06/01/2025
This post made me pause — because it’s so true.
At Happy Hounds, we take pride in caring for dogs in a way that fits their lives, their comfort, and their families. Not every dog needs to leave looking like a competition winner — they just need to leave happy, healthy, and loved.
Here’s to all the groomers holding space for nervous pups, senior dogs, quick trims, and everything in between. 💛 You matter so much.
Hot take for today:
Flawless, Insta-ready, show grooms are not the holy grail of our industry.
Are they impressive? Absolutely. The groomers who create those looks have put an insane amount of time, skill, and dedication into perfecting their craft - and that deserves respect.
Because that’s their niche.
And it works for them.
But it doesn’t have to be yours.
The grooming world is vast - and there are endless ways to make it work for you. But somewhere along the way, some groomers got stuck in a narrow tunnel of “show grooms = real grooms,” like perfection is the only benchmark of success.
Spoiler alert: it’s not.
This is not a free pass to be sloppy. You still put in the effort. You still finesse those tidy, practical pet trims like the quiet legend you are. Short, sweet, and not trying to prove anything.
As let’s be honest : the chances of you doing bell legs more than once on a dog before the owner asks you to “just take it short” are pretty high. Most people don’t want high-maintenance fluff - they want something they can live with, not something that needs styling, brushing, combing every other day.
Most clients? They want practical. Easy to manage. Comfortable for the dog. They want their dogs clean, safe, healthy and happy. That’s the reality of what 90% of pet parents are looking for - they want to enjoy their dogs without the hassle.
There are so many beautiful niches within this field that don’t involve chasing perfection:
💜The groomer who specializes in nervous dogs and builds trust through low-stress handling.
💜The one offering express grooms for seniors or reactive pets.
💜The groomer who works solo and part-time, making it sustainable around their energy and life.
💜The one who prioritizes mental health and a quiet workspace over speed and volume.
💜The one who does solid, low-maintenance pet trims with a loyal client base - and zero interest in before-and-after photos.
None of these routes are “less than.” They’re valid, valuable, and deeply needed.
So no - perfection is not the only measure of success. Your niche is your power, and you don’t need to prove anything to anyone.
To prove this point, I recently asked groomers to snap a photo of the dog right in front of them at the end of their groom. No filters, no staging - just the real deal.
What you’re looking at? 25 different photos from 25 different groomers from all over the world. Not their proudest, showiest grooms - just honest, everyday results.
And this is the reality: most of us do pet trims. Practical, loving, routine care.
And there's nothing small about that.
Do what feels true to you.
The rest? Let the noise fall where it may.
