Groomer to Groomer September 2015 by Barkleigh Productions

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Carol Fellbaum, Best In Show Winner at Groom Texas with Andrea Lane of Isle of Dogs. Photo by Malinda Julien Photography

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CONTENTS | SEPTEMBER 2015

ADVANCED GROOMING TECHNIQUE S

VOL. II

GROOMING HOMEWORK

WHO’S IN CONTROL?

by Melissa Viera

PAGE 16

by Mary Oquendo

ALSO INSIDE DiMarino: Setting the Standard

The Bright Future of Cat Grooming

Work Within Your Values

Groom Texas Joins Houston World Series of Dog Shows

Feeding Raw: Benefits, Perils and Quandary

Building Your Grooming Website

Wilkes: Grooming Cut Short

Rose: Pet Shih Tzu Drop Coat

Conner: Happy Feet

Calendar of Events

Employee Theft in Your Shop

Classifieds

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? 28 by Dawn Omboy

EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR/PRESIDENT Todd Shelly todd@barkleigh.com

MANAGING EDITOR Rebecca Shipman rebecca@barkleigh.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR Gwen Shelly gwen@barkleigh.com

ART DIRECTOR

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Laura Pennington laura@barkleigh.com

Adam Lohr adam@barkleigh.com

WEB DESIGNERS Lance Williams lance@barkleigh.com Luke Dumberth luke@barkleigh.com

Lucas Colton lucas@barkleigh.com

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING James Severs james@barkleigh.com

COLUMNISTS

Teri DiMarino

Dawn Omboy

Mary Oquendo

Kathy Rose

Kathy Hosler

Gary Wilkes

Daryl Conner

ON THE COVER: Carol Fellbaum, Best In Show Winner at Groom Texas with Andrea Lane of Isle of Dogs. Photo by Malinda Julien Photography

Copyright Sept. 2015. Groomer to Groomer is published monthly by Barkleigh Productions, Inc, 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. Postmaster: Send change of address to Groomer to Groomer c/o Barkleigh Productions, Inc., 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. Annual U.S. subscription rate $25. Outside U.S. $79. year, surface rates. Groomer to Groomer is free to current Barkleigh Productions, Inc. customers. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. Editorial ofﬁces: 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. (717) 691–3388 FAX: (717) 691–3381 Email: info@barkleigh.com

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

ADVANCED GROOMING TECHNIQU ES

Q VOL. II

GROOMING HOMEWORK

CREATES LOYAL CUSTOMERS E by Melissa Viera e

et groomers are not just stylists; they often act as consultants too. As a pet care professional, your clients will look to you for advice and recommendations when it comes to the grooming and coat care of their pets. They may also ask you questions pertaining to other aspects of pet care. Providing clients with not just tips, but homework tasks that they can do for their pets between grooming appointments, will further build your credibility, and can even shift clients from the occasional customer to loyal fans of your work. When you visit your own hairstylist you will likely leave with tips and hair care advice to go along with your new style. Hairstylists know the importance of building personal relationships with their clients by giving them

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

trusted advice. If you feel good about your hair for weeks after your appointment, and you get rewarded with positive feedback on your hair, you will be very likely to continue booking appointments, and will gladly refer all of your friends. “Making realistic recommendations ensures trust in you as their stylist,” says Joanne Pacheco, a hairstylist and owner of Avalon Hair Studio, in Acushnet, Massachusetts. “They always leave happy and comfortable knowing their hair will always look good, and never give them issues,” says Pacheco. Pet groomers also can provide advice that will help clients keep their pets looking their best, and encourage them to care for their pet’s coats between appointments. Additionally, pet groomers can offer homework that

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helps to improve a pet’s behavior for grooming time. Communicating with clients about at home care, when done with tact, can be the foundation for a strong personal relationship. Giving a few simple homework exercises will show your clients that you care for, and understand the individual needs of their pet, and can make a real difference in the pet’s coat condition and behavior for grooming. A lot can happen in the few weeks between grooming appointments. Pets can quickly become matted without proper maintenance. One of the most common homework tasks you will find yourself giving to your clients is how to properly brush and comb their pets. For clients who want to keep their pets in any style other than a shave down, brushing homework is especially

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important. Many clients will claim they brush and comb their pets daily, and in many cases, they actually do take the brush to their pet’s coats on a regular basis. The problem is that without knowing how to properly brush their pets clients are wasting a lot of time; and they do not understand how their pets are still full of mats. If they truly want to keep their pets in a longer style, clients must either commit to daily brushing or make more frequent appointments with you for brush and comb work between full grooms. As their groomer you can help clients decide which approach is best for their schedule, style requests, and budget. To avoid making your clients feel embarrassed, or putting them on the spot, it is important to use nonjudgmental wording that shows your clients you are sincere. Your goal is to draw out your client’s potential, not

simply tell them what they should be doing. Your client will be more likely to succeed with your homework recommendations if they feel good about doing it. Be aware of your wording, along with your body language, gestures, and tone as you bring up sensitive subjects with your clients. Keep in mind that most clients view their pets as valued family members, and if you accuse them of not brushing their pets at home it could make them very defensive. To initiate a conversation about at home care with a client, Roy Laferriere of Roy-L Groomingdales, in Centerville, MA, has an alternative way of asking them about brushing without making it seem like he is accusing his clients of not doing the work. Laferriere will ask, “How are you maintaining the coat at home?” This will get the conversation started with less chance

of offending your clients. In many cases, clients are brushing their pets, but just not properly or frequently enough. “You can show them how to properly line-brush if they were not previously doing it,” says Laferriere. If your clients decide to take your recommendations, they will see the results of more productive brushing, and if they find that brushing is just too time consuming, they will be more likely to understand when you have to give their pets a shorter style. Not every client will comply with your homework on the first attempt, and some won’t at all, but giving them personal recommendations will show them that you care about their individual pets. “If ninety-nine percent of my clientele refuse to budge and want shave down after shave down, I do what they want. I will suggest my ideology, never

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force it”, says Riza Wisnom, a groomer of 30 years located in Maryland, who specializes in unique creations and pattered cuts. Wisnom believes that taking the time to provide homework recommendations helps to build personal relationships with clients. “It fosters a very healthy respect for what I do as a professional. They feel that you’re invested in them personally”, says Wisnom. To further encourage clients to follow her advice, Wisnom displays a big wall of full colored mounted photographs that she calls her «glamor work». “With this wall directly behind me as I’m engaging with the client, he or she gets a visual for what their dog could look like if they put in the necessary effort at home or pay me to do it. It has worked wonders, having that wall. Because of that wall the client seeks me out for advice on maintenance tips and proper scheduling, I don’t have to prod or cajole,” says Wisnom. Another technique for encouraging clients to comply with your recommendations is giving them real life examples of clients who were successful. “I tell them about clients that have used our tips and now have a happy, healthy pup, and the pet parents are now happy,” Says Michelle Conlan, owner of Go Fetch! in New Bedord, Massachusetts. Conlan finds that the conversation about at home care can go smoothly when you are a good listener. “Ask questions and show you are offering advice because you are generally concerned about the welfare of their pet. Let them know that the situation has happened with other pet parents. For example: they are not the only one with a dog that has skin issues,” says Conlan. Learning how to encourage compliance, and set limits at the same time is an important skill to have as

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a pet care professional. It is exciting to see clients taking your advice, but you will also encounter the occasional client who always seems to flood you with questions, concerns, or just needs your constant attention in some way. It is important to know how to manage these types of clients too. Be very clear and upfront with your clients. The more experience you have managing different types of clients, the better you will become. Homework for the behavioral side of grooming is just as important as the upkeep of pet’s coats. Pets who are fearful for grooming need many positive experiences with the aspects of grooming that are triggers for them in order to change their response. By requiring more frequent appointments, and giving clients areas to work on with their pets at home, you can help pets who were once very difficult to groom become calm and well-behaved for the experience. Even pets you have considered turning away can become some of your most well-behaved clients with work. In some cases, it might just be one aspect of grooming that makes a pet nervous. This can result in the entire groom being stressful. If a pet is fearful of the sound of the clippers, having their paws handled, or their face trimmed for example, you can give your clients some counterconditioning exercises that they can do at home. Provide a check list of simple exercises and encourage clients to show you how many they can check off by their next visit. You can even offer incentives like a special add on service, a wall of fame with all of the pets who have completed the check list, or even a onetime discount for checking off all of the items on your check list. A few examples of things clients should give their dogs positive experiences with include; paw handling,

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

There are many forms of homework that you can give to clients. A quick spoken tip at pick up time, a printout, a newsletter with general tips, or a demonstration are all options. sounds of clippers and dryers, pressure applied to nails, face handling, and ear cleaning. Even if your clients don’t have access to grooming tools they can find items that make similar sounds at home or even use recorded sounds. Show your clients the most effective way to expose their pets to these experiences by having them pair the experiences with high value rewards, and keep exposure to a very minimum. These exercises should never make a pet nervous or anxious because they are exposed to these things in such small doses. Not all pets will be good candidates for this type of work without the guidance of a professional trainer or behavior consultant, so be

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

sure you understand which pets need a more in depth approach with a professional in this area. It is especially important that young puppies are introduced to all aspects of grooming early on to ensure a future of enjoyable grooms. You might find that your clients not only enjoy these training exercises, but are very excited about showing you how many they can check off before their next appointment. Always let your clients know how appreciative you are for them putting in the effort to help their pets learn to love, not fear grooming time. There are many forms of homework that you can give to clients. A

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quick spoken tip at pick up time, a printout, a newsletter with general tips, or a demonstration are all options. Whichever types of homework you choose to give, be sure that it not only helps your clients, but it’s also in the best interest of your business. Use all of your tools wisely to save time and better your business. For example; if you decide to put out a monthly newsletter with grooming tips, also use this as a marketing tool. Email marketing programs allow you to run special promotions which can be especially useful during slow seasons. You can’t give every client a twenty-minute private grooming session at

pick up time, or you would never get any work done, and you would inevitably lose money. Consider keeping printouts on common tips that you can hand to clients, or hang instructional posters in clear sight. If you enjoy giving more in depth recommendations you could try offering an at home grooming tips workshop every so often that you can charge for. When you do give personalized recommendations be sure to jot down what you recommend alongside your grooming notes, so when the client returns you know what they have been working on. There are even options for scheduling software programs that allow you to add notes alongside client information for a quick visual, and less time wasted flipping through index cards. When giving any homework, only do so if you are completely confident

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with the results of your recommendations. It’s easy to get caught up in conversations and start giving tips that you might only have a vague knowledge on. Never give tips that are outside of your field or knowledge base. Always have a list of professionals you can refer clients to for questions on behavior, nutrition, training, and anything medical. The tips that you give should be ones that you have had a lot of personal experience with. Keep in mind that in order for homework to build client trust it must pay off for the clients. Unless you are sure that what you are advising works; don’t share it! Your clients will look to you for your expertise and they will respect you even more when they see the difference in their pets from following your advice. Homework helps to encourage clients to take part in their

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 5 • May 2015

WHO’S IN CONTROL? E by Mary Oquendo e

very spring a friend of mine lovingly plants flowers along the walkway leading to her shop entrance. Without fail, a client walking their exuberant dog on a retractable lead will decapitate all her flowers. But it is not just the daisies that bear the brunt of a pet that is not in someone’s control. Or how about the time I chased a 14-year-old English setter, who could barely walk, but apparently running was not an issue, for nearly an hour when I neglected to secure him while walking his two secured brothers to my grooming van. I was fortunate that he tired out before I did. In both cases, no one had control of the pet. The purpose of keeping pets

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

under control is to prevent harm to themselves, other pets, an owner - as well as yourself. Owner related factors that hinder our ability to keep our clients’ pets under control include excessive leash lengths, poorly designed collars and leashes, shoddy quality or worn materials on leads and collars, as well as loose collars. EXCESSIVE LEASH LENGTH Some dogs are under the impression that they are rodeo cowboys and you are the calf. Trips and falls caused by a too-long leash may lead to broken bones, blunt force trauma, torn muscles and ligaments, and more. Such an injury could sideline a groomer. In fact,

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trips and falls are the second highest recorded injury, according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The owner may fall and harm him or herself, or even the pet. Even if the owner created the situation by bringing an improperly restrained pet into your business, any damage caused will be under your liability. In addition, excessive length can place pets in harm’s way - and not just the pet attached to the leash. Retractable lead cord may extend up to 26 feet. The owner may not intend for the cord to get that long, but the locking mechanism could fail or accidently be moved into the unlock position. I personally have clients that tie about eight leashes together and form one

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

A dog that can easily slip out of his collar becomes a danger to himself and others around him. long lead. A dog could dart into the middle of the street or come into contact with a larger aggressive dog or be the aggressor. This pet is now too far from the owner for the owner to react to any danger. POORLY DESIGNED, SHODDY QUALITY, OR WORN OUT LEASHES AND COLLARS A powerful or motivated dog can snap flimsy retractable lead cord or tattered leashes. My own lab, Sugar, broke airline cable because he had a desire to leave my yard to chase a squirrel. In addition, the handles of most retractable leads are bulky and

unwieldy. A determined dog can yank the handle right out of a hand and continue on their way. In addition, if the handle is dropped, it may make a loud enough noise to startle a pet causing it to run in fear. On the flip side, if a running dog does not snap the cord or leash it may be stopped abruptly when the lead reaches its full length, resulting in trachea, spinal, and neck injuries. These are costly and chronic conditions. The pet may never fully recover. In addition, there are documented cases of people losing a finger because the cord was tangled around their hands as it was rapidly extending outwards.

Retractable leads wind and unwind quickly, creating an environment for cuts and burns on fingers, arms, legs, and hands. LOOSE COLLARS A dog that can easily slip out of his collar becomes a danger to himself and others around him. I spent two hours one afternoon chasing after a dog that slipped out of his collar in the parking lot. We were located along side a very busy road. I was able to retrieve him before a car hit him. If you can slide more than two fingers between the pet and the collar, the collar is too loose.

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SO WHAT’S A GROOMER TO DO? The first thing I do when I am greeting the client is to remove their setup and replace it with my slip lead. You can offer this slip lead to your clients to bring their pet in on a future visit. Personalized slip leads are fairly inexpensive and people like gifts. It makes them feel appreciated. Show the owners how easily the slip lead attaches to the collar. There is the added benefit of your business name and number being paraded when the owners walk their dog. Then I take the time to educate this client on the dangers and suggest safer options. My suggestions would include: Martingale collars. They are made with two loops; the larger loop is adjustable and should be slightly loose. The leash is clipped to the D-ring on

the smaller loop. A slight tug on the leash pulls on the smaller loop causing the larger loop to become snug around the dog’s neck. However, for dogs with delicate tracheas or neck concerns, a harness is a better choice. Front clip harness. The D-ring is located on the center of the chest. Many dog trainers prefer this type of harness because it limits the dog from pulling on the leash, while allowing the owner to control the direction the dog is moving. Back clip harness. The D-ring is located in the middle of the back. This is for well trained dogs, as it will not discourage pulling. Replacing worn leashes and collars. For any of the above to be effective, they must be sized properly. A display in your business with these various options can also add to your

bottom line. It is as much our responsibility as it is the owner’s to ensure that pets in our care are in someone’s control from the time they enter our establishment until the time they leave. Are exiting doors and windows secured? An open window protected by a screen is not secure. A pet can easily push through and escape. Are dogs on a lead when walking them from table to tub to cage? I require cats come in a carrier. As a mobile groomer, I keep a cat carrier on hand for those clients that do not have one. Pets in the control of the owner or groomer are safer. No one wants to see his or her pet or client injured coming to a grooming appointment. And let’s not forget the tragic fate of the flowers my friend plants every year. Remember that proper leashes can prevent decapitation. ✂

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 6 • June 2015

SETTING the

STANDARD

THE PROFESSIONAL PET GROOMERS AND STYLISTS ALLIANCE E by Teri DiMarino e

othing makes me cringe more than turning on the television and hearing about an accident in a grooming salon.

Social media sites light up like Christmas trees with the bad news that yet another pet has been injured, or worse. My heart sinks in sympathy for the pets and their owners, but also for the groomer or establishment at the center of the unfortunate incident. I, along with a troupe of other pet professionals, have been on the forefront of our industry, monitoring many of these unhappy events. I understand that accidents can, and do, happen. We are, after all, dealing with living, breathing creatures that all feel, act and respond differently to the grooming process. Some of the pets we serve can’t wait to run into the salon to greet their favorite hairdresser. Others act as if they are being abducted by aliens, leaving their

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

owners wondering what actually goes on behind the doors of the “Temple of Groom.” And when it comes right down to it, few pet owners really do understand what goes on. Let’s face it, when it comes to pet grooming, we do things to the dogs and cats that owners rarely, if ever, attempt at home. How many owners actually look in their dogs mouths to check teeth, or clean their ears, or trim their nails, or scrub between their toes, or demat and fluff dry their fur-kids? I can assure you, not many. They all believe that grooming behavior is an instinctive trait and that all dogs are well behaved for. We, as professionals, know that nothing could be farther from the truth. We poke,

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prod and perform tasks that owners never dream of attempting. Pet grooming is a labor intensive job fueled by our passion and love of animals. And while I totally understand that accidents can happen, some of the instances I hear about in the news are totally beyond my comprehension. And, just like any other industry, the consumer is looking for some kind of guidelines that spell out some kind of accountability when an incident occurs. With that in mind, I am pleased to announce the formation of an industry effort that has been needed for decades and has been actively in the works for the past year. The Professional Pet Groomers and Stylists Alliance (PPGSA) is a historic collaboration of

grooming and styling professionals. It is an effort by groomers, for groomers, for the benefit of the pets we serve and their owners. Many members of the Alliance are old, familiar industry friends while others have worked independently in the background. But what brought us all together was the obvious need to define and outline consistent guides

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

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Association and New Jersey Professional Groomers. Industry organizations such as the World Pet Association and retail partners like PetCo and PetSmart worked hand in hand with industry pet service providers like the American Kennel Club, America’s Pet Registry and Barkleigh Productions. This effort was coordinated by PIJAC (Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council). For those of you who may not know who PIJAC is, they are our voice in Washington. They are our legislative watchdogs. These groups have all succeeded in putting aside their organization’s personal agendas and worked for the common good of the industry. It was everyone’s desire to “put common sense to paper” regarding the standards of care taught and practiced by professional groomers. Its goal is to assure the uniformity of the care and safety standards endorsed by the Alliance member organizations through their certification and/or training programs as well as giving independent schools and salons a basic set of ideals by which to conduct their businesses. It will also be instrumental in helping to educate pet parents about the importance of care and safety standards when choosing a pet groomer and stylist. Subject areas addressed include pet housing and handling, equipment and products, facilities and safety operations, with a focus on attentive A Better Alternative for Bathers! New to the Store:

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 6 • June 2015

animal care. These standards represent best practices gathered from Alliance members and others throughout the industry. They reflect a commitment to pet care based on professional experience and established practices. These standards will not, in any way, govern or dictate your grooming style, methods or techniques. They will, however, outline what is acceptable safety and sanitation in our salons. If you run a clean, safe business, you are already there. These standards will help assure that every facility is implementing the best, safest practices for the pets, assuring their owners that their babies are in good hands. It is hoped that these standards will be embraced by consumer advocacy groups in helping determine potential liability or neglect in the case of severe salon accidents. These standards will also be presented to any state wishing to enact legislation

regulating groomers as consistently accepted best practices across the board in our industry. The PPGSA will not offer a certification or training program but will approve of, and endorse, the certification programs many if its member organizations now utilize. These testing organizations are committed to incorporating these standards into their own programs. These standards are the “bones” of care in our salons. It will be the job of each individual certification organization, school, or legislature to “flesh out” the basic structure to meet the needs of their own unique programs. The Alliance will continue to meet regularly to review standards to ensure that they reflect current industry best practices. Press releases have been sent out to make the industry aware of our efforts. We continue to polish our document and hope to have our finished

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 6 • June 2015

FIG. 1

FIG. 2

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? E by Dawn Omboy e www.queenofcolor.com

ootball fans come in all shapes and sizes and yes, even breeds. This little guy, Ash, is a big fan of Jarvis Jones, #95 quarterback for the Steelers. When his dad came in to pick up the little mix breed dog he mentioned just how much he loved the Steelers, and particularly the quarterback Jarvis Jones. So I told him I had just the thing for the family dog, who by the way is a rescue. I asked him to bring the little guy back the following day and I would paint a jersey on Ash, complete with his favorite number 95. The dad was very excited, Ash just liked all the at-

Groomer to Groomer â&#x20AC;˘ Vol 34 Ed 9 â&#x20AC;˘ September 2015

tention he was getting. So the day after his grooming he came back in for a dye job. The hair on the jacket of the dog had been clipped short, making him a good candidate for this particular groom. (Fig. 1) I started with a circle I had cut out of a regular piece of computer paper as a stencil for the outline. Holding it in place and using black dye and a paintbrush, I carefully dyed the outline for the logo on the dogs back, making sure to saturate the line all the way into the coat so that it will hold up through his next haircut. I also added black rings around the legs, neck and

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abdomen to complete the shirt. (Fig. 2) The logo is actually an easy one, so from there I freehanded the symbols on the inside by starting to make crosses then filling them out (Fig. 3). (Fig. 4) Next, I had to make sure we did not forget that all important #95 on the soon-to-be jersey. I used the same small, firm paint brush and black dye to paint on the number. Leave the color to set for about 30 minutes then rinse and dry. (Fig. 5) You can then start adding the jersey color around your logo, being careful not to go inside the natural

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FIG. 7 area on the logo. After this is done I outlined the logo once more to really make the black dye pop. (Fig. 6) Using a fine but firm paintbrush and a dabbing motion, I dyed the word “Steel” into the logo and then heat set the color in with the help of a handheld blow dryer set on low heat for about 20 minutes before rinsing and drying. Ash was now ready to go home

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

FIG. 8

AFTER

and cheer on his favorite player, #95 Jarvis Jones of Pittsburgh Steelers. Hand painting on a short or flat coat is so much easier than trying to sculpt details into a fuller coat. (Fig. 7) As the coat grows out, the logo will distort and get a bit lost and the jersey looks scruffy. So on Ash’s next visit to the salon he gets a short trim to cut away the yellow jersey on his jacket (Fig. 8).

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Some of the logo was still visible so it was refreshed with dyes on a paintbrush giving him a new more subtle look that will be gone on his next visit. Ash, the once homeless dog, was fortunate enough to be rescued by a football fan who is also a big fan this little dog. ✂ Making the World more Colorful, one dog at a time...

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

SHOWING OFF

GROOM TEXAS JOINS THE HOUSTON WORLD SERIES OF DOG SHOWS E by Kathy Hosler e

“T

he Houston World Series of Dog Shows is the longest continuous AKC Cluster Show in the country,” says Cluster Coordinator, Tom Pincus. “This is our thirty-eighth year. We had an entry of 12,500 dogs over the five day show.” This indoor show is held in the immense NRG Expo Center at the fabulous Houston sports complex, in

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

Houston, Texas. “The show brings in 25,000 to 30,000 spectators each year,” continues Mr. Pincus. “The way we do that is to continually add attractions that the public likes. This year one of our new additions was Groom Texas – which featured the exciting Creative Grooming Competition.” Groom Texas, presented by Barkleigh Productions, was an event

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geared toward the professional groomer. It offered a wealth of education and entertainment for anyone that is involved in the pet care industry. There were educational seminars presented, and four of the courses – The AKC Poodle Class, The Creative Groomers Association Certification, The Brusher Bather Program, and The AKC Salon Certification program, presented certificates to attendees

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who successfully completed the class requirements. Groom Texas marks the first time a grooming show has been held within an AKC dog show. You might wonder how the dog show world and the professional grooming industry teamed up for this ground-breaking event…. “We started to work with the American Kennel Club to do education for a certification program,” shares Todd Shelly, president of Barkleigh Productions, Inc. “Then, Eukanuba contacted us and expressed interest in having a Creative competition at their AKC show. It had nothing to do with the AKC certification we were working on, but it fit in nicely because we already had a relationship with the AKC. “We held the creative competition and it was a great success,” Mr. Shelly states. “That was a starting point for professional groomers and the dog show world to join forces. When we were asked to do the Houston show,”

Mr. Shelly continues, “I knew it was a great opportunity for the dog show world and the grooming industry to come together. It’s very exciting for the groomers, the show people, the vendors and sponsors, and the general public to be able to mesh into different areas that will benefit everyone.” “We had just under two hundred groomers that participated by competing and taking educational classes,” reports Rebecca Shipman, show planner for Barkleigh Productions. “But, there were several hundred more that came to shop and to watch. That’s fantastic for a first time show!” Carol Fellbaum, owner of A Dog’s Life, was one of the attendees. Her shop is located in Spring, Texas which is a suburb of Houston. “I’ve been grooming since 1987,” shares Carol. “But, I’ve only been competing for about three years. It was great to be at this event! I have a background in showing; my parents bred and raised

Pugs and I grew up working for professional handlers.” Carol competed in the All Other Purebreds Tournament, with a Bichon that is owned by one of her clients. Much to Carol’s delight, she won the class. Then, later in the day, she returned to compete for Best In Show. Once again, Carol was victorious. Carol Fellbaum was crowned Best In Show at the first ever Groom Texas! “It was so great – really, really exciting,” exclaimed Carol as tears of joy splashed down her cheeks. “It means so much to me to be the first one to win Best In Show at Groom Texas! Here I am, in my hometown – with my family, and also my grooming, handler, and show friends all around me. It was incredible to have people from both professions cheering for me!” Another never before seen feature at The World Series of Dog Shows was the Creative Styling Competition. “The Creative Competition at-

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tracted a lot of attention,” said Show Coordinator Tom Pincus. “When the Creative dogs walked from the bathing area to the competition ring, the crowd gathered around them like paparazzi to a rock star!” Lori Craig, a groomer from Moore, Oklahoma, was the winner of the Groom Texas Creative Styling Competition. Her breath-taking entry was titled The Butterfly Garden. Her Standard Poodle was covered with ten exquisite larger-than-life butterflies, and was completed by a spectacular dragonfly that came to life when Lori’s Poodle wagged his tail. “Groom Texas was a really great experience,” shares a thrilled Lori Craig. “There was a huge crowd all during the Creative Competition. The people were able to watch the competition from start to finish. They could come up and meet the dogs and see how much they enjoy all the attention they get. And, they could ask the stylists questions as they worked on their creations. “Combining Groom Texas with the Houston World Series of Dog Shows allowed the public to see a

side of professional grooming that they had never seen before,” said Ms. Craig. “The show world was really into it, too – We had about 98% positive comments. That was the highlight of the show for us creative groomers – knowing that the people really enjoyed it!” Judi Cantu-Thacker, a Houston area mobile groomer, was one of the Groom Texas speakers. “I grew up in the industry,” shares Ms. CantuThacker. “My mom was a groomer, and my parents manufactured Lange dryers and Evolution grooming apparel. I’ve been grooming for twenty-four years now.” “Combining the grooming shows and the AKC conformation shows has been a long time coming.” says Judi. “Having it all under one roof brings it full circle – where the dogs come from, how they are taken care of, what we are trying to achieve with our grooming – it ties it all together.” “As groomers, we have about two hours to get a dog prepped, bathed, finished, and sent out the door,” Judi continues. “When dogs are prepared for the show ring, the grooming can

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take several days. In the grooming shop, we take those hair styles and we do them as fast as we can - and as efficiently as we can - and as well as we can, in a limited amount of time. I always encourage my clients to go to dog shows,” shares Judi. “There they can see the dogs - and then we talk about their dog and if it can realistically look like a show dog. And, if it can, we discuss if the owner is willing and able to take care of the hair.” “Adding Groom Texas to the World Series of Dog Shows is a great concept for a show,” says Todd Shelly enthusiastically. “It’s very exciting that the dog show world and

the grooming industry are coming together. “Now, other shows have contacted us and we will soon be expanding

and doing more AKC events,” Todd continues. “It’s great to be part of it… groomers have a lot to offer!” ✂

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

BEHAVIOR CLIPS

by Gary Wilkes

GROOMING O

ne of the blessings of dog behavior is that you can change it. One of the curses of dog behavior is that it can change. For instance, I was working with a dog yesterday who gets violent if you try to groom his rear end. He is remarkably like Bear, the Mini Schnauzer I recalled in a previous column. If you try to touch this dog’s rear end, he’ll bite you. We have made great progress with this little guy and decided it was time to go to the groomer to test our progress. I have known the groomer, Tammy Wilson-Teeter, for a long time and she is a very good handler and a very good trainer. All started well. We were able to bathe him and dry him – things that

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

formerly triggered aggression. Then we got to the clippers. He was standing in a loop and did beautifully for his rear end. Like Bear, when Paco whipped around to bite, I corrected him with a thump from a rolled up towel. He stopped trying to bite… for a while. About 15 minutes in, he became more and more likely to ignore the thump and continue to respond aggressively. Meaning he was becoming more and more aroused and less sensitive to the corrections. We called it quits. One of the valuable qualities of a

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wise groomer is the ability to see the whole picture. This dog came from a rescue group with his resistance to grooming pre-loaded. The knee-jerk assumption is that someone cranked on him earlier in life and he developed a natural defensiveness about being handled. I don’t take that for granted, but in this case, I’ll accept that as an explanation of the origin of his aggression. Pain does that. A typical dog motto is, “Hurt me once, shame on you; hurt me twice, I’ll hurt you back; hurt me three times and you aren’t getting me on that

table for a million bucks.” When I met him - that was Paco’s behavior in a nut shell. Our work to date included getting him bathed and even at the end of the struggle, he let Tammy pick him up off the floor and put him back on the table without incident. We have made considerable progress, but we obviously aren’t done yet. If we had used our combined skills to restrain him, we would have lost everything we’ve gained and put ourselves in a deeper hole. At the end, simply brushing a soft towel on his shoulders triggered his attempt to bite us. That’s why we quit. In the rush of a busy grooming salon, it is easy to “get-r-done” without worrying about the future. Some salons, like the big-box stores, do not handle dogs that offer any form of aggression. Some amateur rescue groups are so focused on getting a dog pretty for an adoption that they are willing to go over the line to chalk up another victory. It’s very difficult to tell an owner that Buffy isn’t done and looks like a third-grader got creative with a pair of clippers. It’s also a matter of pride. Tammy made her decision to stop the grooming with a huge regret that anyone would think that was an example of her work. It takes a very smart person to do that. Finishing the job might have made money at the moment and lost

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

the client over the long haul. That’s not smart. WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT One of the best ways to correct knee-jerk aggression is to involve the owner in the solution. In most cases, a dog will let his owner handle him differently than his groomer. If you can identify the specific triggers for the aggression, you can have the owner pair the triggers with food. For instance, Paco’s owner is going to start brushing his shoulders with the back side of a brush. One or two rubs with the smooth surface and he gets a treat. She is also going to gently tug his hair for a second and shove a treat in his mouth. This can be done while watching television and she can use his regular food. Over time, she can switch to using the brush as it was meant to be used – first softly and then more firmly. If the

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

dog sparks at any point, it’s time for a break. Many people think that this will “reward” the aggression, but the calming effect of the food association will eventually make the sensations acceptable. THE BOTTOM LINE Food only goes so far to pacify a dog. You can certainly get a dog comfortable with things that formerly would have triggered aggression, but you can’t fix all of it. At some point the aggression will have to be blocked directly. That is because, unless specifically inhibited, a behavior doesn’t disappear just because you associate food with something else. If that was true, learning to speak French would make you forget English. Your goal in desensitizing the dog is not to finish the job, it’s to see how far down the road you can go. Paco’s

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behavior at the groomer was far better than it previously was for two reasons: we’ve been using a lot of rewards for passivity and he’s gotten bonked for attempting to bite. Neither polarity is going to fix this problem by itself. Just using force is what caused this problem in the first place. Just using “positive” methods leaves the behavior intact but submerged. If you have skills at handling and training, this article isn’t really for you. It’s a cautionary tale for those whose focus on getting the job done, which may create roadblocks for the future. If you see a dog that is violent and undoubtedly reacting to the ghost of groomers-past, consider finding a trainer who has experience fixing these kinds of problems. A collaboration between a fine groomer and a fine trainer is the best solution for dogs with issues. ✂

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

GROOMING

MATTERS

HAPPY

FEET G

roomers do a lot of their work standing up, and there is a good bit of walking involved in our work as well. Did you know that with every mile we walk we experience 200,000 to 300,000 pounds of stress on our feet? Considering that in our business we are often carrying a dog when we walk, you can multiply those num-

by Daryl Conner

bers. Many groomers complain of foot pain. So my disclaimer here is: If you are experiencing foot pain, consider visiting a podiatrist. Podiatrists are defined as physicians, surgeons, and specialists who are highly trained to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg. Podiatrists complete years

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

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Proper foot wear can help prevent many foot woes, and groomers’ shoes need to do more than offer support; they need to protect us from the paws and claws of the dogs we work with. of rigorous foot and ankle training in podiatric medical school and hospitalbased residency training, making them uniquely qualified to care for this part of the body. If you are not quite to the point where you think a doctor’s appointment is in order but your “dogs are barkin” at the end of the day, here are a few ideas: HOW TO CHOOSE SHOES A wise soul once said “Don’t scrimp on your bed or shoes, because if you are not in one you are in the other.” Fortunately, pet groomers don’t have to dress formally for work and this gives us many options to wear very comfortable, safe shoes. Because we are on our feet so much, groomers are prone to foot problems such as plantar fasciitis. This occurs when the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot becomes swollen and irritated. It makes walking very painful. Proper foot wear can help prevent many foot woes, and groomers’ shoes need to do more than offer support; they need to protect us from the paws and claws of the dogs we work with. There are not many industries where workers have to worry about preventing a Saint Bernard from tap dancing on the top of their feet! Choosing shoes that cushion and cradle can reduce strain and pain in our feet, legs and even our aching backs. Here are some tips to help you find the right footwear for the job: If you have not had your feet measured in a while, ask to have this done next time you try shoes on. Our feet change as we age, and women’s feet often become a different size after

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ioned floor bed, such as those designed for runners or walkers. Check out shoes made for nurses or chefs too. They are designed to be comfortable, supportive and no-skid. Shoes made of natural fibers such as leather or quality man-made mesh can be good choices for the wet grooming environment because they “breathe” and allow air to circulate. The rubber soles of most athletic type shoes are ideal because they help prevent skidding and slipping. As important as it is to invest in some good shoes with support, it is also important to not wear the same shoes day after day. Instead, switch each day between different pairs. You could even take this suggestion a step further and keep a spare pair of shoes at work. Then switch your footwear mid-day. Replacing shoes that show signs of wear is essential. Even well made

pregnancy. If one foot is larger than the other (and this is very common!), purchase shoes in the larger size and wear thicker socks on the smaller foot. Try shoes on late in the day. Feet tend to swell as the day goes on and you will find shoes purchased in the afternoon or evening will fit better than those you buy in the morning. Don’t just buy shoes by the size on the label. Try them on. Sizes vary by brand and style. Take time to walk around the store in the shoes. Your feet flex differently when you are walking than when you are simply standing. It is important that the shoes fit while you are in motion. Good shoes should grip your heel tightly, be wide in the front section to allow wiggle room for your toes, and offer support over the arch to keep your foot from rolling (pronating.) Look for shoes that offer a cush!

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shoes don’t last forever. If the foot bed is looking and feeling thin and compressed, and the soles are disintegrating, the shoe is not offering the support it should. Tired shoes don’t give us the needed level of shock absorption and can even cause our feet to be improperly aligned, causing bone and joint problems. How long a pair of shoes will last

depends on many factors, including the weight, type of stride, and level of activity of the wearer. If you experience unusual discomfort in your feet, legs or back, check to see if your shoes are worn out. In general, check your favorite shoes every 6-8 months for signs of deterioration. SOCK IT TO ME To further increase your comfort,

consider the lowly sock. They’ve come a long way since I was a kid in the ‘60’s. I vividly remember hating socks back then. Summer socks were thin cotton and they’d twist and slouch and end up wadded damply around my foot in a miserable lump. Winter socks were wool and they made me both itchy and hot. Fast forward to today, modern fibers are knit so that socks stay where you put them, and wick moisture away from your skin. Not only that, but you can now choose socks that offer padding where you need it. If you suffer from sore heels or sagging arches, there are socks that will help. A walk through the sporting section will be an eye opener; there are literally hundreds of styles to choose from. Look for light colored socks (some people are sensitive to dyes) with smooth seams at the toe. Experiment with a few different types to find what feels best. Keep in mind that poorly made or ill fitting socks can cause discomfort even if you are wearing a good shoe. ANTI-FATIGUE MATS If you don’t currently use anti fatigue mats, you should. “Standing all day at a workstation can be especially detrimental to a person’s body”, according to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). “Standing for long periods of time causes a decrease in the blood supply to the lower extremities and therefore increases fatigue and soreness in the muscles. Also, prolonged standing creates an accumulation of blood in certain areas of the feet and legs, which leads to irritated and inflamed veins, otherwise known as varicose veins. In addition, the continuous pressure on a person’s feet causes bone misalignment and joint degeneration”, states the CCOHS. Good mats are designed to decrease the stress on feet and legs by

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

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providing a cushioned surface. They have the wonderful added bonus of buffering dropped clippers and scissors. Installing appropriate matting is an affordable and quick way to enhance safety and relieve stress and fatigue in the workplace. SIT! Like most groomers, I originally learned to practice my craft while standing. Then, a while back, I had a leg injury that required surgery and weeks spent in a cast. I was forced to change the way I worked and learn to groom from the sitting position. This was trickier than I thought it would be. I had to retrain my arm and back muscles to accommodate the change. The effort was worthwhile, however, and I find I am much perkier at the end of the day when I sit at least part of the time that I work. The ergonomically designed “rodeo” type stool is terrific for groomers.

Hold, repeat. Curl your toes, and then turn feet inward so the soles face each other. Hold this position for a few seconds then relax. Repeat. Roll a tennis ball on the floor with your foot; it is like a mini massage to sore soles. All of these exercises will stretch and flex your muscles, increasing circu-

lation. And, they just plain feel good! Buy good shoes, replace them when needed, sit when you can, exercise your legs and feet during the day, and be sure to have good anti-fatigue mats. Your body will thank you. ✂

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

EXERCISE OPTIONS There are simple exercises for our legs and feet that can make an enormous difference. Give them a whirl and see how much better you feel: During the work day, while you are standing, try alternately contracting then relaxing your calf muscles. Lift one leg at a time and flex and rotate your ankles. Bend, then straighten your knees from time to time through the day. Periodically rise up on tip toe, and then come back down. When you sit down for a lunch break, (you are taking a lunch break, aren’t you?) take your shoes off and elevate your feet to hip level on a stool or chair. While your feet are elevated try these fun exercises: Spread your toes. Wiggle them, too! Point your toes like a ballerina, hold that position several seconds, and then flex them towards the ceiling.

EMPLOYEE THEFT IN YOUR SHOP E by Kathy Hosler e

icture this…You are the owner of a thriving grooming salon that also has huge retail sales. You and your staff are busy all of the time - with grooming slots that are filled days, or even weeks ahead. There is a steady stream of customers in and out of your retail area. But, something is wrong. You are busier than ever, yet – your cash flow does not reflect that increase in business. And, to top it off, you are experiencing inventory losses. Now what? No one wants to think that their

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

trusted staff members would steal from them, but it happens every day. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reports that employee theft is the ‘fastest growing crime in America’. According to Jack L. Hayes International, a loss prevention consulting firm, in 2014, one in every 38 employees was apprehended for theft from their employer. And, it was found that dishonest employees steal over six times the amount as shoplifters. Why would an employee want to steal from their employer? There are

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many reasons, but one of the main ones is that they think that they can easily get away with it. And, the more employees that you have, the greater the risk that you and your business will become a target. Some employees have an attitude of entitlement. They may feel that they are not being paid enough or that they are overworked. When they decide to take something that is yours, they justify it to themselves by thinking: “I deserve this”. A thief in your grooming salon

may start off small, with an occasional bottle of shampoo or a brush. But, if the opportunity presents itself, they will become bold and your $400 pair of scissors will vanish. All of your groomers should engrave their initials or other identifying marks on all of their equipment. Having a lockable tool cart for each work station will lessen the chance of expensive tools and equipment disappearing. Thieves can be very creative. They will conceal merchandise in a trash bag full of pet hair, throw it in the dumpster – and then retrieve it later. You can deter these thefts by simply using clear trash bags. If you have staff members working in your retail department, there are several ways to prevent losses there: Use the buddy system. Theft is more likely to happen when one employee is alone in the store or at the register. And, you should always have any refunds and voided sales witnessed by a manager or yourself. It’s never a good idea for employees to ring up purchases for themselves or their relatives. A common type of employee theft is known as ‘sweethearting’. Sweethearting is the unauthorized giving of merchandise to a ‘sweetheart’ customer – a friend, family member, or a co-worker. The employee operating the cash register can do things like

void purchases, do price overrides, or avoid scanning certain items. A receipt should be provided for every transaction – whether it is a retail sale or for grooming. If the receipts are numbered, it is less likely that one will be destroyed and the employee can simply pocket the cash. Never leave a cash register unlocked or unattended. Require that the cash drawer be closed after every transaction. Limit the amount of cash that is kept in each register, and use a drop-safe when you exceed that amount. Install security cameras throughout your entire facility. If you have ever been in a bank or a casino, you know that they have surveillance cameras everywhere. And, their purpose is not just to watch the customers – it’s also to keep a constant eye on the employees.

Employee theft of gift cards is also growing, in part because they are much easier to conceal than merchandise. Preventing theft before it happens is your best defense against employees who have sticky fingers. When they know that they are being observed, they are far less likely to steal from you. Internal theft can happen in any business, but, it has become an increasingly common problem for many in the pet care industry. It has often been said that ‘the best defense is a good offense’. If you can make it more difficult for thieves to commit these crimes, and, if they know that you will prosecute them, they may decide that stealing from you is just not worth it. ✂

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THE BRIGHT FUTURE OF CAT GROOMING E by Ellen Ehrlich e

id you know there are between 74 and 96 million pet cats in the United States? Depending on their breed and lifestyle, a percentage of these cats will need professional grooming for a variety of reasons. Many cats do an outstanding job grooming themselves, however, if the cat has emotional or physical issues or is unable or unwilling to self-groom, a skillful and talented pet stylist is crucial to the cat’s

general health and well being. Cats spend about 50% of their day grooming themselves. Kittens learn grooming skills by watching their mother. If Mom is lacking in grooming skills herself, or is uninterested, her babies may lack in the same self-care skills. Kittens begin licking themselves around three or four weeks of age and should be grooming themselves around six weeks. If they are not, their human Mom and Dad might need to

step in and assist. I have always been a huge fan of cat grooming. I saw the need early on in my career. I remember standing in the kitchen with a friend looking at a neighbor’s domestic shorthaired kitty thinking to myself, “That cat is in serious need of a good bath,” as I looked at the kitty’s shedding hair. I envisioned the cat after a brush, bath, and dry in a shiny, clean, sleek coat. Upon suggesting some soap and water and a gentle scrub to Mom I heard a familiar comment, “I did not know cats need to be groomed.” YES, THEY DO! Some cat owners have looked at me, eyebrows raised, with puzzled and skeptical expressions on their faces when I suggest their cats be groomed. On the other hand, many feline owners are open to this concept, agree, and want to learn more. Aside from all of the health benefits, going through the grooming process in a positive fashion is good training and exposes the cat to handling skills outside of the norm of petting and snuggles. This is beneficial on many levels. Not only is a clean cat more inviting to caress and pet, the cat understands that being touched

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in unexpected ways such as brushing, drying, and clipping won’t hurt them. Many cats find they enjoy grooming. This can translate into a more cooperative and friendly cat when visiting the veterinarian or when friends, neighbors, or a pet sitter comes calling. Cat grooming is growing in leaps and bounds in the grooming industry, but there are still not enough cat groomers to go around. The good news is there are more pet stylists, shop, home, house call, and mobile becoming “cat only groomers” everyday. I think it is very fair that cats have pet stylists totally devoted to them, just like those who only groom dogs. Jan Lewis-Condo has just opened Grooming Angel Pet Salon, a cats-only grooming shop, due to the overwhelming demand for feline grooming that has grown steadily over the past eight years. She used to dedicate every Sunday exclusively to grooming cats, but it wasn’t enough to fill the need. People would have to wait months to get an appointment, and they did. Although Jenn Dios is presently grooming dogs and cats, her goal is to make her new mobile grooming business, A Smitten Kitten Mobile Grooming, feline exclusive. She loves seeing kitties in her appointment book. Her specialty is helping cats with issues, such as deshedding or mat removal. Jenn says, “I have a special understanding of cats. I beam with pride and joy, knowing I can be the one to care for them.” Cat grooming is best done by a stylist who loves, respects, and understands cats. A cat is not a dog by any means. A cat is groomed on its own terms; like it or not! Many cat only groomers are “cat people,” and have been that way since they were young. They grew up with cats and had many kitties as pets. Many cat groomers do not groom dogs, nor do they want to. That’s fine with me! I am proud to share the grooming industry with cat groom-

ers because we share the same goal: to keep pets happy and healthy. ✂

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

FEEDING RAW

BENEFITS, PERILS AND QUANDARY

E by Bernadine Cruz, DVM e

client asked me the other day why I inquired at each examination what their pet was eating. What significance did the contents of the food bowl have to their pet’s general health? The adage of ‘we are what we eat’ pertains equally to our pets. Knowing what goes into your dog or cat can play an integral role in understanding health and disease. In fact, the ‘deposits’ your pets leaves in the litter box or yard can affect the wellbeing of your pet, your family, your neighbors and even the world.

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The goal of feeding your pet is to provide a well balanced, nutritious, tasty and disease free diet. There have been growing movements in recent years toward home cooking for our pets and the feeding of raw foods. Proponents believe that home cooking allows them to manage the type and quality of ingredients consumed. And raw diets are assumed to be more natural and hold health advantages not found in commercially prepared rations. There are definitely some truths to these sentiments and some

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serious health perils if precautions are not observed. Pet owners trying to grapple with conditions such as itchy skin, weight gain or loss, poor coat, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, bad breath, changes in activity level, dental disease and a host of other maladies will frequently state that they have tried a plethora of diets with little to no effect on these conditions and are desperate to find the perfect diet to remedy them. The salesperson at the pet store recommends one brand but their breeder or

best friend advocates another. They are now convinced after scouring the internet for answers that home cooked rations or a raw diet will do the trick; maybe, maybe not. Preparing your cat or dog’s dinner definitely provides you complete control over the ingredients. It is also extremely time intensive (why do you think there are so many fast food restaurants…we want to eat and we want to eat NOW!), costly, and insuring that you meet the exacting requirements of proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids, calories, and fiber for your pet’s life stage and lifestyle can be tricky. Imbalances, especially in young growing pets, can lead to developmental defects and exacerbate existing diseases. Only since World War II has the use of commercially available pet food become commonplace. Our pets’ ancestors didn’t have gourmet cuisine or

the superfluity of treats and snacks… and they did just fine. They didn’t have all these cancers. My grandparents never took their pets to the vet. All of these new fangled problems must be due to the food. A nod to the fact that the lifespan of pets has increased dramatically with the advent of scientifically engineered commercially prepared diets, better living through medical investigation, and application of these discoveries. With the domestication of cats and dogs, they have lost many of the digestive characteristics of their wild ancestors. Yes, a wolf gnaws on bones and eats raw meat. They also have broken teeth that negatively impact their long-term health. Bone fragments can act like shards of glass in the intestinal tract causing obstructions to perforation in the intestines. Freshly killed meat may harbor harmful bacteria but to a much lesser degree than processed

uncooked meat that goes from the abattoir to market and finally your pet’s dish. If a coyote or bobcat ingests Salmonella, it might get a bad case of diarrhea but with a limited population density, the impact that it has on other animals is minimized. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American College of Veterinary Nutritionist (ACVN), the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV), and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) have all endorsed the policy formulated by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA); the Raw or Undercooked Animal-Source Protein in Dog and Cat Diets. These groups are not opposed to pet owners feeding raw or homemade

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rations but caution about nutritional imbalances, bacterial or parasitic contamination, food poisoning to pets and the people who come in contact with these animals especially the sick, immune compromised, the young or the elderly. Extensive research is ongoing in the field of animal nutrition, food preparation, packaging, handling, and overall safety. Despite all the safeguards that have been instigated, food recalls and contamination occurs. It is inevitable, but most food contamination occurs on routine surveillance and recalls are undertaken voluntarily to minimize or totally eliminate having tainted food reach our cupboards. Monitoring websites such as the AVMA’s Twitter feed @AVMARecallWatch will keep you informed. Advocates for home cooking and raw diets are quick to point out that their recommended feeding programs rarely undergo advisories or recalls. This stems from the fact that these foods are subject to very little to no regulatory oversight. Veterinarians are not required to report cases of food poisoning, and many cases of human

food poisoning from pet food may be mild and medical attention is never sought or the medical doctor doesn’t appreciate the source of the illness… the pet’s food. The common contaminates in raw or undercooked animal protein, raw unpasteurized eggs, milk, and yogurt can include Salmonella, E.coli, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, Echinococcus, Clostriditum, Neospora, Sarcosystis and Toxoplasma gondii. Illness caused by any of these organisms can range from no clinical signs to death. Some of these organisms can be sequestered in the pet’s gut and not found on routine fecal testing due to their behavior of being shed in the stool on an intermittent basis making an accurate diagnosis difficult. Feeding your pet is more than just putting food into your pet’s bowl…it is part mental and emotional. Giving food is giving love. We want to make our pets happy. Seeing them eat with gusto gives us pleasure. It can also be a function of peer pressure. If all of your friends are feeding the trendiest pet food you may feel obligated to up the ante and find the most unique

boutique victuals money can buy. The benefits of raw and undercooked fare is anecdotal and no peer reviewed scientific research comparing the long term health benefits to commercially prepared food has not been performed. If you do want to feed raw food or home cook for your pet, do yourself and your dog or cat a favor and adhere to the guidelines established by the AVMA and CDC: If avoiding commercial foods is your goal, consider cooking the raw food before feeding it to your pet. If purchasing commercial raw diets, select products that have been adequately treated to eliminate pathogens. Do not purchase the product if the container is damaged. Keep the product frozen until ready to use and promptly refrigerate or discard any leftovers (Freezing or freeze drying does not kill most pathogens). Keep the raw meat intended for your pet(s) separate from that intended for your family to avoid any cross-contamination. Do not handle raw meat intended for your pet in the same area(s) or use the same utensils or equipment used for preparing food for your family. Never allow cooked food to come into contact with raw meat unless they are subsequently cooked at a temperature that will kill bacteria. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw food. Regularly sanitize pet dishes, surfaces, cutting boards and utensils. Rigorously control insects and other pests that may be attracted to the raw meat and could spread contamination. Which food is best for your pet? Talk to the person who has the knowledge to answer your questions and concerns… your veterinarian. ✂

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

BUILDING YOUR GROOMING WEBSITE IN ONE DAY E by Melanie Haber e

n this day and age of technology, if you don’t have a website you are missing several opportunities for cultivating prospective customers. According to a 2012 survey by Yelp, over 85% of consumers use the internet to look for local businesses. If you do not have a strong presence online, you are potentially missing 85% of business leads. Can you imagine trying to keep your business afloat with only 15% of new prospects out there finding you? Now is the perfect time to finally break down and get a website. Website

providers have created platforms that are very easy to use, very inexpensive, and will make you proud once you are finished. No longer do you need to know how to write code to have a beautiful, fully functional website. However, if you feel you are totally unable to create your website, this helpful information can easily be used by any of your computer literate staff members. But don’t let me mislead you; putting a website together in one day does take a little preparation before you actually start building your site. First,

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you have to choose a website provider. Second, you need to organize the “7 Musts To Go On A Website” before you start building. CHOOSING A WEBSITE PROVIDER First on your list is figuring out which website provider to use. If you visit the website www.thetop10bestwebsitebuilders.com you get the cream of the crop. The offerings are fairly similar once you get into the development part so you will want to base your decision on price, ease of use, design options, service, support etc…

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(Please note, I do not receive incentives or work for any website developer company). I have used many of the listed website providers but since the most common question I get from the groomers is “How much does it cost to build a website,” I will use GoDaddy. com as my example since they have one of the best offers out right now. If you are struggling to get more customers, cost is of course a consideration. At the time of writing of this article (June 2015), GoDaddy.com has offers for businesses with packages that include pretty much everything you need (domain, website, email) for $1.00/month*. (*First year only. Annual purchase required.) Any offer is of course subject to change so don’t procrastinate! Another reason I chose GoDaddy is for their great 24/7 support. If there is ever a concern or

question I get answers at any time, day or night. However, please visit every website provider on the list and see what works best for you! “7 MUSTS TO GO ON A WEBSITE” Before you get online to build your website, there are business details you need to get organized. Oftentimes I’ve seen business owners try and fill in the blanks once they are working on their site and it usually has a lot of typos, confusing information, or just isn’t organized enough to give potential customers what they need. If you are one groomer or a large grooming shop, your website needs to be 100% professional, informative, and welcoming. It should make the potential customers stop their search and call you for an appointment right then. So, sit down and establish the following info before starting your site.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

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WHO ARE YOU? On the Welcome or Home Page you should always have the business name, tagline and logo. Of course anyone that owns a business generally has a name for it but do you have a tagline and logo? A tagline is a catchphrase or slogan, especially as used in advertising that sums your business up in one sentence. For instance, “The Best Little Groomer in Austin” or “To Your Door Mobile Grooming” or “Nose to Tail All Breed Dog Grooming.” Your logo (a symbol or design to identify your service or product) is important for branding. Every time someone sees your logo it reinforces who you are and what you do. (Don’t have a logo or want a new, fresh design? I found a fantastic website that allows you to choose from literally hundreds of artists to design a professional business logo starting at

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

Having a location page, especially with Google Maps, will not only help customers find you, it’ll boost your local search rankings, too! just $5: www.Fiverr.com. This website is such a great resource you can even find musicians on the site to create a jingle for your business, create business cards, set up graphics for Facebook, Twitter etc… starting at the same low price).

of who you are, the background of the business, what makes you different, and pictures of yourself and the employees with bios. Every page should also have links to your business social medias so you can start an interactive relationship with your customers.

sentence on your intake form stating that the customer gives permission to use pictures of their pets for website, social media, and promotional purposes. This is really important when using pictures on Facebook and other social platforms too!

WHAT DO YOU OFFER? Make sure you have a Services Page with a complete list of your offerings. Make sure you list even the smallest of services you provide because that may be the one thing that makes you stand apart from your competitors. Anything that makes you different could be what seals the deal. It is up to you if you wish to list your prices.

WHAT DOES YOUR GROOMING LOOK LIKE? With a Gallery Page you can show off your skills! With new customers they won’t just hand their precious angel over to anyone with a pair of scissors, they want to know their pet will look magnificent when they are returned to them. Posting pictures of your grooming skills on your website is a must! This is your visual resume. Please make sure and get permission before posting any pet’s picture online. This can be a simple

HAVE A HEALTHY NAP. No, I don’t mean go to sleep - NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone number. Search engines like Google group this information into one item. Whenever Google sees this, it knows that your business is associated with your website. Keeping your NAP the same across all of your platforms will help search engines recognize your business. If a customer positively reviews you on a site, search rankings will improve for all other pages with the same NAP. It’s also important to include this information on every page of your website, so try to put your NAP in the header or footer. Having a consistent NAP will seriously boost your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and help your business get found!

WHO ARE YOU? Create an About Us Page and put together a summary

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WHERE ARE YOU AND HOW CAN I REACH YOU? On your Contact Us page not only do you need to list your NAP, you should also include your location. If your business has a brick & mortar location, you want people to be able to find it, right? Including your address in the NAP is a good start, but you can go one step better. Adding a Find Us or Contact Us page to your website makes it that much easier for prospective customers to find their way to you. Just include your address again and some basic “From North… From South…” directions. You can even embed Google Maps on your page with many website service providers. Having a location page, especially with Google Maps, will not only help customers find you, it’ll boost your local search rankings, too! When Google recognizes that you’re a groomer in Atlanta, GA, you’ll start showing up in

searches for things like “groomers near Atlanta” and “groomers near 30303.” If you are a mobile groomer, some websites offer a way to list the areas you service instead of a brick and mortar location. IS MY WEBSITE OPTIMIZED FOR MOBILE? Does your website work on a smartphone and why is that important? It is estimated between 2010 and 2018 cell phones users will jump from 62 million to over 220 million. For many, using their smartphones is the only option for online access so your website must be mobile friendly! With some website builders like GoDaddy.com, during the design process you can automatically view what it will look like on a smartphone. In fact, you can even choose what shows up on the mobile version without changing the way the regular site

looks. This is especially important if you have large graphics or images that won’t look good on a small screen. The “7 Musts To Go On A Website” from above will ensure your basic website and business details have been covered. There are many other things you can add to your website down the road like links, shopping carts, online payments, blogs, opt-in newsletters, social media feeds etc… but this is a good solid start. Finally, leave with a KISS - Keep It Simple Silly! The most user friendly and attractive websites convey a clean, modern look and they have the added bonus of being easy to read and navigate. Try to keep theme colors to two or three, keep text to a minimum, and make sure everything is super legible. Less is definitely more. ✂

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Should you replace something just because it is old and ugly? We’re speaking of your credit card processor of course. Get real answers to your questions about accepting credit cards with EMV technology.

The short answer is... you may not have to upgrade your processor. The introduction of the new CHIP CARDS (aka EMV) this year will prove to be both frustrating and confusing when it comes to your processing needs. We have a pet care specialist, Moana, who is on call and ready to help you navigate this important piece (and large cost) of running your business. When you speak with Moana, you will get straight answers about the upcoming deadline for merchants to accept EMV cards. You won’t be pressured to upgrade your processor but you may want to when you see how easy Chosen Payments is to work with. Chosen Payments is a proven leader in the pet care industry. We have over 15 years’ experience in the pet care industry servicing businesses just like yours. Join the hundreds and hundreds of other pet care specialists who are using Chosen Payments. “Chosen Payments has really met our needs as a growing company. The level of service and support we have received is excellent.

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Moana - 855-424-6736 (ext. 400) 5353 S 960 E Suite 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Utah chosenpayments.com Groomer | Utah@chosenpayments.com to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015 GroomertoGroomer.com

BREAD & BUTTER GROOMING:

FAST & EASY

AFTER

PET TRIMS FOR THE SALON by Kathy Rose

BEFORE

PET SHIH TZU DROP COAT

he majority of our Bread & Butter Shih Tzu clients request a “puppy cut”, meaning anything from a shave to a scissor all over, with a styled head. Our favorites, however, are the clients that want to keep their drop coats long and flowing. These members of our Bread & Butter list generally schedule weekly visits for maintenance. Week one is spa bath: shampoo, condition, nail trim, ear cleaning, blow dry, and bow. Week two is spa maintenance: everything in spa bath but also includes sanitary, pad trimming and eyes trimmed. Week three is Spa Bath again. Week four is Spa Style. This includes everything in spa maintenance plus trimming of silhouette rounding of feet and tidying

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

everything up all over. Fig.1) Separate the coat using clips and then use a flat iron to straighten a wavy coat. A heat protectant hair or coat product can be lightly misted onto the coat before flat ironing. A coat that is not too wavy and that is dried properly will not need to be flat ironed on a pet dog. Squeeze a dime sized drop of coat smoothing serum into the palm of your hand. A little bit of product goes a long way so use it sparingly. Rub your hands together and distribute the serum into the coat by working your hands gently up through the coat layers. Fig.2) To create bevels on the front feet: place one hand on the lower

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leg at the metacarpus bone (wrist), and while holding the coat above your hand, lift the foot off of the table. Comb the coat below your hand downward over the foot. Fig.3) Keep the foot elevated and then continue to hold the longer coat up and out of the way, use curved shears to round the foot. Do not expose the toenail. Fig.4) Place the foot onto the table and lift the long coat out of the way. Make sure that the dog is standing with her head upright and neck extended and then scissor around the foot. Release the longer coat a little at a time and continue trimming around the foot to create bevels. If the dog is slouching, then the longer coat will fall

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www.PetBoardingAndDaycare.com FIG. 1

FIG. 2

FIG. 3 below the level where you wish to trim. Fig.5) Create bevels on the hind feet following a similar procedure as the front feet. Lift the outer leg coat up and out of the way, use curved shears angled downward from below the hock to the table, then trim around the rear foot. Release the outer coat a little at a time and comb it downward and then trim until the bevels on the rear feet are created. Fig.6) Invert the curved shears in a scooping technique and trim a very slight arch in the loin, shaping the underline. Carry this underline through to the front feet. A discussion should take place between client and groomer regarding trimming the eye corners close or keeping them long. Once the eye corners are trimmed, a commitment must be made to keep them trimmed regularly, as the hair will grow upward toward the eyes. Keeping this coat long requires more

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

FIG. 4

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

FIG. 7

MAKE IT A

BIG TOP New, Large r (48 ” ) Groom ing To p Sam e Great Ergonom ic F ea t ures Free Prof e ssi o n a l Groom ing C a d d y with purc ha se b y Septem ber 3 0 , 2 0 1 5

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

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™

cleaning maintenance on the part of the client, but the long coat on the nose bridge and eye corners provides a more natural appearance. Fig.7) Use thinning shears to closely trim the eye corners and nose bridge. Use a clipper with a 10 or 15 blade to trim the loose hairs around the lips. The topknot banding procedures depend upon the density, length, and condition of the topknot coat, as well as client preference. This pet dog has very sparse topknot coat so a child’s bungee type hair band is used to pull up the topknot in one single knot. This single band method is the easiest for clients to do themselves. Fig.8) For a full topknot, two bands may be required. Comb the topknot coat from the outer eye corner to the ear, then part across the top skull from ear to ear. Next, split the coat into two sections across the top skull and secure the front portion with a latex band. Place the bow on this band. Fig.9) Next, grasp the second section of topknot coat and secure this to the front section, slightly above it. The front section is fuller than the back section. Use holding spray to shape the long coat of the topknot. Use thinning shears to complete the styling by tidying the beard and ears. At times our clients like a little added pizzazz and one way to accomplish this is with the application of a feather or colored hair extension. Fig.10) Place the bead on the beading tool. Grasp a very small amount of coat with the tool and pull the hair through the bead. Fig.11) Place the feather end into the bead. Fig.12) Squeeze the bead with hair crimpers. Keeping current with styling trends and products is a great

FIG. 8 strategy to keep your Bread & Butter client list expanding. With that said, the most important client relation styling tools are your ears, brain, and voice. Listening to your clients, deciphering their descriptions of what they think they want, and keeping this communication open between you is key to keeping your clients happy. For more information on feathers and other creative ideas: www.creativegroomersassociation.org ✂

FIG. 9

FIG. 10

FIG. 11

FIG. 12

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NEW PRODUCTS PL360 GROOMING WIPES

Created with the needs of pet owners in mind, PL360 grooming wipes are excellent for groomers looking to offer their customers a product for in between appointments. For use at the salon, groomers can expect a durable wipe appropriate for all areas of the dog, including sensitive areas like around the

eyes and in the ears. Made with a blend of natural, cold-pressed seed oils, the wipes nourish and protect skin while removing dirt and dander. They are made without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, lanolin and alcohol. PL360 grooming wipes are mandarin scented and come in either a 40-count pouch or an 80-count value box that doubles as a dispenser. To learn more visit www.PL360pet.com.

DESERT SUDZ® INTRODUCES ALPINE FRESH CLARIFYING SHAMPOO 35:1

Desert Sudz® line of naturally derived professional products has added a new Clarifying Shampoo. Alpine Fresh Clarifying Shampoo is a strong highly concentrated shampoo formulated with D-Limonene to deeply clean and deodorize without drying the skin or damaging the coat. Safely removes build-up from oils, conditioners, creative gels, chalks, colors, blow pen ink and hairsprays. The rich lather contains Joboba, Vitamin E and Aloe Vera to condition the coat. Leaves the coat clean and conditioned with a fresh Juniper scent. Perfect for creative groomers! For further information about Desert Sudz® Clarifying Shampoo call 1-800-525-PETS or log on to www.ryanspet.com.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

CLASSIFIEDS CALL (717) 691-3388, EXT. 210 TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED.

Call (717) 691-3388 ext 206 to place a Classified. Rates: 25 words or less – $50.00. Each additional word – $2.00 each. Classified ads must be prepaid. Call for issue deadlines. Agency Discounts Do Not Apply.

BLADES & SHARPENING “YOU NOW HAVE A BETTER CHOICE” We are groomers of 30+ years. Website has FREE videos and articles on equipment care. Steel Blades $5.00, Ceramic $6.00, Regular shears $5.00, convex $10. Certified for many shear brands. WAHL 5-N-1 blades refurbished (new parts, not sharpened) $10. Clipper repair #10 plus parts. Mail-in service has 48 hour turnaround, $5.00 RETURN SHIPPING ALL ORDERS, each order gets a CD_ROM and tip sheet. Website has all information. Est. 1995. Northern Tails Sharpening Inc, Mobile AL Call 251-2325353 www.northerntails.com EACH blade examined personally, sharpened to perfection, demagnetized and tested. Sockets and springs adjusted, blades individually sealed, READY TO USE. Sole proprietor w/ 20+ years experience. FACTORYTRAINED to sharpen shears/blades. Customized tip sheet included w/ order - PROMPT RETURN. Clipper Blades $5,Shears $7, S/H $7. PA residents add 7%. John’s Sharpening, 1213 Middle St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212-4838. (412) 321-1522 JKosakowsky@hotmail.com. Hershey Groom Expo Mid-Atlantic Sharpeners will be sharpening clipper blades, scissors, also repair Clipper machines on site. Dealers of Furzone Clippers & Shears Direct.

BUSINESS FOR SALE Well established Turn-key Grooming Business for sale. Fully equipped with Retail. Great Location. Large Clientele & growing. In Maryland - Price Reduction call 301-824-3371 Northern Maine pet grooming business. Established 27 years at same leased location. scheduled almost a full year in advance. Quick sale at $30,000. Anxious to retire. Call 207-484-8946. SUCCESSFUL 30 YEAR STRONG GROOMING/DAYCARE BUSINESS FOR SALE IN BEAUTIFUL ROARING FORK VALLEY, COLORADO. GREAT LOCATION, FANTASTIC REPUTATION, AND TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH. ASKING $95,000.00 SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY. PETGROOMERFORSALE@GMAIL.COM Busy, beautiful grooming/ boarding resort for sale. Next to Knoebel’s in Elysburg, PA. 3 grooming rooms, 41 kennels, 6 cat condos, database. www.dogheavenpetresort.com pugsly@ptd.net 570 898-3012

GROOMER WANTED Wanted FT/PT experienced groomer. Should be able to get along well with Vets & support staff. Must have own grooming tools. Very nice grooming suite already set up. Commission: 50-60%. Send resume to: info@pqpetclinic.com.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015

NEW ENGLAND

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O T

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World With This Latest Issue! This new instructional magazine will showcase everything you need to know about Japanese styles grooming! With Bonus DVD Inside!

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TE A P I IC T R R A E P V O RC U O IN EL D O M T! S E T CON

GET YOUR COPY TODAY! Available at the Barkleigh Store Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 9 • September 2015 GroomertoGroomer.com www.Barkleigh.com

Groom-O-Grams Exciting 8.5” x 11”, four-page newsletter becomes your own Personal Salon Newsletter!

This 8.5” x 11” four-page newsletter contains grooming and health information, stories, and cartoons that present a professional image to your community. Give them at each appointment. Groom-O-Grams encourage better home care and more frequent appointments. Use it as a reminder card! Many groomers report a fantastic 50–100% response. GroomOgrams are a fantastic promotional tool! Your grooming clients will give it to their friends. Leave them anywhere there are pet owners—humane societies, veterinarians, kennels, pet shops, and breeders. GroomOgrams will keep your clients coming back while teaching them proper “between grooming” care. Over 10 million Groom-O-Grams have been distributed by caring groomers like yourself. Seasonal issues are available after February 10 (Spring), May 10 (Summer), August 10 (Fall) and November 10 (Winter). Each issue deals with the seasonal grooming needs of pets.

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Kage Kard Holder

Business and Appointment Cards

For Boarding or Grooming Cards 3” X 5” or 5” X 8” This sturdy aluminum card holder will keep pet information right where you need it. Two popular sizes hold 3” x 5” Run Card or Klip Kard, and 5” x 8” Giant Klip Kard or Kenn-L-Kard. Attaches easily to cage or crate. Has holes for wall mounting near grooming table or tub. Collar and leash holder built in. Practically indestructible, won’t rattle, and holds client index cards securely and cleanly.

Kage Kard Holder 5”x8” #1954 1 holder #1956 10 holders

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 4 • April 2015

Groomer & Kennel Sales Slips Make More Money Without Raising Your Prices!

Professional Sales Slips for groomers and kennel operators! Both have space for all the little extras you haven’t been charging for. These 5-1/2” x 8-1/2” two-part NCR forms are clean, with no carbon needed. Groomer Sales Slip includes space for groomer’s name, skin treatment, next appointment, bows, medicated shampoo, tangling, bad behavior and more!

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Kennel Sales Slip includes space for salesperson and/or groomer (for easy tally of commissions), number of days, weeks or months of boarding and charges, next grooming appointment and much more!

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Kenn-L-Kards and Run Kards

Popular Client Index Cards for Pet Day Care and Boarding Facilities! Kenn-L-Kards oﬀer boarding, medical and grooming proﬁles. Easy checklist eliminates tedious handwriting. Speeds your recordkeeping. This popular Client Record Index Card has all the information any kennel or day care operator needs. Extender cards double your records space. Just attach to the back of a full Kenn-L-Kard. Kenn-L-Kard Extenders – White 5 x 8 Kenn-L-Kard – White 5 x 8 #901 Pack of 100 $13.75 #589 Pack of 100 $13.75 #902 Pack of 500 $59.95 #590 Pack of 500 $59.95 #903 Pack of 1000 $99.00 #591 Pack of 1000 $99.00 Run-Kards are completed at each visit and attached to the run. Contains all the up-to-date information you need about the pet. The back contains a boarding release for your protection, which is signed and dated by the owner. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without them!

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Now you can grade each pet in your care from an A+ to an F. Time-saving checklist will let your client know that his pet ate well, had ﬂeas or should see a vet... and much more. Lots of room for your own personal comments, too. It’s a personal way to thank your boarding clients. Plus it’s a great promotional tool! Pet owners will tell their friends. Available in green only.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 4 • April 2015

From Sally Liddick, Founder of Barkleigh! Taking a Diﬀerent Path is a collection of stories by the founder of Barkleigh Productions and publisher of Groomer to Groomer magazine, Sally Liddick. Each chapter tells of the adventures she encountered while starting up and running a successful business with her lifetime friend, Gwen. Sally has added a humorous and inspirational twist to her experiences. Readers will enjoy relating their own friendships to Sally and Gwen’s and will learn some valuable lessons and strategies to compete in the business world.

#6374

Grooming

and e understanding grooming quickly learn good visits. ing oying their groom Puppy her Gee take you on ting from… g with… and profi y canine a happ while creating

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omer’s Guide

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Groomer

Kathy McGee

INJURIES & HEALTH BOYD HARRELL, DVM What Every Successful Groomer should know! • Safe Grooming Procedures • Pet First Aid • Salon Injuries • Parasites • Pet Health

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The most comprehensive guide for groomers… ever! Twenty-one big chapters cover skin disorders, ears, hotspots, allergies, ﬂeas and ticks, toenail and footpad problems, anal glands, infections, nutrition, geriatric dogs, vaccinations and reactions, dental and much more. Indispensable for accidents or illnesses inside the grooming salon.

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Books by Melissa Verplank Notes from the Grooming Table and Pocket Pal are the newest additions to the White Dog Enterprises’ line of breed speciﬁc grooming instructions. Indispensable outlines and tips for grooming every breed with visuals for each. #6037 Notes from the Grooming Table $89 #6355 Notes – Pocket Pal $40 Theory of Five A one-of-a-kind guide illustrating how to transfer your skills from one pet to the next. Photographs and illustrations walk you through the 124 pages of easy-to-understand terms and techniques. #6067 Theory of Five $32.95 Whiskers Learning Journal – Bow Making Brightly colored bows or bandannas can be one of your best marketing tools. As a ﬁnishing touch on a fabulous groom it is a sure way to generate interest. You will learn how to create fabulous bows with simple, clear step-by-step instructions. #6521 Whiskers Journal – Bow Making $15.00

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 4 • April 2015

Handy Reference for Groomers!

Starting a Salon? Grooming leaders oﬀer expertise in naming a salon, preventing accidents, grooming neglected pets, ﬁnishing touches, clipper and blade maintenance, grooming and handling tips, correcting faults and much more. 128 pages of illustrations and photos.

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Stopping unacceptable behavior keeps pets in their happy homes and your pet care facility. Learn things that you can do to help an owner cope with problem behavior in an eﬀective way. This two hour seminar taped live at Groom Expo tells what it takes to stop the most common canine catastrophes in an eﬀective, safe and proactive manner.

Doggie Repair Kit DVD

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An indispensable guide for those who want to get involved with service and therapy dogs. Hundreds of contacts. Learn from this husband-and-wife team who have been blind for years and have owned multiple service dogs. Includes health and grooming information.

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The Difference Between Life and Death for a Lost Person! How do lost persons behave when disoriented? Where should you start looking for a child lost in mountainous terrain? How far will an elderly person travel and in what direction? How to use voluntary and professional manpower can make all the diﬀerence. This exciting book answers all those questions! This 64 page book is an expansive study of actual case histories and will reveal new insights to aid you... the Search Leader!

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Understand how and why a dog works scent. Explains the composition of scent, how it works in the dog’s nose, what aﬀects scent and more! Topics include the sense of smell, anatomy and physiology, theories and odor, the human as a scent source, transmission, atmospheric factors and airborne scent, the ground scent picture, working on dog’s scent and snow experiments.

A Beginner’s Manual of Sled Dog Training by Charlene G. LaBelle By Charlene G. LaBelle for the Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers, Inc. The complete book of sled dog racing, MUSH! is indispensable to anyone who is thinking about this exciting sport. Topics include buying dogs and equipment, training, riding, traveling, race strategy and more.

Tracking Dog Tracking Trainers Handbook

Scent and the Scenting Dog by William G. Syrotuck

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$14.95

A step-by-step easy to follow program, which has resulted in 100% success for his students. Includes basics of tracking work, training philosophy and terminology, determining behavioral characteristics, tracking training essentials, TD training methods and classical problem solving and more! Also Tracking Trainers Handbook, a companion guide to Tracking Dog.

Partners in Independence

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The “Bible” of Tracking!

Doggie Repair Kit DVD

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A Powerful Guide for Every Business Owner!

Christmas Ideas These fun ideas have been gleaned from groomers as entries in Groomer to Groomer magazine’s Christmas Ideas Contest. Now you can get a wealth of ideas for your clients. Topics include inexpensive Christmas gifts, proﬁtable Christmas promotions, heartwarming experiences and more! Photos and illustrations included.

Quick Tips

Analysis of Lost Person Behavior

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 7 • July 2015

Klip Kards

Client Index & Extender Cards Extenders stapled to your filled Klip Kard add more record space!

Giant Klip Kard Our most popular card! 5” x 8” Klip Kards feature a dog diagram for notation of injuries, warts and sensitive areas. Sketch the clip right on the card. Emergency permission included, plus a size chart for easy sales reference. Includes pet proﬁle checklist with lots of space on the back for date, charges, services, groomer and reminders sent date. Extenders can be attached when back is full. Mix and match in packs of 100 when buying 1000.

Giant Klip Kard – White 5 x 8 #500 Pack of 100 #501 Pack of 500 #502 Pack of 1000

$13.75 $59.95 $99.00

Available Colors

Giant Klip Kard – Color 5 x 8

Available colors: Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink, Lavender

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$15.75 $69.95 $109.00

Medium Klip Kard 4”x 6” Medium Client Index Card oﬀers space for pet description, medical problems, referral, birthday, vet phone and clip. Popular pet proﬁle checklist denotes conditions about the pet. Back has date, services, charges and reminder sent date. Extenders can be attached when back is full. Mix and match in packs of 100 when buying 1000.

Medium Klip Kard – White 4 x 6 #507 Pack of 100 #508 Pack of 500 #509 Pack of 1000

Available Colors

$11.95 $46.00 $75.00

Medium Klip Kard – Color 4 x 6

Available colors: Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink, Lavender

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Pack of 100 Pack of 500 Pack of 1000

Medium Klip Kard Extenders – White 4 x 6 #513 Pack of 100

$11.95

#681

$28.95

Medium Klip Kard Special 4 x 6

Regular Klip Kard Are your client ﬁles a disaster? Do you forget to get pertinent information over the phone? These 3” x 5” Client Index Cards will stand up against the daily abuse of any active grooming salon and will provide you with basic information on your grooming client. Space on back for date, charges and reminder sent date. White only.

Regular Klip Kard Extenders – White 3 x 5 #517 Pack of 100 $10.50

Regular Klip Kard – White 3 x 5 #514 Pack of 100 #515 Pack of 500 #516 Pack of 1000

$10.50 $39.75 $62.95

#680 Klip Kard 3 x 5 Special

$21.95

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 4 • April 2015

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$13.95 $56.00 $95.00

Klip Kard Special Includes 250 Klip Kards, File Box, and set of Alphabetical Index Guides

#252

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