00:00I'm Lucy Fink. I'm a video producer at Refinery29, but every so often I like to try other people's jobs.
00:06Today I'm at the Harlem Doggy Day Spa, and I'm going to see if I have what it takes to
00:10be a pet groomer.
00:12This is Lucy for Hire.
00:15I am a total dog lover.
00:17I've had dogs as pets for my entire life, and so when I got invited to the Harlem Doggy Day
00:22Spa to try being a puppy groomer for the day, it was an easy yes.
00:26But easy was the absolute last thing that this challenge turned out to be.
00:31I think Lucy is going to have a rude awakening because there's a huge difference between loving the dog and
00:36actually grooming the dog, and she has to find a balance where she can do both.
00:41My first challenge was to assess the dog.
00:44Hi, Bao Bao.
00:45I got lucky here. When looking for a puppy to groom, my close friend Sarah offered up her dog, Bao
00:51Bao.
00:51Now, I've known Bao Bao since he was an itty-bitty pup, so thankfully he already felt comfortable around me.
00:57During the assessment period, we spoke to Bao Bao's mom to see what she was looking for.
01:01It's just a nice, clean trip.
01:02Then the store owner, Brian and I, took to the books to make sure we had a grooming game plan.
01:09Here we are.
01:11Into the back.
01:12So what you want to do is just put the groomer's help pose around his neck.
01:15You don't want to put it too tight.
01:17We also took some before photos of Bao Bao, just for the archives, and once we were done, it was
01:22time to prep the pup.
01:24Nice.
01:25Okay.
01:27We started by brushing his fur,
01:31working through any knots.
01:33Good boy, Bao Bao.
01:35And then we cleaned out his ears.
01:37Going a little bit deeper.
01:40Oh, my little boo-boo.
01:42And protected them from the bath by putting cotton balls inside of them.
01:45With one arm around the chest and one around the back, you're perfect.
01:49Lastly, we moved him over to the bath area and gave him some eye protection.
01:53I had never put eye drops in for a dog before, but Bao Bao took him like a champ.
01:57So you want to test it with your hand just to make sure that if you're comfortable, then he's comfortable.
02:03My third challenge was the bath.
02:06Now, not all dogs like being under water, so it can be a bit of a struggle at times to
02:11keep them relaxed.
02:12But we did everything possible to make sure Bao Bao was comfortable and calm during the shampoo and conditioning process.
02:18Look how skinny you are with water all over your body.
02:21Yet, I did get a couple of minor scratches and a lot of water in my face along the way.
02:28But I gladly accepted them as badges of honor for a job well done.
02:32Once he was washed, it was time to express his anal glands.
02:36Yes, you heard me correctly.
02:38We call it doggy detox.
02:40It's a very sensitive area on an animal, so it's no wonder they leave it to the experts.
02:45See?
02:45Oh.
02:45That's what came out.
02:47Ooh.
02:48Babo didn't like having his butt touched as expected, so we quickly moved on.
02:53He's doing a great job.
02:55Don't eat it.
02:56Don't eat it.
02:58Once he was all squeaky clean, it was time for my final challenge.
03:02Drying and grooming.
03:04This process can be way more intense and involve scissors or razors if the dog is getting a major haircut.
03:11But Babo's owner wanted to keep him fluffy and full.
03:15So we just dried his fur, trimmed a very little bit of hair where necessary, clipped his nails, and did
03:30some final brushing.
03:32By the end of the process, Babo was looking fabulous.
03:35We put him in a little tie, took some final pics of him, and then passed him back to his
03:41mama.
03:42It's mommy!
03:46I've tried a lot of jobs throughout the Lucy for Hire series.
03:50I've tried being a gymnast, a ballerina, a wedding cake maker, and more.
03:54But I didn't know that the job involving puppies would be the most demanding of all.
03:59There's something about having a life on the table in front of you that brings so much more meaning, intention,
04:05but also pressure to the role.
04:07So although today took a lot of patience, attentiveness, and muscle, I feel, like, exhausted.
04:14Throw me a bone here.
04:16It was just my first time.
04:18We'll see you next time on Lucy for Hire.
04:37Great job, great job!
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