A dog groomer from Ontario, Canada has taken to TikTok to share with dog parents secrets to help us develop a better bond with our four-legged best friend.
Vanessa De Prophetis has been the owner of Perfect Pooches Dog Grooming for nine years, but it wasn’t until earlier this year that she decided to share the tricks of her trade with people on TikTok.
“In March pet groomers were considered a non-essential service and my business was mandated to close,” De Prophetis tells This Dog’s Life. “Clients began reaching out to me asking me for tips on how to groom their pets during quarantine. I decided to start sharing tips so I could help my clients safety groom their pets at home, and hopefully prevent injury.”
Related: Finding the Perfect Dog Groomer for Your Furry
Beginning in April, De Prophetis begin posting short video clips on the social platform — everything from how to properly clean your dog’s ears to the best way to de-skunk your pup and the proper brushing technique.
She also goes into things us dog parents probably never think about. For one, if possible, keep your dog with a groomer you trust throughout his or her life.
Related: Groomer Gives a Stray Dog an Emergency Makeover in the Middle of the Night
“When you take your dog to the same groomer for years, we create a bond with your dog,” De Prophetis says in one TikTok. “We learn what they like and dislike, we know where every bump and mole is, we notice changes in your dog and often times can make life-saving discoveries.”
Also, what may seem like our best intentions may not be the best for our dog. In one heartbreaking clip, De Prophetis talks about the “end of life” groom, one in which people think they are giving their dog one last spa treatment to look their best during his or her final day, or allowing their pet to die “with dignity.”
“When you ask us to give your pet an end-of-life groom, we always say yes but we want to say no,” De Prophetis says in the TikTok. “[It’s] not a spa day for your pet … it is physically exhausting for them.”
De Prophetis explains to us, “They often have trouble standing and require assistance to be held up. We are manipulating their hips and joints in order to reach certain areas, and for an old animal with arthritis this can be very painful,” she says. “Instead of grooming your pet one last time, spoil them with their favorite foods or take them to the places they love going.”
De Prophetis hopes that her TikTok videos can not only shed a light on what groomers actually do – it isn’t just fluffy haircuts and bath massages – but also how they can be a key team member to your dog’s health and wellbeing.
“Pet grooming is an important job, and we are absolutely responsible for the health and wellbeing of companion animals,” she says. “We are essential. Our job is hard both mentally and physically, and we deserve recognition and appreciation for what we do.”
Related: How This Woman Paved Her Own Path to Become the Grooming Extraordinaire She Is Today
