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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% of the cost, the bather gets near a minimum wage, and the owner gets the remainder for overhead and profit. Since I usually 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 se. In this regard, the old Latin saying "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. Other 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 at any age, even with little or no experience, can represent himself to be a groomer. Also, in most grooming shops your dog will be under the care of a minimally trained person with little or no direct supervision. Many times these employees bathe, rough-trim, clip nails, etc. and provide most of your dog's grooming experience while the trained groomer usually just finishes 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 the 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 or her time, particularly during the first several grooming's, the dog calms down and subsequent grooming's are much easier.
4. My dog sheds a whole lot. Can you help me please?
Thankfully this problem can be tackled to such a degree, that shedding is reduced in almost all cases so that it is no longer a problem. There are several things at play here. The breed of your dog, density of the coat, the frequency of grooming, and the grooming methods used. Many dog owners now-a-days have heard of a method or two to reduce shedding. The most common commercial method uses a type of comb, and from what I have seen, usually is insufficient to adequately control shedding. To control shedding, much more intensive grooming methods need to be employed than what is commonly done in most grooming establishments. In fact, I can tell you that with routine commercial grooming, very little is done to control this problem, as most grooming's simply consist of a bath and surface brushing of the hair. When a shed control method is used, it is usually just the addition of a certain type of comb, and although somewhat helpful, is still insufficient for adequate shed control. My method uses a number of control techniques, which when used in combination, result in satisfactory management of this problem. As I say, a number of methods need to be employed by the groomer and the time involved is significantly greater; however the results as attested by many of my clients are amazing.
5. I want to get my dog groomed, but he or she is so afraid of noises such as the trimmer and/or the dryer, and I am worried that my dog 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 to be 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 retrain the dog.
6. Can a dog that is shy about having its nails cut be retrained to accept it?
Yes, but it is important to file the nails. One of the reasons a dog does not like to have its nails clipped is because the clipping process has hurt him in the past. Another reason that dogs learn to dislike nail trimming is because some owners and veterinarians have used significant restraining procedures to accomplish the task. If a dog is forced by restraint they will naturally fight the procedure and become even more upset making the situation more and more difficult each time. Most dogs can learn to be still and accept grooming procedures but the situation needs to be presented to them in a gradual non-threatening manner. 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.
7. Okay great, you say you can retrain a dog to accept grooming but my dog has numerous grooming fears and in general is just so nervous that I cannot see how you will accomplish this.
Well, sorry to say, but dogs are just like humans in many ways. That is, because of past negative experiences we and some dogs develop patterns of behaviors that are very difficult to change. A few percentage of these dogs are so nervous and afraid that to retrain them will slow a good groomer to such an extent that it becomes cost prohibitive to retrain them in a proper manner. I estimate about 5 to 8 percent of the dogs I deal with need to be and are tranquilized. If you will discuss your dogs behavior patterns with me we can usually decide if using tranquilizers will be more cost effective. Now let me explain. I do not use tranquilizers unless an owner wants to and he/she gets them from a veterinarian. With these dogs, usually a half a dose is all that is necessary and it just calms the dog down enough so that they are much more at ease. A dog on a half dose of tranquilizer can still learn and many of these dogs after a few properly done grooming's will end up not needing to be tranquilized. A few percentage of these very fearful dogs need to stay on tranquilizers when they are groomed as their personality is affected so much by their past negative experiences that they will never relearn to be at ease. Thankfully it is only a small number of dogs that are frightened in this way. I have had most luck with a drug called acepromazine. It has been used for many years. A few older dogs cannot take this drug, but your veterinarian will determine this, and do keep in mind that usually only half a dose is needed, making it considerably safer. During my years working with veterinarians and grooming, I have never seen a serious reaction to this drug and I have seen many hundreds of dogs tranquilized. It is necessary that you give the dose about an hour and a half before the grooming and it is best to keep the dog quiet and in a dark room before hand and they will usually be very calm and at ease.
8. My dog needs trimming periodically but usually just a bath, nails, and a tooth brushing. Can you do this?
Yes, and the fee will be adjusted accordingly. In fact, this is very good practice and when done properly, may result in a reduction of price in the long term.
9. My dog needs trimming and the other services you do periodically, but I would like to bathe and maintain him or her between your grooming's. 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, and as a result, I will need to take time to retrain the dog which could result in a higher grooming fee.
10. Do I need to be at my house when you groom my dog?
You must be at your house at least the first time when I groom your dog. I need to get to know you, and what you expect of me and I need for you to know about your dog and his grooming needs. Once this is accomplished, I often do 8 to 5er dogs without the owner present. I have numerous clients that leave access to their dog(s) with payment and make a routine schedule for these dogs to be done. When they come home their dog(s) are in great shape and they are very pleased. So if you are interested in this, please speak with me.
11. Will you allow me to watch you groom my dog since I would like to learn how to groom?
This is a very good question. I can teach you how to groom but it does take considerable time (i.e. money) for me to teach you all of the elements of grooming. In addition, when I groom, I am teaching the dog to be calm and if I am also talking to you, unless your dog is very much at ease with grooming, this can slow the process down considerably. Grooming is much more than learning the techniques to use the tools and how to cut hair etc. It is also teaching the dog to be still and at ease with the procedures. Now, if you want to pay me for this time spent with you and your dog, I will be happy to do this. I can tell you that it will usually cost considerably more than if you are not present, as when an owner is present, most dogs are more nervous and look for the owner to give them comfort from their fears of being in the grooming situation. So I not only need to explain to you about the methods used, but I need to train your dog to be still and at ease and you are likely to be a significant distraction to him or her. Now that I have stated this, I have had a number of customers interested enough to do this and we can talk about this if you like. I might add that it has been my experience that many folks have attempted to accomplish grooming with their own dogs using wrong or inadequate techniques and have consequently taught their dog to be rather unruly. In this case, both the dog and the owner need to be retrained in order for a healthy grooming situation to be accomplished.
12. 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 it was last groomed and/or brushed, hair type, how long the hair is, 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 if they have learned, because of improper grooming practices, to be frightened and sometimes will have developed various defensive behaviors such as shaking, retreating, biting, etc. Until these dogs learn that nothing in the grooming process is now discomforting, and they settle down and become 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 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 grooming's, 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 than 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!
13. Why don’t you post your prices?
Prices vary depending on where you live in town, the size of your dog, the condition of your dog, that is the frequency that your dog is groomed, and your dog’s behavior. I can give you an estimate on the phone after talking with you about your particular grooming needs and your dog. Mobile grooming is generally cheaper if you have more than one dog as I have two fees. The mobile fee to bring the service to you, which is the same for one or more dogs, and the second fee is based upon those issues mentioned above for your particular dog.
14. How far are you willing to travel to provide your mobile service?
My grooming vehicle gets 10 miles per gallon. With the cost of gas today, it is getting more difficult to travel longer distances. Basically when I calculate cost for travel time, I consider cost of gas, how much I could make grooming rather than driving, and other costs such as commercial automotive insurance, which is about $3,000 annually. One positive note is that the mobile fee is the same whether you have one dog, or more than one dog, therefore mobile grooming is cheaper if you have more than one dog. Generally, I am traveling a maximum of 10 miles from my home, which is near Braker and North Lamar.
15. Do you teach people how to groom dogs?
If you wish to learn this trade, I do train individuals on a one-on-one basis. My goal is to raise your skills sufficiently so that you can become certified by one of the national dog grooming certifying associations. Since I am teaching on a one-on-one basis, I can advance your skills much faster than a typical classroom setting. There are grooming schools in Dallas and Houston, but none in Austin. One school offers an 11 week course for $5,500. I can train you in significantly less time depending on your ability, and for a lesser cost. Please contact me for more information.
16. Do you accept plastic?
No. Cash or check please.
17. 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, as well as with gifts on special occasions. Myself and 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
