[WonderPup]

It was pretty well ingrained in me in grooming school that wet/damp hair would damage blades. I've noted wet shaving on forums before and have given it a shot a time or two with less than impressive results. I've seen a few people swear by wetshaving poodle feet as well as matted dogs.

Personaly I don't save coat on really matted dogs anymore, I go as short as I have to and hope the shock of seeing fluffy naked inspires you to brush more often. Most of the time A) that works out and fluffy is rarely if ever matted again or B) I never see fluffy again... win either way.

 

[WonderPup]

I do very little rough cutting on really dirty dogs which might be why I noticed the difference. I'm lucky in that way that I can usualy wash and dry the dogs first (except in cases of matting). Less wear and tear on the blades and my precious scissors lol. On the dogs I do cut before the bath, and there are a lot to be truthful, they are usualy pretty clean. If somebody comes in all nasty and grubby or with fleas into the bath they go and if they have to sit there all day drip drying because they won't tolerate the HV dryer then so be it. If I get a really matted dog who is just digusting dirty nasty I charge extra. I don't seem to get those dogs back as repeats somehow which is A-Ok with me. Of course it helps that the area I am in tolerates that picking and choosing, not every groomer can get away with that.

 

[WonderPup]

It won't be long before you'll be booked up, I'm also rural and within a year I have over a 100 dogs on my books. Like you last year I took any bookings I could I even had customers that only groomed their dogs once a year they now book in regularly.

Thats the truth, once word gets around that you're good at what you do peole will be flocking to your door. I've also got a grooming business less than a year old that is established inside of a self service dog wash that is going on two years old.
I had a client come in today who has always been lucky somehow and manages to either walk in and get a bath or call just one day in advance. I don't make a habit of allowing walkins even easy ones but I really like this lady lol. Anyway shewalked in without an appt. today was shocked that every kennel in the house was full and says "Dannng girlfriend you have been discovered!!!"