PURRFECT PET PARLOUR

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO FOLLOW THIS PATH?

I chose pet grooming as a career because I am passionate about working with people and animals. I’ve loved animals since I was a child.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU DO

I not only groom cats and dogs in our parlour, but also rabbits and occasionally guinea pigs!

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO?

I trained with Alison at The Dog’s Whiskers. It’s the most popular dog parlour in Fish Hoek, so the training was top notch.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY

The first animal comes in at 8:30am. I wash/brush them and they go into a cage to dry, while I start on the next one. A er an hour, depending on the size, I would finish off the first pet and let the customer know their fur baby is ready for collection. I get an average of six pets coming in per day. The day ends with cleaning up the “office” and equipment, ready for the next day.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A PET GROOMER?

I love what I do! It brings me so much pleasure when the fur babies walk out of the parlour looking all clean and polished, and their parents are happy with the new look. I find my work therapeutic, if you can call it that.

I attend to admin such as sending out invoices and trying to get new clients with email campaigns.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST?

The flexibility. I can work on a Sunday morning and take a Monday morning off. Deciding when I work means I sit down at my computer when I’m most productive. That way I get a LOT of work done super-fast.

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE?

Tight deadlines and something called ‘name generation’, which is coming up with a name for a company or product. It sounds easy, but it’s very hard. People are picky about what they call their businesses.

ANY HURDLES YOU’VE HAD?

Getting the first client and keeping them happy was tough, since I had to build a relationship from scratch. But the biggest hurdle is probably something in the present - that gnawing feeling of financial insecurity that never goes away when you work as a freelancer.

YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE PART?

When people see a photo on the internet of a pet grooming style and ask if I can replicate it with a different breed. Most people don’t understand that dogs don’t all have the same hair texture. A Poodle’s hairstyle will not look the same on their Yorkie, for example. I have to explain to them that it’s not possible, and some people get disappointed.

WHAT HURDLES HAVE YOU HAD?

Not all customers will be happy with the outcome, even though I have delivered my best. Some pets need short cuts due to their fur being heavily matted or due to skin disease. Styling can only occur a er treatment and regrowth of a healthy coat.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT?

I was recommended by a customer to new clients from England.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS?

I’d like to venture into the publishing industry, which is no less daunting than working as a freelance writer.

EXPERIENCE VS FORMAL TRAINING?

Experience is way more important, specifically knowing how to deal with people on a professional level. Things like tone of voice over the phone and email. Just basically being polite while at the same time looking out for yourself, by which I mean knowing what you’re worth.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE STARTING OUT?

Believe that the work you produce is of a high quality and will be in demand. Don’t miss deadlines –and never send angry emails.

YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS

Exciting, Creative, Inspiring

I felt privileged to apply my skills on a foreign breed, and they were satisfied with the result. I delivered on the challenge with flying colours.

DO YOU HAVE ANY GOALS FOR THE FUTURE?

I would love to own and run my own parlour one day.

IS EXPERIENCE AS IMPORTANT AS FORMAL TRAINING?

Experience is actually even more important than formal training. I’ve been doing this for 15 years now, and still get dogs that test my experience and skills.

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK OR TRAITS ONE MUST HAVE?

It requires a lot of care and patience. You must be an animal lover and a cheerful person. Dogs are very sensitive and can respond to how you are feeling, and sometimes, they will act on it.

DESCRIBE YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS

Fun, challenging and good-business.

Benny Moeng