Diary of a Dog Groomer

I have been a Home Dog Groomer since 1989. I am beyond amazed and blessed to have chosen a profession that not only supports me but, that I really truly adore and love. It’s really hard work and sometimes frustrating, scary and exhausting but, I can honestly say I was destined to do this work. I am still learning things about dogs, about people and am challenged to always strive for excellence and patience and perseverance.

2024 was momentous because my beloved car, ” SVEN ” a 1986 240GL Volvo sedan turned the 500,000 mile mark!!!!!!!!!!! This is only car I have ever owned. I bought it in 1993 when I moved to San Francisco from New York. It had 86,000 miles. A baby for a Volvo. Sven now has 500, 086 miles. I knew nothing about cars when I came to California, I was a true Manhattanite, my parents never owned a car. I grew up taking the subway, buses, walking – I never wanted a car. Now I have a car where people leave little notes on the windshield asking ” If I ever want to sell it please call xxx-xxxx. ” I have people give me the thumbs up at a red light acknowledging that I have a great car. It’s makes me laugh and smile all the time.

I have traveled all over the Bay Area in this great car and am so lucky to be able to do in 2025.

Today is St. Patrick’s Day and I groomed an Irish Terrier. This was a complete coincidence. When I arrived to groom him he had on his collar with a very cute green and white bow attached to his collar. He looked adorable. It then dawned on me that today is St. Patrick’s Day and I am grooming an Irish Terrier. Finn is a lovely dog and a very handsome hand stripped Irish Terrier. I have been grooming him since he was a puppy and over the last 2 years he has become a well behaved and very good boy on the grooming table.

Hand Stripping is a process and with patience and expertise and a solid and consistent grooming schedule Finn has beautiful coat. He is still very young and as he matures his coat will become thicker and denser. He is never bathed, or very, very rarely so, his natural oils are not degraded with bathing.

Since his grooming started at 6 months and he has an owner that is a professional dog trainer, he very quickly learned to surrender on the grooming table and trust the process with calmness.

As you will see in the video, he has a lovely red wiry coat. He is on a strict raw diet that keeps him svelte and trim and gives his coat the nourishment it needs. He does get extra supplements ie: fish oil, quail eggs, tripe.

We all love his ears and sweet, sweet disposition. He is the perfect mascot for St. Patrick’s Day – Finn the Irish Terrier

Two years ago while I was grooming my client’s Yorkshire Terrier, who with previous groomers was a very nervous dog from what the owner told me, he just came and declared you are a grooming whisperer! Both his dogs who are Biewer Yorkies were so stressed when I started grooming them in their home. It took a good six months grooming them every month before they began to relax and trust me. As a home groomer, my clients, the humans can watch me while I work so, they see how I handle their dogs through each phase of grooming.

I had a good giggle when my client called me The Grooming Whisperer because I had never thought of using that expression in regards to me. It never dawned on me but, after some self-reflection I agreed with him, that I was a Grooming Whisperer.

So, I decided to trademark that expression. I submitted an application to the USPTO, the United States Patent and Trademark Office and low and behold after, 10 months ( this was during the height of Covid) it was approved!

I have now been Home Dog Grooming since 1989, thirty five years and I proud to be able to declare I am “THE GROOMING WHISPERER” !

Here is one of the most handsome Fox Terriers. His name is Oliver and I have been grooming for 4 years. His first 2 years he was living in Brooklyn, NY but, not groomed on a regular and consistent basis. When he arrived in San Francisco he was very uneven and his coat had not developed a thick and dense “jacket”.

I knew I minute I saw him he would be a dream to groom/hand strip. Not only does he have beautiful markings but, he has a true Fox Terrier temperament! Fun and Feisty. 

His owner was completely on board to establish a consistent grooming schedule of every 6 weeks. As the years carried on his coat only became better. I rarely, if ever bathed him after stripping. Occasionally, he was bathed. Lots of brushing and combing in between groomings to clean up his furnishings. His coat developed that lovely dense thick natural oil “jacket” by reducing his baths. Sometimes, spot “cat baths” of his face/beard and/or his legs but, the owner and I were always mindful to be conservative about completely bathing him. 

He is quite a rock star now. As you can see from his expression he knows “ he is too sexy for himself” Love that Oliver!

I thought I would start of the year firstly, by saying thank you for all my amazing clients who grant me permission into their homes to groom their dogs. It was a busy, busy year. There were a few dogs that crossed the rainbow bridge, sadly but, I also began new grooming relationships with great dogs! I am starting this year with profound gratitude and appreciation.

Secondly, I am featuring a video of “SVEN”, my 1986 Volvo 240 Sedan. I purchased this car in 1993 when I moved to San Francisco from Manhattan with 86,000 miles. It is the only car I have owned!!!!!!!

Sven is about to turn 500,000 miles young and I wanted to showcase the mileage of 496,221 miles as pf January 1, 2024. I drive an amazing amount so, in a very short time the odometer will turn 500,000 miles. 

I can’t wait. Please visit back to Diary of a Dog Groomer to catch the event!

As a native New Yorker who grew up in Manhattan and went to The World Trade Center often with my parents this day always makes me so very sad.

I am so blessed that my formative years were in Manhattan; if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere! The spirit of New Yorkers are unique and remarkable.

My mother was in the restaurant business and both my parents were extraordinary gourmet cooks and going to THE WINDOWS ON THE WORLD RESTAURANT was always a big, big deal. Just going into the elevator was an experience. It was like a rocket. It transported you into the stratosphere! The anticipation to get to the top was so exciting. My parents, of course, loved the food, I loved looking out onto the island of Manhattan at night with all the lights glowing! It was such a magical place.

I read an article on Facebook today from The New Yorker magazine about one such remarkable, courageous and brave New Yorker. It bought tears to me eyes. There were so many people that lost their lives that day and we owe them our remembrance.

Here is an article about one, Rick Rescola: