How Covid and Doodles impacted the Dog Grooming Industry

What is a Covid Dog?

From social distancing guidelines to working from home, the pandemic was a perfect time to get a puppy or dog for many Americans . During the pandemic, 14% of Americans acquired either a dog or cat. According to Rover.com, in 2021 the Mixed breed and the Goldendoodle were both ranked in the top 5 most popular dog breeds. Assuming that “Mixed breed” is mostly shelter dogs, we can also assume that means Labradoodles, Aussiedoodles, etc. While we were staying home to save lives, families and singles now had cuddly new dogs to fulfill a nationwide need for companionship.

During that time many dog training and grooming shops were temporarily closed. Owners relied on the internet for guidance. Months of time together at home created co-dependency in many dogs and humans. Unfortunately for us humans, this conundrum got us some dogs with apprehensive social behaviors and quirky living habits. This is what some groomers refer to as a “Covid Dog” or “Pandemic Puppy”.

The Pressure on Local Shops

Once businesses started opening up again, grooming shops started to see an influx in Doodle mixed breeds on top of overall number of dogs in general. The need for more groomers in the industry became apparent very quickly. The schedules were now adding dogs that require a high level of skill, which equates to more time per client. Doodles can also get quite large, posing logistical problems on where to safely house them during the grooming process.

The Pressure on Local Groomers

This is where co-dependency and apprehensive social habits come into play, specifically during the grooming process. Groomers needed to groom a larger volume of dogs and at a high level of grooming skill. Insert limited training during adolescence, limited social engagement and limited time on a grooming table, and you have a job that can only be executed by a masterful professional. Groomers quickly needed to learn patience, acceptance, and create goals for these special clients.

Conclusion

Every person went through the same life-changing event, and we went through it together. Now all of our “Covid Dogs” are getting a little older. It’s not about where you start, its about where you finish.  Has your dog gotten better at the groomer? If so, your groomer can take some of that credit! Are you getting charged a Handling Fee? Maybe your dog needs more time or perhaps a different strategical approach to its grooming process. In the end, your Covid dog is very special because it helped you through a life-changing event that hopefully no dogs or humans see again.