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1.  Tell me about your Pet and House Sitting Services.

I am currently accepting pet sitting and house sitting jobs.  I can walk and feed your pets in the morning and evening, in addition to other chores that need to be done at your home.  Of course as always, if you would like your pets to be groomed when you come back I can do this too.

2.  What makes your service different from other grooming services?

There are three significant issues as follows:

I.  In most traditional grooming shops the task of grooming a dog is shared by as many as three people, someone who rough/trims the dog, someone who bathes the dog and someone who finishes the grooming.  In such a process, the dog does not get to know the groomers well and can become very nervous regarding the rushed assembly line process.  Some dogs do okay in this process but many do not.  In addition, it is important to remember that in a traditional grooming shop the groomer typically gets 50%, the bather gets near a minimum wage, and the owner gets the remainder for overhead and profit.  Since I work alone and receive all of the income, I do not need to rush and do as many dogs per day to make a decent living.  This means I can take my time and give your dog the attention that it deserves.  A rushed grooming job simply will not accomplish these goals.  I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for your dog to bond with me.     I want your dog to like me.  (Of course, I am realistic and realize that a dog will always be happier at his owner's side.)  I like to put myself in the dog's place - How would I like to be treated and groomed if I was a dog?  That is my goal, plain and simple.

II.    The dog grooming industry in Texas is not regulated per see.   In this regard, the old Latin adage Caveat Emptor (“let the buyer beware”), significantly applies.  In addition many groomers are not certified by a recognized certifying entity.   There are several certifying associations for groomers in the USA which have varying requirements some include both written and demonstration of grooming expertise to a panel of judges.  Some grooming facilities will have in house training that can vary in quality because they are not subjecting themselves to a standard that is provided by an external certifying agency.  It is noteworthy that any person any age can, even with little or no experiences represent themselves to be a groomer.   Also, in most grooming shops your dog will be under the care of a minimally trained low wage person with no or minimal direct supervision.   Many times these employees bath, rough trimming, clip nails, etc. and provide most of your dogs  grooming experience with the trained groomer usually just finishing the dog to be presentable.  

III.   In regards to quality of grooming, many shops will leave out several key components of the grooming process or charge you extra for these services. I include everything that is necessary to assure your dog is groomed properly.  This includes: using the appropriate shampoo and cream rinse according to the dog's skin and hair type, cleaning the ears as necessary including removal of the hair if appropriate for the breed, trimming fur from the bottom of the feet if appropriate for the breed, expressing the anal glands if requested, filing the nails since this is a better method than clipping the nails, and of course, trimming the dog if appropriate for the breed.  In addition, since I am a licensed public health inspector (i.e.,  Registered Sanitarian),  I adhere to Texas State Board of Barber Examiners disinfection methods required for human hair.  Although this is very important to reduce the possibility of skin disorders and disease transmission it is not commonly practiced in the dog grooming industry.

3.  Why do you file the nails rather than clip them?

When clipping nails, a groomer must guess how close to clip the nail and is either right or wrong.  I have seen veterinarians and groomers with many years of experience frequently cut nails too short because it is simply not possible to look at the external nail and guess where the quick is.  If wrong, the dog experiences some pain and consequently will become shy about having his nails done and will grow to dislike the grooming process.  When nails are filed gradually, the groomer can see the anatomical structure of the nail and does not proceed beyond an appropriate point.  It is by far a superior method of doing nails.   In addition, instead of a sharp right angle cut, when nails are filed they are rounded at the end and much smoother.  It does take longer, but it is so important that none of the grooming processes are uncomfortable to the dog that it is well worth the time spent.  If a groomer takes his/her time, particularly during the first several groomings, the dog calms down and subsequent groomings are much easier.

4.  Can a dog that is shy about having its nails cut be retrained to accept having its nails done?

Yes, but it is important to file the nails.  The only reason a dog does not like to have its nails clipped is because the clipping process has hurt him in the past.  Before proceeding with filing, the dog needs to be retrained to just let the groomer hold its feet.  After the dog accepts this, then the file can slowly be introduced and used.  Remember, the dog does not have any negative associations with the file, only the nail clipper.

5. I want to get my dog groomed, but she is so afraid of noises such as the trimmer and/or the dryer, and I am worried that she will not do well.  What can you do to comfort my dog?

This is a very good question and thankfully it is quite easily solved.  First, understand that sudden noises in general are frightening to all of us.  Thankfully, our dogs (and humans for that matter) can learn to be unafraid with proper training.  I believe the most extreme example of this is in horses.  A horse can be taught to accept a rider on his back that shoots a gun.  Now if a horse can learn this, I assure you that your dog can learn to accept the noise from a trimmer or a blow dryer.  The trick is not to turn one of these devices on directly in front of the dog's face, because that is sure to scare her.  Instead, turn the clipper or dryer on in an adjacent room, and leave it on for a while, then bring it a little closer, and a little closer, taking your time being sure that the dog is not frightened.  With a little patience on our part as humans, taking one's time and going at the dog's pace,  and with a  loving voice and other positive reinforcement, we can retrained the dog.

6.    My dog needs clipping periodically but usually just a bath, nail, teeth brushed etc. can you do this?

Yes, and the fee will be adjust accordingly.  In fact this is very good practice and when done properly may result in a reduction of price in the long term.

7.  My dog needs clipping and the other services you do periodically but I would like to bath and maintain him/her between your grooming; can you help me with this?

If you need a more limited service because you wish to do some of the needed elements of the grooming process yourself, I can accommodate you and reduce my charge accordingly.  The only thing I ask is to have them done prior to me working on your dog.  Why do I wish for these things to be done prior to my service?   When I get done grooming a dog, I want him/her to be in excellent shape so that if anyone sees the dog, it will look good, and be a walking advertisement for my grooming service. But more importantly, I want to assure that your dog is in the kind of shape she/he deserves.  In this regard, you might attend my dog grooming course through the University of Texas Informal Classes.  I suggest this because if you are doing any of the grooming methods improperly resulting in discomfort to the dog, the dog will begin to resist being groomed,  as a result I will be needing to take time to retrain the dog which could result in a higher grooming fee.

8.   Okay great you seem to provide the type of service that I want for my dog but how much do you charge?

Pricing for grooming depends on a number of variables.  Such as condition of your dog, size of your dog, when last groomed and/or brushing, hair type, how long is the hair, behavior, etc.  A small percentage of dogs may need to be retrained to be more at ease with grooming and because of the dogs general condition, a slightly higher fee may be necessary for a grooming(s).  This is necessary with some dogs as they have learned because of improper grooming practices to be frightened and some times will have developed various defensive behaviors such as shaking, retreating, biting, etc. and until these dog learn that nothing in the grooming process is now discomforting and he/she settles down and becomes a good grooming subject, an additional retraining fee may need to be assessed.  I work hard to teach your dog to be still and stand, sit or lie down and to be relaxed.  I just love it when a dog is so at ease that she/he dozes off on the grooming table.  In all cases, these issues and possible additional costs will be discussed with you.  Again, it needs to be emphasized that with most dogs, although the first grooming or two, generally takes longer than subsequent groomings, no additional charge is usually incurred, unless your dog has very significant behavior or coat condition problems.  Because there are many variables in order to give you a close estimate I would need to talk to you about your dog and your specific grooming needs.  Since I am both providing you with a mobile service and quality grooming the pricing is higher that the average in shop grooming.     Of course this cost is significant but I have many clients who have tried my services and affirm they will not go back to standard grooming shops.   If you are interested in a professional-quality grooming service I would love to meet you and your dog.  I bet your dog will thank you!

9.  Do you accept tips?

I do accept tips and am so thankful that many of my customers over the years have been so gracious and rewarded me in this manner and with gifts on special occasions.  My family and I,  particularly my daughter who helps me routinely in many ways, are very appreciative and feel blessed with these kindly gestures of appreciation.

References are available upon request. Phone 512-680-4952