10/17/2026
“You get to play with dogs all day.”
I love my work. After more than 40 years, dogs are still the reason I do it. But loving this profession doesn’t make its risks—or its responsibilities—disappear.
A dog doesn’t have to bite us to hurt us.
A sudden twist while we’re supporting a leg. A large dog throwing its weight against us. A senior whose legs give way.
Our wrists, shoulders, backs and knees absorb those moments. Sometimes it’s years of repetitive strain. Sometimes one movement causes a serious injury.
Add bites, scratches, lifting, slippery floors, noise and sharp tools beside an animal who doesn’t understand why staying still matters.
But some of the heaviest things we carry aren’t physical.
We’re constantly watching the dog in front of us. Their breathing, their balance, their behaviour, their comfort. Recognizing concerns and knowing when to change the plan—or stop—is part of professional grooming.
When we say a matted dog needs to be shaved, we aren’t being lazy. We’re being humane.
Brushing out a painfully tangled coat to preserve a particular look can ask far too much of a dog. Their comfort should never be the price of someone else’s preferred hairstyle.
When we say your dog isn’t well enough to groom, please listen.
I once had a client drop off a sick dog and tell the front staff it wasn’t feeling well. When I called her to explain that I wasn’t willing to groom the dog, she offered to sign a waiver so I wouldn’t be liable if the dog didn’t make it.
I paused.
Then I asked her: “What about me? How do you think I would feel if something happened?”
She admitted she had never thought about it that way.
That conversation has stayed with me.
A waiver wouldn’t take away the grief of losing a dog in my care. It wouldn’t erase that moment or make it something I could simply leave at work.
You don’t do this for more than 40 years without an extraordinary love for dogs. I would be devastated if something happened to one in my care. I feel very fortunate that it never has—knock on wood—and I take that responsibility seriously every day.
Groomers who care deeply will sometimes tell you something you don’t want to hear.
Your dog needs a shorter haircut.
Your dog needs a break.
Your dog needs to see a veterinarian.
Your dog has had enough for today.
Those decisions deserve respect. They come from putting the dog’s needs first, even when that means an uncomfortable conversation, an unfinished haircut or a lost appointment.
We can love our work and still need boundaries. We can be patient and still get injured. And we can make the right decision while carrying the emotional weight of it long after we go home.
Please be honest about your dog’s health, mobility and behaviour. Give us the information we need to care for them safely, and understand that our concern extends well beyond how they look.
Your dog’s wellbeing comes first.
Humanity before vanity. Always.
💛 K9 Designs by Tanice | Pawffice²
Calm hands, calm dogs.
