Always thoroughly check out and interview the owners of any kennel or pet sitting person or agency, animal groomer, veterinarian, or anyone involved in handling your animals.

Ask questions and ask for references, look over the facilities.

If for some reason you just don't feel right about any person or business handling or caring for your animals, go with that instinct.

There are many wonderful people and businesses out there. Only you know what is right for your own animal.

Please, also don't make your judgement for any industry on any one bad experience that you may have had or have experienced. With so many wonderful and qualified people in the animal care industry there is a great match out there for your needs. All you have to do is to do the research to find what is right for you and your animals.

Over the years since I've been a professional animal groomer, I also look at who I work with as a client. If we (myself, the animals, the owners) don't seem to "mesh" or work well together, then I will refer them to look into another person to groom their animals. I look at my own business as how I would want my own animals treated. My clients know that they are free to go to another groomer if they would like, it's thier choice to make. As far as the "competition" among groomers, I've always felt that it was the animal owner's choice on who they want to have to groom their animals. There are plenty of animals out there, more than enough for all groomers everywhere.

I really love what I do and enjoy the animals that I work with. This is another reason why I decided to start up Laurie's Warm Fuzzies, to be able to really enjoy the work I do. Being a professional animal groomer is one of the hardest jobs I've ever done. It's hard physically as well as mentally at times, because there is so much energy exchanged between myself and the animals I work with . I am careful about who I take on as a client to work with. If it works out, it's wonderful, but I also try to be aware to the signs that it isn't working out and make changes that will both benefit myself as well as the dogs I work with.

"Burn Out" in the animal grooming industry is at a very high percentage. The average time for an animal groomer to last in this industry is from three to seven years. Over-booking, stress, physical injuries are some of the problems that we, as animals groomers, face every day. People are wrong when they think that we "just play with the animals." The work we do is very physically and emotionally demanding. People don't realize just how much work is involved to make their animals look so great! Professional animal groomers also need to be respected for what they do as professionals. Much time as well as the investment that has been put into purchasing the highest quality of equipment to work with the animals on the safest levels possible should be taken into consideration.

I try to be aware of what I'm doing as a professional animal groomer, as well as how my clients are doing and then make, what I feel, are the right choices. I plan to be grooming a long time and I want to continue to give to my clients the high quality of professional care and attention that they have been accustom to from the start. I'm doing what I can to prevent "burn out" as well as any physical injuries that may happen. I truely love and respect those who I work for, as well as feel that I'm appreciated by them for what I do. If I feel that the balance has been lost, then that's when it's time to look at changes.