Hi, I'm just after some advice from the dog owner travelling community. I'm a mobile dog groomer based in SE QLD. Have my own business and well established. In the quiet season ie winter I am thinking of doing a solo (with my dog of course) travel up North as far as Cairns stopping along the way over a two month period both outback and coastal towns. I work in my van and have it set up for sleeping and working with a 12 volt and 240 system deep cell battery, invertor and by winter I will have a solar panel. Ideally I would like to work whilst I'm on my solo trip, obviously to earn but also to meet people. I was just wondering what do you travelling dog owners do with regards to grooming whilst on your travels? Also do you think that caravan parks would allow me to work from their parks if I'm staying there? Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance Sharon
My dog wakes up looking just as good as she does when she goes to bed. The only grooming I subject her to is a wash and shampoo when she needs it, whether she likes it or not.
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"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."
We were in Bendigo in January and with so many burrs etc we needed to get our dog clipped. He was also quite matted from wearing his harness all day. We ended up driving to ballarat for a groomer. It would have been great to have you nearby. You possibly wont make a fortune but im sure you can get enough for some big treats. Good luck.
I expect that pet grooming would appeal to the kind of people who would engage a maid to do their housework or to those people who would use a carwash rather than a bucket and sponge. Grey nomads live in caravans and motorhomes. They are accustomed to a frugal lifestyle. I would think that most would be living on their retirement savings or a pension. They would be accustomed to doing their own washing, cooking, and cleaning. ISTM that a person who empties and cleans his or her own toilet cassette would not be averse to washing their dog or running a comb through its fur.
I wish you luck in your business, but I can't see how you could turn it into a working holiday, at least not in the way you envisage.
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"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."
I think you'd be surprized on how much work a dog groomer can get on the road. Not only from the traveling GN's but a lot of small country towns either don't have a dog groomer or they are that flat out they're not looking for new customers. We met a guy in a Caravan Park in Kunnunara, who was doing dog grooming on his way round, and he was flat out. When we talked to him he said he doesn't put his sign out all the time when free camping because sometimes he just needs a break.
We've got a short haired dog so so she doesn't need trimming, but when it comes to clipping her claws she won't let us do it, but doesn't get as srtoppy with a stranger. So we have that need from time to time.
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Steve, Di & Ziggy We named our Motorhome "Roadworx" because on the road works "On The Road Again" Ford Transit with 302 Windsor V8 conversion, C4 Auto, 9 Inch Ford Diff All Lighting L.E.D., 260 Amp/h AGM, 530 Watt Solar + Kipor Backup Gen.
I groom our dog myself. She is an Australian Silky Terrier and unfortunately I have found that the groomers I have used don't know how to groom a Silky. I have the necessary equipment and she fits into the oblong mop bucket for bathing which is perfect. However if I found someone who really knew what to do I may well use their services at times.
We have a poodle, and specifically chose that breed because they do not shed......leaving the car and van hairless. So said, it's means they need to be groomed about every 6-8 weeks.
We do it ourselves, but he loves the groomer, and we would appreciate the free time and opportunity to explore without him.
In addition, if you offered dog minding with or without grooming, we would be happy to pay.
I think it is a great idea, you could certainly do it at our park no worries at all, in fact if you came at a time when my little yorkie needed a haircut, we would use you. Having said that, Kerang does have a lovely groomer but a lot of small towns don't. If you were planning on visiting an area I would suggest putting an ad up on the buy swap sell site of whichever towns you were heading to next, might pick up some clients that way also. Good luck.
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I am made up of flaws stitched together with good intentions.
Thanks for the information everybody. I guess I should have mentioned I was more targeting dogs that need clipping, but then again those of you who have these dogs would know that :), This has been very helpful indeed and I'm so looking forward to my trip. I used to go to an outback town to work for two days a month when working for my last employer and we were so busy there. Great to hear your all your comments. Unfortunately, I won't be heading towards Kerang, but thanks so much for the offer regarding working from your caravan park and just knowing that there are kind people like yourself running these parks puts me in good stead. It will be a great trip whatever happens. Thanks everybody Sharon ( I hope this response works ok as I'm new to this site)
-- Edited by sharonowen on Saturday 5th of March 2016 08:37:18 PM
