It is probably appropriate to start our first ever article with a big GOOCHI POOCHI welcome from the team. So,
“Hi, how are you today and how are your pooches doing?”
We want all of our articles to be fun, informative, and most importantly convey the ‘GOOCHI POOCHI’ brand and our personal ethos. The pooches we receive in our parlour are at the heart of everything we do, and we want our love for animals, especially dogs to shine through. We are not profiteers! I just want to make a living doing the one thing I have always wanted to do…work with dogs.
“So why call it GOOCHI POOCHI?” I hear you ask.
Well, you may have noticed that all of our packages are named after high end fashion brands. Yes, fundamentally it is just a bit of fun, but we also wanted to convey that we will always put an absurd amount of effort in to making your dog smell, feel and look amazing, with a luxury feel. Please do not worry though, our effort will never be reflected in an extortionate price for our services. We also hope you appreciate the doggy spin we put on the names? It was all for your enjoyment and definitely so we do not get sent to court for copyright infringement 😉.
So why ‘The Caring Groomer’?
Sorry, I am making a lot of assumptions with the questions you may have 😉. Firstly, I must reiterate that we are not assuming that other dog groomers do not care, they do! There are some excellent pet groomers available, that charge a fair price for their service and are extremely talented at making an animal look great. Whether that be a traditional show cut, that requires immense skill to make them look natural in accordance to breed specifications. Or a groomer that can shape and blend a dog’s coat entirely using clippers, without the need for thinning scissors. You will be happy to know (I hope?), that I am a solid all-rounder. I am confident with clippers, shaping with scissors and I have an obsessive eye for detail.
“Stop show boating”, I hear you scream.
All I am trying to convey is that I genuinely take pride in my work and will spend however long needed to get a pooch looking great. Whether that be to an exacting breed specification, or you just want us to tidy up your pooch’s coat and make them feel and smell amazing?
52% of UK adults own a pet, and
27% of UK adults have a dog with an estimated population of 10.2 million pet dogs
PDSA
The reason I mention this is that the UK is inherently a hard-working population that values its spare time. In my opinion, dog groomers are there to support that lifestyle. We can free up a dog owners time, by supporting a dog’s healthy lifestyle. We are also there to provide an early warning system that could save a dog owner a lot of money in vet bills if things go unchecked.
“Stop talking rubbish”, I hear you say?
We do not just do a bit of hair brushing, bath time and a haircut. A trained groomer, which I am, can spot several ailments like fleas, ticks, or mange (which can all manifest) and behaviour changes that could indicate discomfort or internal issues. I must reiterate that we are not a replacement for your local vet. However, through regular dog grooming sessions, it allows the groomer and dog to build trust, notice behavioural changes and sign post the owner to anything unusual. As they say
“Prevention is better than cure.”
Desiderius Erasmus
Furthermore, vets and groomers can build close relationships, sign posting each other if trust, reputation for honesty, loyalty and consistency are built.
I must take this opportunity to explain our process and how we work. Plus, Search Engine Optimisation specialists suggest that blogs should be about 1000 words+ to push your website up the search rankings, so I had better bulk this article out a bit more 😜. You can get a lot of the information needed from the GOOCHI POOCHI website. However, I thought it necessary to explain our process, so you do not think we are just muddling through. We want you to have complete peace of mind that your pooch is in safe, professional hands.
Firstly, you will be met at the front door, and we will ask you a couple of questions. At the same time, I will start to interact with your dog, adapting my behaviour to your dog’s mentality. No, I will not start rolling around or sniff any bums. However, if a dog is timid, I will take a slower more relaxed approach. If they are playful or we have met before, I will take a calm but excitable approach. If the dog feels more confident with a toy in their mouth, then let them bring one etc.
Once everyone is happy, the owner can get a coffee in town or run some errands. I will take the dog in to the parlour and do the pre-groom assessment. This consists of the following:
- Check the nasal area for signs of infection
- The gums and teeth look healthy
- The eyes are bright and clear
- The ears are free from wax and discharge
- The skin is free from signs of infection or infestation
- The paws are free of irritation and inflammation
- The body is checked for lumps and bumps
If we find anything amiss, we will always ring the owner first to explain what we have found, explain any implications and extra treatments needed. There may be some small, additional costs that need to be added on, but they will always be justified and confirmed during the phone call. I will then do my utmost to make your pooch look, feel and smell amazing. Which is why we must put a disclaimer on the website stating:
“Please be advised, that by using our service your dog may become even cuter?”
GOOCHI POOCHI
That is it for our first article. Hopefully, the SEO kicks in and you see our website at the top of the ‘Ashford Kent Dog Grooming’ rankings? If not, I still enjoyed this process and all jokes aside, genuinely hope you enjoyed our first article and found some parts informative?
See you soon and look out for our next article on dog bathing. Not sure on a title yet, but it will definitely be about bathing your pooch.
Louisa
On behalf of GOOCHI POOCHI
Yes…1091 words for my first article 🎉😉