u/Due_Frame9218

I feel accomplished. I have a shih tzu that their owner said cant be groomed because no one can touch him. He was being ketamine groomed every six months. With a cat ball and a towel wrap I can do him. But hes scared and i cant do his neck very well yet. So I suggested that he just come in and hangout. In one day of hanging out he went from just sitting in a corner to taking treats and actively interacting with our usual shop dogs. I think this dog has no confidence, and probably a has had a bad experience. My gameplan is to build trust to make grooming more tolerable. I wont let me grab the video but ill put it the comments. But here is my old lady pibble letting him know laying by my table is okay.

I am getting sad reading these posts. There are bunch of new groomers that are putting out pretty decent work. What I hear them saying is its not good. In the days of social media, we need people to remember that what gets posted is the cream of the crop of peoples grooms. A lot of which are being done by people who have been grooming a long time. I am guilty of only posting my best when my average groom is pretty darn good, but i see that stray hair or that place the shear put a tiny short spot. I dont post it.

I think we need to be honest, my customers are thrilled with my work and I hate my work because its not instagram ready. I AM A PET DOG groomer. I am not a show groomer. I groom the dogs that have a bit of attitude, the dogs where the parents can't afford every six weeks so its a complete shave every 10 to 12. I groom the old, the young, the scared, the naughty. I groom the dogs where parents need to educated not scolded.

Sometimes, good enough is what you get. My focus is more on dog health and wellbeing and sending them out pretty cute. Sure i can post my pictures and everyone can tear it apart on the hair out of place but what they dont see is months i spent to be in a place where my dogs drag their parents in the front door. The fact that dogs jump freely on my table and half the time could be groomed without a loop. I dont do it but i could.

I think we need to start recognizing that most of us aren't going to be competition level. The goal should be to recognize where you are skill wise and improve with every groom. Dont beat yourself for your mistakes, we all make them. Learn from them and move on.

Have a great day, try to enjoy the time you spend working, and watch something, read a book, or ask a coworker what they do to get that head shape you like.

I love y'all and we need our young groomer, so dont give up!

Sometimes bad dogs are my favorite, even when the esthetics of the groom is rough.

YOU ARE DOING GREAT, AS LONG AS, YOU'RE DOING YOUR BEST!