whistle while you work

I don't normally complain about my job, I love grooming and working with the dogs. I also love working at my new location at the pet store in town. I can't wait for renovations to start in the spring and by next fall I should have a newly renovated grooming area at the store.

Today I had the pleasure of grooming a flea invested cocker spaniel. The poor dog must have had fleas since the fall poor dog, I sent it home flea-less and with a 3 month treatment plan to hopefully rid the dog of the fleas. Just one of the perks of my jobs treating dogs with fleas and notifying owners of any other possible parasites or infections the dog(s) may have.

Last week an owner dropped off a poodle and told me there is no possible way to brush a "dog like that". I thought she was joking at first, but nope dead serious, so then after a 20 min lesson on how to properly brush a poodle. I groomed the dog, when owner picked up the dog she was over the moon happy that I didn't shave him short...yet that's exactly what I did. I used a 7 blade with isn't the shortest blade but blades shorter than that pets can get sunburnt or windburnt or get too cold, in short its not in the best interest of the pet to get anything shorter done, unless its severly matter -which is another matter unto itself.

On a happy grooming note: Today I groomed a "problem dog" she's a biter, a I'm going to eat your face if you touch my legs/feet dog. Today we made huge progress! I was able to use the clippers to shave her legs usually I have to scissor them and they look all choppy. And when I did her nails she didn't do the pull and tug with her leg, snip snip snip snip and nails were done. I did have her muzzled for the leg and feet work but her behavior had greatly improved since I started grooming her a couple years ago.

Last night I groomed my neighboors lab. Since starting grooming at the pet store I've only kept a a small, tiny number of dogs that I'll still groom at home. One is my neighboors dog, to me it makes no sense for them to drive all the way to town when I live next door, not to mention they have a lab, a good bath, nail trim, ear cleaning and a brush and done. Plus I get to spend some time with an incredibly handsome chocolate lab who may have just won the lab gene pool.

HUDSON