The Professional Dog Grooming Process: A Simple Guide on Each Phase

When it comes to professional dog grooming, it is vital to follow the best practices to ensure your furry friend receives the best possible experience and care. Whether you are already an expert looking to perfect your craft, or you are trying to improve your dog grooming skills, we’ve put together this guide to help you understand everything you need to know about dog grooming. 
 

The Products and Accessories You’ll Need

Before you begin, there are a few dog grooming accessories that you will need to make sure you can perform the grooming safely and effectively. If you try to use alternative products, such as human shampoo, you may end up causing harm to the dog - disrupting the acid mantle, leaving your dog vulnerable to parasites, bacteria and viruses as explained here. 

The essential products we will delve into are: 

• Dog Clippers and Trimmers
• Scissors
• Slicker Brush 
• Dog Nail Clippers
• Dog Shampoo and Conditioner

Dog Clippers and Trimmers

An essential part of the grooming process. There is a difference between clippers and trimmers, which will be particularly important to understand if you groom dogs of different fur lengths.  

Clippers tend to have wider blades compared to trimmers. You can read about 3 of the best dog clippers available for delivering a professional groom.

When choosing which tool is right for the dog you are grooming, consider the thickness, length and condition of the coat. 

Coat Type

Dog clippers are typically used for longer and thicker coats, whereas trimmers are often used for finer detailing, such as trimming around the face, ears and paws. The type of grooming that your dog will require will depend upon their coat type.

A short coat will require frequent brushing to get rid of the excess. Longer coats will require regular brushing to prevent tangles and matting. Dogs with curly fur will need their coats regularly detangled with regular trims.

Double coated dogs will need brushing to remove the shedding from the undercoat.

Type of Grooming

Consider what you / the customer wants out of the dog grooming. If you are tasked with tackling thick, severe matting or even performing a full shave, then clippers are most suited. If, instead, you are aiming for a more precise touch-up, opt for the trimmers.

Sensitivity

If the dog is reactive to excess or strange noises, then the louder noise and vibrations of the clippers might be distressing to the animal. The trimmers are typically quieter and more comfortable to the dog. 

Experience Level

Trimmers are generally more suited to experienced groomers as they require a more delicate hand to operate them with precision, especially around sensitive areas such as the eyes and ears. Whilst clippers still require a high degree of skill to operate safely, they are normally easier to use safely compared to trimmers.

Both clippers and trimmers are essential tools for dog grooming, helping you to maintain the health and appearance of your beloved pets. It is important to understand when to use either of the tools to ensure the safety and comfort of the dog. 

Scissors

Use dog grooming specific scissors to help with the more fiddly tasks not suitable for trimmers or clippers.

Slicker Brush

A slicker dog will help you to remove tangles and mats from a dog’s coat. They help to leave a dog’s fur soft and smooth, by removing excess hair, debris and dirt from the dog. Slicker brushes for dogs are made up of tightly-packed fine-toothed bristles. They differ from deshedding tools which are only designed for coats that shed, whereas slicker brushes are good for the majority of fur types apart from very thin and smooth coats. 

Use a slicker brush in combination with a stainless steel brush for maximum efficiency in removing knots and tangles. 

Dog Nail Clippers

A dog’s nails are incredibly sensitive, using the wrong tools could lead to bleeding and nerve damage in your dog’s paws. That being said, regular trimming of your dog’s nails is essential to prevent pain, infections and any number of other issues. Therefore, it is vital to use the correct tools for clipping your dog’s nails. Human nail clippers are not suitable for dog claws. 

You can read a guide by the Dogs Trust on the recommended practice when it comes to nail clipping. 

Dog Shampoo and Conditioner

Similar to the nail clippers, it is not suitable to use human shampoo and conditioner when grooming your dog. Choose a product that is gentle on the dog’s skin and coat. Make sure to do sufficient research beforehand to find the right bottle for your dog. 
 

The 4 steps to Grooming Your Dog 

1. Brush 
2. Bath 
3. Dry
4. Trim and clip 

Step One: Brush your dog

Start the grooming process by thoroughly brushing your dog’s coat. This will help to remove any excess hair, tangles or matting. To begin with, use the slicker brush, brushing in the direction of the hair growth. It is important to brush in this direction to help avoid discomfort for the dog. 

Step Two: Bath the dog

Once you are happy your dog is suitably free of tangles and matting, next up is bathing your dog. Ensure to use dog-specific shampoo and conditioner. Every product will be different in terms of dilution, so make sure to follow the instructions on the bottle to ensure a safe whilst effective concentration of shampoo and conditioner is achieved. 

Step Three: Dry your dog

A very important step! Be prepared for your dog to try and shake themselves dry, it can get messy! Start with drying your dog with a towel, and then use a hair dryer set to a comfortable temperature and speed for your dog. 

Step Four: Trim and clip your dog

Use the information above to help you decide whether clipping or trimming is most suitable for grooming your dog. Work slowly, and start from the neck and move down the body. Never trim or clip towards a dog's face as this increases the chances of injuring your dog’s face. Use the dog scissors to trim around sensitive areas such as the ears, paws and eyes.

Dog grooming is an essential part of looking after your pet, helping to keep them happy and healthy all year round. By following the correct process and using the right products and tools, dog groomers can ensure a positive grooming experience for all. There are grooming courses and qualifications that you can take to further your skillset, to make sure every groom is professional and safe. For instance, all of our dog grooming team here at Paws Grooming Empire are City & Guilds qualified - with Level 2 & 3 secured. 

We also recommend familiarising yourself with 6 top tips on how to become a dog groomer.

If you would like to visit our North London based salon for a dog grooming service, you can book an appointment today by clicking here. 

Alternatively, we encourage you to check out our article on why dogs are so loyal by reading here.