new dog is brought to the salon to compensate for the extra time needed for the groomer to get to know the dog. There may also be a fee for behavioral problems that occur during the cut.

Usually groomers offer breed specific cuts. These vary according to a dog’s breed, build, and the industry standards for these two factors. This is a higher-end service offered by groomers with lots of experience in the industry. Such experienced groomers may also take owner requests for artistic cuts like the trend teddy bear cut.

Alternatively, the owner can request a less expensive, basic shave-down. Most groomers also offer a wide range of basic services, other than the full groom. These include a brush and bath, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and feather trimming for longer-haired dogs. On the other hand, they may also offer a variety of luxury or specialty pet services including:

• Deep conditioning
• Teeth brushing
• De-matting and de-shedding
• Specialty shampoos and skin therapy – scented, hypoallergenic, treatment for skin conditions, etc.
• Flea and deodorizing treatments

More Than Just Dogs!

Some dog groomers offer services for other animals too. This includes rabbits and, believe it or not, cats! This is mainly a way to attract a wider variety of clients and earn more in the process. It also helps with an issue that many pet owners face. There are very few, if any, grooming salons that cater to other animals. This is understandable since only a few breeds of cats actually require grooming. While these animals are very different, dog groomers have many of the skills required to groom these pets. An understanding of basic animal behavior and being able to use a wide variety of different tools is necessary for any animal grooming! While unconventional, this is definitely an option for dog groomers!