Equipment Needs For Pet Grooming
Pet Grooming
Thinking about starting a pet grooming business? You have the love of animals, the know how, and a space to start in. What else will you need? Think about how many pets you want to groom in day and whether you will have help to do the bathing for you. You can get more done if you have an assistant, maybe one of your teenagers to do the bathing while you move to another pet. You may want two grooming stations if space permits and you have help.
You will need a tub with spray attachment. It’s great if you can afford one with a built in ramp so that loading large dogs will not takes its toll on your back. If you’re planning to use a converted bathtub, there are doggy steps available for a reasonable price to aid in getting them into the tub. You’ll also need some rings to attach the restrains. You don’t want dogs jumping out of the tub. Aside from the danger of an injury to the dog, slippery floors can injure you as well. Install non slip mats in the tub or tub racks. Cushy mats in front of the tub are good to have. When standing for long periods of time, these will cushion your feet and back.
A rolling caddy or shelving unit to keep shampoos and conditioners organized and within reach will make your life so much easier. Textured bathing mitts clean the coat and have the additional benefit of giving the dog a nice massage. Many units have hooks to hang your bath accessories as well as aprons. Trust me, you’ll need those to keep from getting wetter than the dog. They do love to shake before you can drape a towel over them. Having the caddy or shelves nearby and stocked with towels saves steps.
Grooming tables come at many price points. Most have a grooming arm included so restrain the pet. The hydraulic ones are great, no lifting St. Bernards onto the table. If that’s too pricey, put the doggy steps to double duty to help a large dog onto the table. There are lazy susan devices so that small breeds can be turned around without the groomer moving. Whee!!! A stand dryer is nice to have . It will be positioned near the table and works well while combing and finishing the haircut. A vacuum, shop type is a must to keep your work area hair free, or relatively hair free. It’s much more efficient than sweeping when there is a large amount of hair.
If you plan to groom a number of dogs on a drop off basis, you’ll need some cages or runs for the larger ones. There are cage dryers available that hook onto the cage and even cages that have a built in dryer. Care needs to be taken with these so the pet does not get overheated. Elderly or easily stressed dogs as well as snub nosed breeds over heat very easily and it can be life threatening. In a hot climate, air conditioning is a must for you and your furry friends.
A variety of combs, brushes, and clippers will be needed. You’ll also want several sizes of nail clippers and files. Once the haircut is done and the dog is dried and combed out, it’s time to accesoroize. Bows and fancy hair bands look great on the girls. A little spritz of cologne, some matching nail polish and they’re ready to go. For the manly males, it’s nice to have a variety of bandannas. They’re inexpensive to buy in bulk and usually the pattern changes with the season. Everyone loves to get something that is free with their grooming and a happy owner is worth the small price of bows and bandannas.
