Dog Grooming Schools

Is it a big deal to give your ‘clients’ a little bit of valium during a grooming?  It’s true that a lot of dogs have a hard time settling down and relaxing while they are being clipped and groomed, and if the owner is ok with it, sometimes a little bit of help is just what the doctor ordered.  Make your clients aware of the potential risks, though, and check to be sure that the pet hasn’t had any prior reactiosn to any similar drugs.  I’d love to hear what comments people have ont his one!

Looking into starting your own grooming business rather than working for someone else?  This takes space, and although a lot of people want to work right out of their home, this is not everyone’s cup of tea.  There are many reasons for this including fleas, fur (and any allergies other household members might have!) and quite simply, the smell of wet dog.    Buying your own portable metal building of 10×12 or so, insulating it and putting in wiring can cost around $5000.  Another option is just buying a little pre-fab trailer for about the same cost but without as much of the work and putting it on a piece of your property.  Then you have your own little business space without having too invest too much time or money, and without having to go through the trouble of finding and renting building space.

Critter Country has been selected for the 2008 Best of Omaha Award in the Dog Grooming School category and Pet Sitting Services category by the U.S. Local Business Association.  Congratulations!  It’s always so good for a business to be recongized this way.

Nearly a dozen of the dogs removed from a suspected Gold Bar puppy mill got a much needed bath and haircut Tuesday. It’s probably the first time in the animals’ lives they received such special treatment, officials said.  Grooming was donated by a local dog grooming school, as dealing with the half wild and neglected pups was good exercise for the students.  The school was also glad to offer up their services to help the dogs find good homes!

I have a customer who moved to Evanston, WY. She just called me that her mini poodle is matted from all the snow and the shop she called told her she had to comb all the mats out before they could work on it. She simply wants it trimmed with a 7 or 5 all over for the winter. Anyone out there who is close and would like a new customer?  I thought maybe if someone even knew of a good school where she could get a cheap trim for it.   Leave me a comment?

With miniature horses greeting visitors as they entered the Conexus Arts Centre, it was obvious a different breed of trade show was being held on Sunday.  Tables were set up for all kinds of pets and pet owners, including several different dog (and cat!) grooming schools.  There was truly something for everyone!  I’ll definitely be back again next year, and am considering getting my own table set up.

Humans who love body piercing have taken their love of barbells and rings to their pets. But would these same people allow others to modify their bodies without giving consent?  A local grooming schools published a statement in the paper recently stating that pet peircing IS animal cruelty, after seeing more than one pooch come through with bars and hoops through their ears.  “It’s obvious that these peircings are purely ornamental, and we’ve seen more than one peircing lead to infection, which can cause a slew of other health problems.  It’s painful for the animal, and unnecessary, and so we consider it animal cruelty and pet owner’s shouldn’t be allowed to do it.”  I agree!

The bags for our Survivor Kits just came in also!