The price of staying beautiful is costing more nowadays at salons all over the country
and it is not just the human animal I am talking about here. The rising costs have
finally found themselves at your local pet salon due to rising costs of labor,
supplies and the time involved in making your favorite four-footed friend
beautiful.
Everyday I field a call from someone inquiring about pet grooming who are
shocked at the going prices of animal grooming. One would think that we do this
as a public service and not as the way we prefer to make a living.
The public doesn’t seem to realize that just like people salons, pet salons have costs
that must be passed on to the consumer. Appointments and scheduling are probably
our biggest cross to bear. People don’t understand that it takes time to correct hair
and coat problems in their pets and that theirs is not the only pet we have on our
schedule for the day.
The stress factors in pet grooming takes it’s toll on the 90’s pet groomer.
Undisciplined pets and pushy clients who think they know it all create an
atmosphere that causes many to hang up the clippers in favor of that office job
once again.
People don’t get upset or aggravated if their beautician or barber can’t fit them into
a busy days schedule. But pet groomers have to suffer mental abuse because they aren’t
mind readers and know in advance that their clients want instant service on the busiest
day of the week. And to top it off they want you to move their pet to the head of the
line because they have a busy schedule and need to have it picked up in several hours.
I have had people ask me why I don’t add more help so I can “move a little faster”
or “what is the problem with you today...slow?”.
I recently had 2 rowdy, hairy dogs who I had never clipped before or any other groomer
had touched in many many months who the family wanted done immediately as they
were having a party at the house. Now this was really my mistake because of a
cancellation I had put them on the book.
Early wasn’t mentioned when they were dropped off. The phone calls started in about an
hour and one half about why I was being so slow to do the job. Well it turned into a
very nasty fiasco that ended with one dog done and the other half done and sent home.
Was I paid for the time on both NO! Just one.
Being a pet groomer is not an easy job! If it was people would groom their own pets.
Why some people find brushing a long haired dog a chore I don’t understand...hair
tangles and must be brushed or combed...there is a point of no return here and it must
all come off. Why is that such a surprise to pet owners? What do I know. I have only
been doing this for over 30 years...that doesn’t say much for my intelligence does it?
Just one summer I would like to have all those gentile southern ladies or men I read
about all the time darken the door of my establishment and treat me with a
little respect.
