Top 5 Pet Care Tips from Groomer Has It: Part 1

Other than just being a guilty pleasure on our DVRs, Groomer Has It, the first reality series from Animal Planet, has proven to be shearly addictive. Hosted by Jai Rodriguez from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Groomer is a contest for the pet industry, pitting 12 professional and amateur groomers against each other for the title of Top Dog (natch—"Groomer of the Year.") There are more cute (if cheesy) puns every episode— contestants take the "Quick Sniff Challenge", live "in the Dog House," and "get a leg up" on their rivals—but no more offensive than those you'd find on Bravo's Top Chef or Shear Genius.

Granted, it's a reality TV series, so the drama is heightened, the dialogue scripted, and the contests mere caricatures of their real-world archtypes, but still: it's surprisingly good. There's high production value and real tips for anyone—dog owner or dog walker, pet "parent" or pet sitter—dealing with different types of animals and grooming scenarios.

Check out some of the Top 5 Pet Care Tips we've picked up from the show so far:

1. Relationships
Not only is the relationship you have with a pet important, but the relationship you have with its owner counts for major points, too. The contestants—specifically Kathleen, Jonathan, Jorge, and Jasper—scored major points with pet owners and judges alike for the bond they created with the animals and the tenderness they showed towards them. Always remember that your "grooming table-side manner" is important in more ways than one.

2. Brushing
Every breed of dog or cat has their own individual grooming and brushing needs, and there are dozens of types of brushes available—but they each have a specific purpose. Contestants were judged on their ability to use the right brush for the right task. After acing the sheep shear using clippers, Will learned a VIP lesson, which he almost went home for (and in my mind, should have): Never use a slicker, pin, or wire brush to untangle mats on a dog's underside! He caused his Bearded Collie to yelp repeatedly after brushing out mats on the dog's private parts. OUCH! The proper way to detangle hair or fur on a dog's belly is to use lots of conditioner, slowly parting the mats with your fingers and a comb or other appropriate grooming tool.

3. Cat Grooming
When grooming a cat, the most important thing is to stay calm and relaxed. Unlike dogs, cats are more independent-minded, and they aren't interested in pleasing you or obtaining your praise. You only get one shot to gain a cat's respect, so slow and steady wins the race. Even the gentler, more obvious animal lovers on the show—including self-professed crazy cat lady Jessica—were bitten and scratched by the frenzied felines. In the words of the show's producers, "Meowza!"

4. Whiskers
Never cut a cat's whiskers. The whiskers on a cat, more so than on a dog, are the animal's way to sense by touch and to balance, especially in the dark. If you cut off a cat's whiskers, you interfere with their natural equilibrium, and it takes the whiskers about a week or two to grow back. (Malissa went home in a recent episode for making this mistake, and then lying about it to the judges.) Granted, the cat will adjust, but it's better not to force that on them. So, moral of the story: keep those scissors away from the kittenfaces!

5. Stained Fur
When giving a dog a bath, it's easiest to clean the dark stains that accumulate around a dog's eyes, mouth, and ears by rubbing special whitener shampoo in those areas first, at the beginning of the bath, letting it set, and rinsing it out last, after using regular shampoo on the rest of the dog. If some discoloration still remains, repeat—unlike poor Sarah, who went home for stopping at one round. A definite no-no when you have show circuit handler-slash-owner-slash-groomer as one of the judges! A big tsk, tsk from Xavier.

Think you're cut out for professional dog grooming? Take the Groomer Has It grooming knowledge quiz on AnimalPlanet.com to find out—even apply to audition for Season 2 through The Groomer Mill blog.

Get the scoop every Saturday night at 9 p.m. EST, and check back in a few weeks for our full wrap-up of pet care tips after the Groomer Has It finale!

Comments

[Teresa Bontrager]

Groomer Has It is one show I have tried to view in it's entirety but unable to finish. Between the snide, cut throat remarks I would think the producer of a show could come up with something much more uplifting and productive. I love animals and groom my own poodles. If Groomer Has It is true to the grooming profession, I would be ashamed. Turn it around, make it positive!