Grooming through the ages
O
ne of the most frequently overlooked aspects of our job is age. Dogs age, our age and customer’s age. Each of these require different approaches for the different stages of life. Often, by making a few minor concessions and considerations, we can greatly improve the grooming experience for us, our customers and their pets.
Part 1 Dogs Living in a house with 3 older dogs, (the eldest being closer to 16 than 15 years, and the youngest, a large breed, of 9.5 years, with one in the middle at 13), our day-to-day life revolves around accommodating age related issues, but let us start at the beginning.
Puppy to geriatric! Wouldn’t it be so much easier if all our furry clients came to us accustomed to grooming, fully developed, mentally and physically, and then stayed that way all through their life. We could avoid the 9 month old, ‘slightly tangled’ (we all know exactly what that means), goldendoodle for its first ever trip to the groomers. And of course, all it needs is the merest of tidy ups! Yup, Sure! If you haven’t yet experienced this, consider yourself a groomer anomaly. But don’t worry, I’m sure it won’t be long. There are many things groomers cannot agree on, but the indisputable fact is that dogs have different requirements depending on their age or life stage. This affects both their physical and mental capabilities and requirements. Ensuring that we optimise the 18 | Total Grooming Magazine
12 week old Cockerpoo
grooming experience at each stage, helping to develop and maintain a comfortable, well-adjusted dog in the grooming environment, makes it easier for us and them.
expected, or how to behave, so it is up to us to ensure we give these little ones the tools to grow into steady, amenable dogs that view grooming as part of their regular routine.
Youthful Exuberance
What should we consider?
Puppies do not arrive knowing what is
Sight: Dogs’ field of vision
