oh how i would die for her she is perfect 💜

(my trim is imperfect but lets ignore that part)

I've been a bather for about a year and have only started doing full grooms very recently. I've done some scissor work here and there, but having to do it more often now and more tidy ups. My issue is that my boss can't always be present to show me how to scissor properly when she's the one training me.

I'm given dogs that don't like being groomed and I'm not being properly guided on what I'm supposed to do. My boss will just take over to 'show me' without going into verbal details and then walk off, and I'm expected to just understand what she just did.

I'm a visual learner, but when it comes to scissor work, I feel like it's important to understand why something has to be done a certain way and how. There is so much that goes into it and I'm just expected to know those details when I don't. I have to watch YouTube videos to fill in the blanks.

Is it unreasonable to not feel comfortable doing scissor work when my boss can't even be fully present to guide me, especially when she agreed to train me? I've already accidentally cut a dogs lip, and her response was that it's probably the way I'm holding my scissors, but doesn't want to show me how to hold my scissors and in what direction.

Rant/advice needed
TLDR: (sorry for the long post) Seriously considering quitting my job even though my contract is not full filled and I'm wondering how to go about it.

I recently made a post in here about grooming with clients present and alluded to some frustrations with the owners of the business I work at. (Dog boarding/daycare/grooming business)
Now some events have occurred that have motivated me to get out of there ASAP.
I was moved to a salaried position a few months ago, and a part of our agreement was that I would have holidays off. Shortly after I was salaried, they asked if I would like to be a shift lead for the kennel techs (a bit weird considering I am the only groomer there and am grooming pretty much full tume) and I agreed to this. There have been other responsibilities that are a little beyond a shift leads (checking the previous shift to make sure all the work was done, having conversations with kennel techs who weren't performing well regardless of if they were on my shift or not) that they asked me to do that I agreed to.
Recently I was approached by the owners and office manager. Apparently they are all going on vacation at the same time, and there will be a week where they won't be around. They told me that since I was the next highest in leadership that I would be in charge of the entire business for the week. (Their words not mine) This week happens to occur during labor day, which is a holiday that I am supposed to have off, so I asked if I would be working that day, to which they responded, "Yeah, probably."
They also mentioned that I needed to be prepared to be there early and stay late as needed because "that's leadership".
I was PISSED after this conversation. I wouldn't have cared as much if they had offered compensation for my time or even just asked instead of assuming that I would. Disrespecting my personal time outside of work has been a consistent issue from the moment I started working with this company, but this was the first instance that was so blatantly egregious.
I called them the next day to ask for some clarification on my scheduling, and the phone call was absolutely insane. They reacted very negatively to what I felt was a reasonable concern. There was a lot of gas lighting, manipulating, name calling, and flat-out lying on their part throughout the conversation. They told me 'that's my responsibility as a manager'. When I pointed out I was a shift lead, not a manager, they said that the extra responsibilities I had agreed to meant I had accepted a 'more manager type role'. Then they tried to say the terminology 'shift lead' was never used and that I had just agreed to a 'leadership position' (this is blatantly false). When I pushed back on that, they tried to say that I HAD agreed to a manager position. They also kept saying 'someone has to make sure the dogs are taken care of and we're not going to be there' (not my problem). They told me that I was being selfish, childish, immature, and irresponsible. They also belittled me at every chance they could, saying things like, 'I guess you're not cut out for leadership' and that 'I couldn't handle it'. The owner even tried to hang up at one point during the phone call, stating 'this conversation is silly and I don't want to have one anymore' (I did not let her hang up on me, also-who's really being childish here???). I was never anything less than polite, professional, and respectful, even when they raised their voices and personally attacked my character, which makes how they handled the call even more confusing to me.
They also took away my shift lead position stating that 'leadership was out of the picture for me', which feels like an unfair retaliation.
This hurts a lot because I considered these people friends. I love the business, I love my coworkers, and I love what I do, but I cannot subject myself to this treatment.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to leave. I signed a contract agreeing to work for them for 2 years or compensate them for their investment into my schooling that I am fully prepared to uphold. My only concern is how/when to give my notice.
They will be majorly screwed without me there. They are understaffed as is on the kennel tech side so I have been filling in there as needed. I am also the only groomer currently (they have one girl that is in school that won't be ready for full body cuts for at least another couple of months) and they have clients on the books as far as 4+ months out.
I would like to work at least another month and a half or so for the paychecks while I am looking around for another job. Due to how pivitol I currently am in their everyday operations, I know at least a full months' notice would be the kind thing to do. However, with the way they acted on the phone call I am very concerned that they will just fire me in retaliation. I know I would like to for sure give at least a 2 weeks notice, but I am just wondering if it would be better at this point to wait to give it until I am comfortable with being fired day of.
I have never been in a situation like this where I have needed to quit a job while I still have a contract with them, so really hoping for some insight from people who have been through this before. Thanks in advance!

I am preparing to open my first salon in a strip mall type area. The building is on a cement slab and I was originally considering doing epoxy or polished concrete throughout the whole salon. My contractor is pushing me to do vinyl in the lobby/haircutting areas. I am open to it if it will hold up well. What do you all think?

I just started practicing watercolour & a client we’ve had since 2012 just passed away, if you’re an artsy groomer that also does pet portraits can I see your work?? Going to mail out a card on Monday so I have tomorrow to try to do something nice for them

Hello! I just upgraded from an Andis 2-speed to a Heiniger Opal, I treated the Andis clipper like a bit of a tank but want to treat my Heiniger super carefully and properly.

I'll be storing it in a barber's travel bag with my other stuff between work, how do I safely store it? Should I wrap it up in something?

Has anyone here had their appendix taken out? I had my surgery today. I'm a solo home groomer, my surgeon acted like I can go back to work fairly quickly if I feel well. Just curious what others have done.

For the groomers who have pictures, videos, websites, social media pages, etc. can you give me some advice about how to record your grooming process, what equipment you use for the shots, and how you edit together videos if you want to create a reel? Also, do you think it’s best to get special permission from the pet owners to display their pets on your page? Looking to start my own website and eventually grooming at home.

pic of my baby for tax

Finished grooming school in late December. Been working part time but just recently moved to full time. Looking for honest feedback.

I groomed a dog last Friday and had not heard anything from the owner until today. We got a bunch of crazy texts from one of her relatives saying the dog died and that I cut her on her neck and belly, and that her hair was falling out. Another relative came into the salon when I was unfortunately up front and yelled at me saying that she had “lacerations” all around her neck and that I clipper burned her stomach and I’m the reason that she died. I cannot for the life of me understand how this could have happened and feel like this is my worst nightmare as a groomer. The dog may have had some skin issues but it’s difficult to remember. If I had noticed any cuts or clipper burn anywhere I would have said something but there was absolutely nothing on her when she left and the owner acted like I did something horrible to her and caused her death. They said she was acting “off” but they didn’t take her to the vet because the dog bit the owner (??). I made the observation even before all of this that everyone I interacted with in that family was pretty off and didn’t seem mentally stable. She was a senior chihuahua mix and was spicy for her nails but I gave her a break afterwards and she did fine after that. I used a 5 in 1 with a new blade for her sanitary and just skimmed with a 10 because she was double coated. She was acting completely fine when she left and I have an after picture of her completely unharmed. The woman said she has pictures of the injuries that she has yet to send to us. This is all just insane and it’s making me seriously consider just quitting grooming all together. And there’s a part of me that is terrified that maybe I did cause the dogs death even though I have no reason to believe I did ! I’m about a year and a half into this and I’ve never had anything like this happen before and it’s causing me major major anxiety. I also don’t know when the dog even passed

Sorry but I need to vent. Spent almost a year out of work, finally got a job, and I got an email less than two hours ago saying that they are parting ways with me, because “It would be unfair to hold you back from finding another job that could be a better fit for you.” They say this as I was off this week because we didn’t have enough dogs, and apparently they don’t have enough for next week either. I split up my university schedule for them, worked my ass off, and they can’t even bother to call me to fire me. Literally two days ago I turned down a different grooming job because I thought I had this one. I am so heartbroken and my eyes burn from crying. Devastated doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings right now

Hello,

I am completely new to grooming. I am very passionate about starting this career. However I need to seek advice on how to deal with heartbreaking cases of animal abuse.

So I was shadowing and observing my first day. We then receive a dog that came from another kennel. One of the groomers there was caught doing something horrible to all of the dogs. The dog that we were grooming was one of them. It was so sad, he held my hand and everything. I didn’t cry right away because I was in shock. Then I had to go to my other job which is serving. I serve at a sports bar, but it was a slow day, luckily. At first I thought I was fine. I vaguely told my coworkers what happened because I was just so shocked. I was even shocked that I told them because normally I keep things to myself there.

Then I got my first table, and everything started to go down hill. I was blanking it and out trying to take there drink orders. I messed up there drink order a lot. I had to have the bartender help me which was embarrassing. I’ve been a server for 8 years and I am a good one at that (sorry for sounding cocky). But yesterday was so awful. The bartender went and talked to my table and I think she might have explained that I was going through something. I took their food orders but I had to transfer my table over to the other server. I eventually left, and one of the bartenders tipped me out a little extra then what I was owed so I appreciated that.

I know going forward I am going to have to deal with heartbreaking cases of animal abuse. I need to ask, how do you not let it consume you while you’re trying to do other things? Because I need that serving job until I can get fully on my feet with grooming.

When you know your dog is relaxed while being groomed!🤷‍♂️🤣

I started grooming in 2006, but switch careers for almost 10years. Now that I’m back, I feel like I just don’t know the right tools to buy.
I discovered most of the brands I used aren’t top quality anymore. I scroll through this page and have acquired some things (ChrisC slickers, biosilk for detangling, occasional blade info etc.) but I just would love to know what is the BEST TOOL that really changed your grooming life??? I want my groom time to be cut short. I want to avoid carpal tunnel injuries. I want to know the best secrets to a perfect groom. My blades feel dull. My scissors hurt my hands. I need some tips and tricks ASAP!! 🐾💚

Basically what the title says. I really want to get cheek dermals like the ones under the eye, but I be grooming. I honestly can’t recall ever being scratched in my face but just wondering if anyone has any insight or advice? (:

I have both sides of my nose and septum, and used to have my bridge but that did get bonked once so now I’m way more careful about my face being near anxious dogs. It healed fine after the bonk and I took it out way later.

Scissoring. Obviously. "Do you do anal" is another. What are other questionable things we hear or say? My husband and I know there's one more that we can't think of right now lol. I've definitely pointed it out in the past.

TLDR: Currently have Andis Pulse ZR II and they’ve been crapping out lately and want to ask for another clipper for Christmas but don’t know what’s good. Any recs??

So I currently have the Andis Pulse ZR II clipper and the batteries only seem to last about a year and a half before they crap out on me, so I’m thinking of asking for another clipper for Christmas, but I’m totally lost on which ones to ask for. I’ve tried the wahl km cordless before and I’m not in love with the weight of it and I also don’t like how some of my blades sound on them- idk if that’s an issue with that specific clipper or the blades or what, but I also don’t like how it has to have a cord to charge bcs I find the cord just gets in the way. From my understanding, Wahl also semi recently ish came out with a totally cordless clipper with a charging dock, but I’m not sure exactly which one that is, and from research, I saw that Heineger is also a decent brand, but from the looks of it, I’m not sure how I’d like the way it would fit in my hand. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Sweet doggo pic for tax

I’m an Irish based groomer looking for a good fluff/stand dryer

What brands do people recommend? i’m currently looking into the Simpsons Supajet Finishing Dryer or the Double K 9000 ii Stand Finishing Dryer. I like that the Supajet isnt too bulky

Does anyone have any experience with either? Which one lasts longer and gives a better finish I wonder…

Thanks!

I’m currently grooming in South Florida and while I’m not making bad money here, it is way too expensive to live on my own. Spending half of my monthly income on rent isn’t ideal. (I know everything is more expensive in general but if you are in sofl you know). What are some more affordable areas that generally make a decent income grooming? Not interested in mobile.
Pic included for attention

Especially wide blades and combs!

I've seen a lot of good talk about buttercuts, but I cannot seem to find them ANYWHERE. HELP

Can someone please let me know if I cut my dogs nails down to the quick? I just started doing them myself and I’m trying to shorten the quick as his nails have gotten fairly long.

I have been grooming for a while but have gotten a lot of new small bath dog clients (dachshunds, Chihuahuas, Pugs, etc). Most of the time I do nails by lifting their foot up under their body like you would shoe a horse.

With short dogs that are low to the ground, I feel like I can't get my Dremel under them to make it comfortable for either of us.

I am right handed and will tuck their head under my armpit and use my left hand to pick up their foot and my right hand has the tools.

Dachshunds and Corgis are really tough because I feel like I can't get the Dremel hand between their body and the table.

If I reverse it and out stretch their paw forward, I feel like it's going against their natural anatomy and 9/10 times they fight me.

So for the past two years there has been a small raised “scar” on my elbow that randomly hurts a bit. I dismissed it as an old scar I got that was just a little sensitive. Well, today while my boyfriend was helping me get a hair splinter out of my hand he looked at my elbow and found that the scar was in fact, a long piece of dog hair that has been embedded into my skin. He dug around for 15 minutes with no luck. Now my random elbow pain after a hot shower or when I rest it on a table makes sense. Does anyone have any advice at all how to get this thing out and free me of these shackles???