Bark & Purr — Groomer Training Manual

1Breed-Standard Grooming Guide

Blade numbers below are pet-trim/salon norms, not AKC show-ring specs — B&P grooms companion dogs, not conformation entries. Always confirm the PAWrent's desired length/style at check-in before clipping; these are starting points, not overrides of a client's instructions. Blade numbers get smaller as the cut gets shorter (a #10 leaves ~1/16"–1/8"; a #4 leaves roughly 3/8"–1/2", guard-dependent) — always test on an inconspicuous spot first.

Poodle — Continental Clip SOURCED

The classic pom-pom silhouette: full mane/jacket over chest and front body, shaved hindquarters with rounded "rosettes" over the hips, shaved legs with pom-poms at the ankles/pasterns, and a pom-pom on the tail tip.

Rosette diameter scales to size: roughly 1.5" on a Toy, 2.5"–3" on a Miniature, 3.5"–4" on a Standard. Most groomers hold a round template (cup, jar lid) against the coat and trim around it for a consistent circle.
Coat needs 3–6 months of growth from a short pet trim to reach full-jacket/rosette length.
Face, paws, and sanitary areas are clipper-clean.

Blades: #10 for face, paws, sanitary trim. #40 (or similarly close blade) to clip the shaved sections up to the part line. Scissors: curved shears to sculpt rosettes into round shapes and clean the mane edge — think "drawing circles" with the shears, not straight lines.

Doodle Mixes — Teddy Bear Cut SOURCED

Goldendoodle, Labradoodle, and similar mixes. Rounded, fluffy, stuffed-animal look — body trimmed to a uniform length with a rounded face shape. Requested most often at B&P per general demand for the "teddy bear" look on doodle mixes.

Even length all over the body and legs — no tapering or breed-specific pattern like the Poodle.
Face is shaped into a circular outline, distinct from the body length.
Regular brushing (2–3x/week) between grooms is what keeps this cut clean — flag to PAWrents at checkout since doodle coats mat fast.

Guard combs: ~1/2" guard (comparable to a "size 1") for body and legs; ~5/8" guard for the head/face for a slightly longer, rounder finish. Sanitary: #10 blade (four-and-one clipper set) for the sanitary area, foot pads, and around the anus. Scissors: blending shears to soften the guard-comb line, especially around the face.

Shih Tzu — Puppy Cut vs. Breed Standard SOURCED

Show/breed-standard coat is long and flowing (rarely requested for pet grooms). The pet "puppy cut" — body trimmed to a uniform, manageable length — is the overwhelming majority of what B&P will see requested.

Puppy cut: body trimmed to roughly 1/2"–1.5" uniform length for a neat, low-maintenance coat.
Face is trimmed short around the eyes while preserving enough length to keep the breed's characteristic round face — do not shave the face flat.

Blades: #10 is the standard body blade (~2mm finish); #7FC/#5FC/#4FC/#3FC (increasingly longer finishes) for a longer puppy-cut length per PAWrent request. A #10 blade with a snap-on comb attachment can extend the cut up to ~1.25" for the classic puppy/teddy-bear length. Scissors: hand-scissor the face/ears to shape and preserve the round Shih Tzu expression — do not clipper the face short.

Yorkie — Puppy Cut / Short Trim SOURCED

Silky coat; pet grooms are almost always the short "puppy cut," not the long floor-length show coat.

Body is trimmed short and neat, starting at the neck and working down toward the tail.
Tail held up and out of the way while trimming the sanitary/rear area.
Legs are typically scissored (or a blend of clipper-then-thinning-shears) rather than run flat with clippers, for a neater finished silhouette.

Blades: #4F for the body for a short, neat finish (longer guard combs — 5/8" or 1/4" — if the PAWrent wants more length); #7 blade also used on the body depending on desired length; #10 for the face and ears. Scissors: thinning shears on the legs and to blend clippered areas into facial hair for a seamless transition.

Golden Retriever — Breed-Standard Groom SOURCED

Double-coated sporting breed — the groom is a tidy-up and deshed, not a full-body clip. This overlaps directly with the Bather manual's double-coat rule: never shave a double coat for cosmetic reasons.

Body is not clippered short under normal circumstances — carding/deshedding tools manage the undercoat, and the outer coat is left at natural length.
Feathering (ears, chest, legs, tail, "britches" on the rear) is scissored/thinning-sheared for a neat, tidy line — never clipped down, which would remove the breed's characteristic silhouette.
Feet are neatened ("clean feet") and hocks trimmed for a tidy standing line — standard pet-groom practice.

Blades: #7F (or #5F) is used only for heavily matted sections that cannot be safely brushed/carded out — this is a mat-removal tool, not a routine body blade on this breed. Scissors/thinning shears: primary tool for feathering on legs, tail, ears, and chest — this is the sourced, standard technique, not clipper work.

Schnauzer — Pet Clip (Body) + Hand-Scissored Furnishings SOURCED

Signature look: tight, short body coat with longer "furnishings" — beard, eyebrows, leg hair, chest skirt — left long and shaped into columns.

Hand-stripping (pulling dead wire hairs individually) is the show-ring technique that preserves true wire texture and color, but it is labor-intensive; most pet clients opt for clipper work plus regular deshedding — set that expectation with PAWrents who ask for "true wire texture."
Adult coat texture is generally established by 8–10 months old.
Leg furnishings are scissored into straight "columns," not tapered.

Blades: #10 is the standard body blade; #7 or #7F/#5F for a fuller-looking body coat. #15 for sensitive areas (face, ears, sanitary) — go carefully, this is a close blade. Scissors: essential for the beard, eyebrows, and leg-column furnishings — this is scissor-finished work, not clipper work, on the furnishings.

Bichon Frise — Round "Powder Puff" Cut SOURCED

The defining trait: an entirely round silhouette, built primarily during the fluff-dry (brushing hair up and out while blow-drying), then finished with scissors — not achieved by the cut alone.

Legs are scissored straight down from the body (a "pole" look) — no tapering or indenting at the feet; feet should visually blend into the leg fur.
Head is rounded into the classic "teddy bear" head shape with curved scissors.
A small amount of hair at the inner eye corner is shaved close (#10) to help manage tear staining.

Blades: #7F, #5, or #4 for body work, or a guard comb over a #10 for longer "teddy bear" body length. #10 for sanitary trim, paw pads, around ears, and the tear-stain area near the eyes. Scissors: curved shears for the rounded head/feet/legs; a blending/thinning shear to soften the guard-comb line into a natural, textured fluff — this is the core technique for the breed's signature round look.

Cocker Spaniel — Breed-Standard Trim SOURCED

Short, clean body with long, flowing feathering on the ears, legs, chest, and belly — the classic "clean top, feathered bottom" silhouette.

Underside — under the elbows, belly, inner thighs, under the tail — is run close and clean.
Feathering on the ears and back legs is preserved and shaped, not clipped down; for active/working-style dogs, feathering can be thinned shorter for lower-maintenance upkeep per client preference.
Always clip with the direction of hair growth, not against it — clipping against growth risks clipper burn/irritation. This general rule appears across multiple breed guides and applies broadly, not just to Cockers.

Blades: #10 for face, head, neck, ears, feet, tail; #15 for the sanitary area; #7F or #5F for the top-body coat (length depends on client request); #10 close underneath (elbows, belly, thighs, under tail). Scissors: hand-scissor the ear/leg/chest feathering; thinning shears to blend uneven hair at the shoulders and leg feathering into the body coat.

Standing rule across every breed: if a PAWrent's requested style conflicts with what's safe for the coat (e.g., asking to shave a double-coated Golden, or a length that will leave a mat trapped against skin), stop and explain why before proceeding — don't silently comply or silently refuse. Loop in a lead groomer if unsure. JUDGMENT-CALL

3Check-In & Check-Out Scripts

Sample dialogue — adapt naturally, don't recite word-for-word. Warm, plainspoken, unhurried.

Sample Script 1 — Standard check-in, returning client

Groomer: "Hi Maria! And hello, Bella — look at you, ready for your sPAW Day. Last time we did the teddy bear cut with a shorter face — still feeling that, or would you like to adjust anything today?"
PAWrent: "That's perfect, same as last time. Her ears have been a little itchy though."
Groomer: "Good to know — I'll take a close look at her ears while we're at it and flag anything in her T.A.I.L.S. Report so you have it in writing. We'll take good care of her."

Sample Script 2 — First-time client / first groom ever

Groomer: "Welcome to the Zen Den! This is Rocky's first visit with us, right? We'll go nice and slow with him today so it's a good first experience — I'll check in with you if anything about the plan needs to change once I see how he's settling in."
PAWrent: "He gets nervous around clippers."
Groomer: "Totally normal, especially the first time. I'll introduce the clippers slowly and give him breaks. If he needs more time than we planned for, I'll call you before I push through anything."

Sample Script 3 — Check-out / pickup

Groomer: "Here she is! Luna did great today — we went with the puppy cut like you asked, and I scissored her face a little fuller around the eyes since her hair was growing in that direction. I noticed a small patch of dry skin near her tail — nothing urgent, but I noted it in her T.A.I.L.S. Report so you can keep an eye on it."
PAWrent: "Thank you so much, she looks great!"
Groomer: "She was a champ. You'll get an email with her full report — photo and all — so you can see exactly how she did today."

4T.A.I.L.S. Report Guidance

Grounded in the live tool (staff_v_test_33_TAILS.html) and its training manual — see Sources. This is the wellness "report card" a groomer fills out after every visit and sends to the PAWrent.

What to fill in, by dimension

Overall Zen Scale — the pet's single overall rating for this visit, from Peak Zen to Vet Visit Time. Pick the tier that matches the whole visit, not just the coat.
Total Coat Condition — matting, texture, skin-under-coat findings, anything you noticed while clipping or brushing.
Anatomy Scan — anything you saw or felt on the body: lumps, hot spots, nail/paw condition, ear condition, dental/breath observations if relevant.
Itch & Irritation — scratching, redness, licking at a spot, reaction to a product.
Listen to Their Body — mobility, stiffness, energy level, anything behavioral during handling that suggests discomfort.
Spirit & Temperament — how the dog handled the visit emotionally: relaxed, anxious, reactive, playful.
Notes per dimension are optional — leave blank if nothing to flag, but don't skip a dimension just to move faster.

Tips to share with PAWrents via the report

Be specific, not vague — "small dry patch near the base of the tail, worth watching" is useful; "coat looked fine" is not.
Frame findings as observations, not diagnoses — groomers flag, they don't diagnose. "Worth a vet look if it doesn't clear up" rather than naming a condition.
Always attach the hero photo — customers respond to it, and it documents the finished groom.
If fewer than all 5 dimensions are filled in, the tool will warn before publishing — use judgment on whether a dimension genuinely doesn't apply, but default to filling in all 5.
Publish & Notify Owner is final — it emails the PAWrent and the report can't be reverted to a fresh draft. Make sure it's complete before tapping it. SINGLE-SOURCED (per the T.A.I.L.S. module training doc — no second internal source needed for our own tool's behavior, but flagging since it's process, not an external grooming-technique claim)

5Special Behavioral Situations

Trade-publication and Fear Free-aligned handling guidance. NDGAA has no public technique pages (confirmed by a prior sibling audit) — sourced from Groomer to Groomer and Fear Free-style professional material instead.

Geriatric dogs

Expect longer grooms and build in more breaks — senior dogs tire faster and may need to reposition or stand up mid-groom.
Support joints during positioning — don't force a stretched-out leg or a long stand on a slick table without a non-slip surface.
Watch for signs of pain (flinching, guarding a limb, vocalizing) that may not be "misbehavior" but a genuine physical response — stop and reassess rather than pushing through.
Shorter, more frequent grooming intervals are often gentler than one long session for a senior dog with reduced stamina. JUDGMENT-CALL

Anxious dogs

Let the dog investigate tools (clippers off, sniff first) before they touch the coat — introduce sound and vibration gradually rather than starting at full noise against the skin.
Work in short sessions with breaks rather than forcing continuous restraint — a Fear Free-aligned approach prioritizes the dog's ability to opt out/reset over finishing fast.
Use calm, low-toned verbal reassurance and slow, predictable movements — avoid sudden reaches or loud correction.
If anxiety escalates, stop and consult a lead groomer before continuing — pushing through active distress risks a worse association for the next visit.

Aggressive / reactive dogs

Safety first for staff and dog — never attempt to "power through" a dog that is actively growling, snapping, or showing hard stress signals; loop in a lead groomer or manager immediately.
Use of a muzzle (properly fitted, basket-style where possible) is standard professional practice for a dog with a bite history or active aggression during handling — this protects both the dog and the groomer and allows the groom to still happen safely in many cases.
Document the behavior on the appointment record and in the T.A.I.L.S. Report (Spirit & Temperament) so future visits are prepared, not surprised.
It is acceptable to decline or pause a groom that isn't safe to complete — communicate this to the PAWrent honestly and reschedule with a plan (shorter session, muzzle, two-groomer approach) rather than forcing it through in one sitting. JUDGMENT-CALL

Bark & Purr — The Groomer's Guide

1Breed-Standard Grooming Guide

Poodle — Continental Clip SOURCED

Doodle Mixes — Teddy Bear Cut SOURCED

Shih Tzu — Puppy Cut vs. Breed Standard SOURCED

Yorkie — Puppy Cut / Short Trim SOURCED

Golden Retriever — Breed-Standard Groom SOURCED

Schnauzer — Pet Clip (Body) + Hand-Scissored Furnishings SOURCED

Bichon Frise — Round "Powder Puff" Cut SOURCED

Cocker Spaniel — Breed-Standard Trim SOURCED

2Greeting PAWrents, Dogs & Reading Instructions

Greeting the PAWrent

Greeting the dog

Getting instructions from clients

3Check-In & Check-Out Scripts

Sample Script 1 — Standard check-in, returning client

Sample Script 2 — First-time client / first groom ever

Sample Script 3 — Check-out / pickup

4T.A.I.L.S. Report Guidance

What to fill in, by dimension

Tips to share with PAWrents via the report

5Special Behavioral Situations

Geriatric dogs

Anxious dogs

Aggressive / reactive dogs

6PAWrent Communication — Groomer Role Scripts