The Mindful Groom

01/09/2026

Here are some bathing tips when it’s bath time for your furry friend.
1. Use dog products: they are made for their specific ph.
2. Shampoo and conditioner: without conditioner your dogs coat will over produce oils to make up for what shampoo took, resulting in that dirty wet dog smell sooner rather than later.
3. Make certain you rinse ALL soap out: if you do not then it will be harder to dry, leave a film, and attract dirt.
4. Towel dry well: the more water you get off now the quicker the dryer will be.
5. Invest in a happy hoodie: it can make or break dryer experience.
6. Brush and dry at the same time: this helps you see what your doing if your working on matting but also stretches the coat, prepping it for a smoother cut.

01/05/2026

Your review means the world to your groomer!

Whether they’re an independent contractor or a small business owner, a thoughtful review is a small gesture that makes a big difference. It helps strengthen your relationship, boosts their confidence, and supports them as skilled artists in their craft.

Take a moment to share your experience—it truly goes a long way! 🐾

01/03/2026

Managing expectations

If you expect a long coat then you have to line brush it regularly

If you expect a fast groom then you have to give grace for the haircut

If you expect a great haircut then your dogs behavior must be considered

If you expect to have an appointment then you have to plan ahead, prebook

What are some expectations you may need to reevaluate? What are some expectations pet parents have placed on groomers?

01/03/2026

Humanity over vanity
What does this mean? In dog grooming this means picking your pet over everything else. It’s when we don’t dry the face bone dry or we scissor the legs instead of using the clippers. We are choosing humanity when we shave Matting instead of brushing it out.
It’s a culmination of knowledge, skill, technique, experience and compassion.

By choosing humanity over vanity we are helping to build a confident trusting grooming dog with positive experiences.

We don’t want your dog to reach its threshold. We don’t ever want to get them to a place where they are shaking, pooping, crying, biting or puking in fear. It is our job together to help them instead of hindering them. Communicate with your groomer, know how they will handle your dogs specific needs. Will they hold them down, push them through it, brush until they’re both crying? Or will they slow down, try a different approach, give breaks, shave the matting?

12/31/2025

All of America is experiencing inflation. Including your grooming shop. Cleaning supplies, shampoos, grooming tools, these prices have all risen. A grooming shops overhead has increased.

Your groomers are experiencing this higher price of living right along side you. Please be understanding when you see price increases for your dogs beautiful, skillfully done hair cut.

We are all in the very same boat, continuing to offer our services and doing what we love while making ends meet.

12/28/2025

Are you overwhelmed by how long it takes to rehabilitate a fearful dog?
Progress isn’t measured in minutes.
It’s measured in calm repetition and trust built over time.
Expect setbacks and plateaus.
Celebrate tiny improvements and remain patient.
Practice calm sessions regularly and consistently even if it’s just an hour a day and watch fear transform into trust through repetition.

It’s my experience a puppy has 4 or 5 “tough” grooms before they catch on to what’s expected during grooming. A dog with many poor experiences grooming will need many positive experiences before progress can be made.

12/19/2025

Make a difference

I have some REALLY IMPORTANT NEWS ♥️😭

For years, I’ve seen something that never sat right with me.

As a professional pet groomer, I watched pets go without basic grooming and even veterinary care, not because their owners didn’t care, but because they simply couldn’t afford it. In many of those moments, I covered the cost myself because I couldn’t stand to see an animal suffer when help was possible.

As my platform grew, so did the number of people reaching out from around the world asking for help with vet bills, grooming costs, and emergency care for pets they loved. I’ve continued to help wherever I could, quietly and without judgement, but the truth is I can’t keep doing this alone. The need is overwhelming, and the costs have become too much for one person.

That’s why I’m starting...Barely A Dog Rescue.

This will be a foster based rescue launching in Ontario, focused on pulling very small dogs under 7 lbs from shelters, or accepting owner surrenders, and placing them into foster care. Alongside rescue work, Barely A Dog Rescue will also provide financial relief for veterinary care and grooming costs to pet owners in need. This assistance is not limited to dogs and may support any pet species in need.

Once the charity is fully established in Ontario, the goal is to expand into the United States as well, so we can help even more animals and families.

This isn’t about charity for the sake of charity. It’s about keeping pets with the people who love them whenever possible, and stepping in when rescue is the safest option.

I’m launching a GoFundMe to help kick start the rescue and cover early costs like nonprofit setup expenses (lawyer, insurance, website design, trademarks, etc), veterinary care, foster support, emergency medical assistance, and grooming help.

If you’re able to donate, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you’re not in a position to give right now, sharing this means just as much.

This has been a long time coming, and I’m so grateful for every bit of support as we take the first step together. 💛

🔗 GoFundMe link in bio & in Facebook comment section

12/15/2025

Pre-shaves

I pre shave if there’s a lot of length but the haircut is requested short. Or the dog is matted.

This should be done with a length or two longer than requested to help ensure a better finish.

Pre shaving cuts down on bathing and drying time. Which is helpful for dogs who struggle with the dryer.

Pre shaving is more difficult on your blades as the coat is dirty. Brushing the coat out first is recommended, this will give you a better finish since the clippers goes through the coat smoothly after its brushed out.

A pre shave is not the finished product and must be worked on more. The dog will still be gone over with clippers once they are all clean and dry.

A pre shave due to matting is unpleasant. Extremely time consuming and groomers don’t get to pick the length. It is simply the length that fits underneath the pelt, which will be most likely a quarter inch of hair or less. If you feel like your tugging and getting stuck to much than you need to go shorter.

12/15/2025

If the dog on the table gets overexcited, the issue is energy. Dogs don’t shift into calm by being rushed — they mirror your pace and energy. Practice a “transition-pause”: stand still, breathe deeply, shoulders back, eyes forward every time you change “activities” Wait for the dog to sit or relax naturally. Don’t move forward until they’ve shifted into a calm state. That stillness teaches patience, and patience teaches surrender. Now you’re grooming with connection, not chaos.

12/13/2025

Basic hygiene you should be doing for your dog more!

1. Trim their nails monthly - This will maintain their length. For shorter nails, do more often. Dremel to get a smooth rounded shape and to get closer to the quick, coaxing it to recede.
2. Clean their ears weekly - dog ear cleaning solition and cottonballs will get the job done.
3. Brush their teeth daily - or at least have an additive for their water and dental bones.
4. Line brush often - check your work with a metal comb.

12/13/2025

My days are filled with Christmas doodles and I love it!

12/12/2025

2 shampoos
Love my ducky
Face squishes
A deep conditioning
Message
Wiggle butt Towel dry
Happy hoodie for the win
Tries to eat me at 1 minute
Paw pads
Dreaded nails
5 all over
Back brushing so much
1/2 teddy bear head
Scissor work
Dapper boi