The Pet Pro Advantage Hiding in Plain Sight—and Paying Off.
You know that moment when it hits you that you’ve been doing things the hard way for way too long?
Yeah. Story of my life.
For what’s probably a mega-list of reasons, the “hard way” seems to be my default learning style. And honestly? I’ve mastered it a little too well.
For years, running my grooming salon felt like pushing a boulder uphill. Frustration. No-shows. Last-minute cancellations. Unrealistic expectations. Rinse and repeat.
Questioning my life choices when the gigantic doodle–the anxiety tornado on four legs–appeared:
after six-plus months of radio silence
matted from eyebrows to ankles
with an owner who was furious when they didn’t get the budget-friendly, fluffy Pinterest outcome they’d envisioned
I felt like I was chasing my tail. I was exhausted, resentful, and couldn’t comprehend why pet owners:
wouldn’t keep their dog on a schedule
skip brushing altogether
hand me a neglected coat and expect a miracle makeover in two hours with a bargain bin price tag
I’d have clients upset that their dog got the #10 Special—for the second time that year—even though it was only the second time I’d seen the dog all year. They were frustrated. I was frustrated. Nobody was winning.
One day, a single conversation flipped the switch for me.
I was talking to a client about keeping her dog on a regular grooming schedule. She only booked when the dog “looked like it needed it,” which—shocker—wasn’t often enough.
I told her if she wanted to keep her dog fluffy, she needed to come in every four weeks. Or at the very least, alternate full grooms and bathing appointments monthly to stay ahead of matting. I laid it out clearly: the longer the coat, the more upkeep it requires—either through frequent grooming OR religious brushing at home, which she’d already admitted she wasn’t great at staying on top of.
She said she assumed the opposite: keeping the coat longer meant coming in less often.
Once I thoroughly explained why that wasn’t the case—longer coats required more work, especially in high-friction areas of the body—you could see the light bulb turn on for her.
And in that moment, something clicked for me too.
I realized most of my clients weren’t willfully ignoring me. They just didn’t know what I knew. They didn’t have the education, training, or daily hands-on experience I had. What was common sense in my head was brand new information in theirs.
Sure, I would explain certain aspects of why they needed to brush, how they needed to brush, etc., but I never got down to the nitty-gritty of the reasoning and science behind the action, because I assumed information like it was common sense to everyone.
But, if she thought that way, how many others did?
Cue the face-palm.
That was the day I stopped assuming and started educating—intentionally, consistently, and out loud.
I’d been the expert all along. I had the knowledge. I just wasn’t actually sharing it in a way pet owners could use or apply.
BIG mistake.
And the second I corrected it? Everything changed.
Educated Clients Are Your Best Marketing Tool.
If there's one thing I wish every pet professional understood, it's this:
An educated client is a repeat client—and free advertising.
When you give someone value beyond the service itself, they notice. Their dog walks out groomed or trained or cared for—but they walk out informed. That makes people happy. Happy people talk and that turns into business you didn’t have to chase.
Stop Assuming Clients Know What You Know
Educating clients should be standard in any industry, but in pet care? It’s non-negotiable. The more a client understands why you do things a certain way—or why they need to do their part—the more they trust you.
And trusting clients tend to stick around.
Think about it: How many times have you wanted to know the “why” behind something before committing? And once you knew the “why,” how much easier was it to make an informed decision you felt good about?
When I stopped assuming, stopped speaking over my clients’ heads, and I started breaking it down in language they could understand–the lightbulbs started coming on.
Once I Started Teaching, Everything Changed.
I tested my theory out. I posted videos showing how to line-brush. I created social media posts explaining why regular grooming can reduce anxiety, prevent matting, improve skin health, and keep their dog comfortable. I talked about scheduling—not from a “you should” angle, but from a “here’s why it matters to your pet” perspective.
And then the appointments started rolling in. Not just one-offs—I started booking clients into year-round routines. Now, about 90% of my clients are pre-scheduled at the frequency I feel is best for their pet. That means stability for me, their pets, and their wallets.
All because I took the time to educate them.
On top of that? I was able to significantly raise my prices with very little pushback. When the right people understand your value, they respect it. They also tell their friends. And they tend to be the kind of clients you actually want to keep.
This Isn’t Just About Grooming.
What I’m talking about applies to the entire pet industry—every niche, every service, every product. If you work with pets or pet owners in any capacity, educating your clients should be part of what you do. Not as an afterthought. Not when you remember. Built-in. It can be a lot of work, but it’s so worth it.
Here’s what that could look like beyond the grooming table:
Dog trainers:
Most clients think they’re dropping their dog off so you can “fix” the issue. They don’t realize they’re half the equation. When they understand that training is a team effort—and that what happens at home matters more than what happens in your facility—they’re more committed, more consistent, and less likely to blame you when things slip. Educating pet owners upfront, in terms they can understand, can save you from frustration and failed outcomes they pin on you.
Daycares and boarders:
Owners don’t understand why you separate dogs by size, temperament, or playstyle unless you explain it. They may assume playgroups are one big free-for-all unless you tell them otherwise. When you require a bed from home, rotate enrichment, or enforce rest periods, there’s a reason. Share it. The less pet owners are left guessing, the less pushback you get—and the more they understand how safe their pets are in your care.
Pet retailers:
If you’re just ringing up products, you’re replaceable. But when you take the time to explain to pet owners how to use the lick mat, why that chew is safer for their giant breed, or what problem that type of collar actually solves—you go from “store” to “trusted source.” Pet owners come back to trusted sources. They recommend trusted sources. They spend more with trusted sources.
Vet clinics, dog walkers, pet sitters, pet massage therapists, the list goes on!
Educating clients or potential customers is a necessity if you want to be seen as the authority in your field and become the trusted source pet owners want to do business with again and again.
At the end of the day, people don’t follow instructions—they follow understanding. And when you’re the one who gives them that understanding, you stop being “another pet business” and start being the one they refer, respect, and revisit.
Once I stopped expecting clients to “just know” and started teaching them what I knew, everything improved—my schedule, my pricing, my sanity, all of it. And the wild thing?
Nothing about my skillset changed.
I didn’t take a new certification course or overhaul my business. I just stopped keeping the knowledge in my head and started putting it in front of the people who needed it.
You can do the same—no matter what corner of the pet industry you’re in.
And if you want help putting your expertise into words, posts, guides, emails, handouts, blogs, or anything else that educates your clients and positions you as the authority in your space, I can help you create it. Whether you need done-for-you copy, content strategy, or someone to translate what's in your head into something clients actually get—I’m here for that.
Your knowledge is the thing that sets you apart. Let’s make sure pet owners see it.
Robbyn is a pet care industry marketing and strategic business writer who bridges the bond between pets, their people, and the brands they love.
