06/22/2026
Not every groomer is meant to groom every dog… and that’s okay.❤️
This post is for EVERY groomer.
Whether you’re in corporate, a high-volume salon, mobile, private, veterinary grooming, or grooming from your home.
Our industry has created this unspoken expectation, a rule that a “good” groomer can do it all.
Every breed.
Every size.
Every behavior.
Every age.
Every medical condition.
But that’s simply not true.
The reality is… our industry is full of specialists.
Some groomers thrive with giant breeds.
Some groomers love to groom as many as double digits of them in a day.
Some groomers groom as many as single digits of them in a day.
Some absolutely love puppies.
Some have the patience and skill to care for fragile seniors.
Some specialize in hand stripping.
Some create incredible creative grooms.
Some work alongside veterinarians, grooming dogs that need sedation, comfort grooms, or extra medical support.
Some focus on luxury one-on-one experiences.
(Please let me know if I missed something here)
Fun Fact:
None of those groomers are “better” than the others. But something inside of people, and that’s just human nature that changed us to thrive, on that competition. In reality, simply that is just not true.
Some groomers are simply working where their skills, personalities, equipment, and bodies are best suited. Every groomer is different. What may work for one, may not work for another.
The heartbreaking part?
Not everyone has that choice.
If you work in corporate salon, a high-volume salon, or a franchise, your paycheck often depends on taking whatever walks through the door.
Your boundaries aren’t always yours to set, your soul sold.
Saying “no” to what you can handle, privately, can mean fewer hours, less commission, less income, or not having a job at all.
Sadly, many groomers continue lifting dogs that are too heavy.
Working through injuries.
Making themselves sick.
Ignoring chronic pain.
Pushing themselves far beyond their limits…
Not because they want to…
But because they have bills to pay.
Then, when someone finally decides to protect their body or their mental health by becoming more selective…
Their income often drops.
(That’s another the reality no one wants to talk about.)
Choosing your peace can come with a financial cost.
As I’ve gotten older, and working through injuries and sickness. The love and passion I once had for this idealized industry of being perfect to the outside world, forced me to look at my career differently, I realized something that changed everything.
I don’t have to be the right groomer for every dog.
Because every dog deserves the groomer who is the best fit for them.
A fearful senior may be safest with a veterinary groomer.
A giant, powerful dog may need someone whose body can safely handle that work every day.
A puppy deserves someone who loves building confidence.
A dog needing a comfort groom deserves someone experienced with end-of-life care.
👉🏼Referring a dog to another groomer isn’t failure.
It’s professionalism.
The most dangerous thing we can do is pretend every groomer should take every dog.
That’s when accidents happen.
That’s when groomers get hurt.
That’s when dogs get hurt.
That’s when trust is broken.
That’s when you hear your groomer “retired”. 50/50 chance that statement would be true because groomers will tell a client that they cannot to groom the dog anymore just to avoid confrontation. And that’s not because they don’t love the dog.
It’s simply because they can’t.
👉🏼Our industry doesn’t need groomers who can do everything.
It needs groomers who know their strengths, respect their limits, and aren’t afraid to say,
“I’m not the best fit, but I know someone who is.”
That isn’t weakness.
That’s experience.
❤️ To every groomer reading this, no matter where you work… I-see-you.
Have you ever felt pressured to take a dog you knew wasn’t the right fit?
Did you have a choice, or did you have to say YES?
Let’s have the conversation our industry has been avoiding.
*copied and shared*
⬇️⬇️pictured below is my of my (guess the dog breed) D’hib ❤️ for tax
