Fireworks Fright not Night!!!

How can i help my Fur Baby stress less???

Fireworks night, Christmas and any celebration that make us humans want to blow things up in celebration as a mark of another year passing can create havoc for our poor unsuspecting four legged friends. They don't have 'reason' like us and generally rely on their instincts when it comes to living happily. Yes they look to us to see our reactions to certain things but that can only take them so far. They don't speak our language and don't understand everything that we do. If only we could explain everything to them and tell the that everything was going to be OK. When it comes to big bangs and bright flashes, no amount of 'looking to mum and dad' can make it all better. There is no time to waste to the scared dog. Their instinct is to usual flee and hide. I have a Bichon Frise called molly, she is very frightened of fireworks and any kind of loud bang and immediately flees. She likes to find somewhere that she feels safe and that is OK. I allow her to do this, I make it safe for her and I don't make a big deal about it. I don't try and comfort her. I let her see me continuing as i would usually. I have 3 other dogs that are not frightened in the slightest so I think its also important that she sees them behaving in the exact same way that they usually do!

What are the signs that my dog is frightened by the fireworks?

Here are 8 signs that indicate that your dog is stressed by fireworks

* Trembling & Shaking

* Messy accidents in the house

* Clinging to owners

* Hiding or making a Den

* Running away

* Excessive Barking

* No Appetite

* Excessive Panting and Pacing

So how do i make it safe and as stress free as possible?

So, here are some things that I think are incredibly important to adhere to if you have a frightened dog so as to give him or her the most stress free time possible. You never know, it may help!!

* Get an adaptil plug diffuser DAP for dogs - available at good pet shops and most vets

* Build a Den. You can use a crate covered in blankets if your dog is crate trained or you can build a comfy covered small space by using a large box with cushions and blankets covering it. 

* Thunder shirts are a great product and can be purchased on line or at a good pet store.

* Pop some music on to try to drown out the bangs

* Close the curtains to avoid the flashes coming in to the room. 

* Candles or oil burners are hugely effective and lavender and Ylang Ylang are both great calming oils for dogs. (obviously keep in a safe place away from the dog). 

* Feed a high carb dinner. 

* Lock dog flaps so as your pets can't flee outside. 

* Behave as usual, don't try and comfort or make it seem like they need protecting as this will feed anxiety. (its very hard to do as we just want them to be happy, I'm as bad as the next person)

* Don't open doors to outside if your dog is not secure and safe, especially if the fireworks are very close by

* Provide distractions - maybe a new toy to play with

* Don't leave your pet alone

* Don't punish them, this just creates more anxiety

There is nothing wrong with celebrations but please try to remember the sensitivity of our four legged friends and do our bit to make it reasonably acceptable for them. 

www.groomdogcity.com

Dealing with 'THE LOSS'

 

The Loss

 

The day has come, you are off to collect your new family member today. Its a beautiful sunny day and you have read all of the books on the breed of dog that you have chosen. You know what is to come. A few hours later you walk through the door and introduce your new fur baby to the rest of the family. Everyone is in love and at last your family is complete.

 

Welcome to the happiest, fun packed, years of your life.........god willing!

 

When we take on a new puppy, the last thing on our minds is being without him/her. No one wants to think of a time that a decision has to be made to do what is best for him/her. We sign an emotional contract to look after that helpless being through cloudy/rainy days as well as sunny ones. Dogs are an expensive and time consuming business but this must be considered when picking up that bouncing bundle of fun. We have to ensure that we have the facilities to ensure that they are happy and healthy at all times.

 

 

The Cost

 

Yes, dog ownership is quite a pricey business but its not just financial, they are incredibly dear emotionally too. The love that you feel for your dog will never waver, even when they bark at 3am at a passing Pidgeon 3 miles away or when they roll in fox plop after being freshly groomed. These little foy balls become the stories that you look back on with fondness and love.

 

So, What's the problem???

Its important to remember to be prepared. Our pets are living, breathing animals that can get ill just like us. They cant tell us when they don't feel well but you can usually tell just by their behaviour. You have to learn to read between the lines. Regular trips to your groomer can help too, they have their hands on dogs all day and can usually tell if there is something that is slightly out of the ordinary. Obviously, they cant tell what is wrong but it may flag something up early so as to allow you to notify your vet and start a course of treatment early.

 

Unfortunately, not everything can be treated. Some conditions are for life and may mean a miserable existence for your bouncing bundle of fluff. Decisions have to be made and advice has to be sought. What we have to do is remember that we have conscious thought, we have to do what is the best for our pets as they cant make the decisions themselves but we must also make sure that we consider our own hearts too.  

 

A few years ago I got a black standard poodle puppy called Alfie, he was the most beautiful puppy in the world in my eyes. Wonderful nature, incredibly calm, walked to heal naturally until he got to the park and ran around like a nut case. At 4 months old, we were over the park and Alfie was once again running around like a nut case when all of a sudden he collapsed. Literally from no where. I ran over to him and all of a sudden he jumped up as if nothing had happened. I thought it was strange but I guessed he was just being silly, then it happened again and I had to carry him back from the field barely conscious. We rushed him to the vets and on the way he seemed to perk up, by the time we got there he was back to his normal self. I felt like a bit of a fraud but I wanted to make sure he was ok. Unfortunately, Alfie was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. The vet that we went to recommended euthanasia there and then. My heart broke immediately. I absolutely didn't believe the vet and whisked Alfie away wanting to protect him with all of my power. He was only 4 months old for goodness sake. How can this happen??

 

I went for a second opinion, this time the vet had a much better bedside manner and gave me options. Unfortunately, Alfies pedigree Pet Plan Insurance had lapsed and I was in the process of getting a new insurance for him so he had no cover. I didn't care....I would have re-mortgaged my house to make him better had it been possible.

 

He went for several tests and procedures but nothing that made him uncomfortable. It came to the point 3 months later where we had to make a decision. Alfie had another heart attack and his heart stopped in my front room. He rallied again and back he came as if nothing had happened and we knew that the day had come and we had to take the decision to end his suffering. It was the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my life and not a day goes by that I don't think of Alfie.

 

His treatment cost me over £5000 but I would have happily sold my house to ensure he lived a long and happy life, unfortunately, nothing could be done for Alfie, his cards were marked from the day that he was born. I take comfort in the fact that he was loved every day of his short life and he never knew anything but a loving family. I feel privileged that he came to me!

 

We have to make hard decisions when it comes to our pets, its part of the job. Its so incredibly important that you arm yourself with the knowledge that things like this can happen and to be ready to step up if the worst is asked of you. Being with them through the good and the bad is what makes us great owners. They need you all the time.

 

It's not all doom and gloom

The thing is, for all the sad and terrible things that inevitably happen during the course of your pets life, the great outweighs the bad. The amount of joy your pet brings you, the unconditional love that they show you is absolutely worth the investment of your heart. So, don't be afraid to give your dog 100% as they will certainly give you the same back.

 

I always say to my customers that have lost a beloved pet, that they should feel proud that they gave that little being love and care and that their pet knew how much they loved them. A lot of people say 'I could never get another dog' and I always say, once a pet lover always a pet lover. Time heals, you will never forget the pet that you lost but in time there may be enough healed heart to allow another little soul in.

 

The moral of this story

Dot be afraid of loving that little pet but remember, all relationships have their ups and downs, we just all have to do our best. Love and laugh on the sunny days and don't be afraid to cry on the rainy and cloudy ones.

 

RIP ALFIE (DADDY WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

 

 

 

 

 

PIF PAF POOF!

 

Its Sunday, I work on a Sunday, My salon is right next door to Columbia Road Flower Market in the heart of London's East End and the market is on a Sunday so there really isn't any choice. Good job I love my job eh. Its 5.50pm and I have a quick glance at Facebook as you do....then WHAM....there it is. Someone has asked a controversial question and I am just waiting for the fall out. What's the question you ask??

Is it worth being a member of the BDGA (British Dog Groomers Association) and PIF (Pet Industry Federation)?

So, I'm the current chairman of the BDGA and the Grooming Director for PIF. As such, I feel that it is my responsibility to answer these questions with honesty and frankness. The problem is, this question is highly controversial and always conjures up colourful views and so it should. I think its great that groomers have such an opinion about the industry that they work in.

So why, I hear you ask, would you be worried about the 'fall out'?

Well, I totally support the Pet Industry Federation. I think that it is imperative that we have an organisation that has Codes of conduct and practices to follow and I personally think that it is essential for every professional industry to be answerable to someone so that the public (our valued customers) have a route to follow in the event of a complaint or query. This practice also protects us as members and shows that we want to offer the very best service available. Not only does it give you peace of mind to know that you are under the PIF umbrella it also gives you a voice through the BDGA. The BDGA is a group of representative groomers from all over the country who get together as often as possible to meet and discuss topics that have been brought to our attention through our members. We as a committee try very hard to make sure that those questions are answered whether positively or negatively. Any member of PIF can apply to be a member of the BDGA committee, it is an open shop and people simply have to be voted in.

Along with that, PIF offers a number of other incentives such as a legal helpline, discounts on insurances, CCTV offers, etc etc.

Not everyone agrees with the positives of PIF and the BDGA. People want change to happen immediately. Believe me, I want everything immediately, much to the disgust of my partner, he says that i'm one of the most impatient people he has ever met. Obviously he is mad!!! (but probably speaking the truth). It just doesn't happen that way, much to my disgust!

People want to see things moving forward and I totally get that. We all do. PIF as with any other non profit organisation, has to have an income and manpower to do the things that the members want. Unfortunately there isn't a never ending pot of gold to dip in to, PIF has to raise money in order to carry out groomers wishes and it does this through membership. In other words, if you want the industry to move forward with your ideas and visions, you have to be a member to allow them to afford to action those ideas and visions.

I totally understand that in the past members don't feel as though they get 'value for money' by having membership and I have heard it stated so many times that you can get the same benefits with the FSB. (Federation of Small Businesses). Yes, the benefits that they offer are very similar but they are not geared solely towards the Pet Industry and so will not have a bearing on it in any way. You are just paying for the legal helpline and newsletter etc. I'm not saying that what the FSB offer isn't brilliant, just that it definitely wont help sculpt the industry in to what you want it to be. At least with PIF and the BDGA there is a chance to say your peace.

I think that the BDGA and PIF has lost a certain amount of contact with its members and communication has been less than ideal in recent months. There has been a lot of frustration and mud slinging and there really isn't any need for any of that. We are all working towards the same goal and that is to have the industry that we are proud to be a part of. We want the public to know that we want to be respected as pet professionals and understand what they need to do as owners to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their pet. After all, we end up having a special relationship with our clients, they will see us much more than a vet with any luck.

Currently, to be a member of the BDGA and PIF, you don't need to be a qualified groomer. Yes they work closely with City and Guilds and have several schools that offer the C&G qualification but that doesn't mean that membership is exclusive to C&G qualified professionals. Its currently open to any pet grooming professional including people that hold other qualifications that are available.

Dog grooming is a creative and artistic industry and to this end will bring heightened emotions out in people. I totally understand that having worked in another creative industry for years before becoming a dog groomer. I think its important though to take a step back before shooting from the hip and realise that we are all looking at the same end game, its just a question of how we get there. I think it would be better to work together than to work apart.

For more info on PIF, go to www.petcare.org.uk

Ooh dog grooming might be for me!!!

Yes, we are very lucky to work with man/woman's best friend on a daily basis. It's absolutely true, some are sooo cuddly and cute and look adorable with their new haircuts and a little jaunty bow to set the style off. Yes, the majority of the time we as groomers look incredibly happy and content with our work so I can understand why it would look like a great choice for a career change. To be totally honest for the most part it is, but, there are a few things that I think you should know before you go ahead and quit the secure 9-5 job you currently have for a life as a dog groomer. 

Dog grooming is not the holy grail of jobs. It is not something that you can 'just do' without the proper training and knowledge. Yes, once you have achieved a certain status in the industry you can make a nice living from it but, as with any profession, that takes years, not a 10 day online course that gives you any number of redundant letters after your name. In my book, letters mean nothing if you haven't had to train for a significant time and work bloomin hard to achieve them. Also, the exams should be challenging and possible to fail, where's the achievement in getting a qualification that everyone passes with a high score, that, to me, seems more like a membership club. When I started my business, I worked an office job, I was touring in a show and I worked dog grooming on my days off. I did that for at least two years to try and get my client base together. It doesn't just happen!!! Anyway, I digress. The point is, yes there are many online courses that will give you their own qualification in dog grooming and yes they will give you letters after your name but practical experience they won't give. After these courses you may well be armed with knowledge and that's brilliant but where does that leave you if you don't know how to hold a pair of scissors, let's face it, the dog you are about to cut is not made out of pillow foam. It's gonna move. 

Ok, you work in TV and its thankless or you work in the city and you need to find yourself again, these are just a couple of things I hear all the time from people that have a dog that has to get groomed, come in to the salon and see that actually, they might like this dog grooming malarkey. What these unsuspecting people see is 3 groomers chatting away to each other with 3 perfect angels standing to attention on the tables getting their hair cut without a slight twitch. 5 minutes earlier when we were cutting fido the Westies nails or when monty did a big poo on the table or when little Tilly was doing alligator rolls whilst we were clipping her front legs, all hell was breaking loose. One was setting the other off barking, the dryers were going, the phone was ringing and whilst all that is going on you have to stay incredibly calm and in charge of the situation and somehow control it and bring it back to a workable condition. That might mean a time out for Fido, some peanut butter on the H frame for Monty and some great handling and calming skills for Tilly. Everyone wants their dog to have a positive experience at the groomers and for the most part they do, but there are times when things aren't a bed of roses. 

Dogs have teeth. Yes, because we have been trained we know what to look out for and yes we have the skills to spot bad behaviour before it happens, but sometimes you will get a dog that bites. Now, did your co workers at the bank occasionally sink their teeth in to your skin whilst you were just carrying out your work....No they didn't. Well let me tell you, this is a reality in dog grooming. For a good amount of time this animal with jaws designed to bite through bone is being prodded and poked by you. You have to remain in control even when the chips are down and the dog is starting to get frightened. You have to remember that you are the one in control, there is no one else to turn to, you are in charge of the animal in your care. You can't pop it in your 'in tray' to finish after your skinny latte and club sandwich by the fountain. This is the reality here and now... You have a very frightened dog on the table and you are in charge of its welfare. Can you handle it? 

Many new groomers that come to me to work show their fear of aggressive dogs. It is my job as a business owner to try and get them to harness that fear and keep control of the situation. Groomers cannot run away from scary situations. They have to control them. Sometimes it's a bit like playing that kids game kurplunk or buckaroo. You just never know when it's gonna hit the fan. When it does a good groomer weighs up the safety element in their mind in a split second. They find the safest way to diffuse a situation and put the dogs welfare and happiness first. Sometimes that can mean abandoning the groom, calling the owner and suggesting a vet visit but the majority of the time it can be safely controlled by good calm handling and most of all patience. 

Patience is the absolute name of the game when it comes to dog grooming, it is the no1 thing that all of my groomers must possess above anything else. 

What do you need when a customer won't leave because they are worried that their dog will be unhappy in the salon? - Patience

What do you need when fido won't let you trim the left side of his face? - Patience 

What do you need when a customer says "Im gonna cut his hair at home, after all, how hard can it be?" - Patience 

What about when you have just washed Molly and she pees all over her legs on the table - Patience

Or when the owner comes back after 15 mins and says is 'she done yet?' -Patience

If you are an impatient person, dog grooming is most definitely not for you. It's the one skill you cannot do without. 

Things to consider when thinking of grooming for a career change

1. You will be on your feet for most of the day

2. you probably won't get an actual lunch break

3. You will have to deal with Kujo as well as Fido

4. You will have to work weekends

5. You will probably always smell of dog

6. You may get back problems or RSI

7. You may get bitten

I am not meaning for this to be a negative look at my wonderful profession, it's more of a reality check. For the most part it is a wonderful fulfilling and rewarding career that is full of passionate individuals that love animals and are greatly concerned with welfare and handling. It isn't a regulated industry and I wanted to post this to highlight that as much as it is fun and rewarding, it does have its daily challenges just like any other career. 

Whatever you do in life it is sooo important to enjoy it. I have always done exactly what I love and my motto is.....I'D RATHER HAVE A LIFETIME OF OH WELL'S THAN ONE OF WHAT IF'S. 

Tick tock tick tock tempus fugit!!!

It's 9.45am and I'm meandering in to the salon with my coffee quickly glancing and ignoring the amount of towels that need washing and drying and wondering if we have enough clean ones for the day of dogs that we have in today. I peruse the diary and see that there is quite a few dogs in and I quickly organise the day in my head and allocate the dogs to each groomer. All in my head. The day works. The diary is set up to allow certain times for each groom. Everything is going to be fabulous. At 10am the phone rings and it's the first client of the day informing us that they are going to be 10 mins late. My heart sinks, 10 mins means 20 usually and my technologically advanced, all singing all dancing computerised booking system doesn't allow for lateness or traffic. In my head I weigh up the times and work out if I can make up time on a dog without putting its welfare at risk and I decide that 15 mins is the absolute maximum otherwise they will have to rebook. I tell the customer this in my best 'I've been there sister' way. (I have been there, I'm not perfect although you would be forgiven for thinking I am...ahem). Anyway. They turn up 25 mins late and I have a huge battle with myself as to wether I can complete their old English sheep dog in in 45 mins. The owner is looking desperate and is pleading with me. Then she says those fatal words...."oh come on, it will only take you a minute, how hard can it be??" That's it, my mind is made up and there is nothing I can do about it. I cannot groom the dog today. 

Dog grooming is a skill, it is not something to be rushed. A sharp pair of scissors and a wriggly dog is not an unskilled pastime and certainly not something that can be rushed to placate an annoyed customer. It takes as long as it takes. Each dog and dog groomer is different and has different speeds to safely work at and this must be understood by our customers. Most of mine do understand this and I love them for it.

So here's the thing...

....

As annoying as it is for the owners,  we have to look out for the dogs in our care. We have to make sure that they are safe and comfortable whilst they spend time with us. We aren't there for the owners, we are there for their four legged friend and we can only do what we can do. It's a pair of scissors not a magic wand and we get them from Simpsons not oleanders!!! 

At the end of the day...it's dog hair!!! Yes it pays my mortgage and it's hugely important to me and my family but we aren't treating advanced stage cancer. The cut can wait a day or two so that everything can be done safely and in a professional manner. The absolute best thing that you can do as an owner is brush your dog so that it doesn't get to the stage of being an emergency for the poor dog in 28• heat. 

It's wise to remember that we don't want to cancel any appointments, that's how we get paid. If we cancel we lose money. But we would rather cancel than put your dog in any in necessary danger whilst in our care. 

Groomers love dogs and want them to look beautiful. They are proud of the looks that they can achieve, they are creative artistic people that want what is best for fido and also they want to impress you with their skills. 

Give them the time to show you!!! 

Regulation???

Starting a business....so much to consider....staffing costs and choosing the right staff for your charachter, colour scheme, products, etc etc. oh and then there is all the legal requirements. Health and safety, waste disposal, COSHH, RIDDOR etc etc. With all of this legal regulation, why is the industry itself unregulated? It's tricky to understand. 

In my view, a sharp blade or pair of scissors and a wriggly dog or cat doesn't make for the safest combination and it certainly isn't something that a chartered surveyor, bored of his/her career, can do with no proper practical training. Unfortunately, this seems to be happening all over the country. Many potential groomers are opening shops having come from other industries with very little or no professional training at all. I personally find this very worrying. I know how tricky this profession can be for a trained professional, I think there are very few groomers in the world that have been trained professionally that can say that they have never accidentally cut a dog. If it can happen the experienced, imagine how easily it can happen to the inexperienced. 

A petition went to the government recently for hairdressers to become a regulated industry, surprisingly, they are unregulated too. Unfortunately it was denied due to a lack of incidences. I think dog grooming would have the same answer if the government was petitioned, God knows how many 'incidences' they need. 

What's the answer???

Well, in my view, I think we need to put the onus back in the lap of the consumer. We need to make the importance of an experienced or qualified groomer paramount to them. I think in all the years that I have run my salon, I have only been asked if I am qualified twice. Pretty surprising...mind you, my certificates are all over the walls but to be fair I could quite easily have printed them or made them myself. #showoff #proud 

The question is, how do we go about doing this? 

Well, social media could well have a part to play, there are very few people I know that aren't members of Twitter or Facebook. The problem with these mediums is that posts tend to be hot news one minute and forgotten the next and this issue needs to be at the forefront of pet owners minds at all times. A good groomer is as important to your dog as a good dentist is to you. 

PIF (The Pet Industry Federation) do their best to protect its members and the consumers by having a code of conduct so that's is a positive start. I would like to see all groomers to have a minimum experience or a qualification to be a member but I'm not entirely sure how workable that would be. (Something to think about). 

It seems to me that grooming is largely ignored in many TV shows and media outlets in the Uk. The Paul O'Grady show  does amazing work to help rehome Battersea's dogs and that is fantastic but you never see the new owner get any advice regarding the type of coat and the amount of work that the coat would need to keep the dog healthy. What a sad state of affairs!!!! 

Grooming is probably the most expensive  part of owning a dog. We, as groomers, see the pets on our books much more than a vet would for a healthy dog. So why is it ignored as a profession??? 

Rescue shows should be looking at an owners lifestyle and suggesting the best dogs for their surroundings and lifestyle. It is the only fair thing for the dog and the prospective owner. In my view, a severely matted dog has been abused! 

Well, you may not agree with all of my points in this blog but I hope that it made you think about your groomer and made you think twice about popping to the chemist to get a pair of hair scissors and chopping your dog yourself. It's not worth the risk. Find a lovely professionally trained or qualified groomer in your area to advise you on your beloved pets skin and coat issues. They are a lovely lot and want what is best for your pooch. :)))