Dog grooming: the essence of the procedure, necessity, types

Grooming is a word that is incomprehensible to our ears. And yet, it has become firmly established in the lives of those who have a four-legged pet at home. You may not visit specialized salons with your pet, but, without knowing it, carry out procedures at home, which are called by this term. That is, cutting, combing, drying hair after bathing - all this can be classified as grooming. From the article you will learn: what is the essence of grooming, its types, and the main stages. We will try to find out where it is better to carry out the procedures so that they have the greatest effect and what means to use.

What is grooming?

Initially, the term defined the animal’s self-care for itself. In the modern world, the word has received a different interpretation, since man took upon himself all the main concerns for those whom he managed to tame. Thus, grooming can be defined as a set of caring activities. Moreover, many people strongly associate the term exclusively with caring for a dog’s coat. This is wrong.

It includes two types of procedures:

• hygienic . This includes hair care, which consists of bathing, drying, combing, trimming and removing tangles. But at the same time, this also includes caring for the dog’s eyes, ears and teeth. Periodic hygiene is also part of grooming. Removing ticks that have already burrowed into the dog and treating wounds are a type of grooming;
• aesthetic . From the name it becomes clear that the procedures are aimed at improving the dog’s appearance - curly hair cutting, teeth whitening, tattooing, exhibition preparation.

Dog owners should remember that grooming is necessary for everyone.

But to what extent and in what form is up to the owner to decide.

Myth No. 6: To prevent your pet from biting and scratching, it is better to put him under anesthesia

Anesthesia is often recommended for cats. It is almost impossible to comb, remove tangles or brush a cat’s teeth without scratching. But it is important to remember that anesthesia is a risk, so your pet must first have an ultrasound of the heart.

The minimum that needs to be done before anesthesia is to listen to the heart. Practice shows that even after testing and excellent blood, heart, liver and kidney parameters, there is a risk of cardiac arrest from anesthesia. I recommend carefully checking the animal’s body to reduce risks as much as possible.

Anatoly Krivoy, veterinarian

Types of grooming

It would seem that everything is clear with care procedures. However, we can distinguish types of grooming:

• hygienic – all measures that are necessary to maintain the health of the animal;
• professional - this type is resorted to under certain circumstances: during preparation for an exhibition, creating an image for a photo shoot, etc. In this case, you cannot do without a professional; it is better if he works only with one or two breeds. Such specialists will be able to cut the dog’s hair, emphasizing its natural beauty and grace, and bleach the fur with special compounds without creating a danger to the pet’s health;
• creative _ Most often, such a specialist is approached by those who want to create a unique and fashionable image for their dog.

If everything is clear with the frequency of hygienic grooming - such procedures are carried out at least once a week, then with a haircut the issue is complex. It depends on the condition of the coat, its length and tendency to form tangles. In this matter, it is better to trust a specialist who can select special equipment that you can use at home between trips to the salon.

Enterprise registration

Any business requires state registration. Grooming salon is no exception. It is optimal to open. Tax regime – simplified tax system. To register you will need:

• application in form P21001;
• copy of civil passport;
• receipt of payment of state duty in the amount of 800 rubles.

When filling out the application, you must indicate OKVED code 93.05 “Provision of other personal services.” The list of activity codes can also include the provision of veterinary services.

If you plan to provide additional services (animal care, sale of related products, expansion), then it is better to open an LLC. The optimal type of taxation is UTII. It will cost entrepreneurs 25 thousand rubles. For each service you need to indicate a code. Veterinary services are provided only with the participation of a certified specialist.

Salon or home conditions?

Many owners think about this question, giving themselves many reasons for and against. If you decide to use the services of a professional groomer, then you don’t have to go or go to the salon. In the modern world, a specialist can come directly to your home to “beautify” your dog in a familiar environment. But even having a groomer come home has its downsides:

• Any dog ​​perceives its home as a territory that needs its protection. A stranger may cause a negative reaction;
• in a home environment it is difficult to create the same workplace that a master has in a salon. This includes washing the dog in a special bath, and a convenient table for grooming with fixation of certain positions;
• need for cleaning.

Of course, there remains the possibility of caring for the dog yourself. If a show career or a hair-to-hair look is not your dog's thing, you can cut it yourself. Well, regular grooming shouldn’t cause any problems at all. If cutting a haircut is difficult, visit the salon and watch how the hairdresser does it.

Salon grooming is distinguished by quality and convenience. In trusted places with an impeccable reputation, there are specialists who can persuade even the most intractable “client” to have their unloved nails trimmed. Of course, such professional services are not cheap.

Search for premises

The next step is to find a suitable premises. An office at a veterinary clinic or a separate room would be suitable. It is advisable to find a retail space in an elite area of ​​the city with parking. Most clients will arrive by car.

Each pet requires a minimum of 4 sq. m. There must be at least three workplaces. You will also need space for a bathtub, waiting area and shelving with cages. The total area of ​​the cabin is 30–50 square meters. m.

The room must be well ventilated due to the unpleasant smell of wet wool. Additionally, you will need cold and hot water, working sewerage. You need to take care of filters to trap fur.

There should be a shower in the room for the craftsmen. In such a job, they will have to adhere to the rules of personal hygiene.

The premises must comply with sanitary standards and fire safety requirements. Despite the lack of mandatory licensing, you will need to obtain permission from the SES and fire inspectorate.

What do you need to groom dogs at home?

Even if you regularly visit the salon, you need to know the main points about home grooming. You should not overpay for hygienic care; being able to perform manipulations is the responsibility of the dog owner.

Grooming Tools

At home you need to have:

• a comb with iron teeth, a slicker brush, a mitten with a silicone brush. The set of tools for combing depends on the pet's coat;
• scissors of different sizes with blunt tips so as not to injure the dog;
• high-quality sharp nail clipper, selected according to the diameter of the animal’s claws;
• device for cutting tangles. This type of tangle cutter is also useful in cases where the dog picks up a burdock;
• cotton pads, napkins and other material that will be on hand for treating eyes and ears;
• specialized sprays and lotions for hygiene;
• shampoo selected according to age, coat type and color. You can purchase dry shampoo or powder that allows you to clean your hair without water;
• toothpaste and brush, tartar remover.

Such a set of tools and tools should be at hand. After all, a dog can become dirty at any moment of the day or night.

Useful video

Below you can watch an interesting video about grooming:

Recently, dog breeders increasingly prefer to carry out all pet care activities on their own, without the involvement of outside specialists. Such a desire is dictated, as a rule, not by economic feasibility, but by the difficulty of choosing an experienced and professional groomer . In this case, it is advisable to take special courses, observe the work of a competent specialist, and also purchase the entire list of necessary tools and hygiene products.

Types of haircuts

There are a huge number of dog breeds in the world, and types of haircuts have been developed designed to highlight the beauty and hide the dog’s shortcomings.

Types of haircuts:

• trimming - even cutting of the coat over the dog's body;
• stripping _ For breeds with hard coats that hardly shed. The “old” fur is plucked by a groomer. Stripping is carried out for schnauzers, terriers, huskies, etc.;
• Rolling is a subtype of stripping. Feature: dying fur is removed not at once, but gradually. This type of haircut is carried out once every two weeks;
• top note . Everyone knows a hairstyle with an elastic band or a hairpin, performed in the form of a ponytail on the head. A striking example is the Yorkshire Terrier;
• thinning _ Creates smooth transitions between long and short hair. For example, this technique is used when preparing for a cocker spaniel exhibition.

Preparing for an exhibition will require the groomer to have knowledge, skills and tools. It is quite difficult to perform these types of haircuts at home.

Cabinet equipment

Initially you need to purchase:

1. Tables (according to the number of masters).
2. Bath for bathing animals.
3. Hair dryer for drying wool.

The minimum cost for equipment will be about 20,000 rubles. If you wish, you can make preliminary calculations of the cost of the equipment. For example, you can submit an application on the manufacturer’s website – 101polimer.ru. It is enough to indicate your name and phone number for feedback.

It is also worth considering the costs of purchasing furniture. The final cost depends on the entrepreneur’s requests.

Main stages of grooming

Care consists of several mandatory stages:

1. Carefully comb the animal's fur. Everything that gets in the way is removed: tangles, dirt, old hairs, etc.
2. A haircut. For a show dog, the type of haircut is selected according to the breed, styled according to the standard. For a pet with no prospects, any haircut can be performed.
3. Hygienic treatment of eyes, ears and teeth.
4. Nail trimming. Often this is the point that causes difficulties.
5. Cleaning the anal glands.
6. Water procedures. Washing the dog is done with special shampoos, without using human cosmetics.
7. Dry thoroughly. At home they use a towel and a hairdryer, and in the salon there is a compressor.

When to start grooming your pet

It is better to start grooming breeds with long hair, especially decorative ones, when they reach 3 months of age. If your dog develops tangles before this age, it’s worth starting even earlier. If the owner cannot cope with the task, it is better to contact the salon.

Painful combing of tangles at home can forever turn the dog away from such procedures.

It is better to start grooming and accustoming your puppy to it in a salon environment. If the owner does not have sufficient experience, cutting a baby's hair can result in injury, and cutting nails can result in blood poisoning.

Ways to promote a business

About 50% of pet owners search for salons through social media. Creating a group on VK, OK or Facebook is a prerequisite for growing your client base. You can also launch an online store.

Cooperation with veterinary clinics can be a mutually beneficial transaction. The veterinarian can be offered a reward for referring clients. You need to print out color brochures with photographs and distribute them to pet stores and hospitals.

Another way to find clients is by visiting animal shows. Here you can distribute promotional materials to potential clients.

What dogs need grooming?

There are categories of dogs that need grooming:

• pets participating in exhibitions;
• dogs of decorative breeds, whose owners strive to give them an attractive appearance;
• long-haired breeds whose hair is prone to matting and matting;
• Wire-haired breeds whose coat requires trimming to ensure the shedding process.

But the usual hygiene procedures included in the concept of grooming are needed by all dogs without exception.

Who doesn't need to be cut?

Dogs can be divided into two categories based on coat type:

• with undercoat – trimming and shaving;
• without undercoat - it’s better to just comb it out.

Dogs with a special type of coat - an undercoat with guard hairs - do not need to be trimmed. Moreover, cutting or shaving the fur can lead to negative consequences: the pet will lose the protection of the skin, the development of follicular arrest - a slowdown in hair growth, leading to baldness. These dogs include: husky, Samoyed, Sheltie, Chow Chow, Labrador retriever, German shepherd, Malamute, Spitz, Maltese and others.

FAQ

Those who are just planning to visit a grooming salon and have difficulties with their dog have a number of questions.

Is it possible to use anesthesia for grooming?

Yes, such a possibility exists. But performing the procedure under anesthesia will cause great harm to health: allergies, psychological problems, death. Therefore, experts advise using a sedative and a dog immobilization system. Suitable for large aggressive dogs.

Are there any special features of grooming a large dog?

Features are dictated by the size of the dog: a larger bath, more cosmetics, and more work from the groomer are needed. Of course, the cost of services for a canine giant will be higher.

What is the best towel to dry your dog?

The best option is microfiber. It very quickly absorbs water in large quantities, the structure allows you to wipe away dirt.

Is conditioner necessary for grooming?

Yes, hair treated with balm does not get dirty longer and dandruff is less likely to form. Relieves dryness and dermatitis.

Description and features

In addition to haircuts, dog grooming includes the following procedures:

• cleaning or rinsing the ears;
• trimming claws, sharpening them and covering them with protective and decorative means, if desired;
• washing the eyes with antiseptic agents;
• clearing the sinuses;
• washing with disinfectants and drying;
• preventive treatment against the possibility of infection by parasites, ampoules are usually used on the withers;
• cleansing the anal glands;
• detangling wool if necessary;
• teeth cleaning.

That is, the main feature and main difference of this procedure is that, once on the grooming table , the dog will receive a full range of care, in other words, grooming salons are similar to beauty salons and differ from a simple haircut procedure in the same way as a beauty salon from a hairdresser's .

In addition to the above procedures, which are always included in grooming, each salon also offers something else, for example, the use of dog grooming spray , which allows you to “maintain” the volume and shape of the animal’s “hairstyle” for a long time, by securing the roots of the guard hair in a certain position