Pup hair can require more upkeep than human hair — it needs to be washed, thinned, trimmed, shaped, and wrapped into looking neat and styled. Professional groomers pull out all the stops for dog shows and competitions in an effort to produce camera and crowd ready bouffants. Take a gander at some specialist groomers' best behind-the-scenes work.
If last year was telling at all, I'm excited to tune in and watch these groomers grow (and animals' hair . . . do the opposite) for season two of Groomer Has It. All joking aside, even if you missed the first episode over the weekend, check out this round's contestants so you'll be able to follow my weekly recaps of the new series airing Saturdays at 9 p.m. E/P on Animal Planet.
Well, the big premiere is finally here! I'm tuning in tonight – will you? Here are some more words you may hear in tonight's episode (provided by Animal Planet):
Scissoring: Groomers use sharp scissors and a metal comb to do finishing trim work on a dog’s coat. Scissoring is the technique groomers use to put the final touches on the coat after clipping and shaving.
Slicker brush: Slicker brushes are square, flat brushes with wire bristles are used to remove mats and tangles in a dog’s coat. Groomers usually follow up this technique with a metal comb to ensure they have removed all knots.
Snap-on combs: Snap-on combs are attachments for professional clippers. They allow groomers to control the depth of the cut and come in different blades that allow groomers to cut hair at different lengths. The attachments let groomers work faster and reduce fatigue.
See a couple more when you read more
Just two more days until Groomer Has It! I've pulled some more key terms you may hear on the show – from mucking to plucking, some of these words are new to me, too! Keep brushing up (har, har) and maybe you can shock your groomer on your pooch's next visit!
De-matting: When dogs shed, the fur sometimes remains below the surface of the dog’s top coat. If it is not removed, the shed can become matted. Groomers call the process of removing these mats de-matting. Removing mats can sometimes be painful for a dog, so groomers take special care to ensure the process is as comfortable as possible.
Dry bathing: If a dog does not require a full bath, some groomers will choose to dry bathe it. Many dry bathing products exist, including sprays and foams, which can eliminate grease or oil from the coat without having to get the dog wet.
Forced-air dryer: A forced-air dryer is tool that groomers use after towel drying a dog. A forced-air dryer shoots a powerful stream of air that not only dries the dog, but can help break up dead coat. Groomers are careful to never get the air stream in their eyes, ears, or mouths.
See a couple more when you read more
I just can't contain my excitement for Animal Planet's new series Groomer Has It, which premieres on April 12. The show's website has a great glossary of grooming terms and I figured we should brush up before the show starts.
Cage dryer: When using a cage dryer, groomers place a dog in a kennel. Then, they attach a dryer, similar to a fan, in front of the cage so the air circulates throughout the cage to dry the dog. The dryers have different settings so as not to overheat the dog. Kennel drying can be extremely dangerous if not properly supervised.
Carding: Carding is a process that removes the dead fur on a dog’s undercoat to eliminate shedding.
Clippers: Groomers use clippers to take length off of a dog’s coat. Groomers attach different blades and combs to the clipper, which works like a razor. To give the dog a proper cut, groomers run the clipper with the grain of the hair.
Coloring: Groomers use safe, nontoxic materials to dye dog fur. Some groomers use brushes to completely baste a dog’s fur. Others use blow pens, similar to airbrushes, to stencil designs or draw freehand on the dog’s coat.
