We met with professional Dog Groomer, Paul Herrington, to ask him what it’s like to tame the tresses of our doggy companions.
aul runs his dog grooming business from his home, in Leeds. (We weren’t sure what to expect from a home-based grooming salon. We had strange visions of dogs with curlers in, sat in a row, catching up on Corrie. How wrong we were.)
The set-up at Woofs and Scruffs is incredibly professional. Paul converted the downstairs of his house into a proper pooch parlour, complete with grooming tables, harnesses, stacks of towels, and walls lined with brushes and equipment etc.
How did you become a dog groomer?
It’s not the most obvious of professions to choose, is it? Paul hasn’t always been a dog groomer though. He had a senior position at a printers for 25 years, but he gave it up four years ago to lead a happier life. “There was a big opening in the market so we decided to just go for it,” he said. “We’re real pet lovers so the job couldn’t be better. Working with dogs every day, I mean, if you like dogs, it’s the perfect job. It doesn’t feel like work.”
"I wouldn't let anyone apart from Paul go near my gorgeous tresses. "
What exactly does a dog groomer do?
It’s not all just brushing glossy hair and putting in bows, you know.
“You can just do a wash, or a basic nails cut, but if the dog hasn’t been groomed for a bit, and it’s all matted up, you have to get it all cut off and start again.” Paul also checks the dog’s teeth, and looks them over in case there are any obvious health concerns.
A lot goes on behind the scenes too. “Every day, there’s towels to clean, and disinfecting to do - all your scissors, everything you’ve used.” Paul has created a strict routine, which he follows methodically to keep his dogs safe.
While we were there, Paul had THE most delightful young Spaniel in, named Benji. “Only his second time in, this puppy,” said Paul, “and he’s happy, wagging his tail.” Surely it can’t always be as easy as this, can it? Apparently not.
“We’re real pet lovers so the job couldn’t be better. Working with dogs every day, I mean, if you like dogs, it’s the perfect job. It doesn’t feel like work.”
Paul Herrington, Printer turned groomer
How do you handle dogs that don’t like being groomed?
“Obviously, you do get dogs that try to bite you the whole time if they don’t like their paws, or anything being touched, but you just do what you can, really. Do it a bit at a time.” Rather Paul than us, that’s for sure.
Paul’s troubles aren’t just nips and bites though; “The nature of them is funny sometimes. Some don’t stop wagging their tail, they’re that happy, but you just can’t groom them - they move all the time!”
What’s the worst thing about being a dog groomer?
In all honesty, we were expecting it to be the bites, but Paul’s had some genuinely upsetting experiences. “The worst was one that came in and was really, really neglected.” The dog’s hair had got so matted, and it was in such a terrible state that the vet had to anaesthetise him to be able to get all of it off. “The owner let it go too far.” This tale is a stark warning to all dog owners about the importance of regular grooming.
Tell us about your customers
Paul has over 300 customers now, and he’s booked up for the next eight to nine weeks. “I’m lucky that I work from home and can keep the overheads down. I just pass that on to the customer. Everyone seems happy, and I think that’s why I’m so busy.”
Paul has never had to advertise his business either, because his customers spread the word far and wide. “People come to me from Scarborough, and Wakefield. They travel to come to me, even from the Lake District.” Now that is some doggy dedication.
The friendly face that greets the daily canine customer
Do you have any difficult customers?
“To tell you the truth, I’m really lucky with customers. You’ll get some that are quite particular on the cut, that’s all. Some people like it really stylised.” Customers can be very specific over the cutting-edge layering and feathering techniques used on their precious pup’s coat apparently. Others, however, opt for a less adventurous look. “I’ve got one in this afternoon who likes a ‘Teddy Bear Cut’, so it’s all fluffy and everything.” Nice.
What’s the best thing about being a dog groomer?
“Obviously working with dogs, but working for myself as well. You take wage cuts to do this, and I’m not bothered, because it’s not about money.” The life of a dog groomer suits Paul perfectly, and he certainly seems to keep his customers happy (well, apart from the ones that give him a nip or two).
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