Anju looks at us with magnificent disdain as we interrupt her grooming session. She smells fresh after her bath and is in the midst of being dried off when we walk in. A little perturbed at first, she soon calms down as she is rubbed vigorously and closes her eyes contentedly while being dried off with a blow-dryer.
The Perro N’ Perra pet salon is buzzing with activity on its inaugural day as its four- legged clientele keep pouring in through the doors. Dashy, the squealing dachshund pup gets a bath and a layer of coat shiner while Shabi, a one and a half-year-old Shih-Tzu, gazes at us intently while she gets a top-knot to help her see better without her vision being obscured by her long hair.
The salon, which caters exclusively to pooches is run by certified professional pet groomer, Nithya Niranjan and offers a variety of services solely for its canine clients.
The idea to start a pet salon came during Nithya’s efforts to find a pet groomer for her own Shih-Tzu, she explains. Hair trimming, tick and flea treatment, coat nutrition, nail clipping, de-shedding and conditioning are a few of the services offered at the Perro N’ Perra Pet Salon.
The salon provides a range of packages for pet owners to choose from – whether you want a simple tick and flea treatment or are in the mood to give your pooch a 180 degree grooming session.
Apart from the aspect of physical appearance, one can question if grooming really is necessary for our canine counterparts. “Absolutely,” affirms Nithya. “For instance, if you start from a simple bath itself - if you don’t wash dogs once a week they get dirty, develop dry skin conditions, dandruff and skin irritation which in turn leads to dry, scaly skin, rashes and wounds. It develops quickly and when the situation isn’t answered properly it becomes a major health problem.”
Adds Nithya: “When not brushed properly, the hair becomes matted and there is no ventilation between the skin and the hair. Then once you wash, the matted hair will hold a lot of water and won’t dry. Also, if you don’t brush their teeth tarter is formed.” As Anju gets her nails clipped, Nithya points out the importance of identifying the quick (the blood vessels and nerves that supply the toenail) and the nail, as cutting the quick will result in hurting the dog.
“Clipping the nails has an impact on how they balance themselves. If their nails are not trimmed, it affects the way they walk,” Nithya says. Unclipped nails may result in a stressed and aggressive dog as he has to constantly make an effort to walk in a way that doesn’t cause him pain.
Nithya also explains that brushing stimulates the blood supply in canines – “When you brush out, you also massage the skin and the hair grows smoother and faster. Dogs naturally produce an oil to keep the coat shinier. The oil only comes from the root and if you don’t brush the dog, it collects and becomes a dried powder-like substance. It is only when you brush it out that it comes to the top of the coat.”
Regular grooming also brings to surface any problems that your pooch might have which escape your notice and also provides health benefits to its owners. Clipping the nails minimizes the chances of scratches when dogs jump on kids or furniture while de-shedding reduces the amount of hair fall around the house; easing any breathing problems which would otherwise arise.
While friendlier dogs, which are receptive towards strangers take less time to familiarize themselves with their surroundings, difficult and aggressive dogs need more time to be coaxed into the session.
A simple test is conducted to gauge the dog’s mood, and depending on its response, the grooming gets underway after a little persuasion. The grooming also differs according to the breed - Dogs which possess a double coat (which is slightly thicker than the single coat) require daily brushing as they shed often.
“A well-groomed dog is a prestige to the owner and health wise, it is good for both the dog and the owner and it is a good canine citizen as well,” smiles Nithya.
After a final brush out, Anju is done. She leaps to the ground and saunters off, her tail wagging jauntily – she looks good and she knows it.
Nithya’s pet grooming expertise, like any other profession, includes theory and practical proficiency. Having qualified in the USA, she explains that 60% of the theory involved in qualifying as a professional pet groomer, deals with a rigorous understanding of the health aspect of the grooming.
The practical training acquired involves getting acquainted with different types of dogs and provides the pet groomer with hands-on experience during the training period.
Doggy care range
Doggy care range
The cost of each service varies according to the size of the dog and is based on shampoo consumption.
Shampoo - Small (Rs. 500), Medium (Rs. 1,000), Large (Rs. 1,500)
Tick and flea treatment - Rs. 1,500
Coat nutrition treatment - Rs. 1,500
Hair-mat removal and trim -
Medium (Rs. 1,500)
Career in pet
grooming?
The pet grooming industry is a thriving one, gaining popularity around the world. Dog lovers interested in training and pursuing a career in this industry can contact Nithya for more information. Training includes theory based learning and hands-on preparation.
The Perro N’ Perra pet salon is located at Peterson Lane, Colombo 6.
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