Bather / Bather-Brusher

Bark and Purr is not just another grooming shop, we are a wellness spa that truly cares about every pet looking and feeling their very best. We always put the needs of the pet in front of us first, focusing on them while they are in our care and nothing else.

The Vow

The Twelve Commitments

• 1. Whoever greets a pet — front desk, bather, groomer, kennel tech, anyone — will get down to their level, speak softly, and let them come to us. This is everyone's job, every time, not just the first hello.
• 2. When I see a regular walk through the door, I will say their name before I say anything else — the pet's and the parent's.
• 3. When a puppy comes in for their first groom, I will make this memory a good one — even if it takes longer. First visits echo for a lifetime.
• 4. When I see a pet that's unsettled — nervous on my table, pacing the kennel, uncomfortable anywhere in the shop — I stop and find out why: anxious, needs to go out, or just uncomfortable. If CBD is on their card and cleared, front desk is notified and administers it. If they need a walk, whoever noticed takes them. If they went in their kennel, whoever's there cleans it — not the next person. We don't walk past something dirty, and we don't leave the shop anything but clean at closing. Customers notice how this place smells and looks before they notice anything else — we protect that every day, not just at close.
• 5. When a pet is too anxious for kennel time, we offer the family a way to stay close: expedited one-on-one service (from $20, sized to the pet) — one person with that dog start to finish, no kennel wait, handed back to the parent right there. For our Sunday cat clients we can welcome parents into the room itself, since it's one groomer and a quiet day. If a pet is still too much for us, we call the parent and talk it through honestly — safety and trust come before pushing through.
• 6. When I finish a service, I will do a five-second check: does this pet look happy, calm, and beautiful — and would their eyes pass the Smile Test?
• 7. When a client asks how their pet did, I will tell them one specific true thing I noticed about their pet today — and if I saw something worth watching, I will say that too, kindly and plainly.
• 8. When I see a teammate struggling, I will finish what's in my hands, then ask what they need.
• 9. When a pet shows me they're done, I will listen. We earn trust one appointment at a time, and we never spend it to finish a groom.
• 10. When I walk the floor, I will notice how a pet moves, not just how they look — wellness starts with attention, and we are often the first to see what a family can't.
• 11. When I start a step, I log that I started it. When I finish it, I log that too. The record isn't paperwork after the care — it IS the care, start to finish. This is the rule, and it's what Compass is built to hold us to.
• 12. When I put on my apron, I remember: this pet came here because their person trusts us. I will deserve that trust today.

Why we have this: these aren't slogans — they're what “Who We Are” above actually looks like in a real moment, dog by dog, client by client. Anyone can say they care about pets. This is what caring looks like when you're the one holding the leash.

Everything we build and everything we do here serves four things, in this order:

• E — Employees. You're the foundation. A team that isn't taken care of can't take care of anyone else.
• A — Advocates. Our clients and their pets — the people we serve, and the ones who tell their friends about us.
• R — Revenue. Growing the business with discipline, not shortcuts.
• N — Net. What we actually keep — the profit that makes this a sustainable business, not just a busy one.

Every tool, every process, every decision gets measured against all four. Not just “does this make money” — does it serve the team, the client, the growth, and the bottom line.

• No cell phones during work hours for social media, personal calls or texting, or watching shows. The client is paying for that time to be spent on their pet, not on a phone. This is Commitment #12, made concrete: “this pet came here because their person trusts us.”
• Everything above — the Vow, the Twelve Commitments, EARN — isn't background reading. It's what you're actually held to, starting your first day.

The Bather is the first hands-on touchpoint in a pet's Bark and Purr experience. You are responsible for ensuring every pet arrives at the grooming table clean, calm, conditioned, and emotionally ready. Your work directly determines the quality of the final groom. Beyond the technical duties, you serve as a Fear-Free advocate — your voice, your touch, and your energy set the emotional tone for the entire visit.

Bathing & Coat Preparation

• Bathe all dogs and cats using breed-appropriate, Bark and Purr-approved organic shampoos and conditioners.
• Perform pre-bath coat evaluation: identify mat location, skin conditions, coat density, and any health observations.
• Apply appropriate conditioners, treatments, and detanglers based on coat type and groomer instructions.
• Rinse thoroughly — residual product irritates skin and compromises coat quality.
• Perform high-velocity and fluff drying techniques appropriate to coat type.
• Execute brush-out to a table-ready standard before handing off to the groomer.

Finishing & Hygiene Services

• Trim nails to appropriate length using clippers (grinding requires sign-off).
• Clean ears using approved technique and solution; flag any abnormal odor, discharge, or sensitivity.
• Brush teeth using approved pet-safe toothpaste.
• Apply finishing spritz or bandana/bow as directed.

Pet Safety & Wellbeing

• Never leave a pet unattended on the table, in the tub, or under any dryer — without exception.
• Monitor all pets during cage drying; check temperature, positioning, and stress levels every 5 minutes.
• Recognize and respond to Fear, Anxiety, and Stress (FAS) indicators; de-escalate using approved Fear-Free techniques.
• Communicate all behavioral observations and health findings to the assigned groomer before handoff.

Station & Sanitation Standards

• Sanitize tubs, tables, tools, and all equipment between every pet.
• Maintain clean floors, drains, and surfaces throughout the shift.
• Restock shampoos, conditioners, and supplies; flag shortages to management.
• Store all chemicals securely and per posted safety protocols.

Kennel Room

• Keep the kennels clean throughout the shift — a dirty kennel is never “the next person's.”
• Make sure the towel in each kennel is clean; swap it the moment it isn't.
• Notice anything broken — a latch, a dryer, a tub fitting — and report it the same shift, in writing (Team Chat or the Manager on Duty → Today's Note), rather than just mentioning it. A formal work-order intake is a known gap as of 2026-09-02; when it exists, that becomes the step.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for extended periods (6–8 hours per shift).
• Ability to safely lift and handle dogs up to 80 lbs.
• Comfortable working in a wet, humid environment with exposure to fur, dander, and pet-safe chemicals.
• Manual dexterity for nail trimming, ear cleaning, and brushing.

• Compensation: Hourly rate per offer letter.
• Pet Care Benefit: Employee dogs attend daycare at no cost during working hours.
• Personal Pet Grooming: Use of shop equipment for personal pets when off-clock (with approval).
• Retail Discount: Employee discount on all Bark and Purr products and services.
• Training Sponsorship: Fear-Free certification and industry training sponsored after 6 months.

Bather → Lead Bather → Grooming Apprentice Program → Junior Groomer → Groomer → Stylist

Use this checklist every shift to ensure you are consistently meeting the standards of your role. Check off each item as completed. Bring this to your monthly review with your supervisor.

Daily

• Station sanitized before first pet
• PPE on and in good condition
• All supplies stocked and ready
• Pre-bath coat assessment on every pet
• Water temp checked before every bath
• Cage dryer checked every 5 minutes
• No pet left unattended at any time
• Verbal FAS check on every pet
• Groomer handoff summary given verbally
• Health observation logged in profile
• Station sanitized between every pet
• Drains cleared and floors clean

Weekly

• Fear-Free techniques self-reviewed
• Certification progress checked
• Product dilution ratios reviewed
• Hygiene tools inspected and cleaned
• Personal performance self-assessment
• Any FAS incidents documented & reviewed
• Difficult pet patterns noted in profiles
• Mentor check-in completed
• End-of-day supply levels checked

Monthly

• Bather checklist items reviewed
• Fear-Free certification status confirmed
• Product knowledge quiz (self-test)
• Groomer feedback reviewed with mentor
• Safety protocol walkthrough completed
• KPI review with supervisor
• Career pathway goals reviewed
• Identify one skill to improve next month
• Chemical storage secured at close