08/06/2026
This explains everything i stand for perfectly 👏🏼
For a very long time the grooming industry has celebrated a groomer's ability to finish a groom from beginning to end, even better if the dog looks beautiful into the bargain.
And don't get me wrong, completing a groom is absolutely the goal of any groomer, including myself - but not at the expense of a positive emotional experience for the dog.
It's true that I've come to believe that completion isn't always the best measure of success.
👉 Sometimes a dog arrives feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or even unwell.
👉 Sometimes they have a history of difficult grooming and/or handling experiences.
👉 And sometimes, they're simply having a bad day.
In those moments when we are faced with a dog who is not in the right frame of mind for strenuous activities and physical harassment, success looks more like getting the essentials done with minimal stress.
A skilled groomer isn't someone who can force a dog through grooming tasks regardless of how the dog feels.
A skilled groomer (to me) is someone who can recognise, acknowledge and, RESPECT, when a dog is struggling then ADAPT their plan REGARDLESS of what a person might think.
It's about prioritising the dog's EMOTIONAL wellbeing and experience.
Every 👏 single 👏 time 👏!
Because every grooming appointment is teaching the dog something.
They're either learning:
✔️ I am safe
✔️ My communication is respected
✔️ Good things happen during grooming
OR, they are learning the exact opposite.
Some of my proudest appointments haven't resulted in a complete groom but instead resulted in a dog leaving more relaxed than when they arrived.
Sometimes success is stopping a task BEFORE trust is lost.
I believe we should be celebrating good communication more, improved welfare and the building of trust between groomer and dog - all of which are mandatory for long-lasting, positive grooming sessions.
Because the way a dog perceives grooming is more important than being able to style a dog to breed standard.
