How to Ask for the Groom You Want
As a pet owner, it’s your job to ensure your furry friend looks and feels their best! Clear communication with your groomer is key to ensuring that is the case. Many pet owners struggle to share exactly what they want from a haircut. Here are some tips to walk you through how to effectively tell us how you envision the perfect hairstyle for your pet. Considering these easy tips, you’ll feel confident when you ask for your pet’s haircut at your next grooming appointment.
Share What’s Important to You
Only you understand what is important to you in your pet’s look. Bring pictures for reference! Find photos of similar pets with the haircut style you like and show them to our groomers to ensure we’re on the same page. When using photos for reference, we will do our best to capture that look, but remember that it will be unique to your pet. Save time recovering from misunderstandings and clearly explain what you want to capture in your photo references, including the details when it comes to “parts” of your pet. This includes your expectations for ear hair length, tail hair length, and head and muzzle cut style. Each part doesn’t need to be the same length. Photos are a huge help!
Your preferred schedule, budget, and maintenance routine come into play when determining the best haircut for your pet. For example, long haircuts are next to impossible for your pet without regular maintenance and frequent appointments. Some haircuts require more upkeep than others between grooming appointments. If you prefer low-maintenance styles, communicate that so we can offer alternatives. We will work hard to determine the ideal length for your pet based on your lifestyle.
Share What’s Important to Your Pet
Your pet can’t tell us what they want, so it’s up to you to know your pet’s breed and coat. Different breeds and coat types require different grooming techniques. For example, an Australian Shepherd with a double coat will certainly need a different haircut than a Dachshund with a single coat. Understanding your pet’s breed can help you have conversations about the haircut.
Your pet's activity and needs also come into play! Does your pet dislike brushing or love swimming in mud puddles? That may make some lengths very difficult to maintain. Some coats are denser and more challenging to keep clean/brushed between appointments as well. Expressing your pet 's routine and any health issues (like ear infections) can help your groomer adjust their style to help your pet between cuts. This may look like shaving the underside of their ears, but it doesn't mean we can't leave some style on top!
What You Need to Know About How You Ask
When you specify the length in inches or describe the areas that need to be trimmed the most, that’s helpful! Just like when you visit the salon, discussing haircut length is subjective when not being specific. A short length may look shorter on a pet with a thin coat, or it may expose skin on some pets. When talking about length, be aware that there may be a reason a certain length does or doesn’t work for your pet. Groomers like us want to share our experience and expertise to find a length for your pet that looks and feels great for them.
Different types of cuts can best explain what you’re looking for. Terms like “teddy” or “puppy cut” can differ for every groomer, as each has a unique grooming style. It's important to know what you want your specific pet to look like and if there are any breed-specific characteristics you are looking for. Take time to learn the terminology that your groomer uses to be helpful when communicating the details of the haircut you want.
What Groomers Need to Know About Your Pet
As groomers, we need to know if your pet has sensitive skin, matting issues, or allergies. If your pet is dealing with things you don’t like or cause them discomfort, we may be able to help - but we need you to explain your concerns. These concerns can range from a soggy beard to a shaggy style around the eyes, the tail being too short, or something similar. These are all fixable styles - but we aren’t mind-readers. We need to know how we can help!
If your pet has been groomed in the past, it may also help to ask for their previous groomer’s notes if you are moving to or trying a new groomer. Any photos of your pet you do or didn’t like will also help us better understand your style preferences.
Do the Groom! Get the Haircut!
Try the haircut - and go from there! We may not get the haircut perfect the first time. We keep precise notes. We want you to be happy with the way your pet looks. It takes time for a groomer to learn each pet, its personality, and its hairstyle. Let us know what was good and what could be improved. We will consistently work with you and your pet to find the perfect groom!
Even if you’re unfamiliar with grooming terminology or what’s best for your pet, open the conversation with us. We can help you understand what grooming options are best for your pet and align them with your expectations for your pet’s look.