Jonathan David

 

Jonathan David

Jonathan David, star of Animal Planet’s GROOMER HAS IT and ranked among the top five groomers in the USA, boasts a celebrity client list that includes Mariah Carey, Ralph Lauren, Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates, Betty Buckley, Louise Lasser, John O’Hurley, Betsy Johnson and Ivana Trump. David has distinguished himself in New York and Los Angeles as a stylist for the cosmopolitan canine; he infuses Manhattan flair to everyday pooches. A firm believer that a dog’s health and grooming go hand in hand, David has also become one of the nation’s foremost authorities on a variety of dog related topics including canine healthcare, nutrition, and general fabulousness.

“Grooming is essential for a happy and healthy dog,” he explains. “Not only do unkempt dogs feel dirty, they are more prone to skin irritations and infections.” He points out that oily hair will tangle and matt; waxed ears will omit foul odors, or worse, become inflamed, leading to possible dangerous health conditions. If nails are allowed to grow too long, it can cause the dog’s toes to spread – or splay, as it’s known in the dog world; very painful for dogs.

David says most dog owners do not realize that good grooming goes beyond the exterior. “Just as in humans, nutrition is key to looking good.” A healthy diet produces a sheik, shiny coat; poor nutrition leads to rotting teeth, allergies and a dry, lackluster coat. One sign that your dog may not be getting the proper nutrition he needs is excessive shedding.

David recommends dog diets consist of fresh, organic cooked foods that are high in protein, low in fat, with moderate levels of carbohydrates. He advises against grain based foods as they do not meet the nutritional requirement for dogs and can be harmful, especially to dogs with allergies to grain. Cooked diets or freeze dried raw diets are best. Says David, “They may cost more but they are better for your pet. In the long run, they will save you money in vet bills.”

Jonathan David’s career with canines began as a teen in the show ring, where he specialized in Australian Shepherds and The Chinese Crested Dog. He then moved to Manhattan to attend the prestigious Nash Academy of Grooming. While working at a grooming shop in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, he met Debi Mazor and her toy poodles, Delores and Lorraine. The actress asked for “a glamour cut” for her two pampered pooches and was wowed with David’s continental trim – an over-the-top flashy cut usually reserved for poodles in the show ring.

“My inspiration was and still is the greatest city in the world, Manhattan. When I worked in the shop, I would walk along Madison Avenue and notice the fabulous people with their dogs and I would wonder why the dogs didn’t match up. Of course, they were adorable but they were missing that certain flare. I decided I would give it to them!”

Today, Jonathan David runs his own mobile grooming station in Manhattan. In addition, he recently released his own collection of style products for dogs, New York Canine Clean. The products are made from Rooibos tea, a South African herbal formula found to sooth sensitive skin and relieve many dermatological conditions. In fact, Rooibos tea contains twenty five times more healing antioxidant agents than green tea. NYCanine will soon introduce a fragrance to the line, as well as an anti static conditioning spray that combines the Rooibos tea with sunflower and sweet almond oil to heal dry, damaged skin and coats. “I’m creating a variety of products to accommodate the various canine coats: conditioning spray for longer coats, coat oil for both short and long coats.”

“Dogs are my life and making them look and feel good is my passion,” he continues. “I aim to educate owners so that all canines can live the fabulous life with ultimate NYC flare.”

 

Groomer Has It

NYCanine