by Daryl Conner
Considered one of my grooming clients is a veterinarian. She requested me, “So, what’s the take care of holistic pet grooming?” The phrase holistic has been relatively overused lately. It smacks of woo-woo new ageism and sensitive really feel good-ism. She appeared skeptical simply saying it. I replied, “It’s taking your entire pet into consideration after we groom it. From selecting the very best merchandise and offering a secure and cozy setting, to creating positive that the not solely the bodily but additionally the psychological and emotional wants of the animal are supported through the grooming course of.”
She tilted her head and checked out me quizzically. “Isn’t that type of a no brainer?” A good query! It must be apparent to groomers that the animals they’re working with live, sentient beings whose emotions must be considered when they’re present process the grooming course of.
Sadly, this isn’t all the time the case. In most conditions, it isn’t due to an absence of caring on the a part of the groomer; extra so an absence of schooling or understanding that choices can be found.
Right here is an instance. Yesterday we groomed a small blended breed which had bitten a number of individuals throughout earlier grooming makes an attempt. I used to be warned repeatedly by the proprietor to be sure you use a muzzle. I do preserve muzzles available, however hardly ever use them. When the canine got here in I might instantly see that he was very anxious. Any biting on his half was from worry, not outright aggression.
Taking this into consideration, our strategy was to maneuver slowly and gently, ignoring him when he thrashed about and acted as if we have been attempting to kill him, and praising him when he was nonetheless for a second to catch his breath. Inside only a few moments he caught on, and the occasions we might reward him grew to become increasingly more frequent. Though he was terribly matted, we have been in a position to groom him from bathtub to bandana in 70 minutes with out resorting to utilizing a muzzle.
When his delighted proprietor picked him up she requested how we had managed to get him fully groomed. We defined our methodology and she or he mentioned, “Oh, the opposite groomer tried to carry him actually tightly and he hated that. It made him worse.”
This instance exhibits that the earlier groomer knew one methodology of attempting to subdue canines that struggled for grooming. It I most likely how she was taught. Although the canine in query just isn’t very massive, he IS very sturdy, and decided. Making an attempt to muscle him ended badly for everybody involved. The groomer was bitten, the canine went dwelling unfinished, matted and upset from the method. The proprietor despaired of discovering one other answer, and waited so lengthy to strive once more that the canines coat was a matted mess by the point we received to him.
Working to calm his fears and de-escalate his habits value us nothing, and gained us a brand new buyer. It isn’t that we’re any extra expert than the earlier groomers, however that we labored with the canine’s persona to realize a profitable final result. Ultimately, it’s essential to keep in mind that working holistically isn’t simply concerning the pet, it’s taking every little thing into consideration; the animal, the consumer and the groomer. Nobody factor trumps one thing else. Each facet is essential, and selections are primarily based on what’s greatest for all three.
“Integrative grooming,” could be a greater and extra descriptive time period to explain this methodology. This implies to convey components collectively to create a complete. It generally means pondering in numerous and inventive methods to beat a problem.
Right here is one other instance. As knowledgeable groomer, I’ve labored virtually each Saturday of the final 32 years. To be trustworthy, I’m uninterested in it. I’d wish to have Saturdays off to spend with my husband. Final yr I took a very good laborious have a look at my buyer checklist. There are solely a handful of shoppers which completely will need to have Saturday appointments. All of them want grooming about each 6 weeks. With a bit juggling, I might get all of them on the identical rotation.
Now I work one Saturday each six weeks. It really works for my clients, the pets and me. I’m a lot happier with this schedule, and my happiness makes me a greater groomer.
Placing all of the woo-woo and touchy-feely stuff apart, grooming holistically merely means contemplating the well-being of the pet, the proprietor and even the groomer. Integrative grooming is greater than giving a very good haircut, it’s pondering of the canine or cat as a posh, delicate, residing creature and treating it with the respect and kindness that can help its psychological, psychological and bodily well-being.
A very good groom is predicted from all of us, however an amazing groom leaves the pet feeling nearly as good because it appears, the proprietor feeling happy, and the groomer completely happy to work one other day.
