Dog grooming, at its best, goes skin-deep, according to Furst Class Canine Mobile Grooming Salon and Spa, LLC, founder Laney Dicksion.
“Let’s face it. Most people take their dogs to the groomer when they’re dirty, or smell, or need their nails trimmed, or they just want them styled to look good.
“We believe grooming should go beyond that,” Laney says. “Yes, we take care of those concerns, but we can also do something beneficial for the dog.”
In the case of their repeat clientele, Laney and her staff see these pets more frequently than their veterinarians do.
“So, we often can detect changes in behavior, lumps and other conditions which may signal concerns such as prediabetes, hepatitis, cancer and other illnesses, as well as issues like grass seed burrs caught in the dog’s toes (which may require surgery if not remedied early),” she says. As with humans, she notes, early detection is vital.
Laney and her staff pay special attention to their four-legged patients’ skin and coats, which are bellwethers for many health issues caused by a variety of issues, including an improper diet and allergies.
She notes that, often, she and her staff are able to address issues like bald spots, scratching (which can lead to infection), brittle hair (leading to excess hair shedding), rashes and yeast build-up in the folds of the skin by selecting the proper conditioner.
“As with humans, the skin on a dog is its largest organ, and dogs are exposed to a lot environmentally. And in Oklahoma, we see a lot of dogs with skin allergies,” she explains. “Dogs may not always require medications to treat those allergies; sometimes, using a conditioning agent that restores the sebum (oil) levels will solve the problem, without risking adverse side effects.”
To ensure she and her staff are always aware of the latest trends in grooming and dog care in general, everyone is required to enroll in continuing education credits.
Laney also is personally working on obtaining her Canine Pet Aesthetician Certification, an intensive, months-long process under the supervision of Cliff Faver, D.V.M., who spearheads this program through IV San Bernard.
“We are seeing a new evolution of what we can do for your dog,” Laney says. “I’m a proponent of trying to explain that there’s more to grooming than just grooming; we should be here for whole-dog care. At the end of the day, this is a profession, and we’re taking it to another level of care. We shouldn’t just offer a menu board of services, we should be serving the whole pet.”
Laney notes that Furst Class Canine recently upgraded a service for their clients that is proving to be very popular.
“Many of our clients know that when we groom their dog, we take an ‘after’ photo of them. We put an accessory on them—such as a bow or tie—and take their photos in front of a set, which we change at least once a month.” (The sets reflect upcoming holidays and/or themes; past themes have included back-to-school, Harry Potter and unicorns.) Six years ago, when we started this, few groomers were offering this service. Now, it’s common.
“This year, we upgraded our service through a new software program called Report Card. Now, our clients get their photos instantly and can download them for their use—Facebook profiles, Christmas cards, etc. They also immediately receive a full grooming report and their receipt, all in one report.”
Seven Years and Going Strong
Laney launched Furst Class Canine in 2017, with service to the Oklahoma City metro, later adding the Greater Tulsa Area from Broken Arrow and Bixby to Owasso.
Clientele are passionate about the care the business provides their fur babies. Their testimonials, and much more, can be found on the Furst Class Canine Mobile Grooming Salon and Spa Facebook page. Call 405.830.8578 (OKC Metro) or 918.699.9833 (or Tulsa Metro) for more information and appointments.