Common Grooming Terms – The Unofficial Groomer’s Dictionary

If you are new to grooming or interested in learning the meaning of some common grooming terms, you are in the right place! Below is a list of some common (as well as some not-so-common) grooming terms and definitions that we like to call the Unofficial Groomer’s Dictionary.

A-B

Alligator/Gator Roll – when a dog starts rolling while on a loop and tries to unalive themselves

AOHC – all-over haircut

Ball Skirt/Ball Curtain – hair left to hide testicles

BBNE – bath, brush, nails, ears

Blenders – shears with teeth on only one cutting edge spaced close together and used to blend in harsh clipper/cut lines as well as remove more hair than thinners would (great for use on most coat types, especially drop coats)

Bracelets – the round poms on the ankles of a Poodle in the Continental, English Saddler, and Lion trim among others

 

C

Carding – removing the loose, dead undercoat using a blunt-edged tool like a carding knife or stone

Cat Feet – trimming the hair between the toes the same length as the hair on top of the foot to emphasize the toes and show the nails

Chunkers – shears with large teeth spaced farther apart on one cutting edge and used to de-bulk quickly without the commitment of a straight shear cut (great for use on curly coats)

Clam Diggers – when feet are shaved too high on a Poodle 

Clean Face – shaving the muzzle, cheeks, and chin to a short length

Clean Feet – shaving the feet to expose the nails and the entire foot up to just above the knuckles

Cocker Crud – nasty skin issues common on Cockers caused by dermatitis

 

D-F

Dead Baby Hands – flat feet, typically on a Poodle 

Dick Wick – hair left to prevent a dog from peeing on himself

Dingleberries – bits of dried poop stuck around butt

Eastie-Westie Feet – when feet point outwards

FFF/FFS – face, feet, fanny -or- face, feet, sani

Furnishings – the longer hair left behind a dog’s legs, on their chest, mustache, and eyebrows

 

G

Gobbler/Neck Meat – the extra neck skin on a dog’s neck

Grinch Feet – hair that grows up from between toes

Groomer’s Lung – when pet hair and dander is inhaled, the tiny hairs and other harmful particles can travel down into the lung and stay there which can inflame the lung lining and scar the airways eventually turning into a chronic lung condition

Grooming Loop/Grooming Noose – a loop with hook at other end that can be attached to a grooming arm or tether and is used to keep dog safe on table or in tub 

GSD – German Shepherd Dog

 

H-L

Hair Splinters – embedded hair in the skin that can occur between fingers, cleavage, neck, and even eyes and can cause infections if not removed 

Hair Tumor – a bump of hair that needs to be thinned out in haircut 

Hand Stripping – a technique in which a stripping tool (stripping knife, stone, or fingers) are used to remove the dead outer coat of wire-haired breeds

Hock – located on a dog’s back leg below the stifle (knee), corresponding to the ankle joint of a human the hock creates that sharp angle at the back of the dog’s rear legs

Hula Skirt – when a skirt is left around the bottom of a dog’s underline and not blended into the body 

 

M-O

Mucking – quickly removing dead hair on a dog’s top coat as part of the hand stripping process

NCNS – no call no show, when a client does not show up for their appointment and does not call to cancel 

Newfie – Newfoundland

Occiput – bone on the back of the head/skull

OES – Old English Sheepdog

 

P-R

Pants – the long hair (furnishing) on a dog’s back legs

Pelted – a coat that is HEAVILY matted, usually shaved off in big whole pieces

Pom-Pom – the round poof of hair on the tail of most Poodle trims

Puppy Cut – a show Poodle trim and/or trim a pet owner will ask for when they don’t really know what they want

PWD – Portuguese Water Dog

Rear Angulation – the angle at which the pelvis and upper hind legs meet 

Rosettes – the poms on each hip of a Poodle Continental or HCC trim

 

S-T

Skirt – the long hair that falls on either side of a dog’s body between the front and back legs

Spoo – Standard Poodle

Stacking – positioning a dog according to official breed guidelines typically done at dog shows and grooming shows when being reviewed by judges (“free stack” is when the dog positions itself like a boss)

Stickie-Outies – the random bits of hair that you miss while grooming that pop out and have to be trimmed

Thinners – shears with teeth spaced close together on both cutting edges and used to blend in harsh clipper/cut lines (great for use on most coat types, especially drop coats)

Topknot – the hair on top of a dog’s head when it is shaped, banded, or sprayed-up

Topline – the area from the last rib to the hip bone on a dog which is typically supposed to be straight with the exception of some breeds like the Bedlington Terrier and Dandie Dinmont Terrier among others

Are we missing any common dog grooming terms you think should be added? Leave a comment below with the term and definition!

New Dog Grooming Education Membership Just Launched by Groom Haüs

Groom Haüs, a leading production company in the dog grooming industry, is celebrating their 3-year anniversary by relaunching as a membership-based platform. Groom Haüs is known for its high-quality production and content, awesome close-ups, and top-tier instructors..

Groom Haüs is now offering a single all-access membership for $35/month, giving members complete access to their full course library, live webinars, bonus content, business tools, affiliate discounts, and other awesome member perks. The membership is month-to-month and can be canceled at any time. Access to the Club Haüs social community on the Groom Haüs website is always free and serves as a safe space for all groomers and pet care professionals to network, share ideas, and connect without algorithms.

Members of Groom Haüs can enjoy complete access to their Course Library, which offers high-quality educational dog grooming courses available from beginner to advanced continued education taught by top instructors in the industry. The Course Library is ever-growing with multiple new courses and tutorials being added monthly, as well as live webinar events to give members the opportunity to join in, ask questions, win giveaways, and interact with other members in the live chat.

“We are so excited to relaunch Groom Haüs as a Membership platform and provide groomers of all levels with an affordable all-in-one resource for their professional development,” said Nina, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Groom Haüs. “This is more than just a dog grooming educational library – it is a community and platform for groomers to network, connect, and learn!”

The launch of the Groom Haüs membership program marks a significant milestone in the company’s goal to make high-quality dog grooming education more accessible to groomers worldwide. The membership program provides dog groomers with tools to help them learn and grow in the industry. With their growing library of educational resources, exclusive content, and member perks, Groom Haüs is hyper-focused on their vision to revolutionize the dog grooming industry and inspire the next generation of groomers.

2023 Dog Grooming Shows & Expos

2023 Dog Grooming Shows & Expos

Dog grooming competitions and expos happen worldwide throughout the year and are held by multiple organizations including the Word Pet Association, Barkleigh, NDGAA, and others. Whether you are a dog grooming competitor, just want to attend for the expo shopping, educational seminars, and to spectate the competitions, or are looking to get a booth at the expo for your grooming-related business, you can find all of the upcoming 2023 dog grooming events and expos below. Information is subject to change at any time. This post is updated periodically, so be sure to save it and check back for updates!

Can’t make it to the shows but still want to learn? Check out our high-quality virtual dog grooming courses and even network with other groomers in the Club Haüs. Members even get access to discounts from top vendors!

 

Upcoming 2023 Grooming Shows & Expos:

DateEventLocation
January 6-8, 2023Whitman’s Grooming ExpoSchaumburg, IL
January 22, 2023The Grooming ShowStoneleigh Coventry, England
January 27-29, 2023Charm City Grooming CompetitionTimonium, MD
2024 Date TBDPalmetto GroomHilton Head Island, SC
February 16-19, 2023Groom Expo WestPasadena, CA
March 10-12, 2023GROOM’D (Atlanta Pet Fair)Atlanta, GA
March 16-19, 2023Northwest Grooming ShowTacoma, WA
March 17-18, 2023Jornadas ArteroMadrid, Spain
March 30 – April 2, 2023IntergroomSecaucus, NJ
2024 Date TBDJornadas ArteroOrlando, FL – TBD
April 15, 2023Viking GroomLandskrona, Sweden
April 28-30, 2023St. Louis GroomfestSt. Louis, MO
April 29-30, 2023MilangroomRome, Italy
May 5-7, 2023T.O. Grooming ShowToronto, Ontario CA
May 18-21, 2023Teton Grooming ExpoIdaho Falls, ID
June – TBD, 2023World Dog ExpoSecaucus, NJ
June 16-18, 2023West Coast Groom FestChilliwack, BC
June 22-25, 2023PetQuestWilmington, OH
July 7-9, 2023Rocky Mountain Groom ExpoColorado Springs, CO
July 22-24, 2023Groom TexasHouston, TX
August 10-13, 2023All American Grooming ShowSchaumburg, IL
August 16-18, 2023SuperZooLas Vegas, NV
September 7-10, 2023Groom Expo HersheyHershey, PA
September – TBD, 2023GroomaniaKortrijk, Belgium
Sept. 28 – Oct. 1, 2023New England Grooming ShowSturbridge, MA
October 6-9, 2023US Pet Pro ClassicLas Colinas, TX
October 12-15, 2023Fun in the Sun Grooming ShowOrlando, FL
November – TBD, 2023Artero Grooming SlamBarcelona, Spain
December 3-4, 2023Romeo GroomingRome, Italy
December TBDGroom SouthTBD

Do you have or know about an expo that should be on this list? Submit the info to us here to be added!

What are your favorite shows to attend and why? Leave a comment below!