A pet grooming professional should be dressed appropriately for the job he or she is performing. Just because a groomer is dealing with animals doesn’t mean she can’t present herself in a manner that speaks to her professionalism as a groomer and as a successful businessperson.

The proper grooming shoes are vital for a pet professional. Thankfully, there are several excellent choices in style, color, and type of shoes for a pet grooming professional. The shoes worn by these folks should meet several important criteria.

First of all, shoes worn by pet groomers need to have excellent support. Grooming professionals are on their feet for several hours in a row while they bathe, brush, trim, and care for dogs, cats, rabbits, and other critters throughout the work day. In order to protect their feet and lend their back quality support, the inserts of their shoes should be designed to withstand consistent and constant pressure while delivering the most support possible to the wearer.

When dealing with animals, messy accidents can happen. There are several styles of shoes designed with pet groomers in mind. They’re constructed from polyurethane uppers that can be wiped clean with soap and water. These types of shoes are also waterproof. This is an important feature for pet grooming pros that are in direct contact with animals all day. These shoes are often made as slip-on’s so they can be slipped on and off easily and cleaned often.

Grooming shoes should also be slip resistant. Animals, especially large dogs, can tend to move around a bit during the grooming session and have the ability to push the groomer off balance if they’re not careful. Slip resistant shoes give the pet professional an edge and help them to keep themselves and the pet safe during grooming.

Durability is also important when it comes to shoes for a grooming professional. These shoes will endure frequent washings and hours of wear, so it’s critical that the material from which they’re constructed is durable.

Leather shoes and shoes with laces are not reasonable choices for pet groomers. These shoes can’t be washed frequently or thoroughly. They’ll hold onto odors and germs, which isn’t good for the wearer or the animals with which she comes into contact on a daily basis.

Along with the right choice of grooming shoes, a pet professional should wear the proper uniform and gloves for the job. The uniform should be made from fabric that is easily brushed clean, but also won’t rip or tear easily when it comes into contact with animals’ toenails. Gloves worn by a pet groomer should be in line with the type of animal she is grooming. For example, leather gloves can be worn when grooming a smaller dog. For a large dog with aggressive tendencies, a metal mesh glove may be worn. Rubber gloves are also another good choice in order to protect the skin from possible germs or disease.

Overall, the pet grooming professional should appear to be clean, tidy, professional, and personable. The correct pair of shoes can make all the difference for any ensemble!