I've owned a dog grooming shop for 17 years, and owned a boarding kennel for 6 of those years as well.  I see on average 7-12 dogs a day coming through my doors, 5 days a week. There is one thing almost all of these dogs have in common, day in and day out; they have their owners wrapped around their adorable little paws.

One comment I hear most often in my career is "Fluffy is shaking! He's so scared!". This is usually voiced in a high pitched wail while said shaking dog is being hugged, cooed at and desperately reassured while me, the groomer, is trying to pry Fluffy out of the iron grasp of his distraught owners.



​There is a reason why Fluffy is acting this way, and I'm hoping that a little insight will help you as an owner understand your dog's behavior at the groomer, vet office, or boarding kennel and how to make these visits less stressful. 

As a groomer, I have a lot of clients asking me if it's ok to bathe their dog at home between grooms. My answer is, of course! Sorta. If you read this article first and do it right, that is. Others do bathe their dog between grooms without a second thought, and end up making my job as a groomer much more difficult because they are not doing it properly.  There IS a proper way to bathe a dog, and forgoing any of the tips below can cause skin and coat issues with your pup that I may not be able to fix easily, and your dog and the haircut will suffer for it.  

Equipment Needed: 

Tub.
High Pressure Water Nozzle.
Hot/Cold Water Faucet.
Brush.
Comb.
Dog Shampoo.
Bottle to dilute shampoo in.
Towels.
Vodka. (This is for you. After the bath.)

Rub a Dub Tub...err Shower

The most important thing to have if you are going to bathe your dog at home, equipment wise, is a nozzle with good water pressure.  Some showers have take down shower heads, but they don't always have the best water pressure.  You can purchase attachments that hook up to your tub faucet, or hose attachments, however, be sure if you are using hose attachments that you are hooking up to a faucet that has both hot and cold water.  The water from an outdoor spigot is usually too cold. If it's not comfortable for you, it's not comfortable for your dog, and even on a very hot day being directly sprayed by a cold hose is not all that welcome. Always use cooler water, not warm to hot.  Dogs run at a higher body temperature than us humans, and cooler water will feel more comfortable.

One of the most common mistakes people make when bathing their dogs at home is filling a tub up with water and dropping the dog in.  All this does is mix dirt, dander, soap and hair around, leaving most of it on your dog when you remove them from the tub.  The old "tub o' water and a cup" method went out with the idea of communal bathing years ago for a reason: it doesn't get you clean, and it's pretty disgusting. 

Water should be running off your dog and down the drain as you bathe and rinse. Never bathe a dog in standing water, no matter what Grandma says. Or google.

Brush First! Ask Questions Later!

Have you ever gotten your hair wet without brushing it first?  When you do brush it out, it hurts. A lot. If you don't have enough hair to experience this, go grab a small child and try it. They will very vocally educate you and your shins. It only takes ONE time of getting the hair wet without brushing it out first and immediately after, before tangles form.  Your dogs hair is the same way.  Hair breeds such as Lhasas, Shih Tzus, Maltese, etc must be brushed and combed out completely before they are bathed as well as after.  Getting the hair wet without removing the tangles and mats is pretty much the same as pouring a bottle of glue on your dog and rubbing it in.  Water and tangles equal instant mats, and mats are extremely uncomfortable to brush and comb out. 

Am I repeating myself? It's because I can't stress this enough.  As a groomer I hear "but I bathe her at home all the time!" every day when I explain to my clients their dogs are too matted to be kept in a longer groom. It's almost always BECAUSE of all the (improperly done) bathing at home that their dogs are matted. 

Run a wire bristle brush through your dogs entire coat (armpits, belly, back, legs, ears, face...ALL OF IT!) and then follow through with a fine tooth comb. If you can't get the comb through from surface to skin without resistance, your dogs coat is matted and needs attention BEFORE you bathe the dog.  Remember...water and tangles is the equivalent of glue.  Dumping glue on your dog is generally frowned upon.  So is bathing a dog that hasn't been properly brushed out. At least from a groomers standpoint, as we are the ones that have to fix that mess!

If you are worried about getting water in your dogs ears, gently stuff a few cotton balls in the ear to prevent water from getting in the ear canal. Be sure to take them out when done!  Ears can be cleaned using unscented baby wipes, just gently wipe out the outer areas of the ear. Never use Q-tips; if your dogs ears are excessively dirty, they need to see a vet for a cleaning. 

If you brush your dogs teeth, bath time is a good time to do this as well. May as well get all the un-fun stuff done in one shot so they can hate you for an hour or so and get over it.

The Dilution Factor

There are hundreds of choices for dog shampoo on the market, and just like human shampoo, some are better than others. Chain store brands are usually low end and you won't get the same results as if you use a higher end, salon purchased shampoo.  Never use shampoo intended for humans.  Your dog may be your baby and that is perfectly ok, but I highly doubt you would pick up a $2 bottle of dog flea and tick shampoo for your infant. The same goes for your fur baby.  Dogs hair and skin are different than humans, and require a different sort of shampoo. 

ALL shampoo needs to be diluted before using on your pet.  Salon brands will usually have the dilution ratio on the bottle. Sometimes this dilution ratio can be as big as 32 parts water to 1 part shampoo. If no dilution ratio is listed, try 4 parts water to 1 part shampoo. Diluted shampoo cuts through the coat easier, and is easier to rinse out. Using a half gallon milk jug to mix up the shampoo you need for the bath is a great, easy way to mix. Add the water first, then the shampoo and shake.  Shampoo does have a shelf life, so you don't want to store mixed shampoo for long or it will start to break down and separate. The resulting mixture will be a very watery solution that suds up well when applied to your wet pet, if the shampoo is of good quality. If you insist on using a cheaper shampoo, expect less impressive results, and less impressive lather.  

If your dog has been skunked, there are specialty shampoos designed to help with the smell.  Forget the tomato juice, unless you have a beer to go with it for yourself afterwards. There is a recipe for a homemade skunk solution at the bottom of this article using common household ingredients that works well.  

Flea and Tick shampoos shouldn't be used as a preventative as they can be harsh.  If your dog has fleas or ticks, make an appointment with your vet to take care of these pests properly and promptly.  Shampoos designed for fleas and ticks will not take care of the problem alone. 

Rinse, Rinse, Rinse! (and repeat, if necessary)

Rinsing is the most time consuming part of bathing a dog. Along with trying to convince your dog to stay in the tub.  There are suction cup tethers you can purchase that will help. Another nice trick is to feed your dog in the tub so they are used to being in it for a GOOD reason, or smearing peanut butter on the tub wall to keep them occupied. You can always try this with your toddler too, come to think of it.

You always want to start out by getting the entire dog wet first, then apply the diluted shampoo mixture. If you have a really dirty dog, do a quick shampoo and rinse first and then repeat with a more thorough shampoo to get all the dirt off first. Shampoo the face and ears last, and rinse these first, so your dog doesn't get soap in its eyes. Always rinse from the top down. If you rinse the legs and chest first and then the top areas, you will be pushing dirty water and dander down onto the areas you just got clean.  So start at the top and work your way down.  Areas between the eyes and privates may need a little more attention to get clean and it's ok to use a cloth to help wipe the "gunk" off.  Using rubber curry brushes (usually called Zoom Grooms) is a great way to lather up short coated breeds like Labs as it will help loosen the dead hair.  Longer coated hair breeds need to be lathered by hand to prevent their coat from getting snarled up after you just spent all that time combing it out before the bath (you DID, right? RIGHT??). Use your fingers to lather the shampoo into the coat down to the skin level. PRO TIP! Use a flea comb to loosen and comb any "eye boogers" out safely.

Rinse until no more soap or lather is seen and the water runs clean...then rinse some more. Use your hands to work the water into the coat to help rinse below the surface. Soap and dander that is left behind turns into itchy skin issues and a dull, flat coat. A clean coat is a shiny coat.  If your water pressure is less than desirable, you will have to rinse twice as long to be sure the coat is clean.

Shake, Shake, Shake Senora...

Before taking a towel to your dog, squeeze all the excess water out of their coat, paying special attention to the ears and feet and tail, then encourage them to shake it off!  Yes, this is going to get water everywhere, but its the dogs natural instinct to shake all that water out of their coat, and doing so actually will make the drying process much easier for you.  So if they want to shake, let them. Shake with them.  Have some fun! I love to bathe dogs with the music on...it keeps me in a good mood, and the dogs pick up on that mood.

Towel drying can also cause matting in hair breeds, so never "scrub" towel a breed with a long coat.  Instead, use the towel to gently squeeze the water out of the dog, starting with their back and pat drying and squeezing the water down and out with the towel all over their body, legs, ears and tail.  Many dogs love to run and rub their bodies on the carpet or furniture after a bath and as cute as this is, please discourage it by keeping them contained until they are dry.  Rubbing a wet coat on carpet just takes us back to that whole "dump a bottle o' glue" theory again.

Human hair dryers are not meant to be used on dogs. The dryers we use in a professional grooming shop are not heated.  They are forced room temperature air. Heat will not only ruin your dogs coat, it can burn their skin and cause them to overheat quickly. If you do not have a hair dryer specifically designed for dogs, it is best to let them air dry. Human hair dryers with a "cool" setting are ok in a pinch, but the air force of these dryers is often not strong enough to be worth the time and agitation to your dog when they will likely air dry in the same amount of time. When the coat is dry, brush and comb out again if it's a hair breed, and you are done!  You can also brush and comb as you dry if you do have a suitable hair dryer to make a longer coat lay flat or a curly coat fluff up.

Smoochy, Smoochy

You are done! Your dog is clean! Give them a kiss and a treat. Not the vodka. That's for you. Tell them how wonderful they were, even if you are on the brink of murder because you are soaking wet from head to toe, your entire bathroom is covered in hair, you spilled the bottle of shampoo, and you have dog hair in your eyeballs.  Next time, pay the groomer to do it for you. That's what we are here for. Also, consider tipping us.  We appreciate it. It's how we purchase our vodka.

If your dog acts up during any part of this process, do not stop what you are doing.  Tantrums that convince you to stop the unwanted process of being brushed, bathed or dry is basically teaching your dog that you are a huge wuss and they can get what they want by having a fit. Some parents could use this advice too, come to think of it.  I know it's hard to see your dog unhappy, but it really IS best for them to learn to tolerate the process. It makes professional grooming much less stressful for them, and likely cheaper for you.  Many salons DO charge a fee for dogs that won't behave because it takes us more time and energy to groom a dog that should be able to stand fairly well for a procedure that it is going to have to tolerate for the rest of its life.  Puppies in particular can really carry on with fighting and crying...don't worry, you are not hurting anything but their feelings. They will get over it ;)  Your groomer on the other hand, may not.





Homemade Skunk Solution

Mix the following ingredients in a plastic bucket:

1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (open a fresh bottle)

¼ cup of Baking Soda 

1-2 teaspoons of Liquid Soap (Softsoap and Ivory are recommended)

Note: for large dogs, the recipe can be doubled or you can add one quart of lukewarm water to ensure complete body coverage.

Directions:

1. Apply the solution to the entire coat and work it deeply into the fur.
2. Leave on for at least 5 minutes or until the odor is gone.
3.  Rinse your pet thoroughly with lukewarm water.
4.  Smell your pet! If he still reeks of skunk, repeat steps 1-3!
5.  Pour any remaining solution down the drain with running water

NEVER store the solution in a closed bottle as pressure can build up and cause the container to explode.

Note: The solution will sting if it gets into your dog’s eyes. If your dog’s face is heavily soiled, use a toothbrush soaked in solution to clean the hair around the eyes. 

By: Seri Dukart - Groomer

As a dog groomer, one of the most frustrating parts of my job is communicating with the client what kind of haircut they want.  Too often, the client cannot verbalize what they want or have unrealistic expectations of me, and end up being upset when they don’t get what they envisioned. Below are some tips to help you get the haircut you want when you take your pet to the groomer.


Do your research and be able to communicate your expectations.


“Short” is not a length. My idea of short and your idea of short may be a couple of inches apart.  Telling your groomer to take your dog short without using actual numbers is like going into the paint store and telling them you want to paint your house pink. Baby pink? Fushia pink? Petal pink? Carnation pink? How about Rose pink, or Blush pink? Perhaps a lovely Neon Pink?


1/2” is a length. Short is an adjective that leaves much to the imagination.  If you are unsure of what length you want, ask your groomer to do a couple of test strips on your dog starting with the blade closest to your dogs' current coat length until you are satisfied with the length. I often have people come in, spread their fingers 2 inches apart, and ask me to leave their dog, who has no more than ¾” of hair on its body, that long.  Consider if what you are asking for is even possible or logical for your dog.


If you are unable to communicate what you want, the result of the groom is not going to make you happy. Be prepared to describe how you want the ears, tail, face, feet and body to look.  There are literally hundreds of ways we can groom a Shih Tzu, so don’t ask the groomer to “make her look like a Shih Tzu”. With so many options, it is up to you to tell us what you want. We are here to show you examples and give you some different options, but in the end, it’s the words you choose that will determine how your dog looks. Take the time to research, ask questions, and take notes to give your groomer for next time on what you did and didn’t like.  It can take a few grooms before you get exactly what you are looking for! 


People often bring in photos to show what they want, which is great…within reason.  Every dog, even those of the same breed, has different hair types. What looks good on one yorkie may not look good on your yorkie because of difference in the texture of the hair, the shape of your dogs body, the condition the coat is in when you bring the dog in and even genetics.  Bringing in a photo of a random dog from a calendar and expecting your own dog to look like that is not reasonable unless you take exceptional at home care of your dogs’ coat, which is not logical for most pet owners. Show grooming and pet grooming are very different things, and the care and time that goes into keeping show dog coats looking like that amounts to hours every DAY and professional expertise of the owner.


If you have gotten a haircut you really liked for your dog, make a point of taking clear, full body photos of him or her sitting still to show any future groomers exactly what you do like.  Ask the groomer to write down what blades and styles they used, so you can ask for that same thing next time.  Don’t expect your groomer to remember what was done to your dog 6 months ago…we see a LOT of dogs of the same breed every week. It is your responsibility as an owner to know what you want and be able to articulate it to your groomer.  If your spouse or child drops your dog off, be sure they have clear, written instructions to give the groomer. 




Take care of your dog’s coat, or be prepared to get a haircut you are not thrilled with.


Groomers are unfortunately, not miracle workers.  You can’t not brush your own hair for 6 months and expect your hairdresser to make you look like a celebrity. Don’t expect anything less from your dog groomer.  Most hair breeds need to be groomed professionally every 6-8 weeks, PLUS be kept brushed out completely in between grooms by their owners.  If you want a longer clip on your dog, you need to keep a strict grooming schedule, or be prepared to have your dog clipped shorter than you would like.  Combing out matts on a dog is painful for them and time consuming for the groomer.  Some groomers refuse to cause pain to the dogs for the sake of “cute”.  If dematting does happen, it WILL cost you more money. Be prepared.  


If you are unsure what methods and tools to use to keep your pet’s coat in good condition, just ask! Your groomer will be more than happy to show you how and advise you on what tools to purchase for your dogs coat type. Schedule your next appointment when you leave the previous one…that way you have a schedule that will keep your dog comfortable and looking nice, and you won’t be caught off guard by busy seasons or holidays and end up having to wait months to get another appointment once your dog is already overdue. 




Be respectful of your groomer’s time and effort.


It can take anywhere from 3-4 hours to groom a dog…more if they are ill behaved, in really bad shape, or decide to mess in the kennel and need to be rebathed.  Grooming takes time, and is not something that can or should be rushed. Every groomer is a bit different in how they groom and manage their days. Some only work on one dog at a time and may get your dog done in less time. Some have multiple dogs in at the same time and rotate them, (start another while yours is drying, etc) which means your dog will be at the groomer for a longer period of time. 


Understand that this is not a predictable career.  One dog making a mess, one customer having an issue or arriving for their appointment late, or one ill behaved dog can set us back on the rest of our day.  Be patient. If you are anxious to pick up your dog and don’t give us the time we ask for, the haircut and the safety of your dog will suffer for it.  Don’t stop in early just to “check and see if he is done”…your dog will be excited to see you and will not sit still for the rest of the groom, making it impossible to finish safely.   Do not call to ask if the dog is done when you are given a specific time to pick up or told we will call you when the dog is done…we are busy grooming your dog, we don’t have time to answer the phone.  Your patience and understanding will make the whole process go much smoother. If you have a certain time you need to pick up at, clear that when you make the appointment and be sure it will work, not after you have dropped off.




Do's and Don'ts of a Responsible Dog Owner.​

DO bring your dog into a grooming shop (or any other public place!) on a properly fitted flat leash and collar. Flexi-leashes are for dog parks and potty times, not public places, as they offer no control.  


DO research your grooming shop before your appointment. Do they have a facebook page or website with information that could relate to you? Do they have signs posted about additional fees, hours, rules or payment methods? Check these things out ahead of time to avoid unexpected surprises. 


DON’T feed your dog the morning of its appointment unless there is a health reason to do so. This will only cause your dog to have to potty and it may mess in the cage at the groomer. Many groomer charge clean up fees due to having to rebath your dog and having to take time out to clean up a messy kennel or dryer. 


DO potty your dog before dropping them off.  


DON’T bring your dog into a groomer in a carrier – dogs do not take well to people they do not know well reaching into a confined space to pull them out. 


DO leave a number for you to be reached at in case of questions or problems. Be sure to inform your groomer if your contact information has changed.


DON’T pass your anxiety on to your dog.  Bring your dog in, hand it over to the groomer, and leave with a smile. Lingering, talking to your dog in high pitched tones, and forcing your groomer to pry your dog out of your arms is only going to make the rest of the appointment stressful and upsetting for your dog. YOU set the tone. If you are nervous, unsure or unhappy to leave your dog, your body language will show this and they will pick up on it. If your dog is nervous about being groomed or left, reassure it by acting completely normal and confident, and everything will be ok.


DO inform your groomer of any injuries, illnesses or behavior issues. We are trained to work with these issues, and it is safer for us and your dog to know about them ahead of time.


DO have realistic expectations. It is up to you as a pet owner to take care of your dogs coat, know how you want them groomed, train them to behave, and address any health issues with a vet.  


DO start your pet off young with haircuts, coat care and socialization. An unsocialized dog is a grooming nightmare, and puppies should have their first grooms as soon as their series of shots are complete, even if it is just a bath and nails to get them used to the process.


DO talk to your groomer if you are not happy with something! Getting angry or upset without bothering to understand why something was done the way it was done only creates a bad relationship between you and your groomer. We do want to make our clients happy, but sometimes we just can’t give you what you want. Find out why before you get upset. Develop a good, honest working relationship with your groomer through communication so your dog is able to develop a trusting, comfortable bond with the same groomer rather than going to a strange person every time they need a haircut. 

by Seri Dukart - Groomer