The Salt of Life

12/15/2024

All right, so you have the job and some of the info and are going into your training period. What do you look for besides close-toed shoes and the colors the company wants you to wear?

So, first of all, if you are in corporate, you should have a smock, but if not, get one of nylon and polyester. These are going to be your best friends material-wise, as they don’t have the static to pick up all the dog hair.

Let’s start with shoes. There are no Crocs allowed in most places, so that won’t work. Waterproof boots made for adventure will work great; just remember, even the best shoes can’t do anything against water falling into the shoe itself.
(If this happens and you have a few minutes, remove your shoe and use the high-velocity dryer on your shoe and foot. Don’t blow the dryer into the shoe without your foot in it, as this might dislodge the insole, and you don’t need to deal with that in the middle of your shift.
Sit on a table with your toes to the ground, and you will see the water drain out of the front of the shoe, speeding up the process.)

This may feel like an ad going through it, but I am not earning commission off any of this. I am just letting you guys know what worked for me.

I love this shoe if you want to try and see how it feels.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07868G49X?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Sock-wise, I always wore compression socks due to my POTS, so that’s all I can recommend. Most people wear compression socks when on their feet for long periods, so these may be the best way to keep your blood flowing as it should.

Long socks
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CP5NH4FZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Short socks
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W4P8DXK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So, pants. I went through a few before I realized that pockets are my friend, and these pants have many, along with being made of polyester, meaning that I didn’t have to blow the hair off of me for around 5 minutes before I went home. They also have resisted plumber’s crack, something everyone can benefit from.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C9PLMSJ3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Not everyone will need an undershirt, but I recommend a golf sleeveless undershirt even when warm. The reason is that golf shirts are usually polyester and nicely high-necked. I realized in vet med and grooming that you will be bending over a lot. In front of customers and coworkers, and if you have something even remotely crew-necked, you can do this without worrying about your shirt hanging down and showing your everything. Many of my coworkers would wear undershirts for this very reason: the scrubs and smocks are very loose, and no one needs the added stress of accidentally showing their whole chest, no matter who you are in these positions.
Long-sleeved shirts also help with abrasive coat types and nervous pups that try to escape with sharp nails.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B099KQKCFC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Now, onto the head. Get a mask. Many grooming salons have them, but have your own in case something happens and they run out. It doesn’t have to be fancy or high-tech; it’s to prevent groomer’s lung, a fun respiratory condition caused by hair in the lungs, which can also happen to hair stylists. With the dogs we de-shed, you will appreciate it very soon.
I’ve heard beekeeper’s hat can help, but I’ve never been able to try those, as I wasn’t sure I was allowed. Let me know if they work for you!
Get a scrub cap. It may sound ridiculous, but if you have long hair, you will find dog hair in there, and not all of it will be clean, much less what it will do if you’re allergic like I am. It also means you don’t have to do your hair, and it will just make it that much easier to get out the door in the mornings. Many also have buttons for attaching masks so your ears have a break from the straps. Ponytail types are best for keeping your hair done up and protected.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B38SSKV4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/Scrub-Women-Nurse-Dinosaurs-Skeleton/dp/B0C7GF8X7Q?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1

Have gloves. Use nitrile or vinyl due to latex allergies; have a long and short version. The short ones should be around the wrist and will be what you use the most. Remember to take these off once the dog is dried past visual dampness; you need to feel down to the skin if they are dry.
The long gloves are for when you need to do some rough cleaning, like a mess of fluids and chemicals, and when doing a de-shed, due to the fur being so long, it will swallow your arms as you lather the soap to the skin.
If you have eczema like me, these gloves will protect your hands from the chemicals in grooming and the water in general. And, of course, when you get a dog that just goes right into the bath because the smell is one of something unmentionable.

Finally, ears. I don’t care if no one around you has hearing protection; you need it, so use it. You can use the huge hearing-protection headphones, or the tinier version I prefer, whichever works best.

These little guys are called Loops. The quiet ones made it so I could dry a screaming husky without wanting to claw out my eardrums, so they worked well. I recommend getting the loop strap so you can pop them in or out from the back to the front with a dog, but again, you can also use those handy zipper pockets for them. 

Finally, ears. I don’t care if no one around you has hearing protection; you need it, so use it. You can use the huge hearing-protection headphones, or the tinier version I prefer, whichever works best.
These little guys are called Loops. The quiet ones made it so I could dry a screaming husky without wanting to claw out my eardrums, so they worked well. I recommend getting the loop strap so you can pop them in or out from the back to the front with a dog, but again, you can also use those handy zipper pockets for them.
I got the first rendition, but I’ve heard this design also does amazing. https://www.amazon.com/Loop-Quiet-Ear-Plugs-Noise-Reducing/dp/B0D3V61JC8?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Loop-Link-Safety-Connector-Cord/dp/B0C6QDVZCL?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1

Accessories
You should limit these, as dogs and cats will not care about what you look like, but here are some tips if you want to feel pretty and practical. No valuables to work, or at least minimal. Wear your cheap, pretty jewelry that is easily replaceable.

Short earrings only. You can have a dangle of around an inch, but no shoulder dangles, or heavy earrings. I’ve had a dog rip an earring out of my ear from biting it, so butterfly backs and lever backs will be your best friends. Again, keep it short and light so it doesn’t get stuck on anything.

Necklaces should be kept under clothing as dogs will try to use your body to escape everything. They can easily break chains if you’re working on a bigger dog or a motivated small dog. Again, keep it small and close. I wore the urn necklace of my first dog under my shirt, and I still had a few dogs that almost broke his chain.

No bracelets. You will be wearing gloves, sticking your hands in water, and tangle happy hair; your bracelets will not last.
Same with rings. The water and chemicals can ruin them, and they will stretch your gloves to the risk of breaking, so keep them in a zipper pocket if you need them, which is what I did with a good luck bracelet my mom gave me.

One more thing. Get some arthritis bandages for your forearms. It sounds ridiculous until you realize how many hairs it stops from poking into you, and more importantly, how it protects you.

I had a pincher take out a quicked nail on me by biting me every time I tried to touch her to get her back to her owner. Thanks to my wrapping, I had a nasty bruise, but no blood shed. The bites will also be far less dangerous. Also trust me, nails will shred your bandages, so imagine your skin open around all that dander and dirty dog fur. Nope.

Have fun and be safe, my dears.