Secret Weapon!

I have discovered over my many years of grooming that the third most valuable skill you can possess is resourcefulness. The first is patience, that's obvious. You won't get too far in grooming if you can't cope with wiggly puppies, senior dogs with canine dementia, and Golden Retrievers who treat grooming tables like surfboards. The second skill is a strong stomach, and I call it a skill because I believe that you can develop a grooming specific tolerance for disgusting things and still be rather delicate in the rest of your life. And there are many disgusting things about grooming. Career seekers beware.

Resourcefulness. That is what turns a butter knife into a lever, screwdriver, scraper and, if you wash it well, a butter knife. Currently, as an in-home groomer, my secret weapon is this:

A pressure sprayer, easily located and very inexpensive. Mine was found at The Dollar Store, although it was an extravagance and cost $2. Why am I using a pressure sprayer? One of the most time consuming parts of bathing a dog is simply in getting them wet, right down to the skin. Most professional grooming shampoos are also meant to be used diluted, and seem to work better when warm. Using the sprayer, you can mix up the shampoo and apply it directly to the dry dog saving you time, effort and shampoo. Diluted shampoos are easier to rinse, which also saves time and is better for the dog's skin.

Grooming in homes I am also presented with different bathing areas and many do not have hoses to rinse the dogs. The sprayer can be used to rinse also, either using it as a sprayer or by taking the lid off and doing the old fashioned pour method. Not too shabby for $2.