Dog hair for the benefit of the military: how a groomer from Zhytomyr works during the war

Zhytomyr-based groomer Elizaveta Plekhanova has been giving beauty and style to furry friends for 9 years. Her profession is not just cutting animals, it is creativity, care and a sincere approach to each client.

Despite the war, the demand for the girl’s services does not decrease. On the contrary, new trends are emerging, such as dyeing the fur of animals in different colors. In addition to the main job, the groomer does not remain aloof from the war. She actively sends the wool of her four-legged pets to a volunteer who uses it to make necessary items for the military.

IA “FACT” journalist Yuliya Khomenko spoke with Yelyzaveta Plekhanova, a 23-year-old groomer from the barberdog salon, about the complexity of work, new trends and the help of the army.

Elizaveta, thank you for agreeing to the interview. Tell us how you started your career as a groomer?

Grooming four-legged pets is my hobby, which I have nurtured since childhood. Love for animals has always been my driving force, and one day I came across a video on the Internet showing the process of dog grooming. This moment became a turning point for me, and I decided to deepen my knowledge in this area. At first, I practiced haircuts on my pet, and then, feeling confident, I went to Kyiv to take grooming courses. After finishing them and attending numerous master classes, I started my work in a salon for animals. Now I have 9 years of experience as a groomer and I specialize in dog haircuts, particularly poodles. As for the money, all those courses and master classes initially cost me about 5 thousand hryvnias, and this was still at that time.

How is your working day?

First, I come to work and wait for the owners with their animals. Then, when the owners come with their dogs, we ask them exactly what they need to do. There are many different haircuts, so it is important to clearly understand the wishes of the client. Of course, dogs experience some stress during a haircut, so it is important to properly prepare them. The owner can help by telling the dog in advance about the visit to the groomer and giving it some treats. When I arrive at the salon, I always try to calm the animals: I stroke them, speak in a calm voice, or maybe play a little. This helps them relax and feel comfortable.
After the dog calms down, I get to work. I place the dog on a special table so that it is comfortable and safe. I use different tools to trim dogs: a clipper for the back, neck and other large areas of the body, and a trimmer for more delicate areas such as the paws, between the toes and around the anus. Grooming machines are professional equipment, so they are quite expensive. Trimmers tend to be cheaper, smaller, and lighter. Also, during work, I constantly communicate with the dog to calm it down and make the process as comfortable as possible. Dogs, like people, feel emotions, so it is important to be attentive and gentle with them. A haircut does not cause pain to the dog, because it is similar to when a person goes to the hairdresser. In general, I spend more than two and a half hours on one dog. During this time, the dog should be washed and well trimmed, sometimes at the client’s request, the claws can be cut and the ears cleaned.

What haircuts are currently in fashion among pets?

Of course, there are customers who want the most fashionable and sophisticated haircuts for their pets. However, more often people come with a request for a simple, practical haircut to make the coat shorter, easier to comb and care for. Here are some popular haircuts: Asian style (cute bear-like face), Korean, Pekingese (hair on head, tail and paws), Lion (luxurious hair on head and tail). Herringbone haircut, which goes from the back to the tail, is becoming more and more popular among lovers of four-legged friends. This haircut is not only stylish, but also practical, because it facilitates the care of the ponytail. The essence of the “herringbone” haircut is that the hair on the tail is cut with a machine in such a way that a pyramid shape is formed. At the same time, the fur at the base of the tail remains longer, and it gradually becomes shorter towards the tip of the tail.

My work is, after all, creativity. If a person wants to make his dog beautiful, you can use special paints to paint the ears or tail. Wool can also be dyed. Usually, those who already know about such services often contact me. They come and ask if it is possible to make a nice creative (painting) on ​​the ears or paws. Most often, this applies to the breed of Yorkshire terriers, spitz or tails of large dogs such as Samoyeds. Not much can be done on black dogs, because the paint will be almost invisible, but you can create real masterpieces on white or red fur. It is already a trend among animals – now it is fashionable to paint dogs.

On the back of a smooth-haired dog, you can make patterns or drawings. It happens that they ask to draw the flag of Ukraine on the fur of animals. The paints I use are sustainable and safe for animals. They can stay on the dog’s fur for 2-3 months, and then gradually wash off naturally. I am often asked to dye cats’ fur yellow-blue.

Do you have “naughty” visitors and how do you deal with them?

Each of our clients has their own character, so the situations are different, but our profession is about the ability to negotiate with animals and find an approach to fearful and sometimes aggressive clients. Experience, knowledge of zoology and patience are our main helpers in this matter. We use special collars and muzzles to make the animal feel safe. It is important to be able to communicate with the animal and calm it down. We work without anesthesia, because after it the animals often feel bad. Although there are owners who ask if you cut a dog with anesthesia.

Tell me how animal fur helps the army?

With the onset of a full-scale invasion, I could not stay away. I really wanted to help our defenders, who selflessly fight for the freedom and independence of Ukraine. And then I remembered the hair that remains after haircuts. She turned to a volunteer from Lviv who makes socks and shawls for the military from animal fur. And since then I try to send wool every week, sometimes more often. In general, I send several bags. It doesn’t matter whose hair is cats or dogs. It can be wool after combing and cutting. By the way, dog fur is medicinal, so products made from it are not only warm for our defenders, but also bring other important benefits.

What are your future plans?

I plan to continue to develop in my profession, master new techniques and methods. Of course, after the war, I dream of opening my own beauty salon for pets. I also want to continue helping the Ukrainian military and make my modest contribution to our joint victory.