So I did have a lovely blurb all about me, but what I really should be focusing in on is how I work and why I work the way I do. I haven't been so clear in advertising just why I like my approach so much and just what some of these differences are so im going to try to explain a bit here.....
- well less noise, less distractions, less smells in the environment. Overall a very different environment to the common comercial grooming where they could have any number of groomers working at a time and just as many dogs in if not a possibility of double or triple dogs to groomers/ bathers (this is how commercial salons work)
One to one grooming, well you only have one pair of hands surely everyone works like that!?
Nope, many single groomers up to commercial grooming can and will have multiple dogs in at a time all at a different stage of grooming some bathing, some already sitting in crates drying and the dogs being finished. Commercial grooming is a conveyor belt of processes with dogs potentially being handled by anywhere around 3 people through their time in a commercial setting. This means in a commercial setting these groomers can process a lot more dogs and potentially make a lot more money per dog.
Specialising in working one to one means I only have one dog (or same household’s dog’s) in at a time. so if they need a break they get a break if they need some more time they get that. Everything is bespoke to the dog I have in at that time. I will groom an average of 4 dogs a day where a commercial groomer will be seeing anywhere around 9-15 dogs in a day.
So what does consent based got to do with anything?
Well a while ago I was getting frustrated with dogs not quite understanding why I wasn't getting through to them and their behaviour in the salon was not improving. I recognised that this was an emotional problem and started to befriend trainers and behaviourists and creeped my way into more behavior focused public groups. This led me to starting my studies with The ISCP - I have found this challenging juggling work and trying to go back to school, but it will be so worth it in the end!
So enough waffle about behaviour... Behaviour is not good or bad behaviour is a reaction to a stimulus it is our emotions which dictated what behaviour is given. Excited, happy, scared, unsure, nervous amongst some none are good or bad but we perceive ‘difficult’ behaviour to be bad in dogs - it’s not. It’s just a reaction. So, I have a number of sensitive dogs who need more time patience and understanding to be able to cope with a groom. This is where now I ask for consent from the dog to allow me to do what I need to as part of a groom. If the dog is not giving me consent that part of the groom does not happen this visit.
This is a huge part of how I work and how I am building trust and a great happy positive relationship with all of my dogs that I groom.
So you can see this is bespoke! This is not high volume grooming! - and not for every owner...
But I hope that every dog who comes to my salon does have a good experience and if they become a regular will love to come and see me each time
