Dog Groomer Opens Customers' Eyes To Issues They're Ignoring

Laura Gedgaudaite feels proud to have a job beautifying every dog breed around. Working as a groomer provides her with endless opportunities to scratch dog bellies and watch the heartbreaking sweetness of an anxious dog finally relaxing and wagging its tail. It also allowed her to see a side of animals that few pet lovers ever got a glimpse of.

On the pamperer's end of the dog grooming business, it's not always so relaxing. Ensuring the comfort and safety of the dog and themselves can be a complex, physically exhausting challenge.

After years of fielding complaints from customers over the cost of keeping their fur pals primped and polished, Laura had had enough. Despite her customer's obvious love for their dogs, they really didn't understand the realities of the grooming business.

Most often, Laura heard the comparison of grooming to hairdressing. People wanted to know why their basic trim in a barber shop cost less than their dog's fresh cut. So, she devised a clever way of training her customers to behave as well as their pups.

On the wall of the pet salon, she posted her manifesto: "Top Ten Reasons Why It Cost More To Get Your Pet Groomed Than Your Own Haircut!" Comical in nature, her list made her customers laugh and, more importantly, taught obedience.

"You don't go eight weeks without washing or brushing your hair," her list said. It's become less popular to shampoo daily, but even still, most people keep it cleaner than doggies do. Groomers are tasked with providing the only regular bath many pets receive.

When you make a hair appointment, you make sure to block out time for big transformations. Often times dogs show up at the groomers matted, muddy, and tangled beyond the help of brushing. Beauty takes time.

The list continued: "Your hairdresser doesn't give you a sanitary trim." Hate to break it to you, but if you're taking your pants off during a haircut, that is out of the ordinary. Dogs require trims from eyebrows to ankles and every nook and cranny in between.

"Your hairdresser doesn't clean your ears." Ear care is one of the most important jobs in grooming. Parasites and bacterial infections have a huge impact on your dog's overall health and cause sensitivity, making it tough to address.

"Your haircut doesn't include a manicure or pedicure." Hairdressers, nail techs, estheticians — all separate certifications. Pet grooming? One stop shopping. Groomers charge separate fees for additional services but have to be well versed in the full gamut of pet hygiene.

"You're hairdresser only washes and cuts the hair on your head." One head with 7 different growth patterns would be a walk in the park for the average dog groomer. Facial areas, paws, armpits, and tails all require varied techniques of trimming, and usually, the customer is rather wiggly.

"The likelihood of you pooping on your hairdresser is pretty slim." Sadly, dogs can't ask where the toilet is. Whenever, wherever, the world is their commode. That means it's up to the groomer to drop the clippers and pick up the pooper scooper.

"Your hairdresser doesn't remove boogers from your eyes." Dog's eyes are more prone to goopy corners. Overactive tear ducts clear unwanted debris and hair out of those sad puppy dog eyes. Groomers wipe away the boogies and let pet parents know if it's standard discharge or something more serious.

"You sit still for your hairdresser." At least when you go to the salon, you're choosing to have your head handled. Groomers literally fight tooth and nail for the entire process of cleaning and cutting. Still, they manage to trim squirming pets without knicking them.

"You don't bite or scratch your hairdresser." If you do, please, stop! Groomers are prepared to catch a bite from a dog, even with all the precautions and restraints on hand in the salon. Accounting for pain and injury from the bite of a nervous or aggressive dog is common practice.

"Your hairdresser doesn't wash and clean your rear end." The whole "customer is a dog" thing makes this task much less awkward. Groomers don't shy away from the gross. They earn their wages by tackling unpopular tasks, and cleaning dog butts falls into that category.

The rules paint an unpleasant picture of the job of a groomer, but all professionals who dedicate their time to the career, above all, truly adore dogs. To make them look their best, dog, man, and groomer need to be on the same wavelength.

Laura explained how abiding by the rules ensures a comfortable space for pet and groomer, and it makes all the difference. "You have to be a strong person mentally to do this job," she said, "because the dogs can feel if you are afraid or angry; they feel the adrenaline and respond to it."

Dogs read the room better than anyone. Going to the groomers can be scary, so gentleness, confidence, and security go a long way in ensuring everyone has a best-in-show experience. That goes double for pet parents of show dogs. After all, if you're going for number one you have to look your absolute best.

At beauty pageants, they tell you to suck it in. At dog pageants, you gotta suck it up! Getting all the drool off before the big show (and even in-between stage visits) is necessary for certain slobbery breeds, like bloodhounds, bulldogs, boxers, and St. Bernards. Nothing will get you disqualified faster than dribbling on the judges' shoes.

Before you even get in the door, your vehicle must be inspected by the American Kennel Club. They wanna see a setup that would keep your dog safe no matter what. If you're gonna own a prize-winning show dog, you gotta pull all the stops. A generator, a water tank, a fire extinguisher — they wanna see 'em all. After spending on safety gear, make sure you don't end up disqualified for an expired sticker.

Wouldn't you hit the treadmill more if these were your exercise buddies? Before the big show, dogs train on actual little treadmills. The goal is to get the pups to run at a certain "trotting" speed to please the judges. It's also good for their muscles and stamina, just like humans!

While it's tempting for a handler to walk out in an outfit made exclusively of dog swag, it's important to keep the attention on the pups. To do this, handlers will adjust their clothing to the cut, color, or personality of their little competitor. Got a black dog? Wear a white outfit so they stand out. Got a pup with a lot of hair? Wear something with frills to match. The most important outfit choice of all: shoes.

Handlers often give their pets strange or long names meant to stand out — and, boy, do they get the judges' attention! Pictured here is the winner of "Best of Show" in 2013, Banana Joe, who's appropriately accompanied by a similar-looking stuffed gorilla. Other odd names have included Bacon, Crown Prince, Kirby, Bourbon, and Champion DV-9 Canine's Red Hot Star. What ever happened to just Fluffy?

Dogs are unpredictable, so even the most well-trained pups can have moments of inhibition. Cases where canines nip or bite their handler or, even worse, one of the judges, lead to instant disqualification. Even growling can get a dog thrown out — but wouldn't you growl if you were being poked and prodded all day?

There are endless tricks and tips to grooming a dog for the Westminster Dog Show. Dogs with wavy coats need dryer sheets to tame the flyaways, while dogs with straight coats are told to use dish soap for ultimate shine. Chalk makes a white dog look even whiter, but doing too many alterations can lead to complications.

Naturally, there have been many controversies that surround the Westminster Dog Show, especially from PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. They often stage protests at the dog show where they dress up as dogs and run on to the staging area. Surprisingly, many handlers are in agreement with the protestors, admitting that dog shows aren't natural. But something about Westminster makes them keep coming back for more.

While wearing swag featuring your dog's face during the competition is frowned upon, there's nothing stopping handlers from going all out with merchandise. Shirts, hats, mugs, aprons, dog clothes, key chains — you name it, a dog's face has been printed on it. These items can sell for quite a fortune if a pup wins.

Some handlers will drop out of the competition if they don't have that "lucky" objects, whether it's a toy, a dog whistle, or a pair of underwear. Superstitious handlers will use anything to give them extra luck and an edge on the competition. Most dogs are just happy to have their favorite toy by their side.

Back in the '80s, dogs would be required to balance on soup cans to ensure their legs were "spaced apart correctly" for judging. These days, handlers use what are called "stacking blocks" to accomplish the same results. We say let the doggos stand however they want! They're beautiful just the way they are.

Yes, there is such a thing as "too much grooming" at a dog show, where people spend hours preparing their pups for the stage. Anything that would "trick" the judges, like changing your dog's color or making them appear to be a different breed, is considered taboo. That's when things get tense behind-the-scenes...

Even with a team of handlers on-deck, accidents happen. All the way back in 1895, eight toy dogs were set to perform later that afternoon. That morning, all eight were poisoned at breakfast. Vets confirmed foul play when they found strychnine the dogs' systems. The culprit? A jealous handler, of course. It's like Tonya Harding's attack on Nancy Kerrigan all over again.

Handler footwear is key to a solid performance. Anyone attempting to keep up with their dog's trot in the wrong pair of shoes is asking for a tumble. Close-toed shoes that, preferably, have laces are ideal, though many handlers will sacrifice function for style to impress the judges. This can lead to some painful results...

When dogs run circles at the Westminster Dog Show, they always go counter clockwise. This forces the handler to put a lot of pressure on their left leg, sometimes resulting in braces or casts. Handles who've been working for years might even need surgery to keep their knees from giving out on the stage.

Unlike beauty pageants, dog shows let their contestants eat to their hearts' content, guilt-free. Does your little prize winner want to chow down on treats all day long? Done. Not a fan of the food you just put out? You'll have to do better. Some of the strangest snacks reportedly eaten by pups backstage include potato chips, apples, and even endless filet mignon. Now that's the life!

Never trust another handler at the Westminster Dog Show. They've spent time and money on their show dogs, and they will not let you get away with beating them unfairly. If they see anything suspicious, you can bet your tail they'll report you. Most handlers try to keep their grooming practices a secret — especially if they're doing something off-limits.

Grooming your pup for the Westminster Dog Show can take an entire work day. Some handlers take 4-5 hours just to bathe and brush a single show dog, and you better believe the products they use are better than what you have in your bathroom. With high-end shampoos and conditioners being used up in seconds, plus curlers, straightening irons, hair sprays, and more... the price adds up fast. But there's bad news about costs...

There have been some pretty hilarious moments at the Westminster Dog Show where accidents happen, but the most frequent of them all is, you guessed it — bathroom accidents. This pup's unfortunate call to nature got him disqualified faster than his owner could grab a poo bag. We hope it was worth it, pup! You just cost your handler quite a handful.

That's right — the dog titled "Best in Show" doesn't win any cash! After all that spending, you'd think there would at least be a little moola to show for it. Instead, winners receive trophies, swag, and bragging rights. A big way for the handler to make money after winning is to sell the champ's puppies, which go for seriously big bucks.