Who I Am
"I'm the co-owner of Down Home Dog. I've been grooming for about four years," says canine coiffure Jennifer Sinclair, "I used to manage a grooming salon and retail store, and I noticed there was a lack of groomers in the city. That shop also focused on health food for pets so I learned a lot about nutrition. We take the same approach here with our products. When I trained, I stayed with a groomer for six months, and I've done certification through the Canadian Association of Pet Stylists. I'm now upgrading to become a master stylist."
What I Do
"It's a very physical job. I don't think people realize that until they decide to do it as a career," Sinclair explains. With an assistant, she can groom between seven and 10 dogs a day. For a schnauzer like Ritz: "She gets a pre-clip, then I put her in the tub, she gets her ears cleaned. She's blow-dried then fluff-dried and then she gets her finished hair-cut, which includes her nails. Grooming is part of a dog's overall health. Their skin shows a lot of health conditions first. We know before anyone else if the dog has a skin problem, fleas or ticks, split nails, lumps or if they're acting different and we alert owners. The dogs come in happy, leave happy, and I'm happy to see them."
Her Favourite Clients
"Schnauzers and poodles. Most groomers like poodles because it's fun. I do a lot of terriers because I finished my terrier certification first. I like saucy dogs and they usually have the cutest cuts."
