I    have always had the utmost respect and admiration for those bold and clever souls who choose mobile grooming as the way to offer their services to the pet owning public. Mobile grooming offers a number of benefits over a traditional salon in a storefront, such as more readily setting your own hours and selecting clientele, the necessity of doing one-on-one grooming which reduces stress and noise for both you and the animal, and in many cases, being your own boss. 

But mobile grooming also has its own specific challenges, and one of the biggest is centered around the fact that your business depends on your vehicle and its grooming setup. Sure, brick and mortar salons need maintenance and repairs, but they utilize the same resources that every other business and many residences do. Tradespeople may not be as familiar with the specific setups for providing electricity, water and everything else needed in a mobile as they are with those in a building. Businesses that service RVs can be a fantastic resource as their setups for water, electricity and waste water are very similar to a mobile grooming’s needs. Mobile groomers are, for the most part, a very handy bunch—or have someone readily available who is whether that be a friend, spouse, another family member or a trusted repairman.

Most groomers are so tightly scheduled these days due to high demand that having a breakdown in equipment or vehicle that prevents you from keeping appointments is potentially a business catastrophe. So how do you prevent it? By thinking ahead and being prepared. For what? As the founder of the Boy Scouts whose motto it is said, “Why, for any old thing.” 

Mary Oquendo, Sequim, Wash., industry expert at Pawsitive Educational Training and former owner stylist of a successful mobile business for 20 years points out that “one of the things that doesn’t get talked about much is preparing for things to break. And they will. We’re putting a grooming shop on some wheels and vibration can do a number.” 

Your grooming equipment may have been reinforced when getting converted, but it likely still started as equipment meant for a more stable environment. Things will inevitably loosen up and leaks start. If it happens during the course of the day, you’ll need to fix it. Oquendo recommends carrying a toolkit containing tools and replacement parts, and duct, electrical, and plumber’s tape. Familiarize yourself with how all your equipment works. 

Cassandra Eye owns four mobiles: three vans and a Ford E450 bus. They service most of St. Louis County, Miss., under the name Furry & Fabulous Mobile Grooming. Although she claims not to be handy, she does do a lot of routine maintenance herself. If it’s beyond her scope, her father— who is handy—helps out. She does her own monthly oil changes on the generators but does bring them in for a checkup. She does routine seasonal maintenance such as cleaning the AC coils, changing out the water heater rod (called an anode rod), and cleaning out the furnace. Normal maintenance consists of oil changes on the vehicles and generators, cleaning daily and after each dog, and deep cleaning weekly. Dog hair gets into everything, so cleaning thoroughly and changing filters regularly can extend the life of equipment. Maintenance on dryers, clippers, etc. is similar to a shop but less often because a mobile unit usually does less dogs per day than a salon. For example, Eye changes dryer brushes about every 1.5 – 2 years. Everything is done on a schedule to make sure it’s done. And yet, Eye says things will still break. 

“Something is always breaking, whether it’s something small like a cabinet latch or something necessary like your blow dryer,” Eye says. “Having backups is a must. Your water pump waits until you have a Husky all soaped up with shampoo before it dies. Your dryer will only quit working when you have a dripping wet Newfoundland on your table. You learn to think on your feet and do deep breathing in stressful situations.”

Redundancy is important for mobile groomers. Dennis Gnetz, CEO of Wag’n Tails, makes sure that every vehicle they sell has backups for every aspect of grooming. There are two options for hot water, the ability to plug in if your generator goes awry, if your air conditioner is on the blink you can use the cab AC to keep it reasonably cool in the back. If something breaks, there’s always a way to continue grooming effectively. 

“Things wear out faster with dog hair,” says Gnetz. Wag’n Tails maintenance instructions are easy to read and follow, and they know how groomers think. 

Safety is another concern at Wag’n Tails, and regular maintenance decreases the chance of accidents happening. A generator needs oil changes and tune-ups regularly to function not only at its best but safely. Gnetz has recently seen an upsurge in generator accidents, possibly because with parts not as available, if they can’t get theirs repaired quickly groomers may resort to using a portable generator. Which is fine on a platform outside, but not inside, even in the back area, not even if the doors are open. And be careful not to park against a building or bushes that could send emissions back to you, or cause the generator to overheat. Wag’n Tails’ Onan generators are sealed, vented outside and underneath the vehicle. Carbon monoxide is a very real risk from a poorly mounted generator and Gnetz recommends using the carbon monoxide detector installed in their vans. 

“It’s made for use in the marine industry, on boats, so heat and humidity are less likely to create a false reading,” says Gnetz. 

West Marine has them available, and every mobile groomer should have one along with a quality smoke detector and propane detector if you use that for heat or power. And don’t forget the fire extinguisher.

Not everyone wants to do their own maintenance or even deep cleaning. And that’s OK. Just make sure you hire someone reliable and thorough to do it. Businesses that service recreational vehicles may be able to suggest resources, or may offer that kind of service themselves. Even if you are handy and willing to do all the regular maintenance yourself, you should have a mechanic available that you have a relationship with in case something goes wrong with your motor. 

Mechanics will tell you to pay attention to starting and stopping. Any hint that something isn’t right—if it’s started on one crank for six months and this morning it cycles a few times before starting, tell your mechanic. Tires are a main component of what keeps your vehicle going and rolling straight. A good garage will look at your tires every time you come in, but you should, too. Do the brakes pull to one side or the other when you employ them? Have it checked out. A good mechanic will check all of these things at each oil change. 

Find a good auto repair business, and keep them. Mobile groomers are so tied to the proper function of that vehicle that they need someone they truly trust to take care of it and of their livelihood. Groomers appreciate loyalty in their customers—and good mechanics feel the same way. Just as we like a customer who appreciates our art, most good car repair folks take pride in their work and enjoy explaining what they did, and a customer who appreciates their efforts.

Always have spares or an alternate plan for everything. 

“The only thing that should prevent you from getting through your schedule is an engine or transmission breakdown,” Gnetz says. “If that happens, have a plan.”

You could rent a friend’s salon, or provide pickup and delivery of dogs to your stopped van’s location. Be as prepared as you can, for anything. 

Remember that your safety and that of your four-legged clients may depend on your awareness and maintenance, as well as your livelihood. 

My admiration for those intrepid groomers who chose to go mobile should not be surprising as they are amazing people providing a much-needed, personalized service to a niche market within our industry. PB

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