Boundaries Are a Form of Gratitude

November 18, 2025

They call it greedy. We call it boundaries. This is Greedy Bitch — where groomers stop settling, stop explaining, and start living life on their own terms. I’m your host, River Lee — and listen, if your hands hurt, your phone won’t stop buzzing, and your clients are already asking to be squeezed in before the holidays… friend, I feel you. We are about to be in the thick of it. It’s the season of over-caffeinated chaos. Fur is literally everywhere. You’ve got bows in places bows were never meant to be. And somehow, even with all this “holiday cheer,” you’re starting to feel… tapped out. Because here’s the thing no one tells you about gratitude season: it can make you forget your own limits. You start thinking, “I should be thankful. I should say yes. I should just push through.” But that’s not gratitude — that’s martyrdom dressed like a turkey. True gratitude doesn’t mean saying yes to everything. It means respecting yourself enough to say no when you need to. So today, we’re going to talk about something most groomers struggle with — especially this time of year — and that’s boundaries. Because friend, boundaries are not mean. Boundaries are not selfish. Boundaries are how you say, “I’m grateful for what I have — and I want to protect it.” So grab that cold cup of coffee from this morning, take a deep breath, and let’s talk about how “no” can actually be the kindest form of “thank you.” Let’s be real. Groomers have a hard time saying no. Some of us will spend hours dematting a dog so we don’t have to send them home as a shaved naked sacrificial lamb for the holidays… Then someone squeezes in that once a year husky or the doodle who canceled the last 2 months appointments… then, SURPRISE! They have to get in now because it's an emergency. It seems like the holidays mean handling cranky clients —God forbid you tell someone you can’t squeeze them in? That you’ll have to shave their dog like a naked mole rat? Suddenly we’re hiding in the back room so we don’t have to make eye contact with the customer we know is going to be pissed or turning the ringer off so you don’t have to avoid the call from ‘you know who.’ Why? Because we’re scared. Scared of losing clients. Scared they’ll bad-mouth us online. Scared they’ll think we don’t care about their pets we sacrifice so deeply for. And then there’s the guilt. “Oh, they’ve been coming here forever.” “Oh, their dog’s so sweet, I’ll just squeeze them in.” “Oh, it’s just one more little Shih Tzu — what’s the harm?” The harm is your sanity. Every “just one more” chips away at your patience, your body, and your joy. And let’s not forget the soft yes. You know the one: “Let me see what I can do.” “If someone cancels, I’ll call you.” Or my personal favorite: “I’ll try to fit you in somewhere.” No you won’t. You’re already booked up to your eyeballs. You’re lying to yourself out of guilt. Here’s what happens — you say yes out of kindness, but then you’re angry the whole time you’re grooming that dog. You try to smile when they come to pick up but you know they don’t actually appreciate how much you did for them. You’re rushing, your back hurts, you’re starving, and you’re muttering under your breath like, “I swear, next year I’m not doing this again.” But you will — unless you start recognizing that saying yes to everyone else means saying no to yourself. You think you’re being grateful, but what you’re really doing is giving your peace away in tiny little pieces — one soft yes at a time. And listen, if you’ve ever found yourself crying in your car between grooms, eating gas station snacks for lunch, and wondering why you’re so tired — it’s not because you’re weak. It’s because you’ve been saying “yes” when your soul and body has been begging you to say “no.” Alright— let’s reframe this whole thing. What if saying “no” was actually the most loving thing you could do? Think about it this way: When you say no to an overbooked day, you’re saying yes to the dogs already on your table. You’re saying yes to doing your best work. When you say no to last-minute chaos, you’re saying yes to your health, your family, your peace. That’s not rejection — that’s respect. Boundaries are love with structure. You know how we have grooming loops to keep dogs safely on grooming tables and in tubs? Boundaries are the emotional version of that. They keep your career from falling off the table. Let me tell you a quick story. A few years ago, I had a client — sweet lady, older and a terrible planner. Every thanksgiving AND christmas, she’d call me in a panic: “Oh River, I forgot to book! Can you just squeeze in Bailey? Just this once?” And every year, I’d cave. I’d stay late, skip dinner, and tell myself, “It’s fine, it’s the holidays.” One year, I was so behind that I actually forgot to eat for 12 hours. I was shaky, dehydrated, and trying to not shave down the ancient skin tag riddled bichon because ‘surely this is the last time’ while convincing myself I was being kind. Spoiler alert: I wasn’t. I was exhausted, cranky, and if I’m honest, Bailey could feel it. The following year, I said no. Kindly. Firmly. “I’m so sorry, I’m not accepting grooming clients in November or December if they had not received a full groom in September or October. Let’s pre-book for next time so this doesn’t happen again.” She huffed. She whined. And then? She booked ahead. Because clients adjust to the boundaries you teach them. That’s when it hit me: Every time you say yes to something that hurts you, you’re teaching clients that your time and energy don’t matter. But every time you say no with confidence, you teach them that they’re working with a professional — not a pushover. Boundaries don’t scare away the right clients. They filter out the wrong ones. Alright, let’s talk about how to actually do this. Because it’s one thing to nod along, and it’s another to hit “send” on that text that says, “I can’t fit you in.” Here’s where to start: Step one: Decide your limits before the chaos hits. Know the last booking date before the holiday. Are you working the morning of thanksgiving? Are you closed christmas eve morning? Then decide limitations like no full grooms the week of Thanksgiving or Christmas. Maybe set limits of how many dogs per day you’ll groom and see what feels healthy. Write it down — because when you’re tired, when you feel pressure, your boundaries get fuzzy. Step two: Communicate clearly. You can be kind and firm. Try something like: “Hey! I’m fully booked for the holidays, but I’d love to add you to my cancellation list or get you on the schedule for January.” That’s not rude — that’s clear boundaries. Step three: Use your tools. Post booking reminders on social media. Use automated messages. And if writing those texts stresses you out — don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. I created a Free Holiday Boundaries Script with word-for-word responses for every “Can you squeeze me in?” and “But I forgot to book!” message you’ll get this season. You can grab it right now at SavvyGroomer.com/HolidayBoundaries Step four: Enforce your boundaries. Once you set them, stick to them. Because if you don’t respect your own limits, no one else will. You teach people how to treat you — and that includes your clients. Before we wrap up, I just want you to remember this: Boundaries are not barriers — they’re bridges. They connect who you are to the life you actually want to live. When you say “no” from a place of love, you’re saying, “I want to keep doing this career I adore, without losing myself in it.” That’s not selfish. That’s sacred. So this week, I want you to pick one small boundary to hold. Maybe it’s no texting after hours. Maybe it’s saying “no” to a same-day request. Maybe it’s taking a lunch break — a real one, with food that didn’t come from a gas station or dunkin donuts. Whatever it is, do it for you. Because gratitude without boundaries is just burnout in a cute outfit. You deserve peace. You deserve rest. And you deserve to be respected — by your clients and by yourself. Alright, that’s it for this week’s episode of Greedy Bitch. If this hit home, share it with a fellow groomer who needs permission to say “no” without guilt. And don’t forget to grab your Free Holiday Boundaries Script at SavvyGroomer.com/HolidayBoundaries Until next time — stay grateful, stay gritty, and as always… stay greedy, bitch.

Episode Transcript

They call it greedy. We call it boundaries. This is Greedy Bitch — where groomers stop settling, stop explaining, and start living life on their own terms.

I’m your host, River Lee — and listen, if your hands hurt, your phone won’t stop buzzing, and your clients are already asking to be squeezed in before the holidays… friend, I feel you.
We are about to be in the thick of it.
It’s the season of over-caffeinated chaos. Fur is literally everywhere. You’ve got bows in places bows were never meant to be.
And somehow, even with all this “holiday cheer,” you’re starting to feel… tapped out.
Because here’s the thing no one tells you about gratitude season: it can make you forget your own limits.
You start thinking, “I should be thankful. I should say yes. I should just push through.”
But that’s not gratitude — that’s martyrdom dressed like a turkey.
True gratitude doesn’t mean saying yes to everything.
It means respecting yourself enough to say no when you need to.
So today, we’re going to talk about something most groomers struggle with — especially this time of year — and that’s boundaries.
Because friend, boundaries are not mean.
Boundaries are not selfish.
Boundaries are how you say, “I’m grateful for what I have — and I want to protect it.”
So grab that cold cup of coffee from this morning, take a deep breath, and let’s talk about how “no” can actually be the kindest form of “thank you.”

Let’s be real. Groomers have a hard time saying no.
Some of us will spend hours dematting a dog so we don’t have to send them home as a shaved naked sacrificial lamb for the holidays… Then someone squeezes in that once a year husky or the doodle who canceled the last 2 months appointments… then, SURPRISE! They have to get in now because it's an emergency. It seems like the holidays mean handling cranky clients —God forbid you tell someone you can’t squeeze them in? That you’ll have to shave their dog like a naked mole rat? Suddenly we’re hiding in the back room so we don’t have to make eye contact with the customer we know is going to be pissed or turning the ringer off so you don’t have to avoid the call from ‘you know who.’
Why?
Because we’re scared.
Scared of losing clients. Scared they’ll bad-mouth us online. Scared they’ll think we don’t care about their pets we sacrifice so deeply for.
And then there’s the guilt.
“Oh, they’ve been coming here forever.”
“Oh, their dog’s so sweet, I’ll just squeeze them in.”
“Oh, it’s just one more little Shih Tzu — what’s the harm?”
The harm is your sanity.
Every “just one more” chips away at your patience, your body, and your joy.
And let’s not forget the soft yes.
You know the one:
“Let me see what I can do.”
“If someone cancels, I’ll call you.”
Or my personal favorite: “I’ll try to fit you in somewhere.”
No you won’t.
You’re already booked up to your eyeballs. You’re lying to yourself out of guilt.
Here’s what happens — you say yes out of kindness, but then you’re angry the whole time you’re grooming that dog. You try to smile when they come to pick up but you know they don’t actually appreciate how much you did for them.
You’re rushing, your back hurts, you’re starving, and you’re muttering under your breath like, “I swear, next year I’m not doing this again.”
But you will — unless you start recognizing that saying yes to everyone else means saying no to yourself.
You think you’re being grateful, but what you’re really doing is giving your peace away in tiny little pieces — one soft yes at a time.

And listen, if you’ve ever found yourself crying in your car between grooms, eating gas station snacks for lunch, and wondering why you’re so tired — it’s not because you’re weak.
It’s because you’ve been saying “yes” when your soul and body has been begging you to say “no.”

Alright— let’s reframe this whole thing.
What if saying “no” was actually the most loving thing you could do?
Think about it this way:
When you say no to an overbooked day, you’re saying yes to the dogs already on your table. You’re saying yes to doing your best work.
When you say no to last-minute chaos, you’re saying yes to your health, your family, your peace.
That’s not rejection — that’s respect.
Boundaries are love with structure.
You know how we have grooming loops to keep dogs safely on grooming tables and in tubs?
Boundaries are the emotional version of that. They keep your career from falling off the table.
Let me tell you a quick story.
A few years ago, I had a client — sweet lady, older and a terrible planner. Every thanksgiving AND christmas, she’d call me in a panic:
“Oh River, I forgot to book! Can you just squeeze in Bailey? Just this once?”
And every year, I’d cave.
I’d stay late, skip dinner, and tell myself, “It’s fine, it’s the holidays.”
One year, I was so behind that I actually forgot to eat for 12 hours. I was shaky, dehydrated, and trying to not shave down the ancient skin tag riddled bichon because ‘surely this is the last time’ while convincing myself I was being kind.
Spoiler alert: I wasn’t.
I was exhausted, cranky, and if I’m honest, Bailey could feel it.
The following year, I said no. Kindly. Firmly. “I’m so sorry, I’m not accepting grooming clients in November or December if they had not received a full groom in September or October. Let’s pre-book for next time so this doesn’t happen again.”
She huffed. She whined. And then? She booked ahead.
Because clients adjust to the boundaries you teach them.
That’s when it hit me:
Every time you say yes to something that hurts you, you’re teaching clients that your time and energy don’t matter.
But every time you say no with confidence, you teach them that they’re working with a professional — not a pushover.
Boundaries don’t scare away the right clients.
They filter out the wrong ones.

Alright, let’s talk about how to actually do this.
Because it’s one thing to nod along, and it’s another to hit “send” on that text that says, “I can’t fit you in.”
Here’s where to start:
Step one: Decide your limits before the chaos hits.
Know the last booking date before the holiday. Are you working the morning of thanksgiving? Are you closed christmas eve morning? Then decide limitations like no full grooms the week of Thanksgiving or Christmas. Maybe set limits of how many dogs per day you’ll groom and see what feels healthy.
Write it down — because when you’re tired, when you feel pressure, your boundaries get fuzzy.
Step two: Communicate clearly.
You can be kind and firm.
Try something like:
“Hey! I’m fully booked for the holidays, but I’d love to add you to my cancellation list or get you on the schedule for January.”
That’s not rude — that’s clear boundaries.
Step three: Use your tools.
Post booking reminders on social media.
Use automated messages.
And if writing those texts stresses you out — don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
I created a Free Holiday Boundaries Script with word-for-word responses for every “Can you squeeze me in?” and “But I forgot to book!” message you’ll get this season.
You can grab it right now at SavvyGroomer.com/HolidayBoundaries
Step four: Enforce your boundaries.
Once you set them, stick to them.
Because if you don’t respect your own limits, no one else will.
You teach people how to treat you — and that includes your clients.

Before we wrap up, I just want you to remember this:
Boundaries are not barriers — they’re bridges.
They connect who you are to the life you actually want to live.
When you say “no” from a place of love, you’re saying, “I want to keep doing this career I adore, without losing myself in it.”
That’s not selfish. That’s sacred.
So this week, I want you to pick one small boundary to hold.
Maybe it’s no texting after hours.
Maybe it’s saying “no” to a same-day request.
Maybe it’s taking a lunch break — a real one, with food that didn’t come from a gas station or dunkin donuts.
Whatever it is, do it for you.
Because gratitude without boundaries is just burnout in a cute outfit.
You deserve peace. You deserve rest. And you deserve to be respected — by your clients and by yourself.
Alright, that’s it for this week’s episode of Greedy Bitch.
If this hit home, share it with a fellow groomer who needs permission to say “no” without guilt.
And don’t forget to grab your Free Holiday Boundaries Script at SavvyGroomer.com/HolidayBoundaries
Until next time — stay grateful, stay gritty,
and as always…
stay greedy, bitch.

Boundaries Are a Form of Gratitude

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