Groomer to Groomer March 2015

“THE GROOMING INDUSTRY’S TRADE MAGAZINE!”

VOL. 34 ED. 3 • MARCH 2015

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INDUSTRY FOREFATHERS

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GroomertoGroomer.com 5Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 3 • March 2015

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

EDITORIAL STAFF

COLUMNISTS

Kathy Rose

Bonnie Wonders

Missi Salzberg

Teri DiMarino

Kathy Hosler

Dawn Omboy

Gary Wilkes

Mary Oquendo

Daryl Conner

ALSO INSIDE

INDUSTRY FOREFATHERS

PAGE 8 by Teri DiMarino

The Client From Yelp! 6

How to Identify a Healthy Pet 16

Wilkes: Above and Beyond the Call of Grooming 28

Oquendo: Effective Communication 38

Omboy: The Scarf 42

Northwest Grooming Show 44

Low Stress Drying Procedures 48

When Accidents Happen 56

New Products/Industry News 63

Calendar of Events 64

Classifieds 65 PAGE 34 by Kathy Hosler

ON THE COVER:.Lori Craig, winner of the Groomer to Groomer Creative Styling People’s Choice Award at Groom Expo 2014.

OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG SHORT PET TRIM

PAGE 60

CONTENTS | MARCH 2015

EDITOR/PRESIDENT

Todd Shelly [email protected]

ASSISTANT EDITOR Gwen Shelly [email protected]

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

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MANAGING EDITOR Rebecca Shipman [email protected]

ART DIRECTOR

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400 Color Photos Of Real Dogs.

This Full Line of Jodi Murphy

Products Available Now at

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INSTRUCTIONAL SERIES

Unique Color

Diagrams of All

Breeds with

Recommended

Tools and

Techiniques

to Simplify the

Learning Process!

Three Basic Pattern Groups explained in detail to ‘Simplify’ the learning process: Setter-Like, Terrier-Like & Sculpted Body Patterns

Color diagrams of all breeds with recommended tools and techniques for easy pattern placement.

A simplified approach in teaching correct pattern placementcompiled by world renowned Master Groomer Jodi Murphy.

Jodi has been well respected as an educator in the grooming industry for many years. She was ranked one of the top pet stylists in the world, winning countless titles including World Grand Champion and Best American Groomer. Jodi is here to share her knowledge in this extraordinary grooming book.

With over 190 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club along with individual breed-specific grooming instructions, it can become very overwhelming for groomers to retain the information. “Straight to the Point” is the solution to understanding pattern lines, which simplifies the learning process.

Whether the patterns are set tight, left more natural or scissored . . . they are set in the same fashion. Once a groomer understands basic patterns and canine structure, he or she will be able to groom any breed with ease.

With over 400 beautiful color images, including some of the top winning show dogs in the country, groomers will be able to see proper pattern placement on real dogs. These fabulous photos can be used as a reference that will facilitate in executing a perfect pet trim.

A pet dog does not have to be groomed using “show” techniques, i.e., hand stripping, to present the proper breed profile. With proper pattern placement and techniques described in this text, the groomer will be able to present a well-balanced, well-blended pet trim to the pet owner.

GROOMING APPAREL

®

Cover designed by www.supradesign.net

“Jodi has such a great easy-to-learn-from style, this book is an excellent complement

to my library!” -Anna (Australia)

Dog Grooming

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All Jodi Murphy products including the Instructional DVD Series can be ordered online at www.jodimurphy.net


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Compiled by World Renowned Master Groomer Jodi Murphy.

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GroomertoGroomer.com6 Groomer to Groomer • Vol 34 Ed 3 • March 2015

E by Jill Pipino e

“M y groomer hates me, she told me so!” This was the

introduction I received as a man, his wife and their dog barreled through my salon door one morning. I blinked at them, surprised, so many thoughts racing through my head at once. Why did their groomer hate them? Who was their groomer? Could I find out and call them, ask some questions and prepare myself for this situation I was about to be knee deep in?

I finally collected myself, and said “excuse me?” The wife repeated that their last groomer hated them, she didn’t know why. The groomer told her they were her worst client, out of all her clients.

How could they think that this was a good first impression? While she was shouting at how beautiful the dogs we were working on were, I started to feel relief. We switch new clients back and forth, I got the last new client - this gem was going to Cassie. I started

relaxing, asking her questions, getting zany, unhelpful answers that were peppered with stories of why their groomer hated them. Then the dreaded words, “Is Jill here, she has great reviews on Yelp, that is who we want, Is that you? That is who we want.” One sentence, no breaths, no pauses. Full of panic, I wanted to reply “Amanda, Yolanda, Jeff! Anybody else, anybody but me, why Yelp, why!” But I didn’t. I straightened my spine and told them I was indeed the groomer they were looking for. And silently cursed that glorious review.

When the day of their appoint-ment finally came, I told myself to grow up, that these people were prob-ably perfectly nice, just quirky. I am quirky, we might balance each other out. Every question I asked about the dog’s grooming was answered with “Well, our last groomer, the one that hated us…” I could not win, no questions led to fruitful answers, I was so lost. Every trick I used to teach

students to extract grooming informa-tion out of clients had failed. My jokes went unacknowledged, my confidence plummeted. The appointment itself was uneventful. She was a nice little dog, easy haircut.

When they picked up, I asked if they liked the haircut. They asked if they could come back. I felt bad for them, their former groomer, and me! I resolved to make their next appoint-ment one where they know they are welcome. I will eventually figure out what they want haircut wise. But for now, I think they just need to feel ac-cepted. I have been extremely blessed with amazing clients that love me, love their pets, and appreciate the effort I put forth.

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R ecently, someone referred to me as an “industry old timer.” I wonder when, and

how, I had become an “old timer.” Silly as it sounds, I still feel like a newbie in some areas. My first certification was back sometime in the early 1980’s with Professional Pet Groomers Certification (PPGC); the International Professional Groomers (IPG) predecessor, and all I knew about certification was what I had read in some magazines that were delivered to my salon. A few phone calls, some preparation, and I was on my way.

My certifiers were two groom-ers named Pam Lauritzen and Vivian Nash. I had no idea who they were in the industry but in idle conversation I learned that Vivian had recently

won Best Groomed Dog in Show at something called “Intergroom” in New Jersey. As a dog show person, I perked up at the prospects of competition of any kind. There was an apprentice certifier named Liz Paul working with them and she chimed in that I should consider competing. Pam and Vivian agreed. Liz gave me her phone number and told me to contact her about some contests coming up in the state of Florida. Wow! I was dumbfounded! I had two of the industry’s “biggies” and this third person apprenticing under them telling me I should consider com-peting. So I did.

I took Best in Show in my first competition, Best All Around in my second and NDGAA Grand Champion Best in Show in my third. Competitions

were quite a bit different then. There was no Novice or Intermediate class in most contests. It was all Open class. My award for the NDGAA win was a trophy, a case of shampoo, a stand dry-er, $50 (I think), and a paid entry to that “Intergroom” show in New Jersey, where I would meet Shirlee Kalstone. And, the rest is personal history.

All of us started as newbies at one time or another and it is fun to look back at the “biggies” from back then and how we all formed friendly relationships. It has also been great to have witnessed so many of the big name groomers of today get their start. But what about the profession-als who started it all? Who taught the people who taught me? Who brought them into the industry and guided

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them to their success? What inspired them? It was like they had just “ap-peared” out of nowhere. Or had they?

The recent loss of a great friend and industry icon, Jerry Schinberg, prompts me to sit at my computer and consider the people, the knowledge and the history that our industry has lost in recent years. Sally Liddick, John Nash, Liz Paul, Lynne Carver, Dorothy Walin, and Robert Reynolds, to name a few of the ones I am personally familiar with. Some of these names are familiar to you and, I am sure, a few are not. There are many who came before these icons who, sadly, I never had the pleasure of meeting. We must pay attention to the past or the history of our industry is in jeopardy of becoming lost.

Let’s take Dorothy Walin, for instance. Salon owner, groomer, author and judge, Dotty was active in the dog show world as well as grooming. Any-body today who works with an industry

company or demonstrates product at a booth has Dotty to thank, as she was a pioneer in this area. A woman in the man’s realm of a growing industry, Dotty worked with Oster to put profes-sionalism into our world. She remem-bered every dog you showed to her and every hair that was out of place. We lost her in December, 2013.

In 1969 Robert Reynolds founded the National Dog Groomers Association of America in the hopes of uniting pet groomers through membership and communication. He passed in 1985, right before I began competing. His son, Jeffrey, carries on his legacy in this long standing organization.

John Nash is missed in so many ways. A teacher, Johnny was the founder of the Nash Academy and the International Judges Association (IJA). A kind, thoughtful person, and active ad-vocate of continued education, Johnny was always there to help whenever and

wherever needed.Lynne Carver and Liz Paul were

contemporaries of mine, both hav-ing extensive backgrounds in the dog show arena that carried over into the grooming contest ring. A groom-ing school owner, Lynne was one of the original Board of Directors of GroomTeam USA. The name Liz Paul became synonymous with style, flair and winning ways, as she set so many standards that are still held in the ring today. Anybody who knew them both recognized them as two completely different people, but they both shared an eagerness to help newcomers in any way they could. They were both friends of mine and I miss them both dearly.

What can we say about a fel-low groomer named Sally Liddick? I still remember getting my first copy of a tabloid-style publication called Groomer to Groomer and meeting her and her business partner, Gwen Shelly,

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at my first NDGAA show in 1986. They were introducing a new reminder card system and highlighting their Groom-O-Grams. Their nervously-delivered, informative skit was choreographed down to the second and, like all semi-nars at that time, they gave their dis-sertation on stage during competition. Look at how far the industry has come with Sally’s help.

And you can’t say “Jerry Schin-berg” without thinking “All American” or “Creative Styling”. The originator of both the show and the competition, Jerry’s loss leaves an enormous hole in our industry. I am pleased to have called him my friend. The All American, now owned by Barkleigh Productions, is the oldest, continuously running grooming trade show and competi-tion in the world. Notice I didn’t say “the first”, as there were others before. Jerry took what he learned from oth-ers, tweaked it, perfected it and made

it his own. The Best in Show judge for the very first All American was Shirlee Kalstone and the person she put up for this award was Romaine Michelle, two people, I am pleased to say, who are still active in the industry.

Shirlee and I converse often and I try to visit her whenever my travels find me in New York. Recently, she suggested a project for the two of us; to document the history of the professional grooming industry. The consummate innovator, Shirlee’s his-tory in the industry is extensive. Some of her greatest achievements are as an author of numerous, well known grooming books and articles, as well as the founder of Intergroom. With her all-encompassing background, both in the United States and abroad, she is the prime “go to” person to col-laborate with on this project, as she learned with many of the others who have gone before and initiated much of

what is today’s protocol. Giving credit where credit is due, GroomTeam USA was originally brainstormed by Shirlee and Jerry. Additionally, Shirlee created the awards concept that was to become the Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achieve-ment Awards. She and I will be working on this project together and we look forward to contacting some of the “old timers” who continue to make their mark in the industry today and some who have chosen to step back into the shadows of retirement.

I know there are probably a number of you thinking this will be a boring “old timer” story. I can guar-antee you, it will be an interesting read about the transitions from then to now and the people and events that made it all happen. There are a number of things that happened that are a source of laughter today. You may have noticed my comment earlier that seminars were held on the stage during


the contests. Contests rarely started on time and, on occasion, they continued well past show closing time. Judges would prejudge, start their class, then “disappear” for hours, only to return just when time was up and the class was ready to be judged. The length of time for judging was insane! One time I had a judge comb through my Mini Poodle for over five minutes! (No, I didn’t place). Dogs would be on the table for hours on end leaving groomers and dogs totally exhausted. And did you know that some shows actually had a blade length restriction? Nothing closer than a #15 could be used on a poodle.

Here’s something you will never see today: We used to smoke in the ring!!! Bad enough most of used

to smoke, but the smell of burning dog hair in the ring really got to the promoters one day, specifically Jerry and Sally Schinberg. The decree passed down was “No smoking in the ring”, so we would have a friend stand ringside and hold our cigarettes and an ashtray just on the other side of the ring ropes. This eventually morphed to “No smok-ing in the exhibit hall”. During judging time we would hold each other’s dogs so we could run into the hall and get our nicotine fix. Finally, the edict of no smoking, passed by government legislation, put the proverbial nail in the coffin for many of the smokers.

When did we stop being “dog groomers” and start calling ourselves “pet stylists”? And now we have

“salons” not “shops”. Certification orga-nizations are helping to set standards within the industry. More and more continued education seminars and trade shows make learning so much easier, and far more fun! Social media, like Facebook, adds a different dimen-sion to sharing information. And, the talent we see in the ring today is nothing short of astounding! These groomers we watch and admire today are the old timers of tomorrow. They will look back and wonder where it all came from. I look forward to taking this journey with Shirlee into the his-tory of our beloved grooming industry and answering some of those questions for these groomers and, to be honest, myself as well. ✂

For many pet groomers across the nation and around the globe, Jerry Schinberg was the “Dogfather.”

Back in 1973, when dog groomers were largely viewed as beauty school drop-outs, he started one of the first conventions for the trade, according to the book, “How to Start a Home-Based Pet Grooming Business.”

Over the next 40 years, the industry expanded into a billion-dollar-plus enterprise and his All American Grooming Show grew into the biggest in the Midwest and the longest-running grooming convention in the world.

Mr. Schinberg could be picked out by his big grin and the silly red, white and blue hats he wore at the “All American” event. “He made it fun,” said Todd Shelly, whose Barkleigh Productions bought the rights to the convention a few years ago. “You weren’t at the show with all of your competitors. You were there with your peers—people that shared the same passion.”

Attendees from as far away as Australia, Europe and Japan journey to the convention—held for decades in Rosemont, and now in Wheel-ing—to learn the latest in canine hair-cutting. They attend lectures on topics

like “42 Reasons Why Teeth Brushing is Healthy for the Pet and Profitable for You” and “Why Are Those Ears so Bad?” Vendors sell everything from $15.99 blueberry facials to $1,000 scissors.

The wackiest part of the show is its finale, a “creative” grooming contest in which patient dogs are trimmed, sculpted and colored with vegetable dyes to resemble figures out of a Peter Max fantasy, from fishnetted Wild West “saloon girls” to U.S. Marine Corps mascots. In recent years, the contest expanded to include compliant cats.

Mr. Schinberg helped develop the grooming equivalent of the U.S. Olympic team, GroomTeam USA, composed of elite winners of multiple competitions. They go on to vie in international contests, a feat that can catapult careers, Shelly said. In 2013, the team brought home a gold medal from Barcelona.

Mr. Schinberg, 75, of Des Plaines, died Dec. 20 at ManorCare in Arlington Heights. He had battled diabetes, heart ailments and colon and pancreatic cancer.

Groomer to Groomer magazine called him “one of the most influential people in the history of the grooming industry.”

In 2011, he was honored with a lifetime achievement “Groomy,” an award from the New Jersey-based American Grooming Industry Founda-tion Trust.

“Jerry was a champion for groomer education and helping groomers become more professional,” said Linda Easton, president of the International Professional Groomers association. “His passing will leave a huge gap in the leadership of our profession.”

“People say they look up to me,” he once told groomertogroomer.com, “and all I can think is, ‘I’m just a plain old guy.’ ”

Born in Maywood, California, Mr. Schinberg grew up in Chicago and Skokie. He graduated from Von Steuben High School and learned pet grooming from a friend’s father. As a young man, he acted with the Encore theater troupe but decided to focus on the pet industry when he opened his shop, A Tondeur, a salon on Milwaukee Avenue in Niles. He even groomed cats—and rabbits.

He met Sally Schapiro on a ski trip. In a video on groomertogroomer.com, he recalled, “She said to me, ‘What do you do?’ and I said, ‘I’m a dog groomer.’ And she said, ‘a WHAT?’ ” They spent their first date

working at a dog obedience show.They wed in 1967. “Jerry wasn’t

the life of the party—he was the party,” said a longtime friend, Holly Kahan. “He and Sally have been our theater dates, travel mates, card game partners, recipe testers, and on and on.”

He never had to resort to sedat-ing dogs and cats to groom them, said his daughter, Denise.

“He was just so good with them. He was like an animal whisperer,” she said. “They had small muzzles if the dog was really out of hand.”

Though he loved dogs, Mr. Schinberg didn’t own any as an adult. “The reason why is my dad trained dogs; he did obedience and he boarded dogs at the house,” his daughter said. “We always had at least one dog at the house.” When clients took winter vacations, “We might have as many as 11 dogs in our big backyard.”

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Schinberg is survived by another daughter, Jill; a sister, Cheryl Mendelsohn, a brother, Herb, and one grandson. His services, which drew poodle-shaped flower arrangements, have been held.

OBITUARY: ‘DOGFATHER’ JERRY SCHINBERG UNLEASHED NEW ERA FOR GROOMING PROS by Maureen O’Donnell • Reprinted courtesy The Chicago Sun Times

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GroomertoGroomer.com16 Groomer to Groomer • Vol 33 Ed 11 • November 2014

E by Genete M. Bowen e

A nimals can’t talk. They can’t say, ‘Hey, I’m not feeling well...I might need medical

attention.’ Because pets can’t tell us themselves that they are sick it is up to us to figure it out. That means that we, as animal owners, care givers, groom-ers, etc, must be able to ascertain a deviation from the norm. The best way to be able to spot a potential problem is to know what constitutes a healthy

animal. By establishing a baseline, it is then possible to tell if a pet’s health is off kilter. Though animals can’t talk, their bodies can divulge a wealth of information that can be revealed with a healthy pet check. The best way to evaluate an animal is by performing a head-to-tail assessment, and by know-ing what is normal for your particular pet or the animals in your care.

HEAD-TO-TAIL ASSESSMENT ON A DOG OR CAT

I believe that thoroughly assess-ing an animal is as important to their wellbeing as proper nutrition, exercise, and love. The head-to-tail assessment can be given like a massage, but with a little more attention to various parts of the body. I recommend checking your pet at least once a week since things can change in an animal’s health

HOW TO IDENTIFY A HEALTHY PET

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rather quickly. Learn to identify the normal signs of the body, because ani-mals are stoic and want to please, you may not realize what’s going on with them until it’s too late.

If you are regularly performing a healthy pet check you’ll be able to identify any potential issue and bring it to your Vet’s attention quickly. This will help build a stronger relation-ship with your Vet, as well as monitor the changes in the animal by having a documented record of the concern.

For animal businesses, this will only make you a better caretaker by adding an assessment into your daily routine. Typically a Vet will perform a head-to-tail examination once annually but there is much potential for health changes in the span of a year. When you’re doing an assessment look for areas that are hot, cold, swollen, pain-ful, or for any distinct changes to the animal’s body which could be a sign of infection or illness. Regular head-to-tail checks can have a bonding effect,

and show a pet that has been abused or neglected that touch can be a posi-tive thing and help to calm some of their anxieties and fears.

EYESI like to begin by giving the animal

a little massage, then check the eyes and work my way down to the feet. A healthy eye should be bright, should have no tearing, no redness around the white of the eye, and the third eyelid should not be protruding outward. There should not be any glazing or discoloration over the eye, except in the case of a cataract on an aging pet. Check the mucus membrane of the eyes to see if the animal is getting enough oxygen to the organs, like the heart and brain, by gently pulling down the eyelid. The mucus mem-brane on a healthy animal’s eye should appear pink in color.

Regular head-to-tail checks can have a bonding effect, and show a pet that has been abused or

neglected that touch can be a positive thing and help to calm some of their anxieties and fears.

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EARSLift the ears and check to see

that there is no odor. A healthy pet’s ear should have a pinkish hue and should not have any discharge or yeast buildup, sensitivity, or heat radiation. I recommend regularly checking and periodically cleaning an animal’s ears to prevent infec-tion. Some pets are more prone to

yeast buildup and ear infections than others.

NOSEA nose on a healthy pet should

be slightly moist to the touch and be free of cracks or missing skin. We all know wrinkles come with age; so older animals may have some slight cracking.

GUMS AND TEETHThe gums should be moist and

have no swelling or bleeding. Healthy gums should have minimal plaque buildup around the teeth. The gums are windows directly to the body’s organs, so neglecting to take care of an animal’s teeth can result in a shorter lifespan. The teeth should not be abscessed, loose, or broken, like slab fractures where a piece of the tooth has been sheared off and can expose a nerve. There should also be no strong smell to the pet’s breath. A sweet acetone smell to the breath can signify there might be an issue with the kidneys.

Animals’ gums should look pink in color. Examine the mucus membrane of the mouth by check-ing the capillary refill time, which Vets call the CRT, to see if the pet is getting ample oxygen supply to the brain, heart, and body’s vital organs. Press a finger on the gum line and then quickly release. A healthy pet’s gums will turn white with the direct pressure and should bounce right back to their pink color within one to two seconds. However, the CRT test is ineffective on animals that have purple or dark-colored gums, so look to the mucus membranes of the eyes in this case.

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SPINE AND TAILThe spine begins at the occipital

ridge, which is the boney protuberance at the top of the head. Assessment of the spine starts at the occipital ridge and continues down the vertebrae to the tail. I recommend using your thumbs on opposite sides of the spine to get evenly distributed pressure from the top of the head toward the tail with small circular massage move-ments, working down the spinal col-umn. A healthy animal’s spine should be straight with no lumps or divots. There should be no pain or variation in temperature to the touch, which might indicate a ruptured disc. As you lift the pet’s tail, there should be no pain to the area and no scaling or slough-ing off of skin and hair. Pay special attention to dogs with long backs and short limbs, such as Dachshunds, Bas-sett Hounds, and Corgis, which can be

more prone to back injuries. Spread your hands around the

ribcage with your thumbs on the spine and feel that the ribs are smooth with no swelling in between each rib. This can also be performed on the head, and along the connecting joints of the spine, checking the shoulder girdle and the hip region.

SKIN AND COATThe skin and coat are the iden-

tifiers of a healthy animal and will sometimes show signs of disease sooner than any other part of the body. Unhealthy skin and coat could be evidence of improper nutrition or illness. A pet’s coat should be clean and shiny, not produce a foul odor, and be free of hot spots, bald patches, or abscesses. However, as animals age they can develop saggy skin or age spots and discoloration.

According to holistic medicine, if there are a lot of skin issues on the left side of the body, such as hot spots, it could mean that there is something amiss with that animal’s colon. For the right side of the pet, it might mean that there is a problem with the small intestines.

Do an overall view of the skin and coat and assess the hydration through the skin’s elasticity. By gently lifting and pulling on the skin, you can see if it bounces right back. The skin of a healthy animal shouldn’t stay tented up, because that can mean they are having internal problems. The main place to check is at the nape of the neck, but you can do this test all over the coat of the pet by performing a light massage.

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pets, so I believe it’s important to be able to identify the lymph glands so that you can be alerted to any changes and possibly catch an early onset of this deadly disease. In dogs and cats, there are six different lymph glands throughout the body. You should be able to softly palpate the glands, and on a healthy animal they shouldn’t be enlarged or painful. Lightly check all

the glands as you are doing your head-to-tail assessment, most of them are superficial and easy to feel.

BELLYLightly palpate the stomach with-

out applying strong pressure, if the animal is overweight though you will have to apply a firmer touch. A healthy pet’s belly should feel soft and firm,

yet not swollen nor hard which could indicate a blockage.

BACKSIDEThe anal area should be free of de-

bris or swelling, and shouldn’t produce a prominent odor. The anal glands are located at ten and two o’clock on the anus and have to be expressed periodically as they become filled. An impacted anal gland can cause infec-tion or tumors. Some animal’s anal glands fill up faster than others. The anus should also never be open, which can signify an injury to the lower half of the spine.

LEGS AND FEETMassage all the joints on the legs

and feet and make sure there are no areas of pain, cold, or that something feels out of place. The foot pads of a healthy animal should not be cracked

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or torn and free of scaling. Nails, which should be trimmed to a healthy length, should be checked for wear pat-terns. If the middle toes are wearing more than the outer toes it can signify that there could be a problem with the spinal vertebrae.

TEMPERATURE, BREATHING, AND PULSE

Knowing how to take a pet’s vital signs and what the normal range for a healthy animal is important to include in your assessment. A healthy temper-ature for a dog or cat ranges from 100 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, but you should know what your pet’s normal temperature is so that if it fluctuates you know that something is changing in their body.

You can take a pet’s temperature yourself either with a pet ear ther-mometer or by using a rectal ther-mometer coated with lubricant, and by restraining the animal with a hug. Use

one hand to support the animal and the other to apply the thermometer. Always keep a hand on the thermom-eter because it could be lost inside the anus or break.

To check the breathing, lay your hand across the widest part of the rib-cage and listen to the chest rise and fall and count the number of breaths. A healthy dog’s breathing rate should fall between 10 to 30 breaths per minute. For a cat, a normal rate would be 20 to 30 breaths per minute. Again, know-ing what is normal for your own pet will help to differentiate when things change. Ask your Vet for a record of your animal’s normal vital signs.

Check the pulse of a pet at the femoral artery, which is the most prominent pulse on the body, and is located where the hind legs meet the body wall in the groin region. Use two or three fingers, but not the thumb which can register your own pulse. Place them lightly against the femoral

artery to take the animal’s pulse rate. A healthy pulse for a cat is 160 to 220 beats per minute, whereas for dogs it differs by the age and weight of the animal. A normal pulse for a puppy, less than a year of any breed, should be between 120 to 160 beats per minute. Dogs under 30 lbs should have a pulse ranging between 100 to 140 peats per minute, while dogs over 30 lbs should range at 60 to 100 beats per minute.

By performing a head-to-tail as-sessment as a part of your animal care routine you will be alerted to changes in your pet’s health, be a better pet caretaker, and help to develop a good bond with your Vet. The more infor-mation you can give to clientele or your animal’s Vet the better, as this will only help them to assess the pet’s current health needs. By catching things early before they become seri-ous, you can help to lengthen the life of an animal. ✂

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O f all the people in a dog’s life, a groomer sees them more than anyone outside

of family. Additionally, groomers have dog-savvy that many vets, vet techs, trainers, and rescue people don’t. That means, with your knowledge, you are the perfect person to make sure a dog lives a long, healthy, happy life. Whether you like it or not, you are the perfect person to guide your clients’ dogs’ behavior.

THE PRESSING NEED If you are wondering why it’s im-

portant for someone to guide a dog’s learning, consider this: Every year, millions of dogs will be surrendered to

shelters, given away, or simply set free because of their behavior. Statistically, this is most often fatal. The behaviors that put them in this position are surprisingly innocuous to dog pros; soiling the house with urine and feces, jumping on people, darting out the front door, destroying property, and biting. Your clients tell you about these things until they are no longer your cli-ent. That’s because a client with no dog doesn’t need grooming.

MARIE ANTOINETTE: DOG EXPERT FOR THE MASSES

In the world of dog experts, the solutions to these problems are lim-ited. They suggest methods that are

tedious, ineffective, complicated, and often require constant monitoring - or their final recommendation, “just live with it.” This is a “let them eat cake” kind of suggestion worthy of someone out of touch with reality, like the 18th century Queen of France.

For the masses, cake is not an option. For dog owners, living with a house that smells of urine or having a child knocked down by an unruly dog are things that cannot go on forever. Additionally, dogs that destroy shoes, books, backpacks, and any other item a child might need for school will eventually outlive their welcome. That puts dog owners between a rock and a hard place. They are shamed if they

ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF GROOMING

BEHAVIOR CLIPSby Gary Wilkes

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try to confront the behavior directly by terrible predictions of dire side-effects from punishment. They are intimi-dated by shelters and rescue groups if they contemplate giving up the dog. They are often left to descend into liv-ing by the dog’s standards.

One such “cake” solution is popularly offered to owners whose dogs jumps on guests. The proposed solution is “turn your back to the dog” – sometimes styled “stand like a tree”. Frank Adams, an experienced trainer uses this quote to sum up how that works. “My dog used to jump up on me. I tried turning around and giving my back so she walked around to my front and jumped again.” There seems to be no awareness by dog experts that real people have real time and money constraints on solving problems. For instance, my current client’s 12-week-old Boxer is named “Daisy” but should

be named “Shredder”. I have never seen a worse example of a puppy rip-ping someone’s hands and arms. That behavior had to be stopped immedi-ately. That is a real situation that a client might pose to you. To help your client you have to know someone who can correctly answer this question: how do you stop a behavior, now? If you find such a person, you have taken a big step toward learning how to help your clients.

The bigger question for you is who is going to help solve this problem. If you offer only grooming services, the behavior issues will have to be fixed by someone else. Trainers are the people most likely to be able to help your clients create a dog they can live with. That raises the question of which trainer is the right one. Dog owners often don’t have a clue about this and start cold-calling or looking up Google

promos on the internet. If they pick the wrong one you may lose a client. That’s where you come in.

The First Component: Be Involved If your clients blunder along trying to find behavioral solutions to their dog’s problems, you have missed a big opportunity. If you can guide them through the process it strengthens their knowledge of your care for them and their dog. However, you can’t be that person unless you have an open line of communication with your client about behavior.

When you get a client with a new puppy, do you know when the pup is housetrained? If the client comes in with train-wreck skin on their hands and arms, do you inquire why? When the dog comes in and leaps all over your groomers, does it generate a conversation or do you simply take the lead and “stand like a tree”? Remem-ber, dogs are discarded for things that a dog-person takes for granted. It may even be a behavior you allow your dogs to do.

THE SECOND COMPONENT: KNOW YOUR RESOURCES

While it’s easy to be complacent about things that aren’t directly con-nected to grooming, they may still have an influence on your success. Losing clients because of behavior problems is a reality. Believing that “someone” is going to fix the problem may not end well. That is why it’s a good idea to know who can fix prob-lems. It is my belief that every groom-ing salon should have a “go to” person for training referrals. Someone you can

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trust based on past experience. That requires some effort. Here are some thoughts on how to find the right per-son to help you retain those behavior-ally lost clients:

1) Ask trainers to introduce their service to you. Any trainer that doesn’t realize the power of having a groomer willing to refer clients isn’t the person you are looking for.

2) See if the trainer will do a

presentation to your staff. This will give you some hints about the trainer’s abil-ity to communicate and their profes-sional demeanor.

3) Ask about rates and policies. If a client pays all the money up front, what happens to the money if they stop the training? This may not seem like your business but the double edged sword of referrals is that if a cli-ent feels cheated by a trainer, some of

the irritation will rub off on you.4) There are currently no training

organizations that have anything like a hands-on certification in handling behavior problems. If a trainer has “credentials” in the form of letters after their name, ask if they were certi-fied in a live test. The odds are that they didn’t actually have to train a dog in front of an examiner. So ask them to train a dog at your facility. Those who are interested in your referrals should be open about what they do. This can also be a perk for your staff. Let them bring their own dogs in and see if the trainer can improve their behavior.

5) Try to find a trainer who seems genuinely sympathetic to the problems encountered by your clients. Your intuition should be able to see this. Someone who shows condescension toward regular dog owners isn’t likely to give them respect. ✂

Any trainer that doesn’t realize the power of having a groomer willing to refer clients isn’t the

person you are looking for.

Untitled-6 1 11/7/14 7:19 PM


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H ave you ever wished that you had a magic wand that you could wave and

instantly remove the mats and tangles from the coats of the pets that you groom? If you are like most groomers; it’s probably an everyday wish. Well, you may not have that magic wand in your grooming toolbox, but you can create something pretty close to it.

Today’s groomers have a largely untapped resource that can help to reduce or even eliminate the mats and tangles – and that resource is on the end of every leash that enters your

salon or mobile unit. That’s right, your clients can become a valuable asset to you. And, you can make them eager to assist you in their pet’s care. Every pet that you groom needs maintenance care between its professional visits. But, the pet parents cannot perform that maintenance without the proper tools and the knowledge to use them. That’s where you and your expertise come in.

Retailing combs, brushes, de-shed-ding tools, and the coat care products that go with them is something that every groomer should be doing — and

can profit from. Why should your clients go to some pet store, big box store, or even their local grocery or dollar store (instead of your establish-ment) to buy grooming equipment for their pets? Without expert guidance they could easily buy something that is totally inappropriate for the kind of hair that their pet has. They need your assistance to help them select their at-home grooming equipment.

You have a great opportunity every time a client brings their pet to you to be groomed. The time that you invest in educating your clients about

BRUSH UP

ON YOUR RETAILING SKILLSE by Kathy Hosler e


at-home maintenance grooming can pay off in a big, big way for you. At the check in, you should examine the pet while the owner is present and allow them to watch and observe as you go over their pet. Discuss with them the condition their pet is in and what will need to be done during the grooming process. This is a great opportunity to point out trouble areas such as the armpits, ears, or other areas of mat-ting that the owners may overlook. Ex-plain to them how painful the tangled and matted hair can be for their pet.

Show them the tools that they should be using on their pet between their professional grooming visits. Demonstrate the correct way to use the tools. Show them step-by-step what they should do. Then let them try out the tool while you are watching to make sure they are using it properly. Sell them the tools and any other coat

care products that they will need. Products that make brushing easier may entice the owners to brush more frequently.

Give them a brochure or handout about brushing techniques to guide them and to reinforce the at-home grooming procedures. It may even be beneficial to you to offer your clients group classes on basic pet care. Make the focus of the at-home grooming all about their pet’s comfort and well-be-ing. It’s important to make the owners feel that the sessions will be fun and a bonding experience for them and their pets. Of course, we all know that not everyone you take the time to go over the brushing and combing procedures with will follow through. But, the pet owners that accept your training will become a valuable asset to your busi-ness and to your bottom line.

Besides selling owners the specific

brushes, combs, or shedding tools that are right for their needs, there are a multitude of other grooming supplies that they should have. Tick removal tools, nail care products, dental care products, and coat and skin care products are just some of the items that you can retail to your clients. You can also stock pet chews, treats, toys, and supplements. There is no end to the impulse and repeat sales that these items can create. Retailing pet care items is a special service and a conve-nience that you can provide to your clients. You can become their ‘personal shopper’ to help them select the best for their pets.

But, your involvement doesn’t end with the sale of the brushes and other grooming tools. You and your willingness to invest quality time to educate the pet owners is the key to making this groomer/pet/owner alli-ance beneficial to all involved. The pet will benefit when they are brushed and combed on a regular basis. The brush-ing is a much more enjoyable experi-ence for them when they are mat and tangle free. The owner will get a pet that looks good, even between profes-sional grooming appointments. They will get lots of ‘together time’ with their pet when they learn to properly care for them at home. And, you will benefit. Not only will you gain from the retail sales of grooming products, you will be seeing pets arrive for their grooming appointments in much bet-ter shape with less mats and tangles. That will save you a lot of time and also reduce the amount of wear and tear on your body.

Don’t be afraid to include retail selling as part of your daily interac-tion with your clients. And remember, repeat sales can really boost your bottom line. You may not have a magic wand, but you can make magic happen. It’s easy when you ‘brush up’ on your retailing skills! ✂


W e all groom a “challeng-ing” pet. Mine is Molly, a soft-coated wheaten

terrier. Molly is a sweetheart. She is easily one of my best-behaved clients. What makes Molly a challenge is her health issues. I have overcome this difficulty because of effective commu-nication between Molly’s owner and their veterinarian.

How do you establish effective communication with a pet owner? It starts with trust. The pet owner must

feel that you have the best interests of their pet at heart. It is taking the time to talk with the owner and discuss any concerns you may have found or address any worries they may have. If I make a change in any of my products, I let the pet owner know of the replace-ment and the reason why. Pam Gorian, Molly’s owner, says,

“The reason I trust Mary as much as I do goes back to Ozzie, Molly’s predecessor. When Ozzie became sick, Mary went out of her way to help me.

When everyone else was giving up on him, she didn’t. I know Mary cared about Ozzie. She treats my Molly as if she were her own dog.”

All grooms begin with asking what changes have occurred since the last time I saw them. Is there anything I should be aware of? Does the veteri-narian have any recommendations? The groom ends with a discussion of anything I found that was different or needs attention. All changes are noted on the file card.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONE by Mary Oquendo e


If I were making a suggestion that a visit to the veterinarian was in order, I would write down my descriptive visual findings on paper, not what I be-lieve the problem to be. Good example: Molly’s ears look red and inflamed. Bad example: Molly’s ears are infected. The first one describes, the second one diagnoses.

The reason for writing down my discoveries is because I do not want to rely on the memory of the pet owner to relate my findings to their veterinar-ian. Do you remember playing Tele-phone or Whispers as a kid? The first child in the circle would whisper some-thing in the ear of the person next to them, and the message would continue around the circle until it came back to the originator. Rarely was the commu-nication the same. Sometimes this is exactly what happens when the owner tries to remember precisely what you

told them. Beth Cristiano, of Pretty Paws LLC in Harrison, NY, has very clear instructions in the employee handbook for her employees to follow.

“Often findings are misconstrued when relayed by a 3rd party. At Pretty Paws LLC my staff and I have found pet report cards to be a valuable re-source. They relay our observations in our words to pet parents and other pet professionals such as veterinarians.”

The second half is communicating with veterinarians and the first step is

to establish a professional relationship with the area veterinarians. This is also a trust bond. I have always taken that first step and introduced myself to my local veterinarians and invited them to visit my salon. We discussed the importance of continuing educa-tion and my willingness to work with them. For the most part, it was well received. Veterinarians are not any different from any other profession. I have found that most will be profes-sional. Even if a veterinarian has been

“Professionals need to be open to listening and actually hearing the information that

is being passed on without standing in judgment of the messenger.”

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rude or if I question their skill, I never badmouth another professional. If a client asks for my opinion on such a veterinarian I tell them I am unfamil-iar with them. Over the years, I have had many veterinarians, who respect my professionalism, ask my opinion on grooming matters.

It is a two way street. Dr. Dale Krier, DVM, of Creature Comforts Mobile Veterinary Clinic sums it up,

“Professionals need to be open to listening and actually hearing the information that is being passed on without standing in judgment of the messenger. We can truly learn from each other. We all have to be open to the knowledge we individually have and join forces on behalf of the pet.”

In Molly’s case, we share the same veterinarian. Since Molly’s owner gave him permission to talk to me, there is direct communication.

Rather than waiting for the owner to relay messages back and forth, I have a game plan in place for the next groom based on their veterinarian’s recommendation within days.

At the moment, Molly is in a good place. Her current grooming regiment is every three weeks alter-nating bath only and groom. During her groom, I use a specific shampoo from the vet, ears are not plucked, and she is shaved naked. This is differ-ent from last year. Last year’s groom was different from the year before. When this protocol is no longer effec-tive for Molly, her veterinarian and I will make a course correction.

Opening up the lines of com-munications between the pet owner and their veterinarian is the first line of defense for the pets’ health and quality of life. Every role is important when it comes to the care of pets. ✂

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Sometimes those short haircuts can be a little tricky to dress up after a shavedown, so here

is a quick and easy little style that can be modified for most any breed trim - style short or not. This neat little design was introduced by Rachelle McGinnis, owner of K-9 Design in Stratford, Missouri. We will call it sim-ply, “The Scarf” and it can be done in a variety of shapes and colors to include anything from patterns and tempo-rary color to more vibrant permanent

colors, depending on the client and situation.

To begin this, we want to leave a fluffy collar of hair covering the base of the neck, usually from the withers around to the front on the chest so it creates a nice circle of hair to work with (Fig 1).

Then when cutting down the body hair, leave enough to create the rest of the scarf on the dogs back. You should have two thick lines of hair longer than the length you are cutting your dog

down to (Fig 2).Leaving this part longer, finish

the groom on your dog then you can go back to the scarf and shape it with your scissors. It is fun to leave the hair rough at the ends to create the illusion of the tasseled end of your scarf. As to how to decorate your scarf; it is entire-ly up to you. On my own dogs, I love temporary colors that can be changed regularly. The draw back to this is the colors are not going to be as vibrant as a more semi-permanent color product

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would be. Here are a few examples of how

the scarf can be done with temporary airbrush ink. In Figure 3, before airbrushing, I gave it a light layer of hairspray to hold the coat in place so I could get my design drawn on and the air would not blow the hair around while I was working.

In Figure 4, I also used hairspray to stiffen the topknot so I could then airbrush a hat along with the scarf. For Figure 5, I wanted to show you what this guy looks like after 3 weeks at home with the client. A good bath and we are ready for a new scarf design!

But if you want something a bit longer lasting, you can set in some semi-permanent color that will hold for months (Fig 6). Lindsey Dicken also did this with her co-workers Bichon (Fig 7). I would like to thank Rachelle for sharing her cute design and would love to see all the variations you guys come up with. Let’s keep making the world more colorful, one dog at a time! ✂

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FIG. 4

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Thursday kicks off with the always popular, day long Brusher/Bather Cer-tificate Program. You can also choose from the four hour Asian Freestyle Workshop or the AKC Salon Certifica-tion: Safety in the Shop. In the AKC Salon Certification program you will

learn the standards and best practices focused on canine health and safety in the grooming shop.

Thursday evening programs will be It’s My Way…On the Highway, a 2 hour seminar on everything mobile with Judi Cantu-Thacker. And top groomer

Chris Pawlosky will also be doing her 2 hour seminar, Applying Art to Your Grooming, where you will learn how to prefect your grooms from the best!

Friday day long programs include the Difficult Dog series, Teri DiMa-rino’s Groomer’s Business Summit;

RETURNS TO TACOMA, WA

N eed a work-cation? How about to the beautiful mountains of Washing-ton state? The Northwest Grooming Show returns to rugged Tacoma,

WA! Mark your calendars for April 23rd-26th, 2015 and join us for a fun and education packed grooming show at the Murano Convention Center.


whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned groomer/shop owner, there’s something for you to learn in these seminars. And our third Friday program is the AKC Poodle Class taught by Sue Zecco. This is a 6 hour course that will focus on the history, physiology, and temperament of the poodle, then end with a demo of a breed standard grooming.

Friday evening will feature two new programs, Abstract Creative Runway: From Clippers to Catwalk with Kelly Knight and Cat Grooming: Oh Yes You Can! taught by Adrienne Kawamura. Both topics are great add-on services to any salon.

The rest of the weekend is filled with great seminars with tons to learn. Some of the topics include Creative grooming, groomer and pet health, products, tools, cat grooming, and many great live demos.

The trade show will be open Friday-Sunday and will be filled with vendors ready to sell. Friday evening from 8:00-10:00 Groomer to Groomer will be hosting a Meet & Greet Cock-tail Party that will give you a chance to relax and socialize with fellow groomers.

Grooming contests will be going on all weekend and will be free to watch with admission to the trade show.

Sunday morning will feature the Rescue Round-Up Tournament and Sunday afternoon is the always prevalent Creative Styling competi-tion.

So take a few days off, grab a friend, and head out to Tacoma for this exciting grooming show. We guarantee there will be something to learn, something to buy, and some-thing to see! ✂ WHEELING, IL

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E very groomer understands the challenges of having to work quickly and produce

beautiful results when your client is a living, breathing animal. Groom-ers must be prepared to deal with situations of all kinds in order to keep things running smoothly. A dog that doesn’t cooperate for groom-ing doesn’t have to result in a headache for you and your employees. While some dogs find grooming pleasant others can become very stressed by the

experience. Helping dogs adjust to the grooming experience, and even learn to enjoy it is essential in the groom-ing business. Repeat customers make up for the majority of profits in the typical grooming business, and every customer will appreciate picking up a dog that is free from signs of stress. With some work, a dog that was a chal-lenge could end up being a dog that pulls their owner to the door for their next grooming appointment.

Trade secrets live behind the

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the groomer and the pet, groomers must know how to keep pets calm and under control during their visit.

For some dogs bath time is a breeze and trimming isn’t all that bad either, but what happens in between turns some of the sweetest dogs into complete maniacs. Just when you think you are only a dry and a cut away from sending a certain dog home you turn on your force dryer to find out that this dog is just not having it. It’s a frustrating scenario especially when you pride yourself in being a groomer who only dries dogs by hand. Sending home a damp dog is unspeakable, and many groomers are avoiding using cage drying of any kind. When you come across a dog that is anything but pleasant for dry-ing, what can be done?

A dog grooming force dryer or blower has a lot of strikes against it

from a dog’s point of view. The most obvious one is the noise. For a dog that is sensitive to loud noises the sound can be overwhelming. On top of that there is the strong burst of air that might be alarming to a dog that has not been desensitized to the sensation. By taking a few extra steps when it comes to your drying procedures you can help dogs have a fear-free experience resulting in a less stressful work day for you. Putting this protocol in place with every new dog in your salon, and with every dog that has a history of being a challenge for the dryer will have a huge impact on their entire visit. It is a lot easier to prevent a dog from becoming stressed in the first place than it is to calm an already nervous dog. This is also a good way to introduce puppies to drying. Even if a new dog seems perfectly calm and confident, consider making it a regular practice to use this protocol for drying.

To start, follow your usual process for intake and beginning the grooming process. Whether you do pre-work first or begin with a bath right away, make it a goal for you and your staff to become expert observers during this time. Does the dog seem responsive to you? Is the dog com-fortable with handling, and are there any particular areas that the dog does not give you the green light to touch? Is the dog showing any signs of stress, or giving any cut off signals? Knowing these things will help you handle the dog in the most accommodating way and give you a glimpse into how they are likely to react to certain aspects of grooming.

After bathing, when it comes time to dry the dog, begin with a good towel dry and use either a towel or a Happy Hoodie compression band to cover the dog’s ears. Even when you use the Happy Hoodie, for some dogs, using a towel over it is also helpful be-cause you can gain additional control.


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To do this, wrap a towel around the dog’s head and grip the towel under-neath to hold it in place. Now you are able to muffle the sound, and if the dog starts to react you can prevent them from straining their neck because you have more control of their heads. This applies to both tub and table drying.

With your face away from the dog’s face and far from pop-up-paws,

turn your dryer on the lowest setting. Do not yet put the air on the dog. Before the dog even has a chance to think about reacting, turn the dryer off again. The first time there should be less than five seconds between turn-ing the dryer on and back off again. Now you had a chance to see if the dog showed any signs of being opposed to the dryer, and you showed the dog

that the dryer has a chance of going off when they are not acting up. Repeat, leaving the dryer on for a little bit longer the second time; less than 10 seconds will do. Another thing you can do is pair the dryer with something pleasant. If as soon as the dryer turns on the dog gets a nice rub on the chest (assuming they like this), praised, or even a treat you will help create a posi-tive association. If you have permis-sion from the owner to give the dog treats this can be a great tool to create positive associations, and to test out a dog’s stress level. A highly stressed dog won’t eat.

Now you can point the dryer at the dog, allowing them to feel the air for a few seconds on their back. Again turn the dryer off before the dog reacts. If the dog is not reacting at all continue drying using your preferred technique, but every so often remove

Watch a dog’s face during drying. If they yawn, lick their lips repeatedly,

or show other sings of the drying being too much, remove the dryer even just

for a few seconds.


the air from them (not necessarily turning the dryer off), when they are being calm to reinforce the desired behavior. If on the other hand, the dog is showing signs of stress, do a few more repetitions of the above. This technique will work for other animals including cats, assuming they find the act of the dryer being removed reward-ing. Just like you would give your dog a treat as a reward for good behavior you can remove the dryer as a reward for good behavior. You will be able to remove the dryer less frequently as the animal becomes better with the drying process.

Dogs are always communicating with us, and understanding them will help prevent drying from becoming stressful. Watch a dog’s face during drying. If they yawn, lick their lips repeatedly, or show other sings of the drying being too much, remove the dryer even just for a few seconds. It’s amazing what difference this alone can make. Even your well behaved dogs who love drying can benefit from a quick break. Getting the timing down of when to pull a dryer off a dog and when to continue drying is an art. If

you keep pulling the dryer away timed with when the dog is already acting up it can teach them that their behavior made the dryer stop and they will be more likely to act up. Try to remove the dryer when the dog is behaving in the most desired way. Your timing will improve with practice. If a dog is very nervous and past their limit, give them a break either way. You shouldn’t con-tinue force drying or any procedures on a dog that is past their threshold. A few minutes to calm down will help.

The typical groomer doesn’t have a whole lot of time to invest in the training of dogs in their salon, but un-derstanding the concepts of marker training can have huge benefits. Using a marker like saying “yes” to mark desired behaviors during the groom-ing process will help you become very precise in your timing of telling the dog which behaviors are acceptable. The marker is followed by some type of reward every time. If you are dry-ing a dog that is difficult you can say “yes” every time they are being well behaved and take the dryer away from them as a reward. If you wanted to go a step further you can even follow your

marker with a treat reward. The dog learns that whatever behavior they were doing when the marker happened is what earned them a reward. These are the behaviors they will repeat.

The goal of using these techniques is to create a low stress drying process. In many dogs you will see a difference before you even complete the dry, but dogs who are very nervous, aggres-sive, or sound sensitive will be more difficult requiring a more in depth ap-proach. Never force a dog to under-go drying if the above techniques are not working. Instead the dog needs more practice sessions where positive experiences can be created. Consider offering the owner a program option where they pay one monthly fee for a predetermined amount of baths each month. That way the dog will remain your client and you can continue work-ing with them more frequently with less pressure of having to do every-thing in one session. It’s also essen-tial that you always remain calm even when you are frustrated with a dog. Practice keeping calm and breathing so you do not feed the fire with your own frustration.

Groomers make a difference in the lives of dogs every day. Providing dogs with the best possible care is our mis-sion, and we can give dogs the true spa treatment that their owners dream of for them by eliminating stress wher-ever possible. A few extra minutes and effort now will save a lot of time and headaches later. Soon these techniques will become second nature in your salon, and the number of stressful dry-ing moments will decrease. There are many small steps and conscious efforts we can make in all areas of grooming to make our salons more peaceful for everyone, and providing low stress drying procedures is a brilliant way to work towards that. ✂


A n obviously upset groomer recently contacted me via social media. She had acci-

dentally nicked a dog while grooming. I have had similar experiences on more than one occasion during the past 30 years, and could well empathize with her. I vividly remember the first time a dog I was grooming required medi-cal care. I worked for a veterinarian at the time, and as I was beating myself up about the accident, he looked at me calmly and said, “Groomers work

with sharp tools on moving targets. Frankly, I’m surprised there are not more injuries than there are.” Those words resonated with me. They made me feel better and I have never forgot-ten them. Of course we are and should be very careful as we work, but the plain and simple fact of the matter is - accidents happen.

If you are a groomer reading this, and have never had the unfortunate experience of injuring a pet, congratu-lations! But don’t feel too superior,

because a “moving target” may fall victim to your sharp tools at any time. If you have caused an irritation, abrasion or nick, then you well know that sick-to-the-stomach feeling that goes along with the experience. That feeling? It is horrible. But it means that you have a conscience and that you care about the animals in your charge. So feel it - be glad you are a good human - and know that in time it will ease up. Take the opportunity to review what caused the problem.

WHEN ACCIDENTS HAPPEN

GROOMING MATTERSby Daryl Conner


Were you using an inappropriate tool for the job at hand? Could you have done something differently to prevent the problem? If so, make a note and learn from the experience.

So, what is the best way to proceed if an animal is injured while in your care? Here are some guidelines:

KEEP ACCURATE RECORDSIn the event that an animal is

injured, you will want to have an up to date phone number so you can reach the pet owner. People sometimes change their numbers, so make a policy of asking every six months to one year if the contact information you have is accurate. Or you can simply ask, each time they drop the pet off, “What is the best number to reach you today?” and jot it down. It is also good to have the name and number of their pet’s veterinarian on file.

HAVE A GOOD FIRST AID KIT WITHIN REACH

And know how to use it. Pet Tech offers a wonderful course on animal first aid, and the Red Cross offers one as well.

MINOR MISHAPSLet’s say you are trying to scoop

a mat out from under the dog’s front leg and your clipper nips that little pesky flap of skin that is tucked up there. The pet barely notices, there is little blood, but there is a slice to the skin. This is not life threatening, but does require medical treatment. You need to decide if you are going to transport the pet or wait for the owner to do so. It’s time to make that difficult phone call.

WATCH YOUR LANGUAGEThe words you choose and the

tone you use are important. Be profes-sional, be calm, and be matter-of-fact. If your voice is shaking because you are upset, hum a little before you call, this will relax your vocal cords. Your conversation may go something like this, “Hi Mrs. Brown, this is Trina calling from Puppy Cuts. Bonkers is fine but he did get a little nick under his leg where he was very matted. I’d feel better if he saw his vet. Would you like to take him or would you prefer I do it?” At some point you will want to apologize for the accident. Your apology should be heartfelt, but again, keep it professional. Something like, “Thankfully, accidents are rare, but it always upsets me when they happen. I am very sorry it happened to Bonkers.”

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to figure out a course of action. Think ahead and write down the steps to take if you need to act. A piece of paper with numbers for local veterinarians and a simple pre-planned outline is all you need. Put some thought into how you would like to proceed. Will you call the closest veterinarian or the pets own veterinarian? If you work alone, write a legible note that you can affix to the door in case you need to leave your shop to take an animal for care. It should have a simple explanation such as, “Due to an animal emergency, I have had to leave the building. Please call me at: _________ for more information.” and include your cell phone number. Keeping all of this in your first aid kit will help you remem-ber where it is.

NOW FOR THE TRICKY PART. WHO PAYS FOR THAT VETERINARY BILL?

Grooming educator Debi Hilley says, “I have a rule. You have to return the dog in as good or better condition that you received it in. An accident may not have been your fault, but because the pet was in your care it

was your responsibility.” Let’s look at a couple of examples. A young, un-trained dog becomes agitated during the bath. It flails and flips, snapping uncontrollably at the person bathing it and in general having a tantrum. Due to its behavior, it injures its leg, and ends the groom with a limp. The dog’s own behavior caused the injury, but since it was in your care, paying the veterinary bill is a show of good will. A more obvious example is if you are scissoring along the edge of a Scottie’s ear and it flings its head when it hears a bug, just as you close the scissors. A nick requiring a veterinary visit and a little glue ensues. You were controlling the dog, and the scissors, it seems logi-cal that you would pay the bill.

Now, what if you are a business owner and a groomer that you employ is responsible for an injury? It is illegal for you to withhold money from their pay to take care of the bill. If they re-peatedly injure dogs, cost you money, and perhaps damage the reputation of your business - it might be time to find a new groomer.

WHAT ABOUT CHARGING FOR THE GROOMING?

If the injury is minor (e.g. a scrape, a nick that does not require medical care, or brush/clipper irrita-tion) should you expect the owner to pay for the grooming? This should be judged on a case by case basis, but if the groom was completed and the ani-mal is basically fine, then in most cases I would expect the owner to compen-sate the groomer for the work done. On the other hand, if you think the person is going to throw an epic fit and start an internet hate campaign, if you can mollify them with a free groom - that would make good business sense. These are things to think about before you need to so you have an idea how you would like to proceed.

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bring a pet in for grooming. This can be a good way to establish expectations and open up communication. How-ever, it is a mistake for groomers to assume that if a customer has signed a release that they will be protected from a law suit. Attorney David Knoll (Texas) said, “In general, enforceability of a release form can vary greatly from state to state, so I would recommend using a local lawyer to draft one. While having a client sign a release might discourage the client from suing if the pet suffers an injury, if the release does not provide an adequate description of the risks involved, the client could argue that she did not assume the risk because the risks weren’t clearly ex-plained to her.” He recommends that groomers can do further research on this topic by looking up “enforceability of releases” on the internet. You could also consider having a discussion with your insurance agent about release forms to see if they can offer advice. Insurance companies have lawyers on staff and could be an excellent source of information.

THE BEST POLICY

We have all heard the old saying, “honesty is the best policy.” If a pet is injured while you are grooming it, tell the owner. Don’t let them go home and discover the dogs paw pad was snipped with scissors when the dog cavorts through the house bleeding on the antique oriental carpet. The discussions can be difficult, but it is important to have them. Tell the truth and don’t place blame - act like the professional you are. “Mr. Wiggles kicked his little foot when I was trim-ming the hair there and the edge of the scissor damaged his pad. It bled a little, but I applied first aid and he seems perfectly fine now.” Show the customer what the injury looks like so they see that all is well. Then if the dog goes home and causes further dam-age to the paw by running or licking,

the customer knows just what the site looked like when they picked the dog up. Taking pictures for your records can be a very good idea as well. Make a note in the file about the incident and what was said to the owner so if there is problem down the road, you will be able to remember what was said and done. Most pet owners are rational people who can deal with incidents in a

mature way. Of course, there are those that can’t, but that is a topic for an entirely different article.

None of us like it, but accidents happen. Be as careful as you can be but be prepared in case an emergency happens. Because being a prepared groomer matters. ✂


BREAD & BUTTER GROOMING:

FAST & EASY PET TRIMS FOR THE SALON

by Kathy Rose

T he Old English Sheepdog, as the name suggests, originated from England in

the early 1800’s. This herding breed earned the nickname “Bobtail” because of the closely docked tail. Interest-ingly enough, early on, his docked tail signified that the dog was working and actually provided a tax exemption for their owners.

The Bobtail’s profuse coat, in its natural state, requires considerable maintenance in order to keep him in good condition and free of matting. Unfortunately, the typical pet owner has some trouble with this, as is at-tested to by the number of abundantly coated dogs that we groomers must humanely shave on a regular basis.

If unable to keep up regular grooming, brushing, and bathing, the pet may require a shorter, com-fort trim that will prevent to the skin

shearing. Sad to say, we have all had to do those “peels”.

As preventative maintenance, a “puppy cut” is just what the groomer orders.

The length can be adapted relevant to the owner’s ability to brush and the frequency of salon visits. A “one length all over” trim is easy to execute and a breeze to maintain for the client. For this lovely girl, I used a “C” snap-on comb.

Fig.1) Begin clipping just behind the withers, following the coat growth direction.

Fig.2) Continue down the back and flanks, and over the rump. Then clip down the back of the rear leg to a few inches above the hock. Clip down the upper portion of the thighs, falling off at the Knee.

Fig.3) Reverse direction and then, starting about mid lower thigh,

clip upward over the rump. Only clip the back portion of the leg in reverse. This method will shorten the coat on the back of the rear legs, accentuating angulation.

Fig.4) Clip the undercarriage in reverse, against coat growth direction.

Fig.5) Lift the head and beard, and then clip the throat, neck, and fore chest. Begin clipping just under the jaw and ear base. Follow the contour of the chest and clip down between the front legs into the undercarriage.

Fig.6) Lift the front leg and clip down the front and sides of the front legs. Do not clip the back of the front legs. Use a skimming technique as you get closer to the bottom of the leg. The idea is to create a cylinder leg and avoid a peg leg appearance.

Fig.7) Use blenders to shorten and blend the coat on the back portion of the rear legs and to blend the rump

OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG SHORT PET TRIM

AFTER

BEFORE


and croup onto the back. Next, blend the longer coat on the sides and bot-tom of the rear legs.

Trim the stray hairs on the undercarriage, following the natural underline of the dog.

Fig. 8) Use curved shears to round the feet.

Fig. 9) Tidy the front of the rear legs to show a slight bend in stifle and blend into the foot.

Blend the sides of the front legs into the back portion of the front legs.

Fig. 10) Tighten up the coat on the upper arm where the arm meets the shoulder. This will help to place the front legs under the dog.

Fig. 11) Tidy the throat and chest.

Fig. 12) Shorten the coat on the sides of the neck and blend the back of the neck onto the withers and back.

Use thinning shears to trim the eye corners.

Lift the coat on the top skull between your index and middle finger, and then trim the excess with blenders or thinning shears.

Comb the cheek coat outward and then trim with blenders. This method will help give fullness to the cheeks and keep the head in propor-tion to the body.

Secure the dog’s muzzle with your thumb and fingers. Lessen the risk of cutting the tongue by placing your fingers on the front of the lips.

Working from the side, lift the ear and trim the visor with thinning shears.

Hold the muzzle closed, trim the beard across the bottom and then round upward toward the ear. Finish up by slightly tidying the visor with thinning shears.

It is always unfortunate to be forced to shave a pet all the way to the skin because of severe matting. Of course, we try to recommend frequent salon visits, home brush-ing, and finally, shorter pet trims

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Elite Grooming TableScreamin’ Green

FIG. 1

FIG. 2

FIG. 3

FIG. 4


we do !

petpaint is:-dog-safe-vet-tested-temporary-washable-easy to use

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to accommodate the coated breeds living with parents unskilled in the fine art of brushing. My mantra to my clients: visit the grooming salon regularly, learn to brush your pet, or learn to like him in a short trim! ✂

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

FIG. 7

FIG. 8

FIG. 10

FIG. 9 FIG. 11

FIG. 12

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Absolutely Clean® Pet Stain & Odor Remover is ideal for pet accidents as it gets rid of the unsightly spots and smells that have appeared on your home’s rugs, upholstery, fabric, clothing, grout, leather and more. It can also be used to tackle smells and stains in your car, because we know how much our pets love to come with us but accidents still happen. It even removes skunk odors if your pet has had the misfortune to come into contact with your local Pepe LePew.

Absolutely Clean® Pet Safe Multi Surface Cleaner, on the other hand, is a strong household cleaning product that you can use for your everyday cleaning routine. It cuts grease and grime in the kitchen or bathroom, cleans wood and tile floors. It works on glass top stoves, counters and won’t streak stainless appliances.

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Double K Industries and PetGroomer.com present their 2015 7th Annual Rags to Riches Groom-ing Contest open to all professional groomers starting

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PUERTO RICOPET PRO CRUISE 1/9/2016 — 1/17/2016San Juan, PR (321) [email protected]

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NORTHWEST GROOMING SHOW4/23/2015 — 4/26/2015Tacoma WA

PET BOARDING & DAYCARE EXPO WEST5/4/2015 — 5/7/2015Burbank CA

PETQUEST6/25/2015 — 6/28/2015Wilmington OH

ALL AMERICAN GROOMING SHOW8/6/2015 — 8/9/2015Wheeling IL

GROOM EXPO9/17/2015 — 9/20/2015Hershey PA

NEW ENGLAND GROOMING SHOW10/2/2015 — 10/4/2015Sturbridge MA

PET BOARDING & DAYCARE EXPO11/9/2015 — 11/12/2015Hershey PA

GROOM EXPO WEST2/4/2016 — 2/7/2016Pasadena CA

Barkleigh Productions EVENTS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS TO LIST YOUR EVENT, SEND IT TO [email protected]

Barkleigh Productions, Inc.(717) 691-3388 • Fax (717) 691-3381www.barkleigh.comwww.groomertogroomer.com

Proverbial WisdomA wise youth makes hay while the sun shines, but what a shame to see a lad who sleeps away his hour of opportunity.

Proverbs 10:5Living Bible

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EACH blade examined personally, sharpened to perfection, demagnetized and tested. Sockets and springs adjusted, blades individu-ally sealed, READY TO USE. Sole proprietor w/ 20+ years experience. FACTORY-TRAINED to sharpen shears/blades. Customized tip sheet included w/ order - PROMPT RETURN. Clipper Blades $5,Shears $7, S/H $7. PA residents add 7%. John’s Sharpening, 1213 Middle St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212-4838. (412) 321-1522 [email protected].

GROOMER’S SHEARS HAND HONED SHARPENING JAPANESE STYLE REPAIR AND RECONDITIONING 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE $15.00 PLUS SHIPPING THE SHARPER EDGE INC REFERENCES PROVIDED (305) 299-9955 CAREY

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Well established Turn-key Grooming Business for sale. Fully equipped with Retail. Great Location. Large Clientele & growing. In Maryland - call 301-824-3371

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1 - 8 0 0 - P R O W A H L w w w . w a h l a n i m a l . c o m

2 0 1 4 B A R K L E I G H H O N O R S

REC O GNIZ ING GREAT ACH I EVEMENTSIN THE GROOMI NG I NDUSTRY

WAHL X-TREME

TEAM MEMBER

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WAHL X-TREME

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When You Purchase $2000 or more of Paw Brothers® Professional and

Value Groom® Equipment. *Within the contiguous United States Only.

While Supplies LastMust Use Coupon CodeSome Exclusions Apply

Expires 03/31/15

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©2015 G&G Distribution Inc. All rights reserved. Pricing, shipping terms and manufacturer specs subject to change. Prices good through March 31, 2015 - While Supplies Last

INCLUDES SHAMPOOS!

On Orders $150.00or MoreMust Use Coupon Code Some Exclusions Apply

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Show Your Style This Spring with NEW Groomwear from Paw Brothers® & Tikima

Groomer to Groomer March 2015

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