GroomingTails, Llc

08/14/2023

07/01/2022

Normally it's all memes and jokes here at the Foolery but I want to talk about something close to my heart.

Senior Pets and Comfort Cuts

If you own a senior pet, please LISTEN to your groomer and take what they say to heart. No one wants to send home a pet looking unfinished. Senior pets, and even younger ones who may have serious health and behavior issues, we can't always make them look show ready. And that's nobody's fault.
It's not your fault, your pet's fault or your groomer's fault.

Yes, I know Max has always been good for grooming for all his life, but now he's 16. He has arthritis. He may be going blind and/or deaf. His skin is more sensitive to tangles being pulled. His mouth is sore from bad teeth and gums. He may have the beginning stages of dementia. He may not be able to stand for long periods. So we are going to do the best we can to make him comfortable without putting him through anything unnecessary. I understand you always loved his long beard or fluffy tail, but he cannot tolerate the time it takes to get those areas dry and combed out completely. Let's tighten it up for him.
I know his coat is curly today. I had to kennel dry him because the other dryers were just too much for him to handle and he was panicking and at risk of seizure.
I am sorry I cut his eyelashes too short. Because of his deteriorating eyesight, he isn't tolerating things near his face much anymore and moves a lot.

And if your groomer says they can no longer groom your dog and suggest a vet groomer, listen to them. Even if your vet gives you a letter saying your dog is safe to groom. No disrespect to vets, but most don't know what it's like to actually groom a dog. And your letter doesn't erase liability for the groomer in the event your dog has a medical crash or injury. At a vet office, if your dog goes into cardiac arrest, they can get immediate attention.

Having been in this business for a couple of decades, I have had several dogs die at salons I worked at. The business paid for necropsies and every one returned with preexisting health conditions the owners either knew about or didn't. If your groomer is telling you to take it to a vet, they are doing it because they care more about your pet's safety than your money. Just think about that. And don't assume cause the cut isn't perfect, you deserve to pay less for the work. Your groomer probably put more work into that cut now than they ever did with the perfect cut.

When you dog has serious health and behavior issues, you don't get the privilege to be nitpicky about every facet of the groom. I know it's a hard pill to swallow, but put your pets needs above vanity. Your pet will not care if they eyelashes are short or the entire underside is shaved.

And when your senior pet gets home they are going to be tired and maybe even sore. This doesn't mean they were mishandled. Place your older self into their paws for a moment. Imagine you were very old and unable to stand for long periods, while someone is running brushes, combs and clippers all over you, picking up your foot so you have to balance on one leg to clip your toe nails. Look how many elderly people choose shorter, easier to manage hairstyles. Because it's too hard to manage their other styles and longer hair.

Your groomer puts your pet first, respect them for it.

02/24/2022

The way I love to work!
I do understand many shops do not run this way, you do you. If it works for you than by all means. That being said I do believe it helps the dogs keep the grooming process less stressful and positive if they are at the shop for the shortest amount of time necessary. This is why.
1. Kennel time in a place outside the home can be stressful for your dog. The same way being at a shelter is stressful. Listening to other dogs barking loudly, hearing the big scary dragon of a dryer going and the uncertainty of waiting.
2. Technically a dog should have access to potty breaks on average every 3 hours or so, this cannot be given at most shops.
3. Do dogs who are at the shop for extended periods have access to clean drinking water?
4. Possible potty accidents the longer they are there and on a freshly bathed coat this can result in an entire or partial bath needed again.

I get my dogs in and out in 2 hours (mostly) and I love it.
1. This gives me one on one time with them, to truly be there for them and give them my full undivided attention.
2. Pet parents love that they get their best friend back as soon as possible. Sometimes it’s even harder on the parents than the dogs to be separated.
3. This helps set boundaries and expectations so pet parent won’t try to use your grooming service as a boarding service.
4. A less chaotic, more stress free experience for the dogs.

02/21/2022

Why pet parents are not allowed into the groom room.

1. Insurance policy. It is not covered in the policy if a pet parent slips, knocks their head on an open kennel door, gets injured in any way past the lobby threshold. The possibility of a high dollar lawsuit is not worth it. Groomers could lose their job, their salon and more.
2. Dogs behave differently when their parent is around. Excitable behavior is not safe to groom. Movements to try to get their parents attention can result in serious injury. Our tools are razor sharp.
3. The energy from pet parents (and groomer) are picked up by the dog. So if the pet parent is anxious the dog is anxious. If the groomer is anxious (someone hovering over you while you work can do that) than again the dog is anxious.
4. Other dogs. We never know exactly how another dog in the shop will react to someone else’s presence. The liability a pet parent in the groom room presents is to high.

02/13/2022

Groomingtails is looking to add to our crew. We are looking for a full time groomer who can groom at least 6 days a day, Know breed specific patterns, Have at least 4 years experience. Work Tuesday thru Friday 9-3 and Saturday 8:30-3:30 . Commission Based Plus tips. O'Fallon, Missouri

02/13/2022

GroomingTails is looking to add to our crew. We are looking for a full time groomer who can groom at least 6 dogs a day, know breed specific patterns and has at least 4 years experience. Schedule is Tuesday thru Friday 9-3 and Saturday 8:30-3:30 . Commission Based, Plus tips!

01/26/2022

I’m sure you’ve heard… there’s a worker shortage and in America. And there is an unprecedented shortage of groomers especially since people are adopting and buying dogs more than ever. (About 1 million a month!)

What does this mean?
1. Groomers are busy and booked out, they get to pick and choose who their clientele will be. Ways to get chosen or kept as a client are to brush your dog at home in between appointments, be kind to your groomer and don’t no call no show for your appointments.
2. More pet parents may opt out of this luxury service (dog grooming) and choose to groom their pets at home. Which is great, please do some research, stay safe and ask your local groomer questions to help you on this journey.
3. Prices are going up, which is not unusual. Supply and demand. Shops must be able to pay for their overhead and with inflation across America it is only reasonable that your dogs groom will cost more as well.
4. As it becomes prudent to create more groomers you will see an influx of people joining this career. Make sure they have experience and/or are certified to groom your dog. You want a nice haircut yes, but you also want your dog to be treated appropriately and safe.

12/30/2021

Be kind

I like to think that as groomers we have a little more patience and kindness than the average joe. I like to think that our affinity towards animals and mans best friend makes us gentler, have more compassion and grace but alas groomers are indeed just human.
That being said, let’s try to be kind to each other at least. Every groomer is at a different stage in their education which is constantly being revised. When giving criticism to a fellow groomers work keep these things in mind.
1. Did they ask for your critique?
2. You don’t have all the information to make a true evaluation.
3. Is the dog old? And therefore possibly has a very thin or brittle coat?
4. Was the dog dancing the whole time? Or behaving in such a manner that is not conducive for a great groom?
5. What did the pet parent request? (We all know sometimes they request odd things)ex:clean feet on a cocker
6. Was the coat matted?
7. Did their employer give them half the time needed to accomplish a good groom?
8. You don’t know anything about this groomers life and what stressors may be going on so please just simply be kind.

When offering critiques make sure you also offer advise and techniques. People don’t want to just hear all the things they did sub par just to hear it or be put down. People want to learn, they want to do better, have something to offer besides a poor opinion.

12/10/2021

I completely understand when someone says their Great Pyrenees, golden retriever, Australian shepherd, ect. Are so hot! I mean look at all that hair, they must be.

But, I’m here to tell you that shaving those double coats is not the solution. Here’s some knowledge you may not know. The double coat is comprised of the shorter Downey undercoat and the longer silky top coat (guard coat). The space in between the undercoat and topcoat is the space that helps regulate your dogs temperature. That space either holds air creating a sort of insulation for the winter months or/and circulates air creating a cool down effect for the summer months. The topcoat is essentially blocking out the hotter air of summer.

When shaving these breeds and removing the coat altogether you are taking away the dogs ability to regulate it’s body temperature. You are putting them at risk for sunburn. And there is a high chance the hair will not grow back the same, taking a year or more to restore their coat to a healthy state. And when it does grow back in it may have a diffeeent texture making it more prone to Matt in the future.

Something your groomer can do to help with the summer heat is being the undercarriage, featherings, mane and pantaloons close to the body. A good de shed treatment will do wonders at thinning out the coat and getting rid of as much of that downy coat as possible.

12/09/2021

Some dogs need a little more patience, work, time and finesse than others and that’s okay. It’s good to know if your dog needs more help with the grooming process than the average dog. Yes it will cost you a little more money at your groomers but you want your dog to build its confidence, be well mannered and safe. Eventually your dog will learn and grow into a great grooming dog who does not get that extra fee on its grooming bill and even enjoys its spa day. Communicate with your groomer about your best friends strengths and weaknesses to help create a positive experience, better haircut and all around more confident dog.

11/01/2021

$500 Sign on bonus. Seeking a full-time groomer . Tuesday thru Friday 9-3 and Saturday 8:30 -3:00 Must be able to groom at least 6 dogs a day, Have at least 4 years experience in professional dog grooming and know breed specific patterns.

09/21/2021

In need of a full-time groomer! Must be able to groom at least 6 dogs a day, Know breed specific patterns, work Tuesday thru Saturday, Have reliable transportation, Commission Based pay plus tips. Lite cleaning duties.

06/03/2021

Must have at least 4 years grooming experience, Be able to groom at least 6 dogs per day. Work Tuesday thru Saturday Commission Based Plus tips

05/13/2021

Full time groomer needed. Must be able to work Tuesday thru Saturday, Groom at least 6 dogs a day. Commission Based Plus tips

03/15/2021

Don’t poodle my doodle!

When groomers hear this it sounds just silly. It is not a very good description of what it is your looking for. Groomers wonder... does it mean not to leave a longer topknot? Does it mean not to leave legs full? Are you trying to convey that you don’t want clean feet or clean face? Are you referring to the shape of the ears?

It is also an odd thing to hear because as a groomer we automatically think of breed standard haircuts and the doodle does not have one. So we think of what your dog is mixed with... a lab, an Aussie, a Bernese and ... ... ... a poodle.

With that being said, it is important to be more descriptive about what it is you envision for your dogs haircut. Communication is key to having a great grooming experience.

03/14/2021

Why we DON’T shave double coated dogs! Shaving a double coat can have some irreversible consequences. The coat is made up of a downy undercoat and a more coarse guard coat. When shaved the undercoat grows faster than the top coat creating a very unappealing look. The guard coat or topcoat can also change texture once shaved. There is only a 50% chance your dogs double coat will recover over a significant amount of time.

Myth: shaving my double coated dog will help them be cooler in warmer weather. FALSE! Shaving them in fact destroys the natural airflow circulation created by the space in between the undercoat and the guard coat.

Shaving your double coated dog comes with other issues too, such as the coat being more likely to Matt as it grows, sunburn, destroying the coats natural ability to regulate your dogs temperature and the coat never being the same again. (Texture, length, ect.)

Alternative: instead of making the ill informed decision to shave your double coated dog get a de shedding treatment. This will get a lot of that Downey undercoat off the dog. Cooling them and flattening the coat. A tight trim along with deshedding will lighten the coat and help you manage the amount of fur while keeping the coat healthy.

02/13/2021

So you started your dog on it’s grooming journey. Great job! It’s really exciting! Like when a child rides a bike without training wheels for the first time. You should be proud of your pup for learning so many new things. You should be proud of your self for preparing them for success. It’s a lot of work raising and caring for mans best friend.

Your dog is learning skills they will need and use through their entire life. On this journey it is especially important not to set them back. Here are some examples of setbacks we want to avoid.

1. When teaching your pup about getting their nails trimmed. Setbacks = holding their paw without giving it back. (Forcing) you will lose the dogs trust and validate any fear they have. Quicking the nail. This will make them associate nail trims with injury.

2. When teaching your pup about the brush. Setbacks = MATTING. Having to deal with mats on a learning dog will validate his fear of the brush by associating it with pain, discomfort. This can cause a dog to even become brush aggressive. This setback can cost you the dogs coat. Brushing too hard can cause discomfort or brush burn and set the learning back. Always be gentle. Brushing should be a bonding activity.

3. When teaching your dog about grooming always be involved! Ask the groomer questions. Make sure you really know what your dog needs help with to succeed. Find the groomer you and your dog likes and stick with them. A new person and place can be a setback for grooms.

Your dog is well on their way to being calm, comfortable and cooperative at the groomers! You should be proud when they reach the “training” to achieve that stunning, perfect haircut. And know that you cared for your dog with good hygiene, a healthy coat and skin and confidence.

01/05/2021

Our entire installation process (before, during, and after) for Groomingtails LLC in O'Fallon, MO.

01/04/2021

Finally got my sign! I love it 😊

01/04/2021

12/15/2020

Bailee is all ready for Santa! She was a very good girl all year

12/03/2020

We got a shop dog today, Mr.Frito loves spending the day with his ladies

11/18/2020

Gabe and Cavi are fresh and clean and ready for turkey day 🦃

11/11/2020

Book your holiday appointments and receive free teeth brushing and free nail filing