Dog Grooming Glossary
Every grooming term you need to know — from coat types and techniques to tools and business terms — defined by professionals, for professionals.
25 terms across 4 categories
Breeds & Styles
(7)Breed-Specific Cut
A grooming style that follows the official breed standard set by kennel clubs like the AKC. The cut emphasizes the breed's intended silhouette, proportions, and coat presentation.
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Puppy Cut
A popular all-over trim where the coat is cut to a uniform length (usually 1-2 inches) across the entire body. Despite the name, it is used on dogs of all ages for a low-maintenance look.
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Teddy Bear Cut
A grooming style that trims the body to a uniform length while leaving the face rounded and fluffy, creating a soft, stuffed-animal appearance. Extremely popular on Doodles, Shih Tzus, and Bichons.
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Kennel Cut
A short, low-maintenance all-over clip typically done with a #7 or shorter blade. Designed for easy care and often used on dogs with severely matted coats or for owners who want minimal maintenance.
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Lion Cut
A grooming style that shaves the body short while leaving a full mane around the head, neck, and chest, plus pom-poms on the feet and tail tip. Most commonly seen on Pomeranians, Portuguese Water Dogs, and cats.
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Asian Fusion
A creative grooming style originating from Japan and Korea that emphasizes exaggerated rounded shapes, clean lines, and a cartoon-like or anime-inspired appearance. Gaining rapid popularity in Western grooming.
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Creative Grooming
An artistic grooming discipline that goes beyond standard cuts to include coat dyeing, sculpted designs, stenciling, and elaborate themed styles. Used in competitions and increasingly requested by pet owners.
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Business Terms
(3)Commission Split
A pay structure where the groomer earns a percentage of each grooming service they perform, with the salon keeping the remainder. The industry standard ranges from 40-60% to the groomer.
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Booth Rental
An arrangement where a groomer rents a grooming station or space within an existing salon for a flat weekly or monthly fee. The groomer sets their own prices, keeps all revenue, and operates as an independent business.
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Mobile Grooming
A grooming business model where the groomer operates from a fully equipped van or trailer, traveling to clients' homes to groom their dogs on-site. Offers convenience for clients and independence for groomers.
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Grooming Techniques
(8)Hand Stripping
A grooming technique where dead outer coat is pulled out by hand or with a stripping knife, rather than clipped. Used primarily on wire-coated terrier breeds to maintain proper coat texture and color.
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Deshedding
A grooming process that removes loose undercoat and dead hair from double-coated breeds using specialized tools and techniques. Reduces shedding at home by up to 80% when done properly.
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Sanitary Trim
A hygienic grooming service that trims or shaves the hair around a dog's private areas, belly, and inner thighs to prevent soiling, urine staining, and bacterial buildup.
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Mat Removal
The process of safely removing tangled, knotted clumps of fur from a dog's coat. Severe matting can trap moisture against the skin, restrict circulation, and cause pain.
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Clipper Burn
Skin irritation caused by hot clipper blades, dull blades, or excessive pressure during clipping. Appears as redness, bumps, or razor-rash-like irritation on the dog's skin.
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Quick (Nail)
The blood vessel and nerve bundle inside a dog's nail. Cutting into the quick causes bleeding and pain, making nail trimming one of the most anxiety-inducing tasks for both groomers and pet owners.
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Dematting
The professional process of carefully separating and removing mats (tangled clumps of fur) from a dog's coat using specialized tools. Distinct from regular brushing in both technique and pricing.
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Blow-Out
A grooming service focused on bathing and high-velocity force drying to remove loose undercoat, straighten the coat, and create a fluffy, voluminous finish without a haircut.
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Tools & Equipment
(7)Cage Dryer
A hands-free dryer mounted on or directed into a kennel that circulates warm air to dry a dog after bathing. Allows groomers to work on other dogs during the drying process.
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Force Dryer
A high-velocity dryer that uses powerful, unheated airflow to blast water and loose hair from a dog's coat. The most effective drying tool in professional grooming and essential for deshedding.
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Slicker Brush
A grooming brush with fine, closely spaced wire pins angled to penetrate the coat and remove tangles, loose hair, and minor mats. The most versatile brush in a groomer's toolkit.
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Thinning Shears
Scissors with one or two serrated (toothed) blades that remove bulk and blend transition lines without creating visible cut marks. Essential for finishing work on nearly every grooming style.
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FURminator
A popular brand-name deshedding tool with a stainless steel edge designed to reach through the topcoat and remove loose undercoat. Widely used but requires careful technique to avoid coat damage.
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Undercoat Rake
A grooming tool with wide-spaced, rounded-tip teeth designed to penetrate the topcoat and remove loose undercoat without damaging the guard hairs. Safer and gentler than many deshedding tools.
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Blade Sizes
The standardized numbering system for clipper blades used in dog grooming. Higher numbers cut shorter — a #10 leaves 1/16 inch while a #3 leaves 1/2 inch. Understanding blade sizes is fundamental to professional grooming.
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Put Your Knowledge to Work
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