Dog Groomer's Manual E-Book

Sue Gould

• Herausgeber: Crowood
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

The Dog Groomer's Manual is the definitive reference book covering all aspects of the work of the dog groomer. This highly illustrated book will help owners, students and professional dog groomers develop their skills and knowledge. It will enable them to adapt the principles of grooming appropriately, based on a systematic approach to understanding and observing the physical appearance, the nature, the lifestyle and the behaviour of the dog. The Manual covers the following: SCIENCE; The veterinary principles of anatomy and physiology that must inform good grooming practice, pre-grooming health checks, common parasites and skin diseases, infectious and zoonotic diseases. PRACTICE; Running a grooming business and the diverse standards of safety, hygiene and professionalism required in the grooming workshop; First Aid and what to do in emergency situations; handling and restraining the dog safely, grooming equipment and tools. ART; Grooming out the coat, bathing and drying, clipping, scissoring, hand stripping and plucking, styling, preventative healthcare products. Referenced to reliable sources of information and adhering to the requirements of City & Guilds, British Dog Grooming Association, and nationally recognized dog grooming qualifications, The Dog Groomer's Manual is the perfect companion for dog groomers around the world seeking to attain these internationally recognized awards. Superbly illustrated with 1000 colour photographs.

Leseprobe

THE

DOG GROOMER’S

MANUAL

A Definitive Guide to the Science, Practice and Art of Dog Grooming

Sue GouldMIfL, PGCE, LCGI

THE CROWOOD PRESS

First published in 2014 by

The Crowood Press Ltd

Ramsbury, Marlborough

Wiltshire SN8 2HR

www.crowood.com

This e-book first published in 2014

© Sue Gould 2014

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 1 84797 591 1

Veterinary advisors

Glen Cousquer MRCVS

Ewan Ferguson BVM&S, DVD, MRCVS

Photographs

Glen Cousquer

Sue Gould

Michael Trafford

Simon Fane

Diagrams

Hills Animal Health

Fig. 2.10.2 Budras, McCarthy, Fricke and Richter, Anatomy of the Dog (2001), page 5

Frontispiece: Michael Trafford

Dedication

To Thelma

For teaching me the skills of my profession; for giving me the desire to learn more and the inspiration to pass on those skills and that knowledge.

Thank you.

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Part 1: The Science of Dog Grooming

1

The History of the Dog Evolution; The Taxonomy and Phylogeny of the Dog; Breed Standardization and the Grouping of Breeds; Glossary of Canine Terms

2

Anatomy and Physiology The Skeleton; The Muscles; Body Temperature and Thermoregulation; The Reproductive and Urinary Systems; The Digestive System; The Cardiovascular System; The Respiratory System; The Eye and Vision; The Ear, Hearing and Balance; The Skin, Skin Disease and Skin Disorders; Hair and Coat Types

3

The Pre-grooming Health Assessment Check-list for a ‘Healthy’ Health Check

4

Parasites, Parasitism and Parasite Control Definitions; Endoparasites; Ectoparasites; Treatment and Prevention of Parasites

5

Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases of the Dog The Immune System; Infectious Disease; Vaccination; Zoonotic Diseases

Part 2: The Practice of Dog Grooming

6

Setting Up Practice and Creating Your Workspace Grooming Your Dog at Home; Commercial Grooming; Setting Up a Commercial Grooming Establishment; Reception and Administrative Duties

7

The Working Environment: Health and Safety, Hygiene and Environmental Protection Health and Safety; Hygiene; Minimizing Your Environmental Footprint

8

First Aid and Emergency Care First Aid; The Human Casualty; The Animal Casualty; First Aid Equipment

9

Handling and Restraining the Dog Handling; Restraining the Dog

10

Equipment and Tools Essential Equipment; Tables; Baths; Dryers and Drying Equipment; Non-electrical Tools for Grooming Out or Removing the Coat; Brushes; De-matting Tools; Combs; Trolleys and Grooming Boxes; Sterilizing Equipment

Part 3: The Art of Dog Grooming

11

Grooming Out the Coat Removing the Undercoat; Grooming the Smooth Coat; Grooming the Silk Coat; Grooming the Double Coat; Grooming the Wool Coat; Grooming the Wire Coat; Puppy Coats

12

Bathing Shampoo; Coat Conditioners; Bathing

13

Drying the Dog Drying Systems; Drying Methods

14

Clippers, Blades and Clipping Clippers; Blades and Their Uses; Clipping

15

Scissors and Scissoring Scissors; Holding and Operating Scissors; Exercises

16

Hand Stripping and Plucking Hand Stripping and Plucking; Plucking or Stripping: What is the Difference?; Maintenance Options; Conclusion: Styling guides

17

Styling Balancing a Style; Selecting a Style; Coat Characteristics and Patterns; Hairstyles; Layering with Scissors

18

Preventative Care and Procedures Ear Care; Nail Care; Care of the Anal Sacs; Dental Care; Removing Ticks

Tail Ends

Acknowledgements

Index

Foreword

A freelance lecturer, assessor and consultant, Sue Gould is also director of a busy dog grooming salon and groomers’ training school in West Dorset. A qualified teacher and City and Guilds Assessor with over thirty-seven years’ combined experience of the grooming industry and related fields, she also holds the Higher Diploma from the British Dog Groomers’ Association and is a member of the Guild of Master Groomers. She has worked in grooming salons internationally and ran her own commercial salon for fifteen years before turning towards more academic areas. Her ability has been recognized by the award of a Licentiate of the City and Guilds Institute and the only City and Guilds Medal for Excellence awarded for outstanding performance to a grooming tutor and lecturer in the 200-year history of the Institute. She is passionate about passing on her knowledge and the award of the only City and Guilds Student Medal for Excellence for grooming to one of her students not only bears testimony to her qualities as a teacher but provides a satisfying symmetry to her own achievements. Together, her experience, ability and interest in teaching the science behind what most pet groomers still regard as more of an art, make her uniquely qualified to write what may well prove to be a new benchmark text for her profession.

As a veterinary dermatologist with over twenty years of specialist clinical experience, our respective areas of interest overlap considerably. Although I might just lay claim to having seen more poor-quality coats than Sue, the breadth of her experience of breeds and coat types is unlikely to be matched by many veterinary surgeons. Invaluable emphasis has been placed on the recognition and understanding of what constitutes ‘normal’. Oddly enough, more time is devoted in medical and veterinary schools to teaching this than is devoted to teaching disease as it is only through instilling the knowledge of what is normal that the abnormal can be recognized. Normal can also be a lot more complicated than is usually recognized, for most owners are only truly familiar with their own pets. A professional groomer would have to consider the differences between not only individual animals, but also different areas of the body, grooming and shampooing practices, sexual status, breed, species and even time of year before even considering the impact of health on the coat.

As with any subject that engages people on both an intellectual and emotional level, a wide variety of opinions exist on almost every grooming topic. Unanimity of opinion is rare and this is further complicated by our rapidly advancing understanding of the genetics and mechanisms behind many dermatological disorders, and the appearance of new problems in our pets, such as polyresistant bacterial infections. It’s hard to keep up.

The first task, therefore, facing the author has been to separate the evidence from the anecdotes, the science from the dogma, the innovative from the over-optimistic, and then to leaven the mixture with her practical and academic experience. To this end, she has adopted a strongly structured approach which starts by leading the reader through the history of our association with and impact on the development of this popular companion animal. The inclusion of an introduction to the anatomy and physiology of the dog, as well as a guide to undertaking a thorough physical examination before grooming commences, reflects Sue’s interest in promoting the science behind the assumptions we tend to make all too easily.

Drawing on her experience of working in the industry, comprehensive advice is provided regarding setting up and running a grooming practice. This acts as a useful check-list for anyone contemplating starting out, as attention is drawn to considerations such as liability insurance and relevant legislation. It is only in the third section of the book that grooming techniques are specifically addressed, by which point the reader should ideally be working from a sound knowledge base in a safe, hygienic and appropriately equipped practice and able to acquire the practical skills described.

This book should provide a valuable reference for anyone interested in or undertaking pet grooming at any level. What is particularly welcome is the emphasis placed on understanding the complexities of the body systems that the groomer will interact with, for along with the ability of a competent and confident groomer to greatly improve the quality of life for an animal, comes the power also to inflict significant harm. Sue does her profession a considerable service by drawing attention to this and sets out a framework for safe, effective practice in a profession that, as yet, remains unregulated.

Ewan Ferguson BVMS DVD MRCVS

RCVS Recognized Specialist in

Veterinary Dermatology

Introduction

This book has been conceived and written to support you faithfully at every stage of your development as a dog groomer, whether you simply aspire to care for your own dogs at home or aim to carve out a career as a professional groomer. Whatever the extent of your ambitions (and they may change with time), this book will provide you with all the information you need to help you become the best groomer that you can be.

It is not a book about traditional styling of dogs; there are other books available to serve that purpose. It is, instead, a book that reaches deep into the field of a speciality subject to give you a comprehensive understanding of everything that the professional groomer and those caring for the grooming requirements of dogs should know in order to do their job well.

There are no hard and fast rules as to how a dog should be styled, any more than there is a specific hairstyle that we are all expected to wear – the choice of style is merely down to the preferences and the requirements of the owner.

It is for you to find meaning in your grooming and this book will help you to work together with your canine subjects and their owners to create an end product that meets the expectations of the owner and the needs of the dog; perhaps most importantly, it will also teach you the safe way(s) to work so that you and the dogs you work with stay safe from injury and protected from illness and disease.

Dog grooming is immensely rewarding. It can prove to be an enormously satisfying experience for the dog-loving home groomer, encouraging the development of strong bonds between owner and pet as they engage in a (usually mutually) pleasurable activity. Grooming can also provide the commercial groomer with a rewarding career and an excellent income. This line of work can be great fun, especially if you enjoy working with dogs.

Whether your intention is to groom your own pets or to develop a career in grooming, the knowledge and principles that inform this practice are the same for everyone; you simply apply and adapt them to your own situation. There are many competent home groomers who become very skilled and go on to work commercially as professional groomers. You may be the next person to decide to go down that route so from here on you are all ‘groomers’ and this book is for each and every one of you.

According to the Millennium Edition of the Collins English Dictionary, the word ‘groom’ is defined as ‘to rub down, clean and smarten (a horse, dog, etc.)’ or ‘to train or prepare for a particular task or occupation’. This book will help dog owners, dog grooming students, kennel staff, veterinary nurses and even professional groomers and trainers of dog groomers develop their skills, knowledge, understanding and proficiency in this field. As such, this book fulfils both definitions, for it seeks to groom groomers in the art of dog grooming.

It could be argued that, in the correct sense of the word, a ‘groomer’ is merely responsible for cleaning and brushing the coat, whereas it is perhaps the job of a stylist to fashion the coat. There is perhaps a certain merit in this argument but the counter-argument is that the role of both groomer and stylist is to care for the skin and the coat of, in this case, the dog. As this may include removing some of the coat in the interests of welfare or lifestyle, we can justifiably refer to everyone working within this field as ‘groomers’; after all, the foundations and principles of both roles are the same!

A competent groomer can be the creator of incredible living sculptures, as well as tidy, practical ones. The groomer’s raw materials are, of course, the dog and his hair coat. But how are these transformed and how does the groomer go about achieving the desired result? What else does the groomer need to know and what is required to set up and run a grooming salon? This book aims to answer these questions and will develop your potential and ability as a dog groomer, whether you are just starting out or have been trimming dogs for some time.

Grooming is not, however, something that can be learnt in a hurry, for we are not born with the expertise to be dog groomers. It requires many months of patience, practice and hard work to develop your skills and many hours of study to build up your knowledge and understanding of the subject. The time required depends on you as an individual and varies according to the hours and opportunities you are able to invest in your training and development. This should not put you off, however. Far from it, this simply means that you can look forward to learning and developing throughout your career.

A dog groomer is far more than a trimmer of dogs. Groomers are uniquely positioned to promote the welfare of dogs in their care and, whilst grooming and styling may be fun, the groomer should not overlook or underestimate their responsibility of care for the dog’s overall health and, most importantly, for the dog’s largest organ: the skin. The more you learn about dogs and their welfare, the more competent you will become in recognizing the signs of illness and disease. The development of this ability can benefit the dog as an individual, but may also contribute significantly to the improved welfare of the canine species.

A well-trained groomer needs a thorough understanding of the dog as a species, allied with a good working knowledge and understanding of canine anatomy, physiology, disease control, parasitology, behaviour, psychology and the many breed-specific problems. In addition to being an art, grooming is a science, based on a systematic approach to understanding and observing the physical appearance, the nature and the behaviour of the dog.

Professional practice is about so much more than the creation of a piece of art and requires the practitioner to have a greater understanding of their wider responsibilities. The lives of many dogs have been saved by a well-informed and attentive groomer who has remained vigilant when dealing with the animals in his or her care. By contrast, there have been many dogs’ lives put at risk, or even lost, by a groomer who has neglected or been unaware of their responsibilities.

The regular contact the groomer has with individual dogs (some being seen and worked with as often as every four to six weeks), coupled with the fact that these dogs are physically handled and thoroughly examined throughout each session, invariably means that the groomer will often be the first to notice when something is wrong. This book does not, therefore, shy away from developing the groomer’s ability to evaluate the health of the dog and identify problems that would render a dog unfit for grooming or justify seeking veterinary attention and advice.

This book contains photographs of some of the many ailments and diseases that you may encounter and I have no doubt that you will see many more that I have not included. The intention is to show you how to understand and recognize the healthy animal and how to recognize when the dog presented for grooming is unhealthy. Some of the many problems I have included are breed-specific problems that can be attributed to the genetic make-up of a particular dog. Others reflect the onset of age-related illness or disease, whilst there are those that arise from accidental injury. Familiarizing yourself with these examples will, it is hoped, encourage you to continue learning during your career so that you can be an effective link between the owner and the veterinarian.

The information in this book is not in any way a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. Nor is it intended to undermine any veterinary advice or beliefs. Whilst the owner is the primary carer of the dog and is responsible for the dog’s day-to-day care, the veterinary surgeon will usually only perform a clinical examination of the dog once a year as part of a yearly health check and vaccination programme. By contrast, the regular physical examination undertaken by groomers provides a unique opportunity for the dog to receive a thorough ‘going over’. This can allow the early identification of health problems; these can then be brought to the attention of the owner and vet. It is therefore suggested that the groomer and the veterinary professional can and should develop a good working relationship that is very much in the dog’s best interests. To do this successfully, the groomer needs to be well informed and observant whilst never overestimating the extent of his or her responsibilities. Recognizing the signs of disease or a change in health status is the job of the groomer. Diagnosis is the responsibility of the veterinary surgeon.

WHY THIS MANUAL IS DIFFERENT

This manual is different in several ways and seeks to provide the learner and the teacher with a reliable and comprehensive reference source.

(i) Reliability

The dog grooming profession is unregulated and the information available in books, on the various internet websites and from training establishments is not standardized or referenced and is often contradictory. In most cases information and advice is based largely on the views, preferences and opinions of trainers or author(s) who are often self-taught. This is particularly evident within information and advice on styling and the use of tools and equipment; these are, very often, based on fashion or the personal preferences of the individual. The quality of training in any subject is determined by the experience, proficiency, knowledge base and commitment to lifelong learning (and continuing professional development) of the training provider, together with their willingness to subject their practice to critical review. Partiality and inconsistency in information can be very confusing and misleading to any student, but particularly to those who are trying to learn without the support and guidance of an experienced professional.

The biggest problem I have encountered during my very long career (first as an apprentice, then as a commercial groomer and now as a trainer and lecturer in City and Guild courses on dog grooming) is the content of the information available on the internet, circulating in chat forums and written in grooming manuals and articles. Whilst there are several good sources, there are multitudes of others that provide unreliable and inconsistent information that cannot be referenced to a dependable source and where the content is incorrect or misleading. In some cases the information and advice on offer can lead to disastrous results and expensive mistakes, and in a few instances it can even be dangerous or may result in animal neglect or cruelty.

Much of the content ‘out there’ is therefore unreliable and of poor quality. Sadly, the learner trying to progress without help and guidance will be unaware of this distinction and may struggle to distinguish between the good and the bad. Vacancies for apprenticeships in a professional grooming salon working with qualified supervisors are few and far between. Training providers have limited spaces and fees for complete courses are often out of reach for most. So, for many (perhaps even the majority) of learners, the only option available is to self-teach without help or guidance. Groomers who find themselves having to self-teach need to guard against this risk and actively seek out reliable sources of information and quality support and training.

This book is designed to address this very problem. It draws on my thirty-five years’ experience, both as a professional groomer and as a college lecturer. It is not, however, based on my personal opinion(s) and the material has been painstakingly researched and carefully written in collaboration with an experienced veterinary professional. Wherever possible, it has been referenced to sources of reliable information from research journals, papers and books, thus going some way towards standardizing the information required by groomers. Many of the sources of information are freely available to you all for further reading.

It is hoped that this work will also go some way towards promoting minimum standards within the grooming industry. Raising standards and the promotion of good practice can lead to the professionalization of this line of work. Indeed, if pursued, this could lead to dog groomers becoming increasingly respected for their professionalism.

(ii) Scope, breadth and depth

Another related problem is the lack of breadth and depth in the information provided.

There are many grooming books and websites available but they are limited in their introduction to the profession and the purpose of grooming; they are, instead, generally aimed at the end product – the traditional styling of the dog. The dogs shown are usually very different from the average pet dog. In the majority of cases, styling is often unrealistic for the average pet leading an average lifestyle and living in the average home.

Such books are of little help to the inexperienced groomer when faced with the practical, day-to-day reality of grooming the multitude of pet dogs (of all shapes, sizes, ages and condition) that are brought into salons every day. Each dog is an individual. There are over 400 million of them in the world and there are no two the same – even from the same litter! You cannot know which of these 400 million are going to come knocking at your salon door and, when they do, they won’t be anything like the dog in the book.

There are several reasons for this:

the dog is unlikely to be a beautifully coated show dog like the one in the photograph (show dogs hardly ever find their way into a pet grooming salon because the dog and his coat are far too valuable);

the dog will not always look like the breed he is supposed to represent (if you do not know your breeds, this will be even more confusing!);

the dog may not even be the breed he is purported to be (accidents do happen!);

the dog will rarely be in immaculate condition (which is why they are in your salon – the owner is unable or unwilling to groom the dog);

the dog probably will not have a correct coat type (they may have a damaged or incorrect coat for showing, which is why they are lucky enough to be someone’s pet);

very often the owner does not want the dog to be trimmed in the recognized breed haircut (it may be unsuitable for their lifestyle or they love the breed but do not like the hairstyle); and

the dog on your grooming table is not a drawing or a model and … he probably will be unwilling to stand still for starters!

Until you know what you are doing and how to do it, it does not matter how hard you try – it is unlikely that you will be able to achieve the picture in the book. For many, this can make the process of learning to groom extremely difficult and very disheartening, particularly if you are trying to teach yourself. But do not lose heart!

As a learner, you do not need another book to show you what a particular breed of dog looks like when it is trimmed because there are plenty already available. What is far more useful to you is a book that advises you on how to develop your skills and use your tools to the point where you can create whatever coat style you, or the owner, desire.

This book will also help you to set up your working environment and to select those tools that best suit your individual requirements. It will then explain how to use them to style any dog into any shape you want, whether the dog is a Cocker Spaniel in elegant show trim or the same dog in a clipped down, pet trim.

A specific set of clippers or a particular comb may suit one person but not another. My observations, as a teacher, have taught me that a vast selection of equipment is needed to suit the needs, preferences and requirements of a group of students. Students are not all the same physically. They arrive at all ages, in all shapes and sizes, and possess different strengths and weaknesses. Some work with their left hand, some with their right; some have physical restrictions and some master the same skills as others but by using a different technique and, sometimes, by using different tools. Some will perfect their skills more quickly than others, some need to discover a learning environment or teaching style that meets and respects their personal learning needs and preferences; even gender can make a difference. My chosen tools are those I have found suit me best and the same will apply to you. The most expensive or the most popular do not always represent the best investment for you personally.

This book explains the differences and options available to you when buying your tools and equipment so that you can buy wisely and appropriately. Having carefully chosen your tools, we discuss and learn how to use them safely. The importance of this last point cannot be overstated as most accidents in the grooming room are caused by misuse of equipment and ignorance of the dangers involved.

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM READING THIS BOOK?

Anyone and everyone with an interest in grooming their own pets or wanting to be a professional groomer!

The book is aimed at all levels and will appeal to:

dog owners seeking to learn how to groom their own pets;

trainee, student and apprentice groomers;

grooming professionals undertaking further training/continuing professional development; and

teachers and lecturers responsible for teaching animal care and dog grooming.

The reader, regardless of their ambitions, will be encouraged to think carefully and methodically about the requirements of grooming and why they are necessary. Comprehensive background information will be presented to explain why and how we do what we do. Fundamental principles and core skills can then be further developed according to the reader’s stage of learning.

Wherever possible, this book has been referenced to documented research and dependable sources of information to provide a responsible and reliable manual for students working towards City and Guilds Professional Groomer status and the British Dog Groomers (BDGA) Higher Diploma, and students aiming to achieve grooming units as part of National Diploma qualifications in Animal Management and other related subjects, together with other relevant National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs). It will be particularly useful for students who do not have access to training courses, part-time students on short courses or those who are unable to complete all of their training under supervision.

This guide could also be used in conjunction with a distance learning course in grooming. It is not, however, a substitute for practical training under qualified supervision. The author recommends that all such students start by attending a practical introductory course at the very least, or gain work experience in a good grooming salon.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

This book has been divided into three sections.

Part 1: The Science of Dog Grooming

The first part of this book covers the core scientific units that underpin the subject of dog grooming and provide a factual foundation to sound, well-reasoned practice. I would like to stress at this point that it is not possible to deal comprehensively with each of these subjects, for each has become a scientific discipline in its own right, extending far beyond the realms of this book. This text is, however, designed with the groomer and grooming practice very much in mind and should provide the reader with an appreciation and good working understanding of the dog. You are therefore encouraged to read this section and refer to the further reading list and other sources for more information.

The topics covered in Part 1 are all significant in their own way and will help to develop an awareness of their role in (and relevance to) the health and welfare of the dog. An understanding of the animal you are working with prepares you physically and mentally to handle the dog safely, competently and with confidence, throughout the grooming process. The anatomy of the dog, relevant canine health issues and a description of the pre-grooming assessment are all found in this section, providing essential, practical, useful information for groomers, tutors and dog owners alike.

Disease control and preventive health care is vital in the maintenance of the health and well-being of the dogs in your care and the wider dog population. Recognizing possible clinical signs and understanding the importance of vaccination and biosecurity help the groomer manage the risk posed by infectious as well as zoonotic diseases.

An awareness and understanding of the behaviour and psychology of the dog are also important, and these topics are covered in Chapter 9, Handling and Restraining the Dog, and will help you to read their body language and communicate with your canine subject and them with you, on a level that you both understand. This is essential if you are to develop a better idea of how to keep yourself and others safe and how to recognize signs of stress, anxiety and frustration.

Part 2: The Practice of Dog Grooming

The second part of the book looks in detail at the practice of dog grooming and the fundamentals of the grooming process. Starting with Health and Safety, it also covers legislation, the working environment, salon design and organization, grooming tools and equipment. This section can be read in its entirety or dipped into for specific information, using the contents or index.

The principles of First Aid must be understood. Wherever possible, regular training should be undertaken in order to refresh and further develop the skills necessary to allow the groomer to deal with all minor and, indeed, major injuries and thereby save and preserve life. This is an important and much overlooked subject for anyone working with, or owning, an animal. Accidents happen and they are, by their very nature, unplanned and unpredictable. Understanding the extent of your responsibilities and preparing yourself for such eventualities can save time and, occasionally, lives.

Finally, we review the options available when purchasing your equipment. Selecting the right tools and equipment to perform the task is often a difficult and daunting choice for the new groomer as there is such a wide range available. It is important that you understand the choices of equipment that are available to you so that you buy wisely. This section examines those choices and shows you how to use your tools so that you are prepared for the vast array of coat types, coat variations and coat conditions that make up the groomer’s work load.

Part 3: The Art of Dog Grooming

This is the fun section!

The art of grooming is about styling or artistry. An artist skilled in the techniques of an art or craft is often called a ‘craftsman’, and a craftsman who excels in his chosen craft can earn the accolade ‘master craftsman’. As you become more experienced and proficient in dog grooming, you learn how to blend science and artistry together. Your talent, hard work and effort may thus, in time, lead you to become a master groomer.

As with all art forms, the raw materials have to be correctly prepared. Your raw materials are the dog and his coat.

This section takes you through a step-by-step guide to help you to become the best that you can be, whatever your level of learning. Preparation, grooming out, bathing and drying procedures are covered in detail. This section also covers clipping, scissoring and styling skills and interpreting the dynamics of trimming styles.

As already stated, this is not a book on traditional grooming styles. It is not based on my views and it does not have a ‘this is how you must do it’ approach. The end product depends very much on the owner’s wishes, the age and condition of the dog and the dog’s lifestyle. There is not therefore a ‘correct style’ for any one dog; departures are possible from traditional pedigree breed styling. What I aim to show you is how to use your tools so you can create your own images or generate a style that meets the requirements of the owner and the dog. Traditional styling as required for City and Guilds exams will, however, be covered.

It is my intention to make good use of my experience as an instructor to help you to recognize what you personally need to do to develop your skills, knowledge and understanding. I aim to help you to learn and to encourage you to continue learning and investing in yourself, to help you make educated decisions, and to become confident in the knowledge that you have done your best to learn your trade well. Above all, I hope you enjoy the learning experience and find the career that you are embarking upon as rewarding as I have.

And never forget that grooming should be a pleasurable experience for both the dog and the groomer. It is a time when bonding and communication takes place through touch, by feel, through the establishment of mutual trust and respect and by learning to work together. We are privileged that the dog participates and shares in this pleasure.

Other learning aids and features

Photographs are used extensively to provide additional visual information in order to illustrate key learning points. Each image has been carefully chosen to complement the text and carries a caption that provides any necessary or additional explanations. In addition to photographs, you will find the following learning aids and features:

(i) Alert boxes and Note boxes

Alert boxes are highlighted in pink and are used to emphasize key health and safety issues. In some cases they are used to draw attention to a recognized hazard and the need for a risk assessment.

Example:

ALERT

Dogs are not ornaments. They are intelligent animals, who in many cases have not received correct training or adequate handling by their owners.

Every dog being groomed will have a first visit to a groomer or be groomed for the first time by their owner. This can be a daunting or even traumatic experience for the animal, particularly if the dog is several years old when first introduced to the brush and comb. Any traumatic experience can cause a dog to become defensive.

Dogs are rarely – if ever – sedated for grooming. Grooming any dog is therefore a risky business and throughout this book there is a strong emphasis on Health and Safety. Learning to respect the dog, your tools and the Health and Safety warnings from this page onward will help you to remain vigilant and to keep you and the dog safe.

Note boxes are highlighted in blue and are used to extract from the main text useful information and points that may need special consideration. They are also used as reminders and for checklists.

Example:

NOTE

To groom your pet at home you need:

plenty of natural light;

somewhere safe and suitable to groom your pet;

a table or workbench to stand him on with access to an electric power supply;

something to bath him in with access to a water supply and drainage;

dog shampoo and possibly a conditioner;

towels;

a hair-dryer;

grooming equipment for your particular dog;

either a grooming tunic or old clothing to protect you; and

a plastic bag or dustbin for the hair.

(ii) References and further reading

To help you expand your knowledge, references and suggestions for further reading are included at the end of each chapter.

(iii) Breed profiling

Breed profiling is covered in the first part of the book and will be of enormous benefit to you. Not only will profiling give you an in-depth knowledge of the breeds of dog you need to familiarize yourself with, it will also alert you to health issues and problems, temperament issues and anomalies specific to that breed. As a groomer these differences do have a bearing on your work and they also give you the knowledge to advise owners on a suitable breed for their lifestyle and their budget.

(iv) Glossaries

There are two glossaries in this book. The first is a glossary of breed-specific terminology, which is useful when you are learning about breed profiling. It can be found at the end of Chapter 1. The second is a short glossary on veterinary terminology to help you with the descriptive vocabulary used in anatomical and physiological science. It can be found at the end of Chapter 2.

Notes for students using this book for revision

As a student of dog grooming, it is possible that you may be largely self-taught and revising for exams without guidance. Many of you are adults who are possibly embarking on a career change and for some it may be part-time study, juggling around a busy family life. As your school days, with focused learning and few commitments, drift further into the distant past, examinations become more daunting and revision more difficult. This is quite often because, as you progress in years, your life becomes busier and you have more responsibilities. Consequently, your brain has more information to process every day and focusing on a new subject is often difficult.

Grooming books may help you to see a style, but you will need to vary your reading to improve your knowledge and understanding of the dog, its mentality and its needs.

Here are a few points to help you study:

1.

Start at the beginning and don’t skip backwards and forwards through the book. You may miss something and get yourself confused or scare yourself because you don’t understand something in its correct context.

2.

Do not overload yourself with facts. Pace yourself and read only a few pages at a time. You may need to read the same few pages a second time. Be comfortable with your understanding of the information in those pages before you proceed further. Reading too much will only confuse you and start you worrying.

3.

Use a pen or pencil to underline any important words in a sentence. This cuts down the amount of words you need to remember.

For example: the sentence ‘Cleaning is a key factor in ensuring the health and safety of the people and the animals in the grooming environment and promoting the business image to the customers’ contains twenty-nine words. Underlining the important words – ‘Cleaning is a key factor in ensuring the Health and Safety of the people and the animals in the grooming environment and promoting the business image to the customers’ reduces it to fourteen words.

You will remember this as: ‘cleaning ensures Health and Safety of people, animals, the environment and promotes business image’.

In a long chapter with a lot of facts or details, highlighting only the bits you need to remember will help you to focus on them.

4.

If the context of what you are reading contains lots of facts, rewrite them as bullet points so that you only have a short list to remember.

For example, under the heading ‘Cleaning’, the following bullet points could be listed:

Health and Safety of people.

Health and Safety of dogs.

Promotes image.

5.

Familiarize yourself with the Glossary early on in your reading and consult it as a matter of habit when you are unclear about the meaning of certain terms. In this way the book will make more sense as you read through it and every time you return to it.

The ‘Glossary of Canine Terms’ has generously been made available by the Kennel Club of Great Britain. It is less important in your early stages of learning, but you will become more familiar with these terms as you study your breed profiles. When doing profiles, make sure you understand the terminology for each breed – particularly coat colouring and physical traits. You then drip feed yourself the information that you need to know and remember as you progress through the breeds.

6.

Stop calling it an exam and refer to it as a test! Every moment of your conscious life you are performing tests. If you are asked any question and have to give an answer, someone is testing your knowledge. If someone asks you to do something – no matter how trivial – they are testing your ability. You perform these tests all day, every day without a second thought. Exam is a scary word. Change the word and stop scaring yourself silly!

7.

When you start to revise, spend a few moments creating a mental image of your grooming area in your head. Prepare and organize your workspace, ensuring everything is in its place and ready for work. It can be very helpful to visualize the grooming process, picturing yourself working smoothly and confidently through the task.

When you sit your test paper, picture yourself in the same grooming area doing the tasks in the question. The question will be less daunting and your answer more thorough. Conjuring up such positive images is a valuable part of your preparation and helps you to stay focused and confident throughout your test.

8.

Remember that Health and Safety is of paramount importance in all situations. Health and Safety issues are assessed in your test(s) and, once you are qualified, continue to influence your practice in many ways. Extract the Health and Safety issues from the text in each chapter and make sure you understand their importance.

9.

By learning to profile a particular breed of dog and creating a mental picture of it in your head, you will not only be able to answer questions about the breed, you will also be able to answer questions about the grooming and trimming requirements of that breed. It will help you to identify breed traits in cross-bred dogs and, even without seeing the dog, it will provide you with a clearer picture of what size the dog will be, the type of coat you can expect to be working with and what trimming style will suit the dog. You will also be more aware of any heritable factors that require consideration, including temperament and behavioural issues.

I sincerely hope this book meets and surpasses all your expectations and makes a significant and lasting contribution to canine welfare, the advancement of good grooming practice and the development of the grooming profession.

The practice of grooming is informed by a sound and rigorous body of knowledge; this scientific body of knowledge is constantly evolving but can, broadly speaking, be considered reliable. The competent and conscientious groomer needs to be conversant with this body of knowledge in order to play what can be a large and very important role, both in maintaining the health and welfare of the dog, and in educating the owner. It is this knowledge, the so-called science of dog grooming, that is presented over the next five chapters.

During the grooming process, the groomer is able to make a thorough assessment of the dog.This assessment can be particularly and surprisingly thorough, for the grooming process often takes several hours. Furthermore, the groomer can expect to see each dog on a regular basis throughout the dog’s life, and he or she will see many transformations as the dog develops from puppyhood to adulthood and through into old age. The structure and physical appearance of the coat will change as the dog ages and the groomer will witness these changes. The groomer may also see other changes, however, and will need to remain attentive, for these could signify the early stages of illness or disease.

Most coat changes are to be expected and are quite normal; others are less obvious and may be abnormal. Some are associated with breed-specific problems that may be present from birth or develop over time, and the groomer needs to be aware of the breeds in which this is likely to occur. The signs of illness and diseases are often very subtle in the early stages of development and, depending on the age and health status of the dog, early effects can be more or less problematic. Disease is mentioned here because the groomer can be expected to encounter signs of disease and therefore can alert the owner and the vet to any such changes early, and also because the groomer has a role to play in the prevention of disease. Bio-security, and protecting others from the spread of illness and disease, is very much a responsibility of the grooming professional.

In many cases the groomer is totally responsible for all of the dog’s grooming needs and the dog is therefore dependent on the knowledge of the groomer to identify not only when their health and welfare are being compromised but when medical help is required. Knowing when to refer the dog to a vet for assessment (and knowing when to refuse a dog for grooming) is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. The groomer must always remain aware of the significance, extent and limitations of their responsibilities and, whilst they are in a position to recognize that things are not ‘right’, they cannot be expected to be familiar with the wide range of clinical signs of disease. They should, however, feel able to advise that an owner seek veterinary advice where something appears abnormal. Early recognition will assist the veterinary professional to make an early diagnosis and can improve the dog’s chances of recovery.

The welfare of the dog as an individual and the survival of the dog as a species depend to a large extent on how we, as their promoters and providers, manage them. The groomer will be responsible for the well-being of possibly thousands of dogs during their career and the expertise of the conscientious professional can have a significant impact, not only on the general health of the dog, but also on disease and parasite control and on breed development. The significance of the groomer’s practical experience working with and handling each dog, together with their knowledge of behaviour, physiology (how the body functions) and nutritional needs, can be a real asset to the future of the domestic dog, the owner and the veterinary professional. This experience is not acquired easily and, if you are new to the subject of canine care, it may take several years for you to develop your knowledge base.

Part 1 contains the latest scientific knowledge about the dog, and will help you to acquire a good working understanding of this creature. We need to understand the dog’s history and make-up. The following chapters will therefore introduce you to the dog’s evolutionary history, anatomy and physiology, and some of the more common diseases and ailments to which dogs can fall victim.

Each of the chapters in Part 1 has a bearing on the work of the groomer. So let’s begin by taking a brief look at where dogs came from, how they developed and how they have found their place in modern society.

1 The History of the Dog

A general knowledge of the ancestry of the dog and how he has evolved will help you to keep yourself safe and to work within your limitations. Grooming requires a compromise between dog and groomer. To make that compromise you need to have an understanding of the mentality of the dog, a respect for the work that the dog was bred to perform and an appreciation of how long the breed has been a domestic pet rather than a working companion.

So, why do we need to groom dogs anyway? The short answer is because they can no longer do it for themselves. The long answer is that we, as their custodians and guardians, have over the last few hundred years developed our canine friends to suit our lifestyle(s), tastes, expectations and requirements. Consequently, their current existence and physical appearance means that, in many cases, we have taken away their ability to attend to their own grooming needs. The following chapter explains how this has happened.

1.1 EVOLUTION

The evolution of the dog from his prehistoric ancestors to the domesticated pet that shares our lives and our homes, and now sits curled up on the chair beside you, has taken the dog on a very long journey. Along the way, his appearance has evolved according to the environment, the ecological niche that he has occupied and the selective pressures placed upon dogs at any given point in history.

There are several ways in which the evolution of a species can be traced and mapped out. The existing records for many species, including the dog, are incomplete and we can only speculate about the missing links. There appear to be two problematic questions; the first centres around the identity of the dog’s ancestors, the second around how and when the dog came to be domesticated.

The dog’s ancestors

It remains unclear whether the dog as we know it today is descended from the wolf or whether it is descended from a very close relative of the wolf. We do know, however, that they both share the same ancestry and that they, along with coyotes, jackals, raccoons and foxes, all evolved over the same period of time.

We also know that, genetically speaking, all dogs, despite their different appearances, are very similar. Up until very recently, if a canine DNA sample was taken for analysis, without prior knowledge of who the donor was, the analyst could have identified the animal as a dog but would have been unable to determine the dog’s breed. Recent advances in canine genomic research, however, have established that the range of shape and form seen in the modern domestic dog is due to man’s selection of a small number of specific mutant genes (Ratliff, 2012). These genes can now be recognized, opening up the way to precise DNA fingerprinting for dogs.

The dog’s family tree stretches back some 30,000 years. The following account highlights some of the key points and findings that have emerged in science’s attempt to unravel the origins of the domestic dog. These findings have come to us through studies in a wide range of fields, including palaeontology, archaeology and molecular biology. Whilst fossil remains of the ancestors of the dog are scarce, there have been a number of finds that have allowed palaeontologists to study and piece together the evolution of the dog’s prehistoric ancestors.

The first truly terrestrial vertebrates were amniotes and evolved in the late Carboniferous period (approximately 360 million years ago). These animals had developed internal membranes within their eggs; this allowed eggs to be laid on land, rather than in water, as was the case for amphibians. The mammalian lineage became distinct from the reptilian lineage about 320 million years ago. The first true mammals appeared during the early Jurassic period (200 million years ago). There are many gaps in the fossil records of these fish-eating creatures but, around 62 to 50 million years ago (around the time of the dinosaurs), a group of primitive carnivorous mammals called the Miacidae was evolving.

The Miacoidea family consisted of a diverse group of mammals, many of whom were small and lived in trees. Fossilized remains show that these mammals had dog-like cutting teeth and were plantigrade, meaning that they walked on the palms or soles of their feet. They were long, slim-bodied creatures and their carnassial teeth indicate that they were predatory animals, who probably looked a little bit like a polecat. It was these creatures that evolved into the carnivores of today.

Miacoidea existed for approximately 32 million years, and over a period of time divided into two families of carnivores: Viverravidae and Miacidae. This evolutionary process took place gradually during the Palaeocene and late Eocene periods (40 to 60 million years ago). One break-away branch, called Viveravines, is known to be the oldest ancestor of the cat. The other group, Miacidae, evolved to become the ancestors of all the existing Canid species, such as the wolf, bear, coyote, weasel and raccoon.

Following the Feliform–Caniform split some 42 million years ago, the Miacidae gave rise to Hesperocyon (meaning ‘Western Dog’), the oldest member of the Canidae family, dated at approximately 37 million years ago. The remains of this early canine ancestor were discovered in the American states of Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota and Colorado, as well as in Western Canada. Interestingly, evidence demonstrates that Canidae developed entirely in North America and did not migrate to Europe until much later in their development.

Hesperocyon were digitigrade, which means they walked on their digits (toes), with the long legs and body of a creature built for speed. This indicates that they had moved from their treetop lodgings and become land animals. Remarkably, the Lundehund, a native breed of dog from Norway, is still able to climb trees and rock faces with the aid of several additional toes on each foot.

In due course – about 23 million years ago – Hesperocyon developed into Leptocyon, thought to be the most recent ancestor of Canidae, although there is some controversy over the eventual fate of this mammal. Some accounts say that Leptocyon evolved into Tomarctus, while others say that Leptocyon and Tomarctus were breakaway branches of Hesperocyon. Regardless, Tomarctus gave rise to the dominant group of Canids that developed in North America and were destined to be the primary ancestor of the wolf and the dog.

By the Pleistocene period (about a million to half a million years ago) a variety of larger animals were evolving and we know that they became the foundation stock of wolves, dogs, coyotes, jackals and foxes. It is estimated that the dog, as we know him, probably evolved somewhere around 10,000 years ago and it is generally accepted that the small wolf found on the plains of India is his closest living relative.

The domestication of the dog

Much speculation surrounds the timing, history and circumstances of the dog’s domestication.

Fig. 1.1.1 Shepherd dogs herding and guarding goats as they drink from a mountain stream in the High Atlas of Morocco. In such areas local people still follow their animals nomadically in search of seasonal grazing, with shepherd and dog spending many months living and working together.

The oldest authenticated dog skull was found in Belgium and has been dated at almost 30,000BC (Germonpré et al, 2009), which is more than twice as old as the next oldest dog remains, found in Russia and Germany and dated at 14,000 years old. The skeleton of a medium sized Spitz-like dog with a tail that curled over its back was found in Denmark and is estimated to be from 8000BC. Skeletons have also been found in Iraq (6750BC), Jericho (6500BC) and India (3500BC), and historians have numerous accounts from China and India (4,000 years ago), whilst some 3,000 years ago Babylonian civilizations documented the value of their hunting dogs. Whilst Tomarctus may have evolved into the Canidae family in North America, the earliest dogs found there date from 1500BC, suggesting that, rather than develop there, the modern dog found his way back there from Europe.

So why and how did the dog become man’s best friend? Evidence for the domestication of the dog has become available through archaeological research but the reasons proposed for it happening are purely speculative. The earliest records point to domestication some 30,000 years ago. More extensive records are available showing that domestication was under way some 7,000 to 12,000 years ago, around the end of the last Ice Age. The first record of a dog buried together with a human dates from 12,000 years ago in Israel (Davis and Valla, 1978). Certainly by the time the Neolithic hunter reached Northern Europe, he had either domesticated the dog or, more probably, the dog had chosen to become domesticated! Excavations of Stone Age settlements have revealed evidence of humans and Spitz-type dogs, resembling the Husky, living in close proximity. The cat, by contrast, resisted domestication until many thousands of years later.

Dogs, like other canids, are opportunists by nature and some reports suggest that it was the dog’s visiting of human settlements to scavenge for food that eventually led to the building of mutual trust between man and dog. This is quite likely as the early dog would have benefited from not having to rely on hunting for his own food; humans, in turn, would have the advantage of an early warning system as the dogs would detect the arrival of unwanted visitors – animal or human. Other theories have been proposed to explain the dog’s domestication, including the hand-rearing of orphaned wolf cubs and the natural selection of wolves with a lower/ shorter flight distance. In the latter case, it is suggested that the least fearful animals developed a competitive advantage and were encouraged to stay around human living areas. Man’s original reasons for encouraging this behaviour are lost in time but may have included the recognition that the wolf could usefully render services such as guarding.

This mutual tolerance and acceptance of each other’s presence was probably the next step along the path towards domestication. Because of the wolf’s respect for hierarchical social structures and responsiveness to positive and negative stimuli (reward and punishment), it is easy to understand how the human easily came to dominate this sociable animal. Throughout history there have been countless recordings of working relationships where dogs have been trained to work alongside man (seeFig. 1.1.1). It is easy to understand how this happens, but the emotional bond between the dog and the human is far more complex to comprehend.

Dogs are surprisingly like us, which is probably why we get on so well. Dogs like to live in groups but retain their individual personalities, as do we. They work well together in teams and are good at learning their place within a social group, as are we, mostly. They nurture and expect respect from their young, as do we. They learn from each other, play together and seek approval from their peers, as do we. They appreciate close bodily contact, as do we. It is perhaps these attributes that explain why, of all the species that have evolved during man’s time on earth, it is the dog that has stayed by our side and moved with us from encampments to mud huts to high-rise buildings. Just like us, the dog is a highly adaptable opportunist and, when his work becomes unfashionable, he can change professions (seeFig. 1.1.2).

Over the course of history the dog has developed to suit the environment in which his ally, the human hunter-gatherer, lived and the demands placed upon him by his chosen master.

In the wild, left to his own devices, the early dog would reproduce naturally. The ability to attract a mate, reproduce and successfully raise young is a prerequisite for the survival of one’s genes. Competitive advantages can arise in many ways and reflect how well an individual is adapted to its environment. This selection process ensures that genetic variations that confer a disadvantage (or are no advantage) are not encouraged to survive, thereby ensuring that the wild type remains the same. Man, however, has introduced selection pressures that are not natural, as the following account explains.