Dollars and Scents: The Economics of Modern Pet Grooming

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What Are The Trends And Issues On Grooming Styles?

Learn about the pet grooming industry in this revealing conversation with professional groomers Shannon and Tanya from Hound Therapy. They tackle the economics behind those Instagram-perfect pet photos and TikTok grooming trends that have pet parents everywhere wondering why their local salon doesn't offer the same services.

Ever wondered why your dog doesn't come home from the groomer smelling like a tropical paradise? Shannon explains that specialty shampoos now cost $50-$80 per gallon, making it financially impossible for most salons to stock a wide variety of scents. "The difference between human shampoo and dog shampoo is the pH balance," she notes, debunking myths about pet grooming products while explaining why most professionals opt for mild, unscented formulas that work well for all skin types.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when addressing those adorable bows and bandanas that dominate social media. "I spend probably four to $500 a month on ribbon and fabric," Shannon reveals, while Tanya admits to "spending hours literally five, six hours on days off just making bows and hot gluing my fingers together." This behind-the-scenes look at the time and financial investment required for decorative accessories explains why many salons have moved away from offering them as complimentary services. The groomers also tackle the realities of nail painting, explaining which breeds can actually showcase painted nails and which simply can't due to their coat types.

Whether you're a pet parent curious about industry practices or a groomer feeling the pressure of social media expectations, this episode offers valuable perspective on balancing quality care with business sustainability. Call 469-367-0009 to schedule your pet's next appointment with Hound Therapy, where humanity comes before vanity in pet grooming.

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?
Who?

Speaker 2 (00:37):
let the dogs out.
From TikTok-inspired trends tobudget-friendly grooming hacks.
This episode dives into thelatest style trends, how salons
are staying efficient and whattime management really looks
like behind the scenes.
Welcome back everyone.
I'm Sofia Ayiveth, co-hostslash producer, back in the
studio today with Shannon andTanya, professional groomers at

(01:01):
Hound Therapy.
Hi ladies, how are you doingtoday?
We're good, thank you.
Good Hope you are staying coolwith all this heat outside.

Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah, it's August in Texas.
Who doesn't love that?

Speaker 2 (01:17):
Right?
Well, ladies, I hope youbrought your trend radar today,
because we're about to sniff outwhat's hot and what's practical
in grooming right now.
So let's talk about scents andsensibility, specifically
grooming trends, cost-savingsolutions and time management.
I'll let you take it from here.

Speaker 3 (01:38):
All right, let's start with scents.
We use very mild shampoos foreverybody.
Shampoos back in the 80s, backin the 90s, you know things were
.
They weren't as expensive asthey are today.
It's become an outrageousexpense for pet groomers.
And here's the deal forshampoos.
I mean, I'm going to break itdown a little bit.

(02:00):
For shampoo, the differencebetween a human shampoo and dog
shampoo is the ph balance.
Right, human ph is verydifferent than dog ph and I will
hear other groomers, um, youknow, talk caddy about.
I can't believe they're usinghuman shampoo on dogs.
Well, it should not be done onthe daily basis.
I am not advocating you go outand buy some suave shampoo and

(02:23):
wash your dog in that every dayyou, as a pet owner, are going
to almost have to, at least inour salon, go out and provide
the scent, the type of shampoo,that you want.
We have a very basic, mildversion of shampoo that is a
concentrate, watered down.
It's got a nice no smell to it.

(02:44):
We are not trying to get it incompetition with every aerosol
cologne.
We're very low-key andenvironmentally friendly, as as
well as we are skin friendly.
So we do a lot of dogs thathave bad skin or yeast or um,
you know.
We just don't know what everysingle dog is going to need, and

(03:05):
if we had to plan in advancefor every shampoo for every
single dog that's in here, wewould go broke.

Speaker 4 (03:11):
I mean we would have what sense people are allergic
to or don't like or want.

Speaker 3 (03:16):
Not everybody wants their dog to smell like it's
coconut.

Speaker 4 (03:19):
Yeah, I would like that Pina Colada or rose I had.
I would like that Pina Coladaor rose.

Speaker 3 (03:22):
I had somebody that was like she hated the smell of
roses, like I.
Just, we have to get a lot ofinformation and we dealing with
a lot with your dog.
It's just a basic haircut Ifit's going to make you happy.
We make sure your dog is clean.
We do an all over check of yourdog.
The smell of your dog, thesmell of your dog when it goes

(03:42):
home.
It should just be clean, itshould be.
Your dog should smell clean.
If it's got bad breath, mouthis still going to smell.
If it's got rotten teeth, ifit's got an ear infection, his
head's still going to smell likean ear infection.
We're going to clean it out.
We're not vets.
We can't cure you know thingsthat are medically wrong with
your animals.
So keep that in mind when yougo to your dog groomers and
you're like, how come my dogdoesn't smell this or it doesn't

(04:03):
smell that, we're happy to doit.
You just need to bring it.
The other thing that is justrecently kind of come to our
attention are bows, bandanas andnail painting.
I love all those things and Ithink that's super cute, oh,
adorable.
I dress up my dog all the time,but to do that in a shop.
Um, you know, brick and mortarstores are going out of business

(04:24):
in order for me to order theright type of fabric or bandanas
.
It's costly.
I can pass that on, or I canjust say, hey, look, here's your
clean, well-groomed dog.
And you know, we, we, we handthat back with nothing.

Speaker 4 (04:39):
As groomers, it's hard for us definitely me to
hand that back with no bandanaor a bow, but I love making bows
and it's really hard for me tohand a dog back to an owner
without a bow on it, but they'retime consuming.
I would spend hours literallyfive, six hours on my days off
just making bows and hot gluingmy fingers together.

Speaker 3 (05:01):
Hot glue, tooling, rubber bands it's all supplies
that we have to get in and orderin.
Buying ribbon is expensive.
I spend probably four to $500 amonth on ribbon and fabric
which is.
I can pass that cost on or wecan stop doing it.
And we're to the point nowwhere most of our clients they
would rather not have our choiceof bandana on them for an extra

(05:26):
cost.
They would rather they'd ratherhey, like we're going to work,
we've got our own clothes and alot of people.
Just he rips it off as soon ashe gets in the car.
So it's a hard, it's a hardthing to do.
We still do some nail painting.
That's not as.

Speaker 4 (05:40):
that's not as it's time consuming, it's very hard
to do on fluffy footed dogs.

Speaker 3 (05:45):
Yeah, say that three times.
If you're going to have yournails painted, it's got to be on
a smooth coat or a dog that'sgotten poodle feet.
We can't shave between the hair.
You won't see it anyway.
It's too hard to paint betweenthe hair.
That said, those are some thingsthat a lot of people are doing.
You know some of these gelnails for the dogs where they,
you know, put those on, we willdo anything.

(06:06):
Yeah, anything that you bringin we'll do, but the cost for
your local groomer.
And if you have a good localgrooming shop that's near you, I
assure you they're going to bestruggling with the same things
that we are.
Try to make that easier.
Let's they're they're gonna bestruggling with the same things

(06:28):
that we are trying to make thateasier.
Let's focus on the groom, let'sfocus on what looks good and
what looks cute.
Cut wise on your dog and let'stry to give him the best.
If your vet recommends that heneeds to be on a medicated
shampoo, or bring it with you,um, if you know, we're happy to
do it.

Speaker 4 (06:36):
We follow the directions.
Shampoo yeah, we of coursebring it yeah, please, we follow
through with that.

Speaker 3 (06:43):
You know we let it set for the full 10 minutes.
You know we definitely have theequipment to get it on and off,
but we do not have the money tospend $50 to $80 a gallon on a
different cologne for or shampoofor every single dog that walks
in here.
We just don't have it.
It's and there's very fewpeople that are willing to pay
for that.
So, uh, I I'm willing to do itif you want to give me an extra

(07:05):
80 a month to spend on your dog.
You know, uh, special, I don'tget a discount.
There's no discount for mebuying.
I don't.
There's no magical groomingsupply warehouse somewhere that
we get that you don't.
I mean it's.
It's.
It's the same places you findonline, or the same places that
I get, so you can see the price.

(07:27):
It's not cheap and I don't.
There's no discounts for doggroomers.
There's no dog grooming shop.
So keep that in mind.
A lot of people don't realizethat and it's difficult to keep
up with those trends, especiallywhen they're all over Facebook
and TikTok and Instagram and inyour face.
Yeah, and they're adorable,they're super cute, but you know

(07:48):
we don't have a sewing machineup here to make a tie for your
dog.
We don't have a seamstress inhouse, not yet, I mean maybe one
day yeah.
So hopefully that helps and we,you know we've had somebody
that's called with the dog andsaid hey, you know, my dog
usually smells different.
Well, you know, I get that yourdog should have no smell other

(08:12):
than clean when it leaves hereand want a fresh little sound,
then we can definitely do thatfor you.

Speaker 2 (08:18):
Well, Shannon and Tanya, this was such a fun and
informative ride through theworld of grooming trends and
time-saving magic.
Thanks for sharing your wisdomand we'll catch you next time.
Thanks.

Speaker 4 (08:32):
See you.

Speaker 1 (08:36):
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.
That's 469-367-0009 to schedulean appointment, or visit us
online at wwwhoundtherapycom.

(08:59):
Serving North Texas with expertpet care.
Until next time, keep thosetails wagging.