Clear Conversations: The Key to Your Pet's Perfect Groom

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 How Can A Client Communicate With Their Groomer? 

Ever asked for "one inch" off your dog's coat while holding up five inches between your fingers? You're not alone! Welcome to the world of pet grooming communication gaps, where what we say isn't always what we mean—and our furry friends bear the stylistic consequences.

Shannon and Tanya, the expert groomers behind Hound Therapy, tackle the art of effective groomer-client communication in this enlightening episode. They reveal why pictures speak volumes when words fail, how to provide constructive feedback without awkwardness, and why bringing visual references transforms your pet's grooming experience. Their practical approach helps pet parents move beyond vague instructions to specific, actionable requests that result in grooms that work for both the pet's lifestyle and the owner's aesthetic preferences.

The conversation takes a humorous turn when Shannon shares the cautionary tale of a husband who repeatedly confirmed he wanted his dog's tail completely shaved—only for his pregnant wife to call in outrage afterward. This memorable anecdote underscores perhaps the most important lesson: if someone else is dropping off your pet, make sure everyone's on the same page, or better yet, communicate directly with your groomer. Whether you're a first-time pet parent or a seasoned dog owner, these communication strategies will help you build a more productive relationship with your groomer and ensure your four-legged friend always leaves the salon looking exactly as you envisioned. 

Ready to transform your pet's next grooming appointment? Call us at 469-367-0009 or visit Houndtherapy.com to schedule your consultation with our expert team.

To learn more about Hound Therapy visit:
https://www.HoundTherapy.com
Hound Therapy
3509 E Park Blvd.
Plano, TX
469-367-0009

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to Tail Talk Grooming Chronicles with Hound
Therapy, the podcast where wetalk all things pet grooming,
daycare academy and more.
Hosted by Shannon and Tanya ofHound Therapy serving pet owners
across North Texas, we're hereto share expert tips, hilarious
pet stories and the inside scoopon keeping your furry friends

(00:25):
happy and healthy.
Our motto humanity over vanity.
And don't worry, we don't bite.
Let's get started.
Who let the dogs out?

Speaker 2 (00:36):
Who let the dogs out.
Clear communication between petparents and groomers can make
all the difference in your pup'sgrooming experience.
In this episode, shannon andTanya discuss what makes a
groomer-client relationshipthrive.
Welcome back everyone.
I'm Sofia Yvette, co-host andproducer, back in the studio

(00:58):
with Shannon and Tanya,professional groomers at Hound
Therapy.
Shannon and Tanya, how are youladies doing today?
Really good.
Thank you, great, great.
I know I've been certainlywaiting for this one, because
when communication clicks, thewhole grooming experience
transforms.
So tell us, ladies, how can aclient communicate with their

(01:21):
groomer?
Do they need a sign language orsome special skills to do it?
Maybe a little.

Speaker 3 (01:28):
It's funny that you say sign language, because a lot
of people will hold up theirfingers and say I want you know
one inch and yeah, they'll holdup five inches in their fingers.
I'm like, do you understand whata big one inch is?
A visual definitely does help.
References of pictures, thosehelp, but just communication on
really what you're looking for.

(01:48):
And you know, don't be afraidto you know, offend your groomer
of saying, hey, look, last timeit looked great or last time it
didn't.
If you have a groomer that'soffended by that and doesn't say
what can we do to work with youor what can we do to make that
look better, Now by that anddoesn't say what can we?

(02:10):
do to work with you, or what canwe do to make that look better?
Now, obviously you don't wantto be that client that every
time you come in nobody wants tobe that client.
But if you're not likingsomething and you just not are
having a difficult time, youknow expressing that.
A really good way to do that isto just look at their pet ask
did you take notes?
And then go home, live with it,kind of see how it works out
for you, feel where it is, andthen say the face got really

(02:31):
dirty really fast.
Can we, can we go shorteraround these areas?
Or I noticed that in about twoweeks, you know, the ears were
in his food bowl, or gosh, he'sstill super short and it's time
for his grooming again.
Maybe we could go a littlelonger the next time.
So there's a lot of ways toreally, you know, to kind of
grow with your groomer, kind oflike with your hairstylist.

Speaker 4 (02:53):
Or if you just didn't like the shape of the head, say
that Like I wish it was like alittle bit more round or a
little bit more square.

Speaker 3 (03:01):
And you can use you know weird terms, like somebody
came in and said I want theirmustache to be long and it's
that dogs don't have mustaches.
So I mean you can, we can givethem one, and that is a
terminology used often forpoodles that get that shaved.
But typically you know it's, weknow what that means, or we're

(03:23):
going to try to figure it outand we're going to be like so
show me what a mustache means toyou.
Show me what an inch means toyou.
Show me a picture of the bestgroom you've ever seen your dog
Like.
You know you have a familyphoto or what do you have
visually to show me if you'rehaving a hard time?
We have a client that comes inand she's flat out says I'm

(03:45):
horrible at communication.
My hairdresser whacked all myhair off because I told her what
I wanted and it was wrong.
It's not what I meant.
I say things that I think arewhat I mean and it's not, so
some people recognize that.
Other people do not.
Hopefully your groomer isversed on how to figure out what

(04:06):
we're talking about dog wise aswell.
But just try to show them.
Get on your knees if you haveto.
I mean, be as visual as youwant.
Sign language is great.
Um you know it.

Speaker 4 (04:17):
Point it out, show us and take good notes or if you
do bring in a photo you can use.
Use a Google photo.
That's fine, kind of make itresemble a little bit of your
dog coat wise.

Speaker 3 (04:30):
Don't bring in a picture of a standard schnauzer.
If you have a Yorkie, yeah, andyou can.
You can even do that.
Just if you want a schnauzercut, be like I want this cut on
that dog.

Speaker 2 (04:48):
We'll mash it up, you want to make sure it makes
sense, right, exactly.

Speaker 3 (04:56):
But we'll still need to go over that.
This is a different kind ofcoat texture, different kind of
hair.
Are you sure you want eyebrows?
Yeah, I'm not sure how muchtime we have, but I do have a
first opened business here and Ihad a husband that dropped off
for his pregnant wife and Imust've repeated to him three
times Keep in mind we'd beenopen three weeks and he said it

(05:18):
had been a while since I'd beenback into the grooming from
barbering and so I was prettyused to dealing with men and I
asked him straight, you know,you said shave all over.
Yes, Smooth, yes, you want toknow all over, include the tail.
You want me to leave the tailand shave the tail, everything.
I want the head shaved, the earshaved, the tail shaved.
I said are you sure you wantthe tail shaved?

(05:39):
That's not what we normally do.
And he said yes, I am 100%positive.
I said we're shaving the wholedog.
I can't tell you how many times.
It was a 30 minute conversation.
He picked up the dog.
He said oh my gosh, this doglooks amazing.
I love it.
Thank you so much.
I said no problem, We'll seeyou next time.
His wife called me as soon.
As soon as he walked in thedoor and just went off, she was.

(06:10):
I cannot believe that youshaved the tail on my golden
retriever lab mix.
That is never done.
It's never been done before.
I'm like Whoa.
Your husband specifically saidI asked him.
We went over it.
He showed me photos.
This is what he wanted.
I was doing what was asked andwe went on to lecture her about
how she should train her husbandbecause her dog was really good
, but her husband probably slepton the couch for a week.
That said, there was some veryclear communication, but the

(06:33):
lack of communication was withthe spouse.
So if you send somebody else,make sure that the communication
follows through, or not sendyour children, yeah, have very
clear instructions.

Speaker 4 (06:44):
Or have very clear instructions.
Or you can even call thegroomer themselves and be like
hey, this is what I want doneand this is how I like it, and
this is what I want.
I have somebody else droppingoff and just make it clear to
everyone, so nobody's mad.

Speaker 3 (07:00):
I would say long story short.
If you've never been therebefore, take it yourself.
If you're specific, make surethat you have what you are
picturing in your head is what'sgoing to come out.
But sharing that communicationwith somebody else, then sharing
it with someone else is not agood way to do it.
So, that said, goodcommunication between whoever is

(07:23):
going to be looking at the dogspecifically is who we're aiming
to please, because husbandsdon't care or wives don't care.
I mean, if my son's not goingto care if he drops off my dog,
how it looks, be communication,communication, communication on
all fronts, hopefully a littlelong-winded no, definitely,

(07:51):
definitely.

Speaker 2 (07:51):
You answered the question and then some.
So great job.
Well, shannon and tanya, thankyou for breaking this down with
such clarity and transparency,and I know your listeners will
feel even more confident walkinginto their next appointment.
We'll see you both next time.
Have a great day.

Speaker 1 (08:15):
That's a wrap for this episode of Tail Talk with
Hound Therapy.
Ready to book your pet's nextgroom daycare stay or grooming
academy tour?
Call us at 469-367-0009.
Academy tour call us at469-367-0009 that's 469-367-0009

(08:38):
.
To schedule an appointment, orvisit us online at
wwwhoundtherapycom, servingnorth texas with expert pet care
.
Until next time, keep thosetails wagging.