Tail Talk Grooming Chronicles with Hound Therapy

The Rocky Road to Professional Pet Grooming: Challenges and Triumphs

• Shannon & Tanya • Episode 15

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What Challenges Do New Groomers Face?

Ever wondered what it really takes to become a professional pet groomer? Beyond the cute dogs and stylish haircuts lies a challenging journey that few truly understand until they're elbow-deep in fur and facing their first anal gland experience.

Shannon and Tanya, the seasoned professionals behind Hound Therapy, pull back the curtain on the grooming industry's hidden challenges in this revealing episode. They share candid stories from their decades of experience and from training newcomers at their grooming academy. From embarrassing mishaps (like the new groomer whose beautiful long hair became the unfortunate target of an anal gland explosion) to heartbreaking moments (spending six hours perfecting a poodle's cut only to be told to shave it all down), these stories illuminate the rocky path to grooming expertise.

The conversation dives deep into why this trillion-dollar industry remains unregulated, forcing new groomers to "fake it till they make it" while building confidence and clientele. They discuss the surprising physical demands that catch many newcomers off guard – standing all day, repetitive motions that strain specific muscle groups, and handling animals of all temperaments. Perhaps most importantly, they address the mental challenges: maintaining composure under pressure, communicating effectively with pet parents (when you'd rather just work with the animals), and finding your community in what can be an isolating profession.

Whether you're considering a career in pet grooming, already in the industry, or simply curious about what happens behind the scenes when you drop your furry friend off for a groom, this episode offers valuable insights into the artistry, challenges, and rewards of professional pet grooming. Ready to hear more grooming insights or book your pet's next appointment? Call Hound Therapy at 469-367-0009 or visit Houndtherapy.com to connect with Shannon and Tanya's team of dedicated professionals.

To learn more about Hound Therapy visit:
https://www.HoundTherapy.com
Hound Therapy
3509 E Park Blvd.
Plano, TX
469-367-0009

Speaker 1:

Welcome to Tail Talk Grooming Chronicles with Hound Therapy, the podcast where we talk all things pet grooming, daycare academy and more. Hosted by Shannon and Tanya of Hound Therapy serving pet owners across North Texas, we're here to share expert tips, hilarious pet stories and the inside scoop on keeping your furry friends happy and healthy. Our motto humanity over vanity. And don't worry, we don't bite. Let's get started. Who let the dogs out? Who?

Speaker 2:

let the dogs out. Every seasoned groomer was once a wide-eyed rookie. Let's explore the hurdles newcomers face in this fur field and how Hound Therapy Academy helps them rise to the challenge. Welcome back everyone. I'm Sofia Aguiveth, co-host and producer, back in the studio today with Shannon and Tanya, professional groomers at Hound Therapy. Shannon and Tanya, how are you both today? We're good. How are you enjoying the summer? Definitely, and it's great to have you both back on Now. I know this one is close to your heart, so excited that we get to chat about it. Let's get into how new groomers navigate the grooming world and find their groove. Today's topic will be what challenges do new groomers face?

Speaker 3:

So many, I'm going to A lot, yeah. So at Hound Therapy we also do a full year of training for people who want to learn how to groom. So I mean there's, we see it firsthand every single day. I can tell you new groomers in today's world definitely face different hurdles than I did, you know, 40 years ago, even 10 years ago for me, yeah. So it's hard, right, you got to prove yourself every day. We're unregulated, so it's, you know. You got to fake it till you make it in this business. And everybody knows that. You know proof is in the pudding. I can go on being punny all day. They lack confidence.

Speaker 3:

So it's hard to find a new groomer in today's world. That's just starting out. You're going to find that you need client communication and everybody gets into this business because they love the dogs but unfortunately the dogs don't pay the bills. So you have to tell we had one student and she was like I really just don't like people. I'm like, well, you have to like them a little bit, you have to talk to them because you're grooming their dogs and I mean it would be great if, if you can train your dog to drive himself. That would be amazing.

Speaker 3:

But, um, one of the biggest hurdles that that they overcome, uh, honestly, is equipment finding it, buying it, where to get it, how to maintain it. The other one is you know where are they going to work? Is it for somebody or is it mobile? And if that's the case, that brings on a whole other other array of problems. You're by yourself. Are you going to do big dogs or little dogs? It's finding the right job that fits you.

Speaker 3:

The animal industry in general is a trillion dollar money just flowing in, um, but if you get into this because you just want money, it is not the right career for you. You really need to get into it because you just want money. It is not the right career for you. You really need to get into it because you care and you'd want to make a difference, and this is really a way to show off your art. So we're dealing with artsy, artistic people, which is fun, and I will say that they are typically more challenged in life, speaking as one, than people who are level-headed and calm.

Speaker 3:

You know, know, I have a lot of big ideas and I'm like, oh, this dog would look so great and whatever. Yeah, um, the sheer learning. Uh, I have a, a student. This was years and years ago, um, and she actually, she came in and I was showing her how to do anal glands, which is something that we do here in our shop, uh, and we've, you know, done it forever. And she had this gorgeous long hair and I told her I don't know how many times I'm like girl, you're going to want to tie that up. And she's like no, I've got it. And so I'm showing her this dog's butt and I've got my hands around it and I'm like so, and I, you know, kind of backed up and I reached down and I show drapesing over the tub and anal glands squirted all over my knee. Are you sure that wasn't me? Cause that happened like my first day when I started grooming. Yeah, this girl didn't come back.

Speaker 1:

She said I have to go change.

Speaker 3:

And it's awful, it's horrible, it is so awful it's the worst smell in the shop. Yeah, and I told her, and it just yeah, so I mean it just literally sprayed like you could have taken a ketchup bottle and just squirted it straight across. So it's horrible, it's terrible. I had the lady that I learned to groom from. I used to show in the show rings and worlds. She did Shelties, which is you know not what. I learned how to groom on those, but by the time I was done, I was hand scissoring this poodle and she was teaching me how to scissor it and it's going to be all pretty and she's very perfection. I mean, she came in and she would say, hey, look, you know, that's not good enough, or she just always would find something wrong, always, always, always. So she comes over to my very large standard poodle that I washed, dried, fluffed, and he looked, you know, I thought great, but I thought they all look great, you know. So, and she said, looked straight at me and said, just, you know, that's amazing, you did a great job. And I couldn't believe it. I mean I almost peed my pants. I was so excited. I was like, oh my gosh, you may have done it. You know I got it too and I was so.

Speaker 3:

I mean I worked for probably six hours on this dog, like it was a long time, uh, and it was hard. It was not easy for me. I had been grooming maybe a year, year and a half, not very far along into my career at all. And she looked at me and she's well, the owners will be here in about an hour. Um, so I'm going to need you to shave it all down into a seven. So I had to take all of my six hours of work and I just cried. I mean I had tears, I was like I would have rather have just cut off my toe. Oh, I mean it was awful.

Speaker 3:

And they picked up their shaved poodle that I spent six hours on. It took me 20 minutes to shave it, yeah, so it's new groomers really do struggle, um, they struggle with confidence. They struggle. They want approval. They want approval from everyone, every like shop owners, clients, and yeah, it's, and it's hard. It's hard to please all of the people and still maintain. You know yourself, burnout is a real thing. So keeping your yourself and your, your mental check is healthy. Physicality is a big part for a new groomer, I don't think that they realize the kind of muscles that you know really use.

Speaker 3:

Oh, yeah, I mean it's you've got, you know, your traps. It's a workout where, up and down, we stand up all day, we don't eat and drink properly. I mean you've got your traps. It's a workout. We're up and down, we stand up all day, we don't eat and drink properly, we get bit and peed on.

Speaker 1:

You eat hair.

Speaker 3:

We have to smile all day long. We have to keep our attitude, we have to stay calm, because the dogs need calm. This is a very difficult job. We really should be regulated. It's mentally challenging, yeah, we really should be regulated. It's mentally challenging, yeah, and it's.

Speaker 3:

And it's hard to find your community because it's not, again, it's unregulated, I can't say it enough. It's. It's once you've found your people and I like to say you know your level of crazy and and they're all over, right, I mean, we're not it's, we're a little off. I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, but you know we're fun and we have, we have a, a system that works for us and we all get along here and and we've all managed to to figure out how we all fit in and we have a community. So we have good and bad days, but it's hard to find that if you're just getting started and it's hard to find you know a book or a blog or you know something like how do I do this? There's just not really a lot of answers. So we've opened up, hopefully, what we hope to be a communicative, you know, a platform and a school where somebody can come in and really feel confident going out there and doing a good job. It's challenging, for sure, but we love it Well.

Speaker 2:

thank you so much for sharing that today with our listeners about the challenges that it takes to be a groomer. Now, tanya and Shannon, thanks for shining light on the reality behind the apron. Can't wait to be back for more grooming insights next time. We'll catch you both on the next episode.

Speaker 3:

Fantastic. We'll see you later. Have a great rest of the day.

Speaker 1:

That's a wrap for this episode of Tail Talk with Hound Therapy. Ready to book your pet's next groom daycare stay or grooming academy tour? Call us at 469-367-0009. That's 469-367-0009 to schedule an appointment, or visit us online at wwwhoundtherapycom. Serving North Texas with expert pet care. Until next time, keep those tails wagging.