The Groom Curriculum Digest

Ergonomic Tips for Dog Groomers: Save Your Body, WOrk Longer

Your body is your first grooming tool

Every groomer knows the feeling: sore shoulders after a long day, aching wrists after a blown handstrip, fatigue that lingers into the next morning.

Your body is the foundation of your career. Learning how to protect it through small daily habits helps you stay strong, prevent injury, and keep grooming for years to come.

In this post, we cover:

  • • Why ergonomics matter in every groom
  • • Simple ways to reduce strain in your body
  • • How body awareness improves safety and quality
  • • A challenge to help you protect your career this week

Why It Matters

Grooming is physical work. Every lift, brush stroke, and snip of your shears adds up over time. Poor habits can create chronic pain or push groomers out of the industry earlier than planned.

The good news is, you have influence over how your body handles the workload. Building smart habits now supports more energy, less pain, and a longer, healthier career.

Protective Habits You Can Build Today

  • • Check your stance: feet shoulder-width apart and bend at the knees, not the waist
  • • Adjust table height so the dog is at a comfortable level for your arms and shoulders
  • • Take micro breaks each hour to stretch your hands, back, and neck
  • • Switch tools between hands when possible to balance strain
  • • Choose supportive footwear and use anti-fatigue mats

How It Helps Your Career

  • • Less daily fatigue
  • • Lower risk of repetitive strain injuries (not today, carpal tunnel syndrome!)
  • • More consistent work quality
  • • A longer and more sustainable career

Challenge for This Week

Choose one ergonomic habit to practice every day this week.  Options include raising your table to a comfortable height, setting a timer for stretch breaks, or switching tool hands during grooms.

At the end of each day, note how your body feels and what changed. Small adjustments today create lasting strength for tomorrow.

Not sure where to start? We’ve created a Stretching Reference Guide with five simple stretches you can use right in the salon.

Click to download the guide.

P.S. Did you hear we made merch? Check it out here!