A Minimum Investment, Maximum Profit Home Business!

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[4] Wet the animal thoroughly and uniformly, using lukewarm water whenever possible. Scrub the coat all over with a good "tearless" soap, then rinse it carefully. (You may have to repeat the sudsing step if the animal is very dirty.)

[5] Soak the wet, clean coat with a fleaandtick dip. We use Dermaton (an expensive but effective brand) to counteract the fleas that are such a problem here in Flor ida. Usually we mix the dip and water—according to the formula on the package—in a recycled plastic gallon milk container and then pour the preparation over the dog (do NOT use Dermaton on cats), beginning at the head and carefully avoiding the nose, eyes, and ears. (Some people prefer to use a bucket and sponge to apply the pesticide.) Be sure to work the dip into the coat well, especially on the underside and around the dog's tail . . . both of which are favorite roosting spots of fleas.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Although some herbal flea-and-tick baths can be effective, it's unlikely that they'd do the job well enough to satisfy customers who are used to the more toxic commercial preparations. Those folks who would prefer not to work with the strong chemicals would probably be best advised not to specify pest control as a part of their service.]

[6] Weather permitting, allow the dog to air-dry. We've found that it's easiest to walk each of our canine visitors around for a few minutes, then crate it in a sunny location. On wet or cold days, we simply confine the dog in a warm indoor area or blow-dry its coat. (Towel drying isn't recommended, since it could rub of much of the dip residue, making it less effective.)

We provide bath-and-dip service either at our home (providing pickup and delivery if requested) or the owner's residence, and vary the operation to suit the circumstances. Depending on those variables (and, of course, on the size of the animal), we charge anywhere from $10 to $15 for a bath and dip.

Nail trimming. How'd you like to earn $3.00 for 45 seconds of work? Well, it's downright easy to do so! In fact, with a good pair of special clippers, some basic knowledge of animal anatomy, and a little confidence, trimming a dog's or a cat's claws is almost as simple as doing your own nails.

As the accompanying illustration shows, an animal's claws have an inner core called the dermis (or "quick"). Since that area contains a number of tiny blood vessels, you must learn to cut the nails without slicing into the quick.

We begin by securing the beast in the same position as is used when giving it a bath . . . that is, up off the ground and on a lead. For a first-time manicure, it's useful to have a second person nearby to help calm the pet. Once I know a dog or cat has a stable temperament, I can usually work alone on its return visits.

Light-colored nails—those in which the quick is clearly visible—are easy to trim. Just grip the animal's paw firmly and snip off the tip of the nail below the dermis. Dark nails are a little trickier because the quick is difficult to see, but you shouldn't have any problem if you trim just below the point where the downward curve of the claw begins (as indicated in the illustration).

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