Physical Danger

Physical Danger

We could devote an entire page to this one. First, let's look at the animals you'll be grooming during a given day. You've got 110-lb. golden retrievers that would much rather jump off your grooming table than stand on it. You've also got terrified cats with razor-sharp claws. 

Unless you're lucky enough to have a hydraulic table you can raise and lower, you'll have to find a way to lift these big and/or sharp clients onto your workspace. Then you've got to hold them still—and sometimes hold them up—while you groom them. Oh, and did we mention they'll need to get down?

Let's assume you're able to outsmart the pets, or at least they don't send you to the hospital. You're still at the mercy of your grooming tools. Although your clipper blades are relatively innocuous, we can't say the same for your grooming scissors, which are really sharp. That's why they work so well. 

Unfortunately, animals don't always hold still while you're scissoring faces and feet, which means you could slice a finger or palm before you know it. Even if you manage not to bleed on the freshly washed dog, you'll still have to wipe the collateral damage off yourself.

Finally, remember all those repetitive clipping and scissoring movements can take their toll on your arms, wrists, and fingers. If you're making decent money by cranking out multiple dogs each day, the carpal tunnel might be a bit easier to take. Your clients might also toss you a few more tips if you flash your wrist brace at them.