Why We Recommend Certain Cuts (And Say No to Others)

Your dog’s haircut is not just a style choice, it’s a comfort, safety, and maintenance decision that has to work in real life. We sit down with Shannon and Tanya, professional groomers at Hound Therapy in North Texas, to explain why groomers recommend certain cuts and why some requests get an immediate “no.” If you have ever wondered why the cutest internet look doesn’t translate to your dog, this conversation clears it up with practical examples and zero judgment.

We talk about the hidden variables that decide a great grooming result: coat texture, curl pattern, density, age, skin quirks, and how a style will grow out over the next few weeks. We also get specific about the questions we ask at check-in, like how long it has been since the last groom, how often you want to come in, and whether you are prepping for family photos or planning lake trips. That schedule and lifestyle context helps us match you with a haircut that still looks good two, three, and four weeks later, not just on pickup day.

You will also hear how we bridge the communication gap when an owner can’t describe the look they want. From showing similar dogs in the salon to using real before-and-after photos, we share simple ways to set expectations and avoid surprises. If you have a doodle, Maltipoo, or a mixed breed with a coat that “does its own thing,” you’ll walk away with dog grooming tips you can use right away, plus a clearer sense of what your groomer is protecting when they steer you toward a different plan.

If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a fellow pet parent, and leave a review so more owners can find safer, smarter grooming advice.

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

Transcript

Welcome And What We Cover

0:03

Welcome to Tale Talk Grooming Chronicles with Health Therapy, the podcast where we talk all things pet grooming, daycare, academy, and more. Hosted by Shannon and Tanya of House 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 fight. Let's get started.

Why Some Cuts Get Rejected

0:40

Ever wondered why your groomers suggest one cut over another? Or why some requests are a no from the start? Today, we're breaking down the real reasons behind professional recommendations and how they protect both the dog and the groomer. Welcome back, everyone. I'm Sophia Yvette, co-host and producer back in the studio with Shannon and Tanya, professional groomers at Hound Therapy. Hi, ladies. So lovely to be back with you both today. How's your day been going? Oh, it's great. Today's a good day. Awesome, awesome. Well, let's go ahead and open up this one for discussion. Why do you recommend certain cuts and say no to others? Shannon, I'll give you the floor. So let's start with sometimes uh the cutest haircut that you have in your head or that you see on the internet, it's the absolute worst choice for your dog in real life. So we know that. And trust us, we're not trying to ruin your Pinterest dreams for your dogs. Yeah. We're really just trying to give you our very best information based on something that we do every day, all the time. Um, so again, whatever you're seeing in your head, we have seen it in real life on your dog's coat, what it's gonna look like. I I it's almost like we can, I for sure can kind of just look at your dog and envision what it's going to look like groomed. It's hard to describe that uh always verbally or in your own words, what it is that you're looking for. And a picture sometimes is I I can see what you're looking for, but it doesn't necessarily mean that we're going to be able to do that based on the way that your dog's coat stands up, its curliness, its age, moles. Uh there's, you know, there there's 10,000 reasons why we can give you that it can't. Um, that alone doesn't just mean that we're gonna say no right away. I'll I'll say, well, I can do that, but and and the groomers look at the longevity of the haircut as well. Um, so we can kind of envision what it's gonna look like in two, three, four weeks before your next groom and how is this gonna grow out? Um, because a lot of times you're looking at this cute little picture and you don't realize what it's gonna look like in two weeks. Or you don't want to come in every two weeks. You know, it's it's so

Grow-Out Timeline And Lifestyle Fit

3:05

I I can give you kind of an example of things that we ask when you come in for a new client. Um, somebody came in today and she's got a cute little doodle and she's like, I want it just, you know, short all over. Uh it's got really long ears. I'm visually looking and inspecting on this, you know, the at the dog when it comes in. And um, you know, I I said, How long has it been since your last groom? Two months. That tells me that she comes every two months. And I asked her, is that normal for you? She said, Yes, it is. I said, Do you want me to eat leave the ears long? No, I want them shaved. Well, shaved or to the leather because it looks like they're very long. So did were they too long with your last groom? She said, Yes. So these are all of the things that we're looking at. She didn't know to just come out and say that. She just knows that this is the cut that she wants, but it wasn't at all what she was asking for. And I know that we go over this a lot, but it's it happens every day. Um, we are we're worried here that your coat is also going to reflect the season that you're in, right? Are you gonna be putting coats on or are you gonna be going to the lake? Um, so we, you know, we wanna have an instant gratification uh for you that's cute. Are you going in for family photos? Because in that case, hey, look, we're gonna we're gonna give you an unrealistic look for your photos and then come in and do something realistic, please. Yeah. Are your photos tomorrow or are they in six weeks or in two weeks? Because we've got to give you a cut that's gonna look um uh very similar to your own hair, right? You know, you're not gonna go have it styled and then uh do photos next week. So uh these are all things that that really matter.

Coat Type And Coat Health Reality

4:48

Now, how does coat health or coat type influence what is realistic or safe? So coat, coat type and health is how often do you brush your dog? Do you have curly coated hair? Do you have a wire-coated hair? These are all real good questions to ask yourself or looking at your dog. And if you're not sure, uh pick the breed that best your your your dog best resembles and kind of go with that when you're when you're referring to them over the phone so that we have kind of a a visual of what that's gonna look like. Uh I've had people come in here and say, I have a husky um mix, and they come in here, it turns out it was mixed with um like a schnauzer and it looks like a schnauzer. So uh if you're trying or if you have like a multi-poo, um, because I've seen that go both ways. So your dog will either have more maltese hair, which is more fine and straight, or more poodle hair, which is more dense and curly. Um, so what you what haircut you would want vastly depends on your dog's coat type. Yeah, we're not trying to say that, you know, your DNA tests were wrong on your dogs. We understand that, you know, your dog has husky in it, but if it looks like a terrier and it feels like a terrier, that's that's cheaper for you. So we're trying to help you. We're not saying, hey, look, we can't give you that groom because your dog doesn't look like that. I know, you know, that it says that. I know that your your multi-poo um says it's a multi-poo, it has Maltese in it, but it straight up looks like a cocker spaniel. So we're gonna have to give you a cocker spaniel haircut. And this is what's involved in that. So a lot of that, it's it's you know, what what you have in your heart and what you're hearing and what you're seeing and what you know about your dog isn't necessarily what um is true uh for us being able to do a haircut on what their coat, hair, and length and type looks like. Yep. Wow. Now, another question for you both. How do you help owners understand the difference between aesthetic preference and what is best for their dog?

Showing Proof With Real Dogs

6:56

So for us, um, it's just it's real life communication. Um, thankfully for us, uh, we do a lot of dogs in here that are a lot of different, you know, uh coat styles and they're almost always here, or I'll have photos of dogs that are coming in or, you know, we're in last week that are fresh off my mind and on my phone. Um and I can find them a dog that typically looks like them or sort of. Something resembles the coat. Yeah, or that they're asking, I'll say, come, come walk around here and let me show you this dog because your dog and this dog are going to look similar in length and in coat. So if this is a texture and a feel that you like, then I I can give you that. And uh they don't need to know, you know, what blade or what guard or how I'm gonna achieve that. They just need to know that, and I need to know that this look and feel is what they're what I what they're saying is what I'm hearing. And they're looking at a dog that's on the table right now. Uh, and that that definitely helps to clarify it. Um, if they want something that's unrealistic, usually I have that here too. So I can show them a dog that's before it started uh and say, do you see this? Like, you know, go ahead and take a brush and let me show you what we're gonna have to do to get this out uh on their dog, and then how often this dog, when it was here last and when it wasn't. So I can show them real life um examples, right? This dog has not been in here in six months. This dog comes every two weeks. This dog was in here, you know, six weeks ago, and this is what we've accomplished then from now. And then I have pictures of before and afters of the dog so they can see in real life. Uh, if it's your dog that's been in before and it's just been a while, um, and this happened the other day. I showed a you know lady her picture. She said, That's not my dog. I said, It 100% is your dog. It's time stamped, it's on your profile. It is your dog. Yes. Um, you just forgot, you know, you forgot what your dog looked like. And if it's been a while, you tend to, you know, dream up in your mind what this cute little grown-out dog looks like, but it's not a realistic view. So I set realistic expectations for you when you're in here. Um, and and for us, that's what works best. Yes. Wow. That's some fantastic information you've shared with all of us today. Thank you both for breaking this down. These insights really help pet parents to understand the why behind your professional recommendations and the heart for what you do. We'll see everyone next time. That's

Wrap-Up And How To Book

9:31

a wrap for this episode of Tale 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 www.houndtherapy.com, serving North Texas with expert pet care. Until next time, keep those tails whacked.