My advise would be to keep notes on all the dogs you groom. Not just the styles, but any problems the dogs might have given you in the past. Even if their good most of the time there might be something they just don't like having done too much. This way you remember how you handle each one & you will remember what technique worked or didn't work. It saves a lot of time. My other advise would be is that I cut the nails first & I try to do the grooming they don't like first if it's something I can do before the bath. Most of the dogs I groom don't like their nails cut, so I get it done & over with. I do try to stay with a routine, so each dog gets use to having their haircut in the same order, so they kind of know what I am going to do next. Here's a problem I have had with a yorkie. I just groomed a yorkie that shakes his head or trys to bite me when I try to brush or trim his head. He will not let me hold his head. Through trying different ways to groom him. I have found out that if I trim his face from him facing away from me he just sits there & lets me groom him. He just doesn't like his head held or facing me. I got him as my customer, by other groomers they brought him to couldn't groom him. He is better each time I do him. I do keep a very mellow attitude when I groom, so they are not afraid it helps to. I have a lot of dogs that fall asleep while I groom them because they know I am very gentle with them. I think they also like the sound of the scissors. lol I do talk to them too. I do keep mellow music on, it is very soothing to them, they don't like loud music it gets them sturred up. lol I hope this helps. |