PetGroomer.com Magazine Summer 2018 by findagroomer

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AprilJuly/September / June 2018 Vol.2018 8, Ed.Vol 2 8 Ed 3 PetGroomer.com Publications

M A G A Z I N E

How Hot is Too Hot? ● Creating a Grooming Portfolio Muzzling Upper Back Pain ● Balance Your Groomer Compensation eGroomer Journal www.egroomer.com Subscribe Free

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

15 16 17 18 24 31 46 52 63 71 76 89 94 2 110

Industry Calendar Winners of 10th Annual Double K Rags to Riches Photo Contest DogWash. Can I Help You? Creating a Grooming Portfolio How Hot is Too Hot? Industry News Groomfit: Muzzling Upper Back Pain Flag, Westie, Rat and Poodle Tails Cleaning the Wahl 5-N-1 Trimmer Blade Solutions for Common Problems When Using Comb Attachments To Clip or Not to Clip (Classic Reprint) What We Know and Don’t Know About Canine Hair Growth Balance Your Groomer Compensation—Updated Copyright © 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved Subscribe www.egroomer.com Sponsors Only Buyer’s Guide and Website Directory

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Financial Aid Available

With training, hands-on education and the acquired skill sets our students develop, our pupils graduate with the ability to successfully seek and maintain employment as highly accomplished pet groomers or assistant groomers. Learn more at our website or please contact us.

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EDITOR Stephen Mart PUBLISHER Find A Groomer Inc. EDITORIAL OFFICE PO Box 2489, Yelm, WA 98597 contact@petgroomer.com 800-556-5131 360-446-5348 ADVERTISE IN PETGROOMER.COM MAGAZINE

Display advertising in PetGroomer.com Magazine is available at no cost to most banner advertising sponsors of PetGroomer.com. Sponsor advertising starts at just 1 a day.

Learn More https://petgroomer.com/advertise-petgroomer-com/ PetGroomer.com Magazine is published as a download digital file quarterly by Find A Groomer Inc., PO Box 2489, Yelm, WA 98597. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. PetGroomer.com Magazine makes every effort to provide information that is reliable and practical. It is not intended to replace diagnosis or treatment from a veterinarian or other qualified pet or pet care professional. PetGroomer.com Magazine does not assume any legal responsibility. Readers should always consult qualified healthcare providers for specific diagnosis and treatment. Information provided is not intended to replace formal grooming training, pet safety and care. Viewpoints and commentary expressed in PetGroomer.com Magazine do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of its advertisers, the publisher or associates. Use of any content or services of PetGroomer.com and PetGroomerMagazine.com, including both digital and print copies of PetGroomer.com Magazine, is governed by additional guidelines, disclaimers and privacy policies and notices available at: https://petgroomer.com/legal-notices/ eGroomer Journal www.egroomer.com Subscribe Free PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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INDUSTRY CALENDAR JULY 2018

OCTOBER 2018

July 20 to 22, 2018 Groom Texas Houston, TX www.txgroom.com

October 2 to 6, 2018 IBPSA Pet Care Services Conference St. Louis, MO www.petcareconference.com

AUGUST 2018 August 23 to 26, 2018 All American Grooming Show Schaumburg, IL www.barkleigh.com

SEPTEMBER 2018 September 27 to 30, 2018 Groom Expo Hershey, PA www.barkleigh.com

October 26 to 28, 2018 33rd NDGAA Annual Fun in the Sun Orlando, FL www.ndgaa.com

NOVEMBER 2018 November 9 to 11, 2018 New England Grooming Show Sturbridge, MA www.nepgp.com Want your grooming event here? Email details to: contact@petgroomer.com

Available online or at these 2018 Trade Shows PetQuest (OH) eGroomer Journal www.egroomer.com Subscribe Free

SuperZoo (NV)

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DOG WASH. Can I Help You? Fifty-seven-year-old Denise Jameson, an awardwinning master groomer who has been plying her trade for over thirty-five years, is the manager of Dog Wash, a grooming salon inside a Your Pets store. Denise works long hours, seven days a week, and her only desire is to see her favorite rock group and favorite singer in concert one day. The salon never has a dull moment with pets of all breeds and sizes, and the employees who help Denise groom the animals. There’s Christine, a groomer who brings her talkative, and at times trouble-making, mynah bird, Diego, to work with her every day. Stacy, the other groomer, has two children and is expecting her third one. Working with the groomers are three grooming assistants. There is Kathy, a gorgeous young woman with a beautiful voice, who is determined to become a singer one day. But her constant singing at work gets on the nerves of her co-worker, Bob, who wants to be a veterinarian. And then there is Cheryl, who is content just to work part-time for Denise and part-time as a veterinary assistant.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J.L. Campbell is a veteran of the US Army, a retired federal government employee, and has worked part-time in a dog grooming salon in Fairfax County, Virginia. She has used these experiences to create her first book.

Their lives intersect with Tony Lovic, a homeless US Army veteran, who would do anything to be employed again. One day, hungry and desperate, he asked his patron saint, Francis of Assisi, to intercede for him to find a job. Then Tony enters Denise’s grooming salon, and Diego greets him by saying, “Dog Wash. Can I Help You?” It is an action that will change more than one life for the better, thanks to the intercession of the patron saint of animals.

“Author loves animals, and knows her dog pedigree. I don't normally Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and read fiction, however the characiUniverse Publishing/ ters drew me into their lives. I could ISBN 978-1-5320-3794-8 eGroomer Journal Copyright © 2011 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved 17 not put this book down.” 492 Pages Amazon.com Reviewer

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Creating a Grooming Portfolio by Angela Clark, American Grooming Academy Creating a photo portfolio is an opportunity to showcase your work to potential employers. It can also double as an effective marketing tool to share with clients who will love seeing examples of your talent and passion for the dogs you groom.

tion of your work representing your style, diversity and quality of grooming. Your portfolio should be a composition of photos that highlight your dog grooming abilities. Include as many photos as you can of the different breeds of dogs you've worked with. Choose simple breed trims as well as those that require

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advanced precision work. Show off your scissoring and pattern application skills.

Suggested breeds and mix breeds to include are recommended below:

Organize your portfolio into an album or scrapbook format. It is the best way to show it to potential employers. In addition to the photo portfolio, you may also want to create an electronic portfolio on a website, designated Facebook page, or as a CD compilation. You can leave employers with CD’s or website URL’s for easy reference when it's time for them to make hiring decisions.



Hand scissor trims

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Buff-colored shave down

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Non-sporting breeds

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Sporting breeds

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Terrier breeds

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Cat grooming, if applicable

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Unique work of which you are proud

CREATING THE PORTFOLIO Your portfolio should impress employers and prospective clients with your versatility and ability to groom a variety of pet trims and technique. Include enlargements of some of your best work along with smaller photos. Also provide information about when and where the grooms took place. Post before and after pictures whenever possible. Mix full body shots with close-ups and head shots. They should communicate your skills in creating beautiful heads and breed profiles.

Include special finishing touches such as : 

Bows and bandanas created by you



Head patterns for mixed breeds



Creative coloring or design

A PICTURE SPEAKS A 1000 WORDS Use high quality images which are aesthetically pleasing, and reflect your talent. Ensure you portfolio is as diverse as you can, but not at the cost of quality. It’s better to have a few really great shots than a bunch of so-so ones. Your portfolio is a resource that documents your passion and ability to handle dogs.

Show that you have experience with a broad range of breed trims. eGroomer Journal www.egroomer.com Subscribe Free PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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Include examples of canine-related hobbies or activities that you participate in such as dog shows, obedience training, adoption events or grooming competitions. Use a variety of poses including casual shots showing you hugging the dog. The dogs should look happy to be with you. Follow the guidelines below when choosing or setting up photos to use in your portfolio.

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PHOTO TIPS Light dogs show detail better than dark dogs. Place a white towel under a dark colored dog, to produce a better photo. Be mindful of sanitation in the picture. The grooming table should be free of hair. No clutter in the background. Look professional in every photo. Pay attention to your hair and clothes. Wear a fresh, clean grooming smock. (Continued on page 23)

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Always have a pleasant, professional look on your face. Choose pictures that reflect your passion and love for dogs. Update your portfolio regularly. Your clients will be honored and excited when you include their pets in the mix. Your portfolio is a tool to capture the hearts of potential employers and clients. If you have experience grooming show or competition dogs, include photos that capture these moments. Include pictures of you and your dogs receiving ribbons, awards and certifications. These photos are very effective at the end of your photo album.

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SUMMARY Your portfolio is especially helpful conveying who you are as a groomer and your experience which is what a job interview is all about. Include an impressive resume with your portfolio. It will give potential employers a peek at your grooming abilities, and create a desire to see you in action. In addition, a strong cover letter can seal the deal (more to come). Stand out from the competition when seeking the grooming job of your dreams. View examples of photos at the American Grooming Academy website. ▀

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HOW HOT

is TOO HOT? By Debi Hilley

Years ago I worked at a vet clinic in Eastman, Georgia. It was located in a metal building on top of a hill with no shade. There was no air conditioning and no heat. I was a baby groomer with maybe two years of experience and uneducated in the dangers of these working conditions. I wore tank tops and shorts in the summer and long sleeves and jeans in the winter. Many summer days I had to climb into the tub to shower and change before leaving work. To stay cool I soaked my hair halfway through the day.

Looking back I realize that I was exposing myself and the dogs to unnecessary dangers. However, I was fortunate that I used fans to dry dogs. I could not afford cage dryers but I COULD afford box fans. I endured more hair splinters while working there than any other place in my career. I was at the best weight I have ever been as an adult due to the lack of climate control. Regardless I would never go back to it now. This grandma requires Air Conditioning! We have all heard the saying “It’s not (Continued on page 25)

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the heat it’s the humidity” and many times that is true. I have been in 120F Arizona and 100F in Georgia and let me tell you, the humidity in GA will make you wish you were in 120F in AZ! In fact my grandkids asked me “Why is the air sticking to me?” when they visit. Seriously. The reality is of a grooming shop is that BOTH heat and humidity are potentially killers. As groomers we need to be aware of just how hot and humid our workspaces are and take precautions to ensure that the spaces do not get too hot. Common

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sense? Yes. EXCEPT, HOW HOT IS TOO HOT?? That my groomer friends, is the question. In most cases a drying room that exceeds 80F will be inefficient not to mention extremely uncomfortable for both groomers and dogs. The humidity in a room used for drying dogs is high and that means the “heat index” is dangerous. A grooming room at 80F is hot enough to cause uncomfortable dogs and groomers. Such heat results in sweating which makes groomers (Continued on page 26)

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grumpy. Hair splinters become more prevalent too. At 80 degrees and humid, bra cephalic, old and sick dogs easily overheat. An overheated dog easily suffers injury or death. It is imperative you keep a sharp eye on heat and humidity levels.

also have humidity meters. Meters and thermometers are readily available. Consider getting a “weather station” that monitors both indoor and outdoor readings. The later is very important if you do boarding. You must monitor area where dogs are exercised.

In big box pet grooming stores policies state when the temperature exceeds 80 result the grooming area much shutdown. Owners are called to come pickup their pets. Is this in your policies as well? Do you HAVE a policy? You should if you do not.

Every shop should have safety measures in place, stating what temperature levels are acceptable and what steps are taken to ensure safety when the temperatures are dangerously high. You should also have policies in place that reduce the heat in the first place, and ways to reduce it should it get too hot.

I have the benefit of working in a state with some facility licensing of grooming shops. They regulate temperature, and do not like to see readings over 75 and over 80 you are in trouble You get a write up and re-inspection. Adequate ventilation (fans or air conditioning/heating) are also required here. Now no one I know would work in this state without any of that, but the regulations help ensure no one has heat related accidents.

In my salon, when the temperature gets above 75F, everyone complains. Except me. At that point I am finally not chilly and am happy. As a result, I do my very best to keep the temperatures below that (I wear long sleeves and pants). We keep central air conditioning units operational and window units in both the bathing room (where the force drying is done) and the grooming room (so Billy won’t complain). We succeed in keeping the heat and humidity down by using the air conditioners.

In order to ensure compliance with heat safety protocols every grooming room should have a thermometer at the very least. Drying and bathing areas should 26 Copyright © 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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Last year due an air conditioner was not working properly and my electric bill was in excess of $800 most of the year. This year my landlord was gracious enough (read I threatened to move out) to replace it with a larger, more efficient unit and my cost dropped more than 50%. He raised my rent by $100. That’s OK. We are more comfortable and still saving money.

July / September 2018

can intake cooler air drying the workspace out and reducing humidity and odors. Stay cool guys! The dogs will be happy. The groomers will be happy. Clients will appreciate your taking the initiative to keep their pets safe! ▀

If you are not fortunate enough to have air conditioning, or if you live in a location where it is not required routinely, it may be more difficult to control temperature. There are additional measures to stay more comfortable. If you live in a place where you cannot use or do not need air conditioning, consider using dehumidifiers. A word of caution. They also generate heat. If possible they need to be vented outside. Have them plumbed to drain into a tub or drain pipe to reduce manually emptying the water collection vessels. Buy a dehumidifier large enough for your space or else it won’t be effective.

Debi Hilley is a groomer and owner/ stylist at A Cut Above, in Albany, GA since 1997. She is a former competitive groomer who has over 35 placements, including a Gold and Silver at Intergroom and group placements at the Atlanta Pet Fair. Several years ago she decided that teaching is more satisfying than competing and she retired from competition grooming. She has been blogging since 2008, and has written for numerous publications. Her blog has been nominated 4 times for a Barkleigh Honors Award for Best Blog and she won in 2015. She has written articles for Petgroomer.com, Groomer to Groomer, Groom Team’s Newsletter and Modern Styles magazine. Her blog focuses on speed Ventilation helps too. Put an exhaust fan tips and techniques so that you can Groom Smarter not harder. An industry speaker since 2004, she has in the wall, over the tub or a fan in the focused on some very unusual topics, specifically wet window extracting moisture outside shaving. With 3 adult children that she raised as a single mother and business owner, and now her 4 away from your space. If possible, use grandchildren, her life is busy, yet she loves teaching eGroomer Journal Copyright © 2011 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved 27 reversible fans. At night in reverse they and it shows in her blogging. PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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Handstripping and carding techniques are well known in the show ring. They are techniques that are done on show dogs as per the breed standard. There are many benefits to these techniques. The dog’s coat and skin will be healthy and vibrant. Jodi will show you how to modify these techniques for your pet trims. Not only will your dogs coat look healthier but their skin will be healthier as well. Jodi will discuss the theory of hand stripping and carding and why it benefits the skin and coat. These techniques will help your trims look natural. Your client's will notice the difference! Available Today

JodiMurphy.net ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jodi Murphy is a Master Pet Stylist. She has been a member of Groom Team USA for four years ranking within the top four groomers in the country. In 2004 Jodi was ranked the number one groomer of the United States. Jodi was awarded Best American Groomer in 2005 and 2006 for her multiple wins in the contest ring. She captured the World Championship title in the prestigious Oster Invitational Tournament of Champions in 2006. Jodi stamped the International contest ring in 2004 where she won both gold and bronze medals in Barcelona, Spain. In Milan, Italy Jodi defeated the best of the world in a competition consisting of 13 countries of world renown groomers and walked away with yet another gold in 2007. After achieving all her goals in the contest ring she is now here to share her years of knowledge and experience. eGroomer Journal www.egroomer.com Subscribe Free PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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Leel Michelle, GroomWise℠ Blogger, Wins America’s Coolest Store Nearly 12 years of pet grooming services and boutique merchandising have not gone unnoticed. Years of obsessing, creating, changing, moving, succeeding and failing have finally come to fruition with this front cover honoring me and my Standard Poodle Mumsie! For years I have enjoyed coming up with new design and sales techniques. I'm proud to be able to use my GroomWise.com blog as a forum to add my pearls of wisdom to inspire others. I hope this award will prove how years of hard work can pay off! I had very tough competition. You can read the full story at Pets Plus Magazine! Click here! Thank you, Leel Michelle ▀

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PROFESSIONAL PET GROOMERS & STYLISTS ALLIANCE UNVEIL NEW WEBSITE AT SUPERZOO 2018

Las Vegas, NV –Today at the World Pet Association’s annual SuperZoo, the Professional Pet Groomers & Stylists Alliance (PPGSA) formally unveiled their new website. The site, www.petgroomersandstylists.org, serves as an online resource for groomers and stylists and the public seeking information about the PPGSA’s standards of care for pet grooming. Representatives of PPGSA member organizations presented the website to an audience of groomers, stylists and allies from the grooming stage. “Since their introduction, these standards of care have been a valuable resource to groomers and pet owners alike,” said Teri DiMarino, PPGSA spokesperson and president of the California Professional Pet Groomers Association. “With this new website, they will be even easier to find and review.” (Continued on page 34)

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In presenting the website, PPGSA representatives pointed out the information available to training and certification organizations interested in joining the PPGSA and having their programs recognized as PPGSA-compliant. They also highlighted the site’s utility for those outside the grooming and styling community to learn about responsible grooming practices. The standards were unanimously adopted by the founding members of the PPGSA. A “living document,” they will be regularly reviewed to ensure that they reflect the most up-to-date safety and sanitation practices. Although the PPGSA itself does not issue certifications to individual groomers and stylists, current and future alliance members commit to incorporating these standards into their own training and/or certification programs, ensuring that groomers and stylists are taught and held accountable to the same standards irrespective of which program they pursue. ▀

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Super Zoo 2018 Rescue Rodeo Winners SuperZoo’s Rescue Rodeo makes over shelter pets to improve their adoptability Wahl Clipper Corporation and Ryan’s Pet Supplies sponsor competitive grooming contest, helping shelter dogs become more adoptable STERLING, IL. June 27, 2018 – If you’re a competitive groomer able to take whatever comes your way – including dogs of varying temperament and condition – then you need to throw your skills in at SuperZoo’s Rescue Rodeo. (Continued on page 36)

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Industry News Sponsored by Wahl Clipper Corporation and Ryan’s Pet Supplies, the competition is open to all groomers willing to show their skill in every aspect of the grooming process. “This is a perfect sponsorship for Wahl Clipper Corporation and our friends at Ryan’s,” says Chelsea Compton, Marketing and Communications Coordinator. “Wahl’s brand promise is to keep pets looking healthy, happy and beautiful and that is exactly what the Rescue Rodeo embodies. Professional groomers showcasing their talent by our clippers and providing the opportunity to help a dog find a forever home – that’s a winning combination!” Each participant was given a shelter dog for rescue and had two and a half hours to prep work, bathe, dry and groom. Qualified judges evaluated based on styling that suited the dog’s conformation, grooming techniques, overall technical finish, handling of animals, degree of difficulty and change in overall appearance from start to finish. In addition to a donation to the charity of choice for Rescue Rodeo winners, participants also received cash prizes ranging from $1,000 in cash for first place to $300 for fifth place. The contest was open to 25 participants and nearly half of the shelter dogs were adopted. Wahl Clipper congratulates all the groomers who participated and all the new dog owners for finding their new rescue friend! ▀ 36 © 2013 Find A Groomer All rights Pet reserved Subscribe www.egroomer.com Picture: RepresentativesCopyright of Wahl Clipper and Inc. Ryan’s Supplies PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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Industry News Best Shot’s expanded line of 256 Disinfectants wins 1st Place in its category at this SuperZoo 2018’s New Product Showcase!

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Industry News Groomers Helper "NO-CHOKE" Control/Slip Lead! SuperZoo 2018 New Product Winner The Industry has spoken and the Groomers Helper "NO-CHOKE Control/Slip lead is a winner! Winning one of the most prestigious spots for new products anywhere in our business just reinforced the fact that The Groomers Helper "NO-CHOKE" Control/Slip lead is the most important and innovative new safety tools for groomers and pet handlers to hit the industry in decades. The Groomers Helper "NO-CHOKE" Control/ Slip Lead prevents the "choking" of pets by using principals that do not allow the end loop to tighten around the animals neck like a noose. The "NO-CHOKE" Control/Slip lead has different use applications that can be used on both brachycephalic and older "trach" dogs as well. An emergency quick release buckle has been incorporated as an added safety feature for both the animal and the handler, which not only allows and emergency release of the pet but permits putting the lead on the animal without putting hands or arms near the pets teeth. "This is a HUGE step in the right direction to stop hurting and choking pets", stated Chuck Simons, inventor of both the new product and the Groomers Helper Safety & Positioning System. "We currently have orders for over 10,000 of the new "NoChoke" Control/Slip leads in house already, and we are gearing up to replace every "choke" lead in every shop around the world. Our "NO-CHOKE" has now made 38

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Industry News every conventional slip lead obsolete, and the world is a safer place for pets as a result." Groomers Helpers' company mission is to provide a safer and more efficient salon environment for both pets and groomers. The "No-Choke" Control/Slip Lead fits perfectly into their "Do No Harm" philosophy while upgrading a critical every day use item for most grooming operations. The Groomers Helper "No-Choke" Control/Slip lead is in production and will be fully available by mid-Summer 2018." Pre-orders are being accepted. ▀

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Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Recognizes Groomers with 2018 Groomer Appreciation Rewards Program Woof Gang Bakery, the leader in specialty pet retail and grooming with more than 100 locations across the U.S., has launched the new Groomer Appreciation Rewards program to recognize and award professional pet groomers throughout the company. “Specialty pet stores recognize the importance of grooming and other services as contributing success factors for brick and mortar stores,” said Paul Allen, CEO, Woof Gang Bakery. “Seven years ago, Woof Gang Bakery introduced grooming into our retail stores. This year, we will groom more than 600,000 dogs, due to the performance of the concept, the commitment of our franchise owners and the quality of our groomers.” Running July 1 through Dec. 31, 2018, all Woof Gang Bakery groomers are eligible to earn entries based on number of grooms completed. At the end of each month within the program period, there will be a raffle drawing to award cash prizes to at least four groomers a month. In January 2019, at the conclusion of the 2018 Groomer Appreciation Rewards program, there will be an Ultimate Reward raffle from all the entries collected during the program period. The Ultimate Reward raffle will award additional cash prizes, plus an all-expenses paid trip for 10 Woof Gang Bakery groomers to SuperZoo 2019 in Las Vegas. By the end of 2018, Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming will have more than 110 stores with more than 400 professional pet groomers. The company is projected to groom 40 than 600,000 dogs Copyright 2013 Find▀ A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved Subscribe www.egroomer.com more this ©year. PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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WAHL Animal Sponsors Free Rabies Clinci A stately, silver-haired doctor knocks on your door. He’s there for a house call – assuring checkups and vaccinations are all part of your family member’s future. And by family member, we mean the four-legged kind. Dr. Timothy Dayton makes house calls – for your dogs and cats. Dedication to animal wellness is a top priority for the travelling Dr. Dayton. That’s why in collaboration with the Happy Tails Humane Society-Wellness Clinic, Dr. Timothy Dayton and the Pets for Life Team made a stop at the Whiteside County Animal Control facility, 1701 Industrial Park Road, Rock Falls, IL., 61071, to offer free rabies vaccinations, microchip clinics and personalized pet tags on Sat., May 18, from 3 to 7 pm. (Continued on page 42)

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Industry News Wahl Clipper Corporation, with headquarters in Whiteside County, was eager to jump on board to cover costs for the event. “For our Wahl Professional Animal Division, it’s animals first. Every time,” says Chelsea Compton, Marketing and Communications Coordinator. “ When we meet up with veterinarians, nonprofits and volunteers who share that value – and they are right in our own backyard – we have to step up and be part of something great.” Wahl’s partnership with the program covered all costs for the first 100 dogs that attended the free clinic. The event was held outdoors and was first come, first serve. It’s a dog-only program limited to Whiteside County residents. ▀

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eGroomer Journal January / March 2014

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Muzzling Upper Back Pain

By Vera Needham Are you tired of the nipping pain between your shoulder blades or the burning sensation in your upper back at the end of a long day at the puppy parlor? When groomers think of back pain we tend think about our lower back. Low back pain is the most common pain associated with backs, but not far behind, is upper back strain. Upper back pain tends to be less debilitating but it is something almost every groomer will experience during their career.

Poor posture while sitting or standing at the grooming table is one of the most common reasons groomers suffer back strain. When we bend forward over our canine canvases our upper back curves and the shoulders slide apart placing excessive pressure on the upper back. Over time this abnormal positioning can lead to overstretching in the muscles and ligaments of the upper back and neck further contributing to pain. To prevent this rounded posture try plac-

The stretches below have been invaluable in allowing me to muzzle its bite. eGroomer Journal www.egroomer.com Subscribe Free PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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ing your next canine masterpiece in a position that aligns the top of its body just below your eyes. In a perfect world we would have an adjustable table. In its absence an adjustable chair will suffice. The height we work at is important. Placing your chair too high may contribute to slouching and upper back pain. On the other hand lowering the chair too far can cause neck strain by forcing us to look up all day. It may not seem like a big deal at first but over time you will experience similar cumulative trauma in your neck and shoulder as you feel after painting the ceiling.

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with twisting motions. Imagine that your hip bones had a headlight mounted on each side. The headlights should be shining the direction you are working and be equal distance from the table. If you are sitting with your hips facing the corner of the table and your shoulders facing Scruffy in the center of the table you may be creating the perfect storm for back pain. There are many different positions a groomer needs to be in to execute their job throughout the day but if we resist the temptation to lean over the pet when avoidable it could be an important first step in pain reduction.

Play with your chair height until you are comfortable and without pain. Try to position your body so you are about foot and a half away from the animal you are working on. This allows you to keep your elbows at your side when you work to minimize reaching and bending.

Think about balancing an invisible plate on your head while you work. It actually may help. A puppy stylist will put approximately sixty pounds of pressure on their upper spine every time they look down at our furry clients, according to recent research from New York Spine Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine.

Whether sitting or standing it is important that your shoulders, sternum, hips and navel are all facing the direction you are working. This prevents you from twisting your spine.

When we think of it like that it’s like having a border collie hanging around your neck all day. Yikes! Good posture is important not only in the grooming parlor but also when we use our cell

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phones to book an appointment. The less you tilt your head down the less strain you'll put on the muscles and connective tissues in your neck, shoulders, and upper back. Do what you can to minimize stress in your busy schedule. Stress causes your muscles to tense up, especially those in your upper back and neck. All this extra tension disrupts blood flow to your upper back and neck muscles causing localized muscle pain.

July / September 2018

ROWING EXERCISE The rowing exercise is very important to improve posture and realign the spine. Rowing strengthens your lats and trapezius muscles which helps your upper back to work its best. Start by squeezing your elbows back like you are trying to touch them together behind your back . For more of a challenge place a resistance band around your feet while you row. Hold for five to 10 seconds, and repeat two to three times per day.

Many groomers find their upper back pain disappears on the weekend or while on vacation when stress levels are down. Regular exercise is important and can help maintain proper strength and flexibility of the upper back. Below are three easy stretches that can be performed at the grooming table during the day. The upper back or thoracic region of your spine sits at chest height and connects to your ribs. This is the body area we are targeting in the following exercises.

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SPINE TWIST This simple exercise helps remove tension from your upper back and neck by gently twisting your thoracic spine. To perform this exercise at the grooming table hold to the grooming table with one hand to anchor it in place. Make certain the hips face the table as you extend the other arm straight out in front of the body. Next inhale to open the arm towards the back of the chair. With each exhale try to open up the chest and shoulder just a little more. Hold for about thirty seconds and repeat on the other side.

BACK BEND A back bend can help relieve tension in the upper spine. Incorporate this stretch into your daily routine to help reduce tension and improve posture. Start seated with hands clasped behind your head. Widen your elbows and inhale as you gently arch your upper back over the chair. Think of lifting your chest or sternum toward the ceiling. Deep breathing helps keep blood pressure down too.

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Working like a dog can be ruff on your upper back. The key to success for busy groomers is to take a couple of minutes between clients to include these simple stretches into your daily routine. ▀ ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vera Needham is a Medical Exercise Specialist, Pilates Pro Trainer and creator of the Barber Stick. She has been a professional dog groomer for over 30 years. Who better than a dog groomer to know the vulnerabilities of the trade? We seem to accept pain as a way of life. With proper exercise and a Barber Stick it doesn’t have to be. For more information: groomfit@yahoo.com.

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Flag, Westie, Rat and Poodle Tails by Jodi Murphy

FLAG TAIL

A flag tail is seen on many breeds including Golden Retriever, Setters, Pomeranian, Sheltie and Shih Tzu. The flag tail style is easy to achieve in just a few steps. First, hold the entire tail in your hand and trim the excess coat off the tip of the tail. 52 Copyright ÂŠ 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved Subscribe www.egroomer.com (Photo 1 above) PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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The flag tail may be left at any desired length based on the client requests. The length is determined by where the first cut is made at the tip. A flag tail should never be longer than the hock for a point of reference.

FLAG TAIL Hold the tail out and trim the rest of the tail in a flag shape. (Photo 2 above) Hold the tail up. Use thinning shears and neaten the base of the tail. (Photo 3 right). 54

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WESTIE TAIL The West Highland White Terrier should have a carrot shaped tail. When the Westie is groomed for show they are hand stripped. Their body coat should be about two inches in length with long leg furnishings. The length of coat on their tail should balance with the body coat yet shaped like a carrot. You will notice the tail of a show dog is much longer than when groomed for pet trims for that reason. For pet trims a #4F, #5F or a #2 snap on comb is recommended to set the body eGroomer Journal Copyright ÂŠ 2011 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved pattern. PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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The tail should be set to the same general length as the body (Photo 1 previous page). Trim the coat at the tip of the tail as close to the tip as possible. Comb out the coat and use thinning shears to shape the tail like a carrot (Photo 2 previous page). The coat on the top and sides of the tail should be slightly longer than the underside of the tail. Trim the underside of the tail tight. (Photo 3 left)

The rectum area should be clipped clean and tidy using a #10 blade. The finished tail should be shaped nicely and balance with the body coat. (Photo 4 right) 56 Copyright ÂŠ 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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RAT TAIL The Bedlington Terrier and Irish Water Spaniel have rat tails. It has become trendy to put Poodles in Bedlington trims in the grooming competition ring.

When executing a rat tail a #10, #15 or #40 blade may be used based on the sensitivity of the dogs skin. Clip 2/3 of the top of the tail from the tip towards the base either against the grain or with the grain. (Photo 1 above)

Clip the complete underside of the tail in the same manner from the tip to the rectum. eGroomer Journal (Photo 2 right)

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The top of the tail from the base to the clippered area should be scissored in a "V" shape. (Photo 3 left)

Scissor the coat into the clippered areas until it is wellblended. (Photo 4 below) 58

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Once you determine where that is, comb all the coat down to the tip of the tail and trim off the excess coat. (Photo 1 left) Holding the tip of the tail up comb all the coat down to the base of the tail. Using curved shears trim the coat around the bottom of the tail at your clipper line. When holding the tail down over the rectum the clipper work should come to the bottom of the rectum. (Photo 2 below)

POODLE TAIL Poodle tails can be done in three easy steps. When held up, the tail should be no longer than the top of the poodle's skull.

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Once those two cuts are made the majority of the tail has been set. Hold the tail and comb the coat out. The only coat left should be the middle. Using curved shears scissor the middle of the tail to blend into the rest of the tail. (Photo 3 right)

The actual length of the poodles tail will determine whether you will get a round tail or an oblong tail. If the poodle has a longer tail you will get an oblong shape. If the poodle has a shorter tail you will get more of a round tail. (Photo 4 left) 60

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Cleaning The Wahl 5-N-1 Trimmer Blade by Jeff Andrews, Northern Tails Sharpening All Wahl trimmers (Bravura, Chromado and Arco) use the 5-N-1 blade. It is durable and quiet. It can be successfully re-sharpened. But, it does have a drawback. If the 5-N-1 blade isn’t cleaned properly it will seem as if it dulls quickly. Here I will share suggestions for cleaning it and reducing the need for more extensive blade service. In fact, some groomers unnecessarily throw their 5-N-1 blades way. Many styles of trimmer blades, including the 5-N-1, use wire springs to put tension on the cutters, and to hold them against their combs (bottom blade). These springs can trap hair between the cutter and comb. When enough hair collects it pushes the cutter up just enough to make the blade snag or drag. At this point your diagnosis will likely be, the blade is dull. That is your cue to check for hair by looking at the blade from the side. If you cannot see all the way through the blade halves the passageway is packed with hair. You need to clean the blade. To start, take the blade off the trimmer. (Continued on page 65)

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(Continued from page 63)

Clean hair out of the “spring deck.” Use your HV or vacuum. Don’t submerge it in blade wash creating a wet mess. You may need to remove remaining hair trapped under the cutter. It’s a simple task and could save you the expense of sharpening.

Figure 1 Get a small Zip-Tie, or a pipe cleaner or a broom straw. Take the Zip-Tie and align it up on either side of the blade at the space between the blade halves. Now you are ready to push it through and in-between the blade halves. Figure 2 Push the Zip-Tie through the blade halves forcing hair out the other side. You may find a mixture of hair, pet dander or a solid form of hair melted by either heat or solvents. Cat hair melts at a lower temp than dog hair. If you regularly groom cats clean more often. Keep plunging the Zip-Tie between the blade halves until you are satisfied all the material is out. eGroomer Journal

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Now look between the blade halves again from the side. Do you see a clean space between the blade halves? If not, put the blade back on the trimmer and try using it at a fine or medium setting. If it cuts normally you are finished. Now you know what to check next time it stops cutting. If the blade continues to snag or drag through coat it may actually be dull. Send it out for sharpening. Several sharpeners around the country do sharpen the Wahl 5-N-1 trimmer blade along with other popular trimmer blades. Another way to clean the blade during a groom is to dip in blade wash and run it a few seconds, or until you feel its clean. If a 5-N-1 blade starts to snag or drag during a groom follow these next two steps very carefully! (Continued on page 67)

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Step 1 Brush or blow the obvious hair from the front of the blade. It will just float in the blade wash and cause a mess. Turn the trimmer on and gently stick just the tips of the blade into the wash. Don’t submerge more than the tips of the blade because it’s just the tips that do the cutting, and also gets hot enough to melt the dander on its cutting surfaces. I suggest setting the blade in the #40 or fine position. Run it until you think it is clean or you hear the RPMs go up a little. Step 2 After cleaning stop the trimmer motor. Bring the trimmer out of the wash. Make sure its pointed DOWN! If you tilt the trimmer up the wash will run down inside your trimmer and cause problems. While holding the trimmer pointed DOWN, take the blade off with a rag and wipe it dry. Put a drop of blade oil on the front teeth and try it. If it still doesn’t work make sure there isn’t any hair between the blade eGroomer Journal

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(Continued from page 67)

halves. If there is clean it out as previously explained. If you drop your trimmer and the blade pops off check for any damage. You could break the rear tab or the side post. Don’t throw the blade away. Several sharpeners around the country can replace the “spring deck” and restore its regular service. Just ahead on page 71 I 68 Copyright © 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved Subscribe www.egroomer.com have more maintenance tips for you. ▀ PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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Pet Styling Academy Palm Desert, CA Near sunny Palm Springs and many activities in beautiful settings.

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy is an upscale modern pet styling facility. Students train in a real world environment and gain knowledge on how to work in and be part of a professional grooming salon. Wendy, the academy's director, became one of the Coachella Valley's first certified groomers in 1989 through the WWPGA. She is a Master Stylist and has certifications in: * AKC Safety Certified Groomer * AKC Safety Certified School * Certified California Professional Pet Groomer Assoc. * Certified International Prof. Groomers Inc.Subscribe www.egroomer.com 70 Copyright ÂŠ 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved www.goldenpawsca.com * Southern California Groomers Assoc. Skin & Coat 760-289-8217 Wendy has over 36 years of experience in the pet grooming industry.

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Solutions for Common Problems When Using Comb Attachments by Jeff Andrews, Northern Tails Sharpening If you know what to look for there are preventative solutions to common problems associated with using comb attachments. It is not always the blade. Most of the problems are with the comb, clipper or blade, and how you use them. When hair jams between the blade and comb the problem is not the cutting performance of the blade. Usually something is loose in the cutting system. Any movement with the hinge, blade or the comb itself is the cause. If you use combs frequently, especially on Andis clippers, the hinge screws can loosen from the pull and vibration of the comb through coat. Screws loosen because they are usually in plastic threads inside clipper housings, not metal ones. Check the screws weekly. If they turn even a tiny bit it could result in common problems like cornrows in the coat with or without a comb. Hair may also jam on the comb. The blade itself may have issues. Socket ears that stick up have to be straight up and down, not tilted outwards to each side. Otherwise you will hear “blade rattle” from a loose blade causing movement that creates cornrows and hair jamming between the comb and blade. (Continued on page 72)

Jeff Andrews is "One of America's Favorite Sharpeners." Along with his years of grooming experience in two of his own shops, he is a "World Class Sharpener" that can sharpen all grooming equipment to better than new condition. Jeff is an author and pioneer of many maintenance and grooming video's and articles. They are for groomers who want to make their equipment last longer and save money on their sharpening costs. These videos and articles are on his website free to download and keep for reference. www.northerntails.com eGroomer Journal www.egroomer.com Subscribe Free PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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Even a worn out blade drive can cause the same thing symptoms. Using combs frequently reduces the life of blade drives.

Combs can have issues as well without adequate maintenance. Deck plates which hold blades can get bent from putting blades on and off. Pulling back on the spring can bend the riser at the rear. The result is the blade will not seat snug on the comb. As you push the comb through coat, the blade is moves around on the comb and it causes hair to snag between the comb and blade. Make sure your plate looks like the one in the picture. If it doesn’t, use pliers to bend it back into shape. One common misconception is that you HAVE to use a #30 blade on a comb. Not true. You can use any blade that will fit on your comb. If hair does not feed into the comb, the hair has to go someplace. If it’s not cut it usually goes under the comb, or gets jammed between the blade and comb. Try a #9 blade. It is a flatter blade and has more space between the teeth and the hair feeds much better. The #9 blade works better on ANY coat.

Suggestion: When you get a new blade, or a blade back from the sharpener, test it. Try the blade on a dog (perhaps the belly) before putting the comb on it. If it cuts hair without a comb, and doesn’t cut hair with the comb, the problem isn’t the blade. Next look for something loose in your system. ▀

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Northern Tails Sharpening, Inc. You Now Have a Better Choice!

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We are an Andis & Furzone Regional Distributor and Repair Center Check out our website’s free instructional videos and articles helping you to maintain your clippers and blades. It’s free to download!

Jeff is a Master Sharpener and Certified Pet Groomer. He knows how your tools should perform. He won’t sharpen worn out tools which could harm animals. His office will call you if any of your tools look bad.

Please call or visit our website for mailing information. http://www.northerntails.com/

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To Clip or Not to Clip by Barbara Bird, CMG Classic Reprint from 2012 eGroomer Jouranl

As the summer heats up, so does the conversation among groomers about the pros and cons of clipping down double-coated dogs. Summer is the season for clip downs, or is it? There are many groomers hold the position that pet owners are asking for shave downs, and we have the tools and skills to do the job. We should do it. If one groomer refuses, another will accept the client and take home the money.

Hair is an appendage of the skin; it is not a separate system. The main purpose of dog hair is to regulate body temperature; it holds in body heat in the winter and dissipates heat from the sun in the summer.1, 2 The coat also pro(Continued on page 77)

Many groomers agree with pet owners that removing a thick coat is the humane response. On the other hand, a growing number of groomers are reluctant to shave some coats and will attempt to educate the client and redirect them to a less radical solution to the heat problem. Function of the Canine Coat Together the skin and coat of all mammals organ. 76 form the largest sensory Copyright ÂŠ 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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(Continued from page 76)

vides protection from environmental elements and the sun.3 The canine coat features a compound hair follicle where there are several or many secondary (undercoat) hairs and a single primary (topcoat) hair. The longer the hair, the more it can dissipate the heat away from the skin. Light colored hair reflects heat, while dark colored hair absorbs and holds heat. Black, short-haired dogs are the most uncomfortable in the heat and long, light-haired animals will be the most comfortable.2 Profuse or thick undercoat, however, will trap heat next to the skin, regardless of color. It is a common mistake by humans to assume that dogs experience their coats the same as we would experience their coats. Humans have eccrine sweat glands over most of the body that serve thermoregulation. Dogs do not. Dogs pant, humans sweat. When dogs pant on a hot day, it does not mean that they need to have their entire hair coat removed. Here’s how one science writer puts it: “In the case of man, the removal of clothing eGroomer Journal

July / September 2018

during hot weather increases the ability to lose heat by evaporation of moisture. The dog does not have this ability and therefore his insulation is a protection to him during hot weather. If the animal loses his insulation during very hot weather, by having his coat clipped for instance, he runs the risk of not being able to maintain his body temperature. His skin temperature loss probably is not only inefficient but, since he does not perspire, he will probably increase the temperature of his skin and his body temperature as well.” 4 Coat Growth and Growth Types Mammalian hair grows in a three-phase process: anagen, or growth phase, catagen, a transition phase, and telogen, the resting phase. Two distinct types of canine coat can be identified by their main growth patterns: Anagen Predominant coats have a majority of hairs in the growing stage at any time. The growth stage is prolonged. Hair growth and shedding occurs in a mosaic pattern, sprinkled throughout the body. These are coats of indeterminate length that can be trimmed with little concern for re-growth. Examples of (Continued on page 81)

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this type of coat are Poodles and Shih Tzu. Most of the “low shedding” breeds have anagen predominant coats. Telogen Predominant coats will have a majority of hairs in the resting phase at any time. This type of coat is found on Nordic breeds (aka Spitz breeds), such as Huskies, Malamutes, Chows, and Pomeranians. The telogen phase for these dogs may be prolonged, even for years.5 Hair eGroomer Journal

July / September 2018

growth, as well as catagen transition and telogen phase is patterned and occurs in waves, often in relation to changes of light and temperature in the environment. Characteristic of these coats is that the secondary hairs are on a much faster cycle than the guard hairs. When coats of this type are shaved down, they sometimes present problems re-growing a new coat. (Continued on page 82)

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Post Clipping Alopecia – Hair Cycle Arrest

disorder(s) are spontaneous, not related to clipping.6, 7

Post Clipping Alopecia simply means lack of hair growth after clipping. It is a medical category coined by veterinarians to identify cases where dogs were shaved for surgeries and had significant delay in growing hair at various sites. Post-grooming problems with hair growth are included in this category. Although most medical references will maintain that the hair will grow back within 12-24 months, some veteran groomers have witnessed extended or permanent failure of the coat to regrow, or situations where the coat itself is permanently altered, becomes wooly, thick, fuzzy, is lacking in guard hairs, or loses color.

The incidence of post-clipping alopecia from grooming is unknown. Many cases go unreported and undiagnosed. About Alopecia X, the Pomeranian Charitable Trust notes that, “The reports of cases that recoat using a particular method (and not having responded to other methods) tend to confirm the concept that we are looking at multiple causes which can produce similar results. The number of confirmed ‘Clipper Alopecia’ cases appears with greater frequency than thought previously. Commonly these cases recoat spontaneously after two years.” 8

Dr. Linda Frank, a leading researcher in the study of canine hair and alopecia, considers post-clipping alopecia to be a condition of hair cycle arrest. Simply put, the hairs enter the telogen phase and eventually fall out, but new growth is not initiated.5

In some cases of poor re-growth or hair loss, the dog has an underlying health problem such as hypothyroidism that has not yet been detected. The shave down just brings the condition to light. It is important that dogs with postclipping alopecia be referred to a veterinarian to be tested for endocrine disorders. These diseases are treatable and have effects on the overall health of the animal. Alopecia X and post clipping alopecia have no established treatments.

A similar condition exists among a group of disorders called Alopecia X, which include what Malamute breeders call Coat Funk and Pomeranian breed82 Copyright © 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved ers call Black Skin Disease. Alopecia X PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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Does the clipping itself cause the arrest of the hair growth cycle? Inquiring minds want to know! The cause of poor re-growth or hair loss after clipping has not been determined. Dr. Frank says, “The plush-coated breeds may have Alopecia X or simply have been shaved during the normal telogen phase of the hair cycle.” 5 McKeever Veterinary Dermatology Clinic says, “The exact mechanism is unknown, but one theory is that decreased perfusion of hair follicles, secondary to vasoconstriction due to cooling of the skin by removal of the hair, may lead to premature termination of the growing phase. Alternatively, it may simply reflect a very long resting period before the next hair growth cycle.6 It is not possible to determine if the dog that suffers from hair loss after a shave down has a pre-existing Alopecia X that may have manifested regardless of the grooming. Because these poor hair growth conditions are considered cosmetic and have no far reaching health concerns, they have low priority for study. The uncertainty about the cause of post-clipping alopecia has much to do with the fact that scientists have not 84

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yet been able to identify the precise trigger that sends a hair from telogen phase into anagen phase and the creation of a new hair shaft. Once they identify what triggers the growth message, they will be closer to knowing what is missing in hair cycle arrest. Meanwhile, it’s important to remember that while we can’t say that clipping causes hair cycle arrest, we also can’t say that it doesn’t. Why do some coats grow back and others don’t? We simply don’t know. The fact that close clipping does not always result in hair cycle arrest would suggest that there are multiple factors in play that create the alopecia. The clipping must line up with some other factors. Unfortunately, previous clipping with successful regrowth is not a reliable predictor of what might happen the next time a dog is clipped down. Older dogs seem at greater risk, possibly because the amount of telogen hairs increases in senior dogs. Very young dogs with coats that are not fully developed also seem at greater risk. Overall health is certainly a factor to consider. Outdoor (Continued on page 85)

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dogs are more subject to sunburn, which can further complicate coat growth. None of these factors, however, can be relied upon to predict whether a particular dog is going to re-grow a shaved coat. It’s a roulette game. Use your clippers and take your chances! Many rescue organizations dealing with Nordic breeds are making strong recommendations that their breed not be clipped down except in a situation of medical necessity. 9, 10 This position against shave downs is not a fad or a trend; it is a position that has evolved through decades of experience and the realization of the possible consequences of the decision to remove a whole coat. A dog’s coat may attract a mate in the wild, but in the City, it attracts a pet owner. Loss of the animal’s appearance can make a rescue unadoptable. It can be devastating to a pet owner, especially when other people make assumptions about the animal being ill or poorly cared for. Engaging the veterinarian in the decision to clip off a Nordic coat makes the procedure and extension of veterinary care, and the vet bears the burden if the coat does not re-grow.

July / September 2018

Alternative Approaches A thorough carding of the coat or deshedding will usually render a Nordic coat “breathable” and comfortable for the dog. Deshedding is best done on clean, conditioned, coat. To attempt to brush out a matted Malamute before the bath is groomer torture. A bathing system is a must-have for working products through thick double coats. SaveUrFur has designed a system to power shed in the tub with their special products. Likewise, a recirculating bathing system will power shampoo through the double coat and use the conditioner to slide hair off the dog. By using water pressure to break through the packed coat and slide undercoat into the tub, you can save up to half your time of blow drying with hair flying. Using silicone-based products can help remove vast amounts of packed undercoat. Silicone ingredients dry to a glasslike surface on the hair shaft and help the loose hair slide out. You can spray a silicone detangler on a damp coat and dry it in. If you have a recirculating bathing system, you can add one or two ounces of silicone detangler to your con(Continued on page 87)

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ditioning phase and rinse it through. There also deshedding products available from several manufacturers. Good products, good water pressure and a powerful dryer will enable the groomer to work out nearly any double coat. Clipping the underbelly and underchest can help a thick-coated dog cool off without damaging the coat. The rear end and

July / September 2018

forechest can be trimmed with a snapon comb to further lighten the look and feel of the coat without risking coat damage, coat alteration or poor regrowth. Air can move through the coat, the dog can cool off by laying on a cool surface, and you have achieved a trimmed up “summarized” appearance. Win-Win!

Listen to Barbara Bird and Susy the Groomer eGroomer Journal Copyright © 2011 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved www.thegroompod.com PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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REFERENCES AND FURTHER READINGS FOR ARTICLE: TO CLIP OR NOT TO CLIP (Starts Page 77) 1. 2. 3.

Structure and Function of the Skin and Hair Coat in Dogs, Virginia Wells, www.petplace.com. Hair Length and Temperature Tolerance, Robert Jay Russell, Ph.D, Web Article, May 1997. http://www.lgd.org/library/hairlength.htm. Sunburn in Dogs: An Overview, author unknown, http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Dog-Health-Center/Skin-Disorders/Sunburn/ Overview.aspx 4. Temperature Adaptation in Northern Dogs, Ted Greenlee, Northern Dog News, March 1971. 5. Hair Today Gone Tomorrow, Dr. Linda Frank, Seminar Notes March, 2007, http://www.pomeraniancharitabletrust.org/5022/5064.html Note: An overview of canine alopecia by a key scientist in the field, written in a less technical style than her scholarly works. 6. Post Clipping Alopecia, McKeever Veterinary Dermatology Clinic, Eden Prairie, MN, online library, www.mckeevervetderm.com/8701.html. 7. Alopecia X, Linda A. Frank, MS, DVM, Diplomate ACVD, Presentation to the Australian College of Veterinary Dermatology, July 2011, ANZCVS Dermatology Chapter Proceedings 2011. 8. Recoated Pomeranian. A pictorial review of an alopecic Pomeranian restored to good coat by a groomer. Method including daily scrubbing of the skin. http://www.pomeraniancharitabletrust.org/5022/18991.html. 9. Bay Area Rescue Keeshonden www.keeshonrescue.org. “They need their thick coats to protect their skin. A clipped coat mats more quickly and is more easily damaged. Keeshonden are also prone to a condition called "post-clipping alopecia," which can happen any time a Keeshond is clipped. Veterinary dermatologists advise that this breed should be clipped only for medical reasons.” 10. South Florida Siberian Husky Rescue, http://www.sibrescue.com/tip-shave.html “Shaving the dog does nothing to keep the dog cool. It just makes the human feel better when looking at the coated dog. The Siberian Husky has little to no pigmentation in its skin. If you shave the Husky, you expose it to the sun without protection. Now you have a dog that can come up with a variety of skin problems including skin cancer.” ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND READING ABOUT HAIR LOSS Alopecia X, http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_alopecia_x.html. Categorizes Post Clipping Alopecia under Alopecia X. Understanding Coat Funk, Daitsch, Vicki, PhD, www.malamutehealth.org, 2004. http://www.malamutehealth.org/articles/cf_understanding.htm Lack of Hair Growth in Dogs, Dr. Rosanna Marsalla, PetPlace.com. http://www.petplace.com/dogs/lack-of-hair-growth-in-dogs/page1.aspx. Note: A good explanation of factors which affect hair growth. Black Skin Disease, Pomeranian Club of Canada, www.pcoc.net/black-skin-disease.htm. Note: An overview of the disorder and reporting of several protocols that have successfully recoated affected Poms. ABOUT HAIR Hair-science.com. Note: Outstanding graphics and clear explanations of the structure and growth cycle of human hair. Exogen, Shedding Phase of the Hair Growth Cycle: Characterization of a Mouse Model, Milner, Yoram, et al, Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2002) 119, 639–644; doi:10.1046/j.1523-1747.2002.01842.x Note: First report describing a distinct shedding phase of the hair cycle, named exogen.“ Teloptosis and Kenogen: Two new concepts in human trichology. Arch Dermatol. 2004 May; 140(5):619-20 http://www.hairsite.com/hair-loss/board_entry-id-32593-page-1-order-qty-category-1.html Note: Far from being pushed off by the underlying new anagen hair, as quite simplistically thought before, the teloptotic hair is the result of the loss of adhesion between cells of the club hair and those of its epithelial envelope. The canine hair cycle – a guide for the assessment of morphological and immunohistochemical criteria Tabitha Müntener, Marcus G. Doherr, Franco Guscetti, Maja M. Suter, Monika M. Welle, Veterinary Dermatology, Volume 22, Issue 5, pages 383–395, October 2011 Stenn, K. S., and R. Paus. Controls of Hair Follicle Cycling. Physiol Rev 81: 449–494, 2001. Note: A seminal work on the description of the hair growth cycle and its study. From Telogen to Exogen: Mechanisms Underlying Formation and Subsequent Loss of the Hair Club Fiber, Claire A Higgins, Gillian E Westgate and Colin A B Jahoda Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2009) 129, 2100–2108; doi:10.1038/jid.2009.66; http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v129/n9/full/jid200966a.html Note: This very technical article gives credence to the notion that both telogen and exogen phases have distinct early and late stages, and gives an intricate insight into the shedding process. Epithelial stem cells in the hair follicle bulge contribute skin epidermal cells during wound healing (Ito et al., Nature Medicine 2005). Ito M, Liu Y, Yang Z, Nguyen J, Liang F, Morris R, Cotsarelis G . Nature Medicine 2005; 11:1351-1354. PMID: 16288281 Note: This study demonstrated that epithelial bulge cells, which are responsible for hair follicle renewal during the hair cycle, significantly contribute to skin wound healing. This study also demonstrated that epithelial bulge cells are required for hair follicle renewal but not for skin epidermis under normal homeostatic conditions. Factors that control hair follicle cycling, Desmond J. Tobin BSc., PhD., FRCPath., FSB. Centre for Skin Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, Great Britain. Note: We know that hair becomes increasingly telogenic with age. Mechanism That Controls Activation Of Stem Cells During Hair Regeneration Identified. University of Southern California. "ScienceDaily, 16 Jan. 2008. Web. 13 May 2012. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080116135214.htm. Note: The findings suggest that hair stem cells are regulated not only by the micro-environment within one hair follicle -- as has previously been thought -- but also by adjacent hair follicles, other skin compartments and systemic hormones, in a hierarchical order. New Treatments for Baldness? Scientists Find Stem Cells That Tell Hair It's Time to Grow, ScienceDaily (Sep. 1, 2011), http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110901134641.htm. Note: The researchers identified stem cells within the skin's fatty layer and showed that molecular signals from these cells were necessary to spur hair growth in mice, according to research published in the Sept. 2 issue of the journal Cell. ▀

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What We Know and Don’t Know About Canine Hair Growth by Barbara Bird, CMG Classic Reprint from 2012 eGroomer Jouranl

We know that hair goes through four curs when the hair exits the follicle and stages: During anagen or growth phase the matrix begins to prepare for new the hair is attached to the dermal pagrowth to occur. pilla, the source of growth. This stage Although the exact mechanism for sighas different durations, depending upon naling new hair growth, from telogen to breed and coat type. In studying mouse anagen and transition from anagen to hair, scientists have identified eight subcatagen stages has not been scientifistages of anagen. The catagen phase is cally unlocked, scientists now know that characterized by the detachment of the the hair follicle contains stem cells hair from the matrix that created it. The which migrate from a location part way inner sheath closes around the bottom up the hair follicle, called the “bulge”, to of the hair shaft forming a club hair. the lower region where they engage the This hair bulb is often visible to the nadermal papilla and form the hair matrix ked eye. An interesting feature of the that generates a new hair shaft. Ancatagen phase is the phenomenon of other interesting fact about hair follicle apoptosis or cell death. This is virtually stem cells is that they migrate not only cellular suicide, and is part of the deup and down the hair follicle and dertachment process. As the hair shaft demis, but onto the surface of the skin as taches from the growth matrix and derwell. It is thought that these traveling mal papilla, it moves upward to a final stem cells participate in wound healing resting place closer to the surface of of the skin. the skin. The hair then enters the teThe exact mechanism of communicalogen or resting phase, where neither tion and signaling that is required for growth nor apoptosis occurs. The final (Continued on89 page 91) stageeGroomer is exogen, which ocJournal or shedding, Copyright © 2011 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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July / September 2018

the dermal papilla to grow a new hair shaft has not been identified; scientists have identified several factors in this process. The good news is that there is considerable interest in unlocking this mystery, as it has implications for other organ regeneration.

begin a new anagen (growth) phase? When we clip the coat short, do we somehow risk short-circuiting the growth cycle signaling system? This question cannot be answered until scientists come up with more information regarding the growth signal.

DNA programs hair growth. In undercoated breeds of dogs, such as Husky, Malamute, Chow Chow, Pomeranian, the secondary hairs that form the soft undercoat have a rapid often seasonal growth and shedding pattern, whereas the primary hairs are slow growing and have an extended telogen resting phase.

Although groomers have noted instances where a clipped coat grows back with a very different texture, with either the undercoat or guard hairs being wiry or even kinky, there is no literature identifying or discussing this phenomenon. Nor does there seem to have been any scientific study of the alterations that happen following clipping of the harsh-coated terrier. It is possible that the study of re-growth of clipped terrier coat might shed some light on the changes in Nordic breed coats.

We know that hair (Northern breeds) sheds (exogen/telopsis phase) partly in response to changes in environmental light and temperature. But we do not know the nature of the signaling mechanism. And we do not know what signals a new hair to grow. Dogs with Post-Clipping Alopecia, or Hair Cycle Disorder, sometimes seem to go through an extended kenogen or empty follicle stage, as well as an extended telogen or resting phase. Does the hair coat itself play some role in the transmission of signals to the hair follicle to eGroomer Journal

One thing that appears with terrier coats is that clipping alters the ratio of guard hairs to primary hairs, part of which is responsible for the dilution of color and loss of texture in coats that are clipped. This may also happen when clipping coats of Nordic breeds, especially after repeated clipping, or clipping again before the coat has been (Continued on page 92)

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thoroughly replaced. When we clip a Siberian Husky, Chow Chow or Malamute on an once-or-twice-a year basis, we may be interrupting the reestablishment of the normal hair cycling. These coats are not genetically programmed to completely replace themselves year after year. When we take an altered coat and clip it again, do we further throw it out of balance? Just asking! There is no scientific indication that simply removing older telogen hairs does anything to promote hair growth. The groomers’ notion that the old hair somehow blocks the hair follicle and prevents new hair from sprouting is not held up by the findings on hair growth. Departure of old hair is not a signal factor for initiation of anagen phase or new hair.

July / September 2018

Barbara Bird, aka BBird, has been grooming since 1971 and opened Transformation Pet Center in Tucson, Arizona in 1977. In the salon, BBird specializes in Bichons and scissored trims, hand stripping of Terriers, and cat grooming. She has been writing and speaking to groomers for over a decade, and received the Cardinal Crystal Achievement Award as Grooming Journalist of the Year for 2006 and 2007. A regular contributor to Pet Age magazine, Barbara also writes for The Bichon Frise Reporter. She has authored and self-published three books, including Beyond Suds and Scent Understanding Pet Shampoos and Conditioners. She has also developed a line of aromatherapy products, The Scented Groomer. Listen to Barbara Bird and Susy the Groomer on The GroomPod podcast at www.thegroompod.com. Visit her website www.bbird.biz.

In fact the previous notion that a new growing hair somehow pushes up the old hair and forces it to shed has been disputed by more recent findings that new hair grows parallel to old and is independent. Also, the current understanding of shedding as a distinct phase, exogen, that has its own signal mechanism contradicts this old theory. Copyright © 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved ▀ 92 PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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Balance Your Groomer Compensation You’ve Never Seen the Numbers This Way

We have published several articles on W-2 and IC forms of compensation for the problematic issue of independent groomers, and employers. Is it true that contractor (IC) classification in the past. an IC groomer working the same hours, Now it is time to go where no grooming grooming the same pets, same services authors one have gone before. This and same commission as an employee study does not address classification er- is likely to earn less net pay? Is it true rors. Instead this article is a wake-up that an IC groomer renting a work sta(Continued on page 95) call94about the financial impact of both Copyright © 2013 Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved Subscribe www.egroomer.com PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com Subscribe Free

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tion, grooming the same pets at the same service fees and working the same hours actually makes nearly twice the personal net income as an IC groomer not renting a station? Yes. We have the numbers to open eyes wide. Introducing three groomers, Laura, Dan and Meg. 1. Laura is an IC groomer working on 50% commission from her employer. Her grooming performance skills are the same as Dan and Meg. 2. Dan is an employed groomer (W-2), and again, his grooming performance skills are equal to Laura and Meg. Dan grooms his employer’s clients. 3. Meg is an IC. She is only willing to rent work station in pet business in order to operate her business. Meg solely grooms her clientele, and not the clientele owned by an employer. This difference is key to her being more accurately classified as an IC. Laura primarily grooms clients of her employer who ask for her services. They are not legally her clientele. One final reminder, Meg’s grooming skills are equal to Dan and Laura.

July / September 2018

Today there are thousands of Laura’s and Dan’s in the United States. Hiring trends of the last 10 years have turned more and more Dan’s into Laura’s. Large numbers of W-2 employed status groomers are now IC groomers like Laura, usually not by their choice. Few corporate stores hire IC’s bucking the trend. Independents created this trend. Does it make you wonder why the corporate world bucks it? Is this state of employment for the grooming industry good or bad? Our answer would simply be an opinion, and your opinion is more important. Instead we prefer to let the numbers tell their story. Done fairly, numbers do not lie and avoid opinion. Refer to Table 1 on the following page. Laura’s (IC) numbers are shown in the top half of Table 1. She produces $70,000 annual gross sales of grooming services for her employer, and gets 50% or $35,000 a year. Annually her employer sends the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) a 1099-MISC reporting the income paid to her. There are no payroll deductions. Laura reports the $35,000 on her Schedule C filed with the IRS. (Continued on page 98)

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She deducts operating expenses of $4,000 lowering her taxable income to $31,000. On a Schedule SE (SE is an abbreviation for “self-employment”) Laura pays 15.3% FICA/Medicare taxes on the $31,000, or $4,743. Why is her Federal SE nearly $4,800? Employees pay 7.65% of their gross wages for FICA/Medicare. Laura is not a W-2 employee, and IC’s pay two shares, their self-employment share (7.65%) and their share at 7.65%, total 15.3%. Laura is left with $26,257 from the $35,000. She must still pay federal and state income taxes. In some US states there are state and local taxes assessed on self-employed (IC). Those taxes would lower her bottom line even further. There are thousands of Laura’s in the industry paying taxes as shown in Table 1. What if they were W-2 employees? The bottom half of Table 1 represents this scenario. Dan grooms the same pets earning the same 50% commission rate as Laura. Dan is a W-2 employee. What happens to Dan’s $35,000?

July / September 2018

with payroll tax deductions. Table 1 shows his deduction of 7.65% for FICA / Medicare. His employer pays the other 7.65% share, not Dan. He is provided worker’s compensation at no charge, as well as unemployment coverage. To compare Dan fairly with Laura we have not deducted federal or state income taxes for Dan, as well as Laura. What is the result? Dan’s $35,000 is reduced by $2,677.50 for his share of FICA / Medicare. His adjusted total is $32,322.50 (prior federal and state income taxes). Compare that to Laura’s $26,257. Grooming the same pets and the same work schedule Dan’s bottom line is $6,065.50 greater than Laura. She has no worker’s compensation coverage and no unemployment security. Why does Laura make so much less? The answer is simple. Laura is self-employed (IC) and pays self-employment taxes, and another $4,000 for business operating expenses. (Continued on page 99)

Unlike Laura, Dan is not a business (IC) and takes no deductions for business expenses. He receives a payroll check 98

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There is more to Laura’s fate. She must maintain daily records of income and expenses which may be audited. She needs business insurance, and must inventory and order supplies. Laura must maintain business licenses and advertising. Laura has daily client duties such as appointment scheduling and reminders. Do you know how many tax forms a business owner must file every year? Many. Laura manages a business checking account and reports financial activity on quarterly and annual basis.

July / September 2018

Dan grooms full-time (2,080 hours a year) the same as Laura. Unlike Laura, When Dan finishes grooming he is done for the day. The bottom line for Laura is this. All of her self-employment extra tasks and expenses doesn’t add up to a better financial bottom line. In fact, her personal net income is thousands less than Dan. Not all, but most major and growing chain stores hire Dan’s, not Laura’s. Why do you think that is? Table 1 has made clear the imbalance (Continued on page 103)

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between the Dan’s and Laura’s of the grooming industry today. Next, Table 2 explores one reason for the tilted scale. Financially there is a steep advantage for employers to hire “Laura’s.” Refer to Table 2. Laura’s numbers are in the middle of the table earning $35,000 from 50% commission. Her employer simply writes a check for the amount without payroll deductions since she is not a W-2 employee. Her employer pays no worker’s compensation or coverage for unemployment, and any other state and local payroll taxes. At the bottom of Table 2 we examine the cost to her employer if Laura was classified a W-2 employee. Additional costs for her employer are $5,849.50 on top of her $35,000 gross wages. Saving nearly $6,000 a year per “Laura” is a major financial advantage for any employer. The financial misfortune for Laura is serious. She does not have to pay the entire $5,849.50 saved by her IC employer. She is liable for a second share of $2,677.50 for FICA / Medicare normally paid by W-2 employers. Her $4,000 deduction for operating expenses reduces her two shares to $2,371.50 each, or a total of $4,743 eGroomer Journal

July / September 2018

(see Table 1). Dan the W-2 employee pays a fraction of that and did not spend $4,000 on operating expenses. For this reason alone the employers of Laura’s come out way ahead by hiring IC’s, and transferring their employer tax burdens to their Laura’s. The numbers make it clear. Hiring IC groomers is to the advantage of employers who find groomers willing to accept the burden and make less than if they were “Dan’s,” (W-2 employees). The Really Big Question Hundreds of groomers have asked us what recourse they have if they do not want to be a Laura-type IC groomer when they cannot find a W-2 position. The answer is simple. Negotiate your commission rate! Of course the next really big question is, “How much?” If this describes your predicament the financial method shown in Table 3 will reign supreme. We can better balance the scale between Laura and Dan by fairly increasing Laura’s IC commission rate above 50% yet retain some savings to help appease IC employers.

(Continued on page 105)

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The bottom half of Table 3 are figures for Dan from Table 1. The top of Table 3 is Laura earning 60% commission, not 50%. Look what happens. Her gross is $42,000, no longer $35,000. She still deducts $4,000 for her operating costs, and then figures her double share of Federal SE taxes. The red-shaded fields compare adjusted incomes of Laura and Dan. Laura is no longer at $26,257 (see Table 1). Instead, she is now at $32,186 from 60% commission. Dan remains at $32,322.50 or nearly the same as Laura. Our compensation scale

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July / September 2018

is essentially balanced between the two. Our answer to the really big question is this. A 60% IC commission will generally compensate IC groomers for the extra tax burdens of self-employment. The continue to lack unemployment security and worker’s compensation coverage. Dan has it best. Laura’s employer retains financial advantages even at 60% commission. There is no unemployment and worker’s compensation coverage for them to pay. (Continued on page 107)

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IC’s offered 50% should target 60% and purchase self-employment insurance covering worker’s compensation (or an alternative), and loss of income should they not be able to work. IC employers and IC groomers should have business liability insurance covering both sides of their working relationship. What About Meg the Groomer Meg rocks. Very few groomers are aware why. We have the financial proof to explain why (see Table 4). “Meg’s” are the most likely to hold up to scrutiny by the IRS determining if their independent contractor status is proper. In our opinion, most Laura’s are not. Refer to articles on IC classification in the archives of PetGroomer.com Magazine to know why.

July / September 2018

Meg works the same hours grooming as both Laura and Dan. Grooming the same pets we have assumed she generates the same sales income of $70,000 a year as Laura, but Laura was paid 50% commission of that amount, or $35,000. Meg stands out, she keeps the entire $70,000. Meg pays rent for a work station in a pet business, which may be a grooming business, or day care, boarding facility or veterinary clinic. Where does her $70,000 go? Table 4 is all about Meg and her selfemployment finances. First, Meg pays $200 a week for a work station, or $10,400 a year. Second, Meg accounts for $4,000 a year (same as Laura) for other operating expenses.

(Continued on page 109)

A 60% IC commission will generally compensate IC groomers for the extra payroll tax burdens of selfemployment. It will not compensate them for having no coverage for unemployment or worker’s compensation provided by W-2 employers. eGroomer Journal

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Once you deduct these expenses Meg adjusted self-employment gross income is $55,600. Because she is an IC she pays 2 shares of FICA / Medicare, same as Laura, or $8,506.80. Her bottom line prior federal and state income taxes is $47,093.20 a year. Now wait a minute! Meg is grooming the same pets as Laura and Dan. Meg is working the same grooming hours as both, and all generate $70,000 gross sales before commission deductions. In Table 1, Laura’s similar bottom line was $26,257 and Dan’s $32,322.50. Holy Bichon! Meg does indeed rock at $47,093.20. Like Laura, Meg as an IC needs to pay for insurance for loss of income and worker’s compensation or alternative. Because Meg is about $21,000 ahead of Laura, Meg won’t blink.

July / September 2018

many thousands of work station rentals, why not grooming? The IRS publishes a special flyer for the hairstyling industry (download at their website) stating that hairstylists renting stations can be legal IC’s. By the way it does not make it sound like Laura meets the qualifications stated in the flyer. Remember state laws can override IRS IC regulations, study both federal and state laws before investing in IC self -employment. We prepared Table 5 as a summary of the conclusions of this article. We hope we are sending out a wake-up call to thousands of groomers to explore better compensation for the hard work they perform as pet groomers. ■

Meg does not have employer, she is commercial renter. Pet business owners advertise work station rentals in the Classified Ads at PetGroomer.com but there numbers are not large. We hope to see more. Perhaps there would be if more groomers understood the state of compensation presented in this article. The hairstyling world for people has eGroomer Journal

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BOW, POLISH, COLOGNE ♦ PetEdge ♦ Groomers Choice ♦ Double K Industries ♦ Quadruped Pet Care Products Bandanas Unlimited Bardel Bows Showseason & Naturals Paws Brothers Fancy Finishes (Ryans)

BRUSH, COMB, DESHED ♦ PetEdge Master Grooming Tools ♦ Groomer’s Choice SureGrip Tools WAHL Clipper Corporation Paw Brothers (Ryans)

CAGES & ACCESSORIES ♦ PetEdge ProSelect Cages ♦ Groomer’s Choice DuraDog Cages Paw Brothers Professional (Ryans) Snyder Mfg. Co. Groomers Best Inc. Grooming Safety by Jessica

CLIPPER VACUUM ♦ Metro Air Force® Dryers WAHL Clipper Corporation eGroomer Journal

SUPPLIERS

♦ PetEdge Master Equipment Dryers ♦ Double K Industries ♦ Metro Air Force® Dryers WAHL Clipper Corporation Snyder Mfg. Co.

PET ORAL HYGIENE ♦ PetEdge Top Performance ProDental Paw Brothers (Ryans)

SUPPLIERS CATALOG & ONLINE ♦ PetEdge ♦ Groomers Choice Pet Products Shampoo Lady Grooming Supplies Ryan’s Pet Supplies King Wholesale Grooming Supplies

AIR QUALITY & SANITATION ♦ PetAirapy ♦ Air Oasis Animal Air Purifier

SCISSORS & SHEARS ♦ PetEdge Master Grooming Tools ♦ Groomers Choice Monk Colors Paw Brothers, Perfect Groom Comfort Sharp, PremiumSatin Tattoo Shears by Value Groom Perfect Groom (Ryans) Grooming Safety by Jessica

SHAMPOO & SPA ♦ PetEdge ♦ Double K Industries ♦ Groomer’s Choice Pet Products ♦ Quadruped Pet Care WAHL Clipper Corporation Showseason Products Naturals Products Desert Sudz, Perfect Groom Mat Magic (Ryans) Best Shot® Pet Products Espree® Products

TABLES & ACCESSORIES ♦ PetEdge Master Equipment Tables ♦ Groomer’s Choice DuraDog Tables Groomers Best Inc. Paw Brothers Professional (Ryans) Grooming Safety by Jessica

TUBS & ACCESSORIES ♦ PetEdge Master Equipment Tubs ♦ Groomer’s Choice DuraDog Tubs Poly Pet Tubs Paw Brothers Professional (Ryans) DogTubs.com Groomers Best Inc. Grooming Safety by Jessica

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MOBILE / SERVICES / SOFTWARE / HOME STUDY ASSOCIATIONS

FINANCING

World Pet Association / SuperZoo Nat’l Dog Groomers Assn. of America Int’l Society of Canine Cosmetologists

HOME STUDY BOOKS, DVDs, STREAMING MEDIA and WEBINARS

Full Circle Finance LLC

INSURANCE Governor Insurance Pet Care Insurance

CONSULTANTS Golden Paws School Consultation Groomadog Consultants Animal Photography Grooming Business in a Box®

DISTRIBUTORSHIPS LICENSING & FRANCHISE Golden Paws Schools Puparazzi Mobile Franchise

EMPLOYMENT-JOBS ♦ PETCO Groomer Employment GroomerNetwork.com Employment Assistance - Employers & Groomers Kriser’s Stores Groomer Employment Pet Life Store Groomer Employment Especially for Pets Employment Pet Supplies Plus Employment Pet Valu Groomer Employment Wilco Stores Groomer Employment

SHARPENING & REPAIR ♦ Groomers Choice Pet Products Groomers Best, Inc. Ryan’s Pet Supplies Northern Tails Sharpening

SOFTWARE & FORMS Groomsoft Groomer Software Shake Your Tail Pet Manage. Software PetLinx Software Grooming Business in a Box®

TRADE EVENTS ♦ Barkleigh Productions Super Styling Sessions Intergroom Trade Show SuperZoo Trade Show Atlanta Pet Fair U.S. Pet Pro Classic (see ISCC) IBPSA Pet Care Conference See also “Associations” top left of page

♦ All About Dog Grooming ♦ Learn2GroomDogs.com Streaming ♦ Paragon School Distance Learning ♦ JKL Pet Grooming School Golden Paws Distance Learning Jodi Murphy Instructional DVDs Mobile Grooming Book Jodi Murphy Dog Grooming Simplified Jodi Murphy Super Styling Sessions DVDs Groomadog Academy Home Study Practical Guide to House-Call Grooming The Groom Pod (Podcasts) Grooming Business in a Box® -Pet Grooming Business Plan Helper -Floor Plan Concepts for Pet Groomers -Pet Groomer Wage Systems -Pet Groomer Business Forms & Make Your Own Appointment Books

MOBILE GROOMING ♦ Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions Tag Along Mobile Pet Salons Puparazzi Mobile Franchise GoMobile Conversions Mobile Grooming Book - Jodi Murphy

PetGroomer.com Sponsors See also the PetGroomer.com Resources Buyer’s Guide www.petgroomerforums.com

Support GroomTeam USA www.groomteamusa.com

112

A to Z List of Sponsors Except On-Site Schools

Call 800-556-5131 or 360-446-5348

Air Oasis Animal Air Purifier www.dog-groomer-air-purifier.com All About Dog Grooming www.learntogroom.com Atlanta Pet Fair www.atlantapetfair.org Aussie Pet Mobile www.aussiepetmobile.com Bandanas Unlimited www.bandanasunlimited.com Bardel Bows & Finishing Touches www.bardelbows.com Barkleigh Productions www.barkleigh.com Best Shot® Pet Products www.bestshotpet.com DogTubs.com www.dogtubs.com Double K Industries www.doublekindustries.com Especially for Pets Groomer Employment www.especiallyforpets.com Espree Products www.espree.com Full Circle Finance LLC www.fullcirclellc.us Golden Paws School Consultants www.goldenpaws.com GoMobile Conversions www.gomobileconversions.com GroomerNetwork.com Employment Help www.groomernetwork.com Groomers Best, Inc. www.groomersbest.com Groomers Choice Pet Products www.groomerschoice.com Groomers Helper www.groomershelper.com Grooming Business in a Box® www.groomingbusinessinabox.com Grooming Safety by Jessica www.groomingsafetybyjessica.com Groomsoft Groomer Software www.groomsoft.com Intergroom Trade Show www.intergroom.com Int’l Society of Canine Cosmetologists www.petstylist.com JKL Pet Grooming School www.jklgrooming.com Jodi Murphy DVDs, Books, Apparel www.jodimurphy.net King Wholesale Grooming Supplies www.kingwholesale.com Kriser’s Stores Groomer Employment www.krisers.com Learn2GroomDogs.com www.learn2groomdogs.com ® Metro Air Force Dryers www.dogdryer.com National Dog Groomers Association www.nationaldoggroomers.com Northern Tails Sharpening www.northerntails.com Pet Care Insurance www.petcareins.com Pet Life Stores Groomer Employment www.petlifestores.com Pet Supplies Plus Groomer Employment www.petsuppliesplus.com Pet Valu Groomer Employment us.petvalu.com Petairapy www.petairapy.com Petco Employment www.petco.com PetEdge Grooming Supplies www.petedge.com PetLinx Software www.petlinx.com Poly Pet-Tubs www.pettubs.com Practical Guide to House-Call Grooming www.apracticalguidetohousecallgrooming.com Puparazzi Mobile Franchise Opportunity www.groomall.com Quadruped Pet Care Products www.quadrupedpetcare.com Retro Stylist Wear Quality Apparel www.retrostylistwear.com Ryan’s Pet Supplies www.ryanspet.com Shake Your Tail Pet Management Software www.shakeyourtail.com Shampoo Lady Grooming Supplies www.shampoolady.com Showseason & Naturals Products www.showseasonproducts.com Snyder Mfg. Co. www.snydermfg.com Super Styling Sessions DVDs & Seminars www.caninegroomingsecrets.com SuperZoo www.superzoo.org Tag Along Mobile Pet Salons www.mobilegroomingtrailersforsale.com Journal Conversions Copyright © 2011 www.wagntails.com Find A Groomer Inc. All rights reserved Wag’n eGroomer Tails Mobile WAHL Clipper Corporation www.wahlanimal.com Wilco Stores Groomer Employment www.wilco.coop

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SCHOOLS OF PET GROOMING - ON-SITE TRAINING DIAMOND LEVEL SPONSORS

Paragon Pet Grooming School (Michigan) PLATINUM PLUS LEVEL SPONSORS

Golden Paws School (Texas) Clip Shoppe School of Dog Grooming (New Jersey) Groomer Training Center (JKL Classroom Associate) (Pennsylvania) Merryfield School of Pet Grooming (Florida) Groomadog Academy (South Carolina) American Grooming Academy (California) Dog Spa Academy—NASH Approved (New Jersey) Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (Palm Desert, California) Healthy Spot Styling Academy (California) Pet’s Playground Grooming School (Florida) Dog Grooming School of Pennsylvania PLATINUM LEVEL SPONSORS

Michigan School of K9 Cosmetology Nanhall Professional School of Grooming (North Carolina) Texas Allbreed Grooming School GOLD PLUS LEVEL 1 SPONSORS Canine Clippers Grooming School (VA) 114

Cindy’s Canine Companions Grooming Classes (PA)

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It’s commonly known that all brands of A-5 blades fit any brand of A-5 clippers. What is not commonly known relates to blade sizes. Most brands Journal of A-5 blades have similar sizes, but how they perform varies. differences in order to avoid eGroomer January / March 2014 115Manufacturers must use designPetGroomer.com Publications patent and copyright infringement. The most common difference between brands is the blade thickness. Similar manufacturer sizes may cut at different heights. You could be in for a surprise if you change brands of the same size blade only to discover the cut is different! For your convenience Jeff at Northern Tails Sharpening prepared the multiple manufacturer reference charts below for blades and snap-ons. Be sure to check Jeff’s web site at www.northerntails.com for helpful articles, videos and descriptions of his mail-in sharpening services serving groomers everywhere. ♦

Clipper Blade Cutting Heights by Manufacturer BLADE SIZE

BLADE CUT

MASTER GRM.TOOLS

LAUBE

WAHL

KLEAN CUT

OSTER

ANDIS

Inches

1/125

0.2

0.5

0.2

1/100

0.3

0.6

0.1

0.3

3/50

—

0.4

1/50

0.5

0.8

0.2

0.5

3/64

1.2

1.0

1.3

1.0

1.2

1/16

1.6

1.5

1.8

1.5/1.6

1.0

1.5

10W

3/32

2.4

—

5/64

2.0

1.5

1.0/2.0

2.0

8.5

7/64

2.8

—

2.0

2.8

1/8

3.2

4.0

3.2

3.0

3.2

1/4

6.4

6.0

6.3

6.0

6.3

3/8

9.5

9.6

8.0

9.5

9.0

9.5

1/2

12.7

13.0

10.0

12.0

13.0

12.0

5/8HT

5/8

15.9

16.0

—

16.0

3/4HT

3/4

—

19.0

T-84

3/16

—

2.4

Snap-On Comb Sizes & Cut Lengths by Manufacturer COMB SIZE

LAUBE SELF ADJ & X-LARGE

WAHL STAINLESS STEEL

MDC ROMANI

OSTER UNIVERSAL

MILLERS FORGE

Inches

1/16

1/8

1/4

1/2

3/4

9/16

1/2 3/4

3/4 0

7/8

5/8

1/2

5/8

1 1/4

1 1/4 1 1/2

1/2

3/8

5/16

3/16

3/8

7/16

1/2

3/8

5/16

1/4

3/16

1/16

1/8

1/16

3/4

1 1/4

1 1/2

PetGroomer.com Magazine www.petgroomermagazine.com

1 3/4

eGroomer Journal 1 5/8Subscribe Free S www.egroomer.com

7/8 1

Charts courtesy of Northern Tails Sharpening 251-232-5353 www.northerntails.com

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