Articles by Ryans Pet

What tools are you using at home? Have you ever been given a proper brushing lesson?

Every dog groomer has heard these 6 words in this exact order more than once in their career. So, when was the last time this dog was groomed? How often do you brush at home? What tools are you using? Have you ever been given a proper brushing lesson? These are the 4 questions I ask the parent as the groomer every time I run into a situation like this.

I own a self-service dog wash. Contrary to your imagination, it is not an assembly line of dogs on a conveyor belt going through a car wash coming out clean. It's a place where people go to bathe, groom, and clean their own dogs. There are grooming tubs, tables, dryers, and many other supplies to help owners groom and bathe their dogs. I am a groomer and a boarding/daycare facility owner and I 100% believe in a DIY Dog Wash.

Since opening up on my Instagram (@truevibesunleashed) about taking my newborn to work with me, I have received an outpouring of love and support from the Groomer-Mom community! I usually post very cute pictures and videos of my son and I at the salon figuring out how to keep him happy, calm, sleep, and entertained while I finish pups for the day. Other mothers began in-boxing me saying I make it look fun and easy. The honest truth is: it's not easy at all!

With the pandemic still going strong, a lot of salons have closed and there is a dire need for groomers. People are getting burnt out and there are more dogs than ever since it seems like almost everyone got a Covid Puppy. Salons are struggling to find reliable, experienced help and there aren?t many options available when it comes to education as most of it has become digital learning. The shop I manage the salon for decided to take on an apprentice with the hopes of mentoring someone into a quality, life-long groomer.

Many groomers are interested in becoming Brand Ambassadors and just don?t know where to begin. If this applies to you, we have good news! Blackworks is holding a Brand Ambassador Contest.

As a professional cat groomer choosing tools for feline grooming can be difficult in a dog groomers world of tools. It?s true, most tools for the professional groomer are meant for canines and grooming them. I have been a professional grooming cats for over 7 years now. What works on dogs, is not necessarily the best for felines. I was a dog groomer for many years, but many tools, let?s face it, are truly designed with a dog?s skin and coat needs in mind.

What is it like to see ?real good? done in your community? When we ventured up to Las Vegas, NV to assist with the last stop of the 2021 Pup Relief Tour, we knew we?d see the impact made by Brian Taylor and his fellow groomers on our community, but we were not truly prepared for what we witnessed.

In September 2020, just shy of my 30th birthday, I found out I was pregnant with my first child. I had already been negotiating the terms of my lease, and it wasn?t too late to back out. I could stay where I had built a full client list, had guaranteed work and not nearly as much responsibility. I was so close to everything I had worked so hard for that I decided there?s no way I can stop now. It was scary and exciting all at the same time.

What does being healthy mean to you? Okay, we?ve gotten the eye rolls out of the way. Now, let?s ask a different question: what does holistic health look like to you? Was your first answer the same as your second? Because to me, health is holistic. Holistic health is health. In other words, all parts of you (?whole?-istic) are being cared for consistently.

The Dog Father of Harlem - Brian Taylor created The Pup Relief Tour in 2020 to help pet parents who are in need financially during the pandemic. He took 63 black groomers across America to groom 863 pups Pro Bono. He traveled across the country and stopped in 7 cities so far. He knows the pandemic is not over and there are people who still need help. He has recruited some good groomers to go on another journey to groom more pups. His mission is to bring people closer through the love of pups. His groomer pals are off to another adventure July 26^th to Philly, Orlando, Birmingham, Fort Wayne, and Vegas. Their mission is to groom as many pups as they can.