Prim & Pawper Grooming

10/15/2026

Big news coming soon👀

And if you know,
Don’t spoil it for others🤫

10/15/2026

So, what exactly is Iv San Bernard?

Founded in Italy in 1995, Iv San Bernard is an internationally recognized professional pet cosmetic brand that has brought principles of human cosmetology into the world of animal grooming.

Unlike the traditional approach of choosing a shampoo simply because it smells good or leaves the coat soft, Iv San Bernard emphasizes understanding the individual needs of each animal’s skin and coat.

Their philosophy is centered around the relationship between hygiene, health, and beauty.

The brand offers an extensive range of professional shampoos, conditioners, masks, mineral-based products, and specialized coat-care treatments designed for different coat textures, maintenance needs, and skin concerns.

Iv San Bernard was also the first European pet cosmetic brand to receive Safe Pet Cosmetics certification, reflecting its commitment to cosmetic quality and safety standards.

But what really makes their approach fascinating to me is the science behind it.

🔬 What did we spend three days learning?

We took a much deeper look at topics that go far beyond everyday bathing and grooming, including:

- Understanding the anatomy and physiology of the skin and coat.

-The importance of the skin barrier and how it helps protect the body.

-How the hair growth cycle works and why different coat types require different approaches.

-How cosmetic ingredients interact with the skin and hair.

-Recognizing common skin and coat abnormalities and understanding when veterinary involvement is necessary.

-Learning how proper bathing, conditioning, hydration, and product selection can support the skin and coat.

-Exploring individualized cosmetic protocols rather than treating every dog with the same products and techniques.

- Hands-on applications and learning how to incorporate this knowledge into our everyday grooming routines.

One of my biggest takeaways? Healthy skin is the foundation of a healthy coat.

We often focus so heavily on the hair we can see that it’s easy to overlook the skin underneath it.

Dryness, excess oil, flaking, odor, irritation, and changes in coat quality can all tell us something important. While groomers are not veterinarians and cannot diagnose or medically treat skin diseases, having a deeper understanding of skin and coat science allows us to make better cosmetic decisions, recognize concerns, and work alongside veterinary professionals when needed.

What does this mean for Prim & Pawper?

It means continuing to raise the standard of care we provide.

I’ve always had a special interest in skin and coat health, and this education has only strengthened my passion for incorporating more individualized, science-informed grooming practices into our services.

My goal is to offer more than just a pretty haircut. I want to be able to explain why I’m choosing a particular product, how it may benefit your dog’s coat, and what we can do to help maintain healthy skin and hair between appointments.

Every dog is different. Their skin, coat, age, environment, and individual needs deserve to be considered rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

And while I am incredibly proud of the experience I’ve gained throughout my career, I will never believe that 10 years of grooming means I have nothing left to learn.

Education doesn’t stop when you become experienced. That’s when you realize just how much more there is to know.

A huge thank-you to Dr. Cliff Faver, Suzanna Marchetti, Tish Thorpe, and the Iv San Bernard team for sharing their knowledge and passion for elevating the grooming industry.

I’m so excited to bring what I’ve learned back to Prim & Pawper and continue building a grooming experience focused on education, quality, comfort, and the overall well-being of the dogs entrusted to my care.

10/13/2026

10/13/2026

✨ Meet Miss October, Roxy! ✨

Sweet Miss Roxy has a story very similar to our Miss September, Marcy. Roxy’s mom recently lost her beloved husband as well. A loss that words could never begin to describe.

During a conversation, Roxy’s mom said something that has stuck with me: “It’s the hardest thing, not waking up to him every morning.”

And goodness, there wasn’t a dry eye nearby.

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. Hold your loved ones close. Say “I love you” a little more often. Give your pets that extra playtime. Life is far too short, and tomorrow is never promised.

While a complimentary groom could never take away the heartache of losing someone you love, I hope this small act of kindness brings a little light to an otherwise difficult season of life.

Our Pup of the Month program has never been about just a free groom. It’s about giving back to the people and pets who make our this all possible.

Roxy, we’re so happy to have you as our Miss October. And to Roxy’s mom, we’re sending you so much love.

With love,
Prim & Pawper Grooming

10/12/2026

It’s almost time to pick this months pup of the month! There’s still time to enter, feel free to nominate a loved one as well!

💕 Introducing: Pup of the Month! 💕

Over the past few years, I’ve been incredibly blessed by the support this community has shown my small business. Lately, I’ve been thinking about more ways I can give back.

Many of you know I already donate my time where I can. But I thought this might be a fun new way to give back. You all got me to where I am. I want to return the favor🫶🏻

Each month, I’ll be selecting one local dog to receive a completely FREE grooming makeover! 🐶✨

This isn’t about who “deserves” it the most—because everyone has a story. It’s simply about spreading a little kindness, one dog at a time. I can’t take full credit for the idea, Miss Bridgit ( you’ve more than likely seen her creative grooms) gave us the idea🫶🏻

Whether it’s a matted makeover, a creative grooming transformation, or simply a bath and tidy-up for someone who could use a helping hand, I’m excited to give back in a meaningful way. 🎨🛁

To enter:
🐾 Tell me about you and your dog in the comments.

🐾 Share your story. Maybe you’ve been through a difficult season, you’re caring for a loved one, finances have been tight, or your dog has been your greatest source of comfort. Or perhaps you’d like to nominate someone else who could use a little extra kindness.

🐾 If you’re nominating someone, tell me why you think they should be chosen.

At the end of each month, I’ll read every story and choose one that speaks to my heart.

Please remember to be kind and respectful in the comments. Everyone’s journey is different, and my hope is that this becomes a place filled with compassion, encouragement, and positivity.

I can’t wait to read your stories and hopefully make a difference—one groom at a time. ❤️✨

📍 Prim & Pawper Grooming
Hartsville, South Carolina

If this post makes it to someone that doesn’t know me, Let me introduce myself. My name is Rachel. I own Prim & Pawper Grooming. I’ve been a professional Groomer for over 10 years. I am a Dual Certified Pet Esthetician. I am also Pet CPR and First Aid Certified, Geriatric Handling Certified, AKC Safe Groomer Certified, among many other continued education training.

10/12/2026

What an eventful and knowledge-filled weekend!

I had the incredible opportunity to spend three days learning alongside Dr. Cliff Faver, Suzanna Marchetti and Tish Thorpe with other like minded groomers at IV San Bernard’s three-day workshop and examination!

We spent the weekend diving deep into the science behind skin and coat health, expanding our knowledge and putting that knowledge to the test.

One thing I will always believe is that education never ends in this industry. There is always more to learn, more to understand, and more we can do to improve the quality of care we provide.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to continue growing as a professional and bring that knowledge back to the salon and my girls. This has been years in the making.

Iv San Bernard USA

For anyone that has called or messaged while I’ve been out I’ll be working on returning all calls and messages within the next day🫶🏻

10/11/2026

Where am I 👀

10/06/2026

We’re looking for vendors to join us for our Pet Pictures with Santa Fundraiser! 🎄🐾

Come set up, share your business, and enjoy a fun afternoon supporting a great cause. 100% of photo proceeds will benefit the Darlington County Humane Society.

Interested in being a vendor? Send us a message!

10/05/2026

We had a very productive learning day with the girls today!

We took the time to really slow things down and break down canine anatomy, discussing each area of the body and the proper way to safely and effectively groom around more sensitive areas.

Grooming is so much more than simply knowing how to give a cute haircut. Understanding what’s underneath the coat, body structure, skin, joints, pressure points and sensitive areas is incredibly important when it comes to keeping the dogs in our care comfortable and safe.

We also focused on proper handling, positioning and technique, and talked about why we do things a certain way rather than simply teaching the steps of a groom.

Days like today are such an important part of education. Speed and beautiful finishes come with time and practice, but safety, understanding and compassion always come first.

10/05/2026

🐾 A Glimpse Into Behavior 🐾

This post touches on a little bit of what we cover in our owner-education topics, but it’s something I’d really like to talk about more.

We hear some version of this almost daily:

“It’ll be their first groom. They’re 8+ months old, but they haven’t needed to be groomed until now.”

Well… actually, they did.

One of the biggest misconceptions we face as grooming professionals is that we have some sort of magic trick that makes a dog stand perfectly still and accept a beautiful, full groom, even when they’ve never stepped foot inside a grooming salon before.

As much as we love them and often give them very human emotions, dogs are still animals. They aren’t born understanding that they need to stand quietly on a grooming table, ignore the sound and vibration of clippers, allow someone to handle their feet and face, or patiently cooperate while we work on them for an hour or more.

Those behaviors can absolutely be taught, but they have to be learned.

A dog’s first introduction to grooming shouldn’t ideally happen when they suddenly need a full haircut, nail trim, bath, blow dry, brushing, clipping, sc******ng and handling all at once. That can be incredibly overwhelming for a dog who has never experienced any of it before.

That’s why I’ll always preach the importance of puppy introductions.

Those early visits aren’t necessarily about achieving the perfection. They’re about building confidence. Learning the sounds. Feeling the equipment. Practicing standing on the table. Having their feet, face and body handled. Learning that grooming is safe and predictable.

Then, when the time comes for that first big haircut, we aren’t starting from zero.

We’re building on a foundation they already understand.