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LEARNING

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by D.J. Williams & Ellen Kominars

AND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

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7 Signs that may Indicate a Medical Problem 12

Oquendo: Grooming at Westminster 2017

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Omboy: Just Surprise Me!

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Hosler: Pet Drying: More than Hot Air

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Ask the Grooming Tutor: 60 Boss/Employee Role Reversal Communication & Education: Everything 64 Depends on it New Products 72

Raisanen: Cats and Dryers

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Classifieds 72

Self Service: Is it for You?

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Calendar of Events 73

EDITORIAL STAFF

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ALSO INSIDE Connor: Splitting Hairs

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017

5

GROOMING MATTERS

by Daryl Conner

SPLITTING

HAIRS

When I was a new groomer, it was common practice for customers to bring badly matted dogs in, fully expecting that we would dematt the animal.

And we did. It was a routine event for groomers to invest hours removing tangles, and rarely did we charge extra. It was all in a day’s work.

T

hen grooming shows and seminars began to pop up across the country. Groomers were becoming more educated, and were networking and discussing our unique profession among themselves. The industry started to become a bit more unified and professional.

And then the internet became easily accessible to people, and groups designed just for groomers started popping up. Ideas were shared and groomers, who often worked alone or

6

in small groups and felt isolated, were suddenly surrounded by hundreds of people with whom they could share ideas and techniques.

Some brave and experienced groomers allowed that they would not dematt just any dog, and the rest of us perked up our ears and took notice.

We learned that we could refuse to perform certain tasks. The tide began to change. But one thing has not changed; many pet owners still bring badly tangled dogs to us and say, “I

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017

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don’t want him shaved.” What is a groomer to do?

With more modern dematting products such as bathing systems, high velocity dryers, hand tools, shampoos, conditioners, tangle smoothing sprays, potions and lotions, the work of ridding a pet of mats is easier than it once was. However, performing extensive dematting is not always a good idea.

Knowing how to effectively and humanely brush tangles out is a skill that every good groomer should possess.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 35 Ed 6 • June 2016

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Some dogs will tolerate the process needed to rid their coat of tangles quite well. Other dogs will behave as if every stroke of the brush or comb is some form of medieval torture.

We should also possess the wisdom to know when to use that skill. Following are some guidelines to help you discern if dematting a pet is a good idea, or a horrible one.

• Some dogs will tolerate the process needed to rid their coat of tangles quite well. Other dogs will behave as if every stroke of the brush or comb is some form of medieval torture. Groomers need to discern which of these personality types the dog is early on.

• Similarly, some dogs have

delicate skin which is easily irritated by even minor amounts of brushing and combing. Among others, toy breeds with white or light colored coats are likely to fit this description, as are elderly pets.

• Beyond the pet’s capacity to accept dematting, there are the owners to consider. I am unlikely to dematt a dog which is regularly presented to me with a matted coat.

For those pets, a short haircut is best. However, if a pet owner that normally has their dog groomed

regularly and takes good care of the pet has one instance in which the coat got out of control, I may exercise my skills and save the coat to the best of my ability.

I do tell people that I have a “one time magic wand rule”. That means I will dematt their pet (if possible, and if the animal will tolerate the process) just once. If it comes in matted again, I will clip the coat short. I make my rule very clear so that the owner does not expect me to perform miracles at each visit.

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Keep in mind and educate the customer to the fact that a matted coat is a damaged coat, and that more damage will occur during the dematting process.

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• Keep in mind and educate the customer to the fact that a matted coat is a damaged coat, and that more damage will occur during the dematting process. Damaged coat will tangle more easily. This can create a vicious cycle.

So how should a groomer react if a customer demands that they dematt a dog? If your relationship with the customer is such that they insist you perform work that you feel is impossible, impractical, or unkind, you are already on shaky ground. This requires you to take control of the situation; firmly and professionally.

Let’s do a little role playing.

Mrs. Strict brings you a golden doodle that has not seen a brush in 4 months. Upon your initial examination of the dog’s coat, you feel that she has areas of thick, clumpy matting on all four legs, her chest, ears, face, and tail. Mrs. Strict says, “I absolutely do not want her cut short. I hate how she looks when she has short hair.” Your evaluation tells you that if the dog will accept dematting, it will take you at least an additional hour of work to brush these tangles out. Turn this into a teaching opportunity.

Using a brush, and more importantly, a comb, show the customer what it will take to remove just one of the mats. Put the dog up on a grooming table and have the customer use the brush and comb. Explain to them that you must be able to get the comb from the pet’s skin to the tip of the hair, all over the dog, before you can do the hair cut she desires. At this point you might consider offering some options: 1) You can offer to let the customer take a brush, comb and some dematting spray home and brush

the dog out. If the customer accepts the challenge, one of two things will most likely happen. The first is that they manage to remove the tangles.

The second is that they will see how difficult that is and acquiesce, allowing a short haircut.

2) You can offer to dematt the dog, being very clear that this is a painstaking, time–consuming job and there will be an additional charge. (Many groomers charge $1 or more per minute, on top of the regular grooming fee. Offer a realistic estimate so the owner can decide if they choose to spend additional funds on the project.)

3) Explain that you can clip the dog short this time, then get it on a regular 6–week schedule so that in the future you can offer the longer

style she desires. Remind her that hair grows quickly and that the dog will be back to her fluffy self in just a matter of weeks.

What if Mrs. Strict then gets snarky with you and says something like, “You must not be very good at your job,” or, “This is your job and I expect you to do it,”? A calm and professional response is needed.

I would suggest something like, “My skill is not in question, my willingness to perform the job you are asking for is.”

If you feel the dog cannot be safely and comfortably detangled you might say, “It would be ethically wrong for me to do what you are asking because it would be painful and perhaps dangerous to your pet.”

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And if she persists? “We cannot seem to agree on the best way to care for your dog, so I believe another groomer will be your best option.”

The key here is to remain calm and matter of fact.

One of the best things about being a groomer here and now is that we, as an industry, have become more professional in the past several decades. We offer a unique skill set to the pet owning public, and we should be proud of our knowledge and expertise. Sometimes it can be a challenge to educate people about what services we can offer to them, but it helps to remember that ultimately it is the pet owner that holds the key to the condition of their dog’s coat. ✂

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017

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SIGNS

MEDICAL PROBLEM

THAT MAY INDICATE A

E by Lisa Perri DosPassos e

The field of canine physical rehabilitation has grown tremendously over the past 20 years. Many veterinarians and pet owners have come to find rehab therapists as valuable resources when pets are injured, recovering from surgery or having difficulty with mobility.

A

canine rehab professional may touch upon areas similar to what, as humans, we seek out in physical therapy, massage therapy, athletic training and personal trainers.

Professional dog groomers and stylists are also valuable resources for pet owners when it comes to their pet’s health and well–being. The groomer has a unique opportunity to see a dog regularly and can alert an owner when they notice infections in the skin, ears, eyes or even the dreaded anal glands.

Lumps and bumps, weight loss and body condition are just some of the

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things that groomers take notice of when working with a dog.

When a dog is experiencing pain or discomfort, they may show subtle signs that can be easy to miss. A dog that has pain is certainly more likely to display unwanted behaviors when handled. Below is a list of some common signs and indications that a dog may be experiencing pain, weakness or discomfort.

OR “ROACHED” 1) ROUNDED TOPLINE Everyone loves a nice straight topline on a dog. If a dog presents

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017

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with a curved, rounded or even “pointed” back, a red flag should go up. As dogs age, they can lose muscle mass, strength and flexibility through the spine, contributing to poor spinal posture. A rounded spine may also be an indication that there is trouble somewhere else in the body, such as a painful limb.

OF SHIFTING 2) AVOIDANCE WEIGHT TO A LIMB

As you lift each leg of a dog, they shift their weight through the other 3 limbs. If you observe a dog that consistently does not want to

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“Guarding” the area of the waist is often seen in a dog with an iliopsoas strain. Look for twitching or stiffening of the muscles around this area when touched to give you a better idea if this is a problem with pain versus behavior. off-load a limb, take a closer look.

The limb on the opposite side may be painful or too weak to support the dog. This is common with conditions such as hip dysplasia and arthritis.

TO STAND FOR 3) INABILITY SEVERAL MINUTES

A fit dog should be able to stand upright for 3 minutes or more. You can probably think of several dogs that constantly want to lie down when they are on the table. This is not only frustrating, but is also concerning. Why does this dog need to lie down so quickly? Obesity, poor conditioning, painful joints, chronic disease or injury may be to blame.

WHEN 4) REACTING TOUCHED AT THE WAIST We have all encountered that dog that will whip around and snap when you touch or hold them around the waist. This may be the result of under–socialization or poor exposure to being handled as a young dog. Or this can be an indication that the dog has pain in their hips, back or hind legs. A common muscle injury in the hind end is a strain of the Iliopsoas muscle group. “Guarding” the area of the waist is often seen in a dog with an iliopsoas strain. Look for twitching or stiffening of the muscles around this area when touched to give you a better idea if this is a problem with pain versus behavior.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017

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WANTING TO MOVE 5) NOT FRONT LEGS FORWARD A dog with a painful shoulder, neck or rib may not be comfortable having their front leg moved forward. Dogs naturally carry 60 percent of their weight through the front end. Any front end lameness or pain should be taken seriously.

DISLIKE OF HAV6) STRONG ING FEET/NAILS TOUCHED

This may yield an eye–roll, after all, what dog enjoys having their feet touched? The take–away here is to be on the lookout for a dog that has a particular foot or toe that they strongly protest having touched. Or a dog that previously did not fuss about their feet but now reacts when handled. Arthritis of the wrists and toes can be a sneaky culprit, and may make it very painful for a toe or foot to be flexed, pressed or squeezed.

IN THE LIMBS 7) ASYMMETRY OR MUSCLES

As a groomer, you have an eye for balance and symmetry when clipping and trimming the coat. Be aware of any imbalance, asymmetry or visual difference in the muscles or posture of the limbs of the dog. A dog that is not using a limb properly will likely have smaller muscles on that side, or may hold the leg in a different position when standing, sitting or lying down. Knee ligament

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TIPS FOR KEEPING DOGS

SAFE & HAPPY AT YOUR SALON: NO JUMPING DOWN

Teach your clients to lift or assist the dogs as they get out of the car. In the salon, never let a dog jump down off of the table, out of the tub, or down from a high cage, no matter how big they are or how much they want to.

TRACTION, TRACTION, TRACTION From the moment a dog walks in the door, they should have secure, non–slip flooring to walk and stand on. This is important for dogs of all ages. The floor in the waiting room, salon, tub, crate and table should provide a sturdy, non-slip grip for the dogs.

KEEP THE OLD DOGS WARM Older dogs, especially with arthritis, need extra TLC. Dry them as soon as possible and keep them warm to avoid causing stiffness in their joints.

injuries are very common, and usually lead to muscle wasting on the injured leg.

Dogs are often stoic creatures, and do a good job of adapting to painful changes in their bodies.

Whether from injury, disease or changes from aging, dogs can hide their pain very well. As their groomer, you handle and touch a dog in ways that their owners may not. You are a valuable part of their health and well– being, in addition to their good looks.

If you notice any signs of pain or discomfort in a dog, encourage their owners to have the dog checked out by their veterinarian and their rehab therapist for a full evaluation. ✂ Lisa DosPassos, OTR/L, CCRP, is a canine rehabilitation practitioner from southern Pennsylvania. Lisa spent over 14 years working as a veterinary technician, as she went on to become an occupational therapist. She is one of the few occupational therapists that have become canine rehab therapists, through the University of Tennessee program. She and her husband compete in the sport of flyball, and train in disc, agility, weight pull, barn hunt and dock diving with their dogs. Next Level Canine Rehab & Fitness is located in Chester County Pennsylvania, serving canine athletes and family companions alike. www.nextlevelcaninerehab.com

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Don’t let your best friend get sick.

Canine flu is a highly contagious respiratory disease for dogs* • Possible symptoms: coughing, sneezing, loss of appetite, lethargy, fever • Spreads directly from dog to dog and via sneeze droplets through the air • Can be transmitted indirectly (water bowls, toys, collars, leashes, hands, shoes, and clothing)

Social dogs are most at risk • Dog parks • Boarding facilities

• Kennels • Doggie day care

• Pet shows/sporting events • Groomers

Other facts • Unlike human flu, canine flu can strike all-year round • Dogs can spread canine flu before showing any symptoms • Can cause pneumonia, with the potential to be fatal

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BEHAVIOR CLIPS

by Gary Wilkes

LEARNING BY DOING:

AGGRESSION

AND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS When I was starting a private behavior practice, I had already trained two working dogs for my municipal animal control agency. I knew dogs. I knew training. To broaden the scope of my services, I spent a great deal of time learning about behavior modification.

T

hat left me with a problem.

My training knowledge was at odds with the mainstream of “behavioral therapy”.

Behavioral psychologists and their followers seemed woefully ignorant of how to change behavior in a living, breathing organism. For instance, the behavioral science mantra was that positive reinforcement was good and punishment was bad. Everybody said so. They still do.

What wasn’t offered was a convincing reason why the necessary forceful handling in shelters, vet clinics or grooming salons isn’t traumatic, but a dog in training is

20

damaged by 1/10th of that kind of stress. They also said that punishment causes retaliatory aggression, so therefore punishment could not be used to stop aggressive behavior.

(That is as fresh as an article in Psychology Today that recently tried to push that concept.)

Why would I be scared of some academic’s boogeyman about triggering aggression—I did that all the time as a dog catcher. I was never injured and I never injured an aggressive dog. This disconnect left me with a simple choice—I could follow someone else’s rules or I could find out for myself what worked and what

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didn’t. I trusted to my knowledge of dogs and training and realized that I would have to learn by doing.

One of my first clients was a woman who owned two dogs: a Queensland Heeler, Molly, and a Poodle/Terrier mix named Punkie.

The problem was that they had suddenly decided to kill each other. On further inquiry, I discovered that they fit the profile for inter–female aggression, perfectly. Punkie, was about 3 years old, and the Heeler was about 18 months. This age pattern is often a predictor of serious aggression. The younger dog was reaching social maturity, while the older

dog was not willing to put up with competition from a “youngster”. Any sign of threat from either dog would spark an attack.

While Punkie usually got the worst of the fights, she was unable to prevent them—she had a typical Terrier tail carriage. For hundreds of years, Terriers have been selected for short, ultra–strong tails. This super-musculature causes the tail of a Terrier to ride high, over the back, twitching back and forth with the sideways motion of a mechanical metronome. While this may seem irrelevant, it was actually a critical part of the problem. A dog's tail, held high over the back and twitching side to side is called "flagging". It is perceived as a threat by many other dogs. None of Molly’s family did that.

Heelers stand with their tails pointing straight to the ground. Punkie was almost constantly flagging. If this behavior corresponded with the slightest hint of eye contact, the Heeler would launch a strike.

The owner was able to defuse several situations that otherwise would have led to a fight. My goal of teaching an alternate behavior was achieved, and I was confident that positive reinforcement would change the world—at least for these two dogs.

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The owner was able to defuse several situations that otherwise would have led to a fight. My goal of teaching an alternate behavior was achieved, and I was confident that positive reinforcement would change the world—at least for these two dogs.

At the end of the third session, I was making even more progress. I had taught Molly to lie quietly while Punkie walked over the top of her, stood in front of her and generally invaded Molly's space. At the end of

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21

I was talking to the owner, who was not watching the dogs.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Punkie was flagging and looking straight at Molly. One more moment and I would be in the middle of a dog fight.

the session, I packed my brief case and started to leave. I was talking to the owner, who was not watching the dogs. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Punkie was flagging and looking straight at Molly. One more moment and I would be in the middle of a dog fight.

My brain raced to a couple of conclusions. First, I was too far away to interpose my body or grab either of the dogs. Second, throwing something at the dogs would be a great way to disrupt the fight.

The only thing in my hand was my hard-sided, plastic briefcase - which would probably damage one or both of them. The only other throw-able object was a "throw" pillow on the couch. I barked the word "NO!" and then threw the pillow at the heeler.

The pillow caught her full in the face,

with as much force as I could impart to such a fluffy object. Molly yipped in fear, tucked her tail and ran down the hallway, submissively wetting as she went.

We found her huddling in terror under a bed. She refused to come out.

The aggression stopped instantly.

There were no more overtures to aggression for two weeks. Molly no longer reacted to formerly threatening gestures—even when Punkie ‘flagged’ her tail. Her sensitivity to positive reinforcement for passive behavior seemed heightened. She did not develop a long lasting tendency to hide under the bed, she did not show fear of me or retaliatory aggression.

Go figure.

That was 30 years and about ten thousand dogs ago. That single instance taught me several things.

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The "real" side effects of punishment were pretty interesting. My first startling discovery was that that the punished animal gets VERY attentive.

Suddenly you, the trainer, become an important source of information.

First, the popular attitude about punishment was wrong—by a pretty wide margin. None of the harmful side effects that were preached by the prevailing philosophy happened. On the contrary, the changes in behavior affected by the proper use of "coercion" were beneficial. I was surprised by this conclusion, so I went back and started reading materials that had fostered my earlier beliefs.

Here's what I found. Invariably,

ideological statements about punishment described incorrect applications by people who have no real experience with applying it. The most amazing thing was that these critics sounded exactly like the opponents of using food and clickers in training—only from the opposite perspective.

The "real" side effects of punishment were pretty interesting. My first startling discovery was that the punished animal gets VERY at-

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tentive. Suddenly you, the trainer, become an important source of information. This happens immediately. Rather than alienating the dog, it made Molly “suck up and get straight”. I instantly had a much better relationship than if I had used positive reinforcement alone.

Second, I learned that those who believed in the myths of punishment were likely to punish anyone who contradicted their superstitions. Ironically, those who preached exclusively positive reinforcement were the most likely to use "coercion" on anyone who didn't agree with them.

Third, I learned that there is a powerful tool that can not only stop serious behaviors but prevent them from coming back. The current catechism suggests we should never use it because of “terrible side effects”. How do those side effects compare to having a dog die because it keeps knocking the kids down, destroying property, killing cats, running at large and biting people and other dogs? A smart person would investigate how to reduce or eliminate the side effects—but that would require actually learning how to use the tool. ✂

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JUST

SURPRISE

ME!

E by Dawn Omboy e www.queenofcolor.com

FIG. 1

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017

T

oby is one of my favorite little poodle dudes. He is a faded red, oversized toy that I just happen to adore. I have to laugh when he is being checked in and my husband, who runs the grooming salon check–in for a few hours in the morning, asked Toby's mom if she would like the same haircut as last time. Truth is, I have free reign with Toby and his mom never knows what he is going to look like when she comes to pick him up. So it made me giggle to hear the question asked, then she

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says "just surprise me".

On this particular grooming visit, I decided that some strategically placed color enhancements were just the thing that would make my day. I would like to share with you what I did to achieve the new look for Toby.

Normally Toby gets a freestyle teddy type head, a 5 body and scissored in legs, but today I started off with adding color enhancements to outline his jacket with a brown dye.

Fig 1) I used a dye application

FIG. 2

brush to evenly apply the dye, creating the outer edges.

Fig 2) Once I finished this part, I went back and clipped out the inside of the jacket with a 5 blade so I could then add an animal pattern to

FIG. 3

the shorter hair. I only clipped inside the dye lines, so once rinsed, there will be depth to the jacket pattern.

Fig 3) With this part done, I used a small, firm paint brush to add a random animal pattern to the

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FIG. 4

inside of Toby's jacket.

Fig 4) Moving right along to his ears, I put on disposable gloves and rested his ear in my gloved hand. I first outlined, then filled it in with the dye, coating the hair well.

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27

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

FIG. 7

FINAL

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Fig 5) Next is my famous trick for protecting the head from dye, should the dog try to shake while processing. Hold the ear in your gloved hand and, with your other hand, gently pull the glove off your hand and up over the ear, trapping the dyed ear inside the glove. Secure the glove to the hair above the ear with locking hemostats, taking care not to catch any skin. Repeat on other ear. This will keep and protect ears during the process of setting the dye. Foil could easily become color projectile, decorating your shop in an unwanted manner. And I have found dogs do a lot less head shaking with my method.

Fig 6) Lastly, I wanted to add color to his cuffs. Making sure he was standing on something to protect my table top, I also brushed the same dye on his cuffs, starting from the foot working up in a line brushing fashion. I placed baggies on his back feet and tied them in place so dye would not smear, should he feel the need to sit and relax while I timed him for 30 minutes with my handy kitchen timer.

Fig 7) Toby was then rinsed until the water ran clear, then bathed and dried as normal. To groom this out, you would just follow the pattern set with the dye, leaving the colored outline fuller.

Now, just enjoy all that cuteness!

It will be hard not to take a bazillion pictures, and make sure to watch mom's face when she first sees him.

That little bugger makes my day every time I have the honor of working with him. ✂ Making the World more Colorful, one dog at a time... Queen of Color.

Go to www.queenofcolor.com or visit me on Facebook.

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29

HCIHW

WHICH

si

thgiR

ROF

EM

Right

is

FOR

ME

E by D.J. Williams & Ellen Kominars e

N

eeded not just to save time, but also to get “the right look”, pet grooming dryers are some of the most important pieces of equipment in a pet grooming salon. The decision of which to buy can be complicated. The type of dryer, available utilities, length of hose, intended location of the dryer, tolerance for sound, performance, and budget—along with a host of other factors—need to be considered.

Drying pet hair requires more

30

time than drying human hair because pets have so much more of it. Showing consideration for hair density and diameter, a typical Golden Retriever has 30 times the surface area of hair than a person with a nominal length of 10” hair.

Most humans have a scalp size in the range of 120 to 150 square inches with about 700 hairs per square inch. Most people with a full head of hair have between 70,000 and 125,000 strands of hair. Based

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on a 10” hair length and 0.0027” hair shaft diameter, the surface area of a human’s hair is about 70 square feet.

This is about the surface area of one side (inside or out) of both halves of a sliding patio door.

Dogs, depending on the coat type, have from 1,000 to 6,000 hairs per square inch. A typical Standard Poodle has 20 times the surface area of a human’s hair, and a Golden Retriever has about 30 times the surface area of a human’s hair. So, re-

ferring back to the sliding patio door example, while the surface area of a woman’s hair is equal to one set of patio doors, the Poodle and the Golden have hair surface areas of 20 or 30 sets of sliding doors, respectively.

All this hair holds water primarily as a function of surface area. The water must be removed at the right time in the grooming process in order to obtain “the right look”.

Three primary types of pet grooming dryers include the cage dryer, the stand dryer, and the high velocity dryer. This article focuses on understanding the differences, benefits and uses of these three dryer types.

Before examining details of the three dryer types, it is important to review the technical terminology in order to understand the buzzwords that apply to all dryers. This nomenclature includes: • c.f.m. is cubic feet per minute. It is the volume, in cubic feet, of air that is moved in a minute. This attribute is important for cage dryers, where large volumes of air need to be moved but not necessarily at a high velocity.

• f.p.m. relates to air velocityin units of the feet per minute. This performance attribute is important with the high velocity dryers that rely upon air speed to mechanically push water from the coat.

The c.f.m. and f.p.m. attributes are determined by the blower motor manufacturer and are different from one product design to the next. These performance variables include configuration, air inlet and outlet aperture size, hose diameter and length.

• Amps is the amount of electrical current in amperes. Most newer wall circuits are 20 amperes. Some older circuits are only 15 amperes. Many of the larger double motor high velocity dryers draw at or near 20 amps, necessitating a dedicated circuit, as

20 amps is the limit of conventional residential and commercial circuits.

• Volts or voltage is typically 115/120 for common appliances in the USA. 240v circuits are typical for electric clothes dryers. Europe and Asia primarily have 240 volt circuits.

• H.P. and Watt are related in that they both represent energy. Watts = Volts x Amps and there are 746 Watts in 1 Horsepower (H.P.). Electrical efficiency and power factor are ignored, as they are negligible with the small motor size.

THE SURFACE AREA OF

A WOMAN’S HAIR IS EQUAL TO

1 SET OF PATIO DOORS

THE POODLE HAS THE

ELECTRIC HEATING ELEMENT: To take advantage of the evaporation effect, many cage, stand, and a few of the high velocity dryers have electric elements to elevate ambient air temperature. Timers and dryer location are very important for pet safety with dryers that have heat. Adding a heating element to a dryer dramatically improves air’s ability to carry moisture as the temperature increases.

There is a six-fold increase in the

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HAIR SURFACE AREA OF

20 20 SETS OF PATIO DOORS

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Variable speed control is an excellent feature on most of the dryer types. It does add cost to a dryer, so it is sometimes offered as an option. The speed control board controls the rotation speed of the blower motor. ability of air to carry water as it is heated from 70 F (21 C) to 140 F (60 C). The 140 F value is of interest with humans, as it is commonly accepted as the “threshold of pain” value. Most dryers will deliver air at or near this crucial 140 F (60 C) temperature. Unfortunately a dog body temperature above 106 F, for even a short period of time, is very dangerous, resulting in heat stroke and possible death.

Of course the dryer’s warm air is mixed with cooler ambient air and can be very effective in removing moisture. However, prolonged exposure in

32

closed areas with high starting ambient temperatures is fertile grounds for disaster. On the flip side, due to the cooling effect of evaporation, in cool ambient air, the pet can be chilled without heat. This makes the timer feature of high interest, as it can provide a balance.

SPEED CONTROL: Variable speed control is an excellent feature on most of the dryer types. It does add cost to a dryer, so it is sometimes offered as an option. The speed control board controls the rota-

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tion speed of the blower motor. This is done with an electronic device called a Triac. In a variable resistance circuit, this device acts just like a dimmer for lights in a home.

A speed control potentiometer controls the point in each cycle that the triac is triggered on. With the speed control turned all the way up, the triac is turned on at the beginning of each cycle. As the speed control is turned down, the trigger point is delayed more and more. This reduces the average power fed to the motor and thus reduces speed.

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THE CAGE DRYER is designed such to replenish the air within the cage with new warm air

CAGE DRYERS Some grooming shops boast being “cage free” and have no use for the cage dryer while others have as many as ten units in use during a busy day. Cage dryers commonly have three key features: heat control, timer control and speed control.

These types of dryers are commonly placed on the floor or hung on the side of the cage in such a way that the air flow is below the dog’s eyes to avoid drying of the eyes. The dryers require very little intervention and allow the groomer to tend to other tasks while the animal is being dried.

A typical cage dryer may have from 1,000 to 4,000 f.p.m. The cage dryer is designed such to replenish the air within the cage with new warm air. As this warm air enters the

cage, it picks up moisture via evaporation. These dryers take advantage of the six-fold increase in the ability of air to carry water as it is heated from 70 F (21 C) to 140 F (60 C).

The “off delay” timer circuit is excellent on this dryer type. The unit automatically shuts off after timing out.

The frequently distracted pet groomer has the peace of mind that the unit will shut off automatically without any further effort, thereby protecting the animal from overheating.

An alternative to moving the dryer from one cage to another is enabled with a single dryer with multiple air outlets. The hose ends can be relocated from one cage to another as needed. There are apertures that can be closed on this cage dryer allowing airflow at one, two or three locations. With the two apertures

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STAND DRYERS enable “hands free” use, allowing the groomer to use both hands on the animal

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closed the airflow is directed out of a single outlet allowing the unit to be used with a hose to act as a high velocity dryer.

STAND DRYERS Stand dryers are used at the grooming table and are often referred to as “fluff dryers.” This type of dryer enables “hands free” use, allowing the groomer to use both hands on the animal.

These dryers are versatile in that they can be moved easily within the shop. They can also be used as cage dryers if they are placed in the right position in front of a cage. The dryer can then be easily moved near a grooming table to dry the dog during a brush out. A shortcoming of the stand dryer is that it does not have a flexible, hand-held hose. In order for

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a groomer to reach tight spots and to blow out tangles and mats, a high velocity dryer is usually needed.

Some dryer makers offer adaptor kits complete with special stands that allow high velocity dryers to be used as stand dryers.

HIGH VELOCITY DRYERS Many high velocity dryers do not have heat, as they rely on air impingement force to mechanically remove the water from the pet’s skin and coat. In other words, they “force” or “blast” the water off the animal’s skin and coat. Due to air friction, these dryers add 8-15 F to incoming ambient air. Motor arrangement, be it a series or parallel arrangement, affects both temperature and air speed. The “series configuration” adds more temperature than does the parallel.

The number of motors inside the dryer is important, though not always published by the dryer maker.

Generally, the most powerful high velocity dryers have more than one motor and often consume the bulk of available current on a conventional 20-amp circuit.

The lightest weight and lowest cost units are generally single motor dryers. They typically draw between 6-15 amps. Arranged in a “series” circuit, the dual motor dryers deliver between 1.3-1.5 times the amps of a single motor unit. This configuration is excellent with long hoses (over 33 feet), as air volume and velocity drop only minimally.

Dual motor dryers arranged in “parallel” deliver almost twice the volume or about 190% of the single motor. However, this arrangement is

prone to performance loss if the hose runs over 33 feet.

The two configurations above deliver the same airflow with a hose length of about 33 feet. Therefore if the hose run is less than about 30 feet, the parallel configuration will outperform the series. Single vs. two motor dryers can be distinguished by their size and shape. The long single canister has two motors in series airflow and the large “twin” canister or wider box dyer has two motors in parallel.

A large double coated Golden that would take 3 hours to dry with a hand blow dryer might take 42 minutes with a single motor high velocity dryer and only 22 minutes with the two motor configuration. This dryer type is of interest to the large volume grooming shop where there are never enough minutes in the day.

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HIGH VELOCITY DRYERS are of interest to the large grooming shops where there are never enough minutes in the day

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37

LIQUID PRODUCTS With so much said on reducing blow dry time with different dryer types, it is important to acknowledge that there are also liquid products available that dramatically reduce dry time. These products improve slip between hair strands with quaterniums that smooth and coat the individual strands. Such spray-on detangling and dematting products can be used before and after the bathing process.

Such products, if well formulated, also contain conditioning agents that repair much of the damage caused by brushing and drying.

This type of product will accelerate both the mechanical removal and evaporation processes by getting the water to sheet on the hair shaft. The sheeting is accomplished by reducing the surface tension of water remain-

ing in the coat. Such “spray on–leave in” products have been proven to reduce blow dry time by as much as 50%. Some large volume pet grooming shop owners mandate that their bathers use such products for the purpose of reducing blow dry time.

IN CONCLUSION Deciding which dryer to purchase is made easier by understanding each of the available products. Shop owners will show consideration for their unique environment and budget. For example, a mobile groomer generally looks for the highest performance high velocity dryer that generates the least noise and draws the least amount of current. A large facility with many cages, on the other hand, will become experts at taking advantage of the “crossover” units that can act as both

cage and high velocity dyers. Budget, shop type (cage free shop vs. with cages and mobile vs. salon), available utilities, and shop layout all influence which dryer is best to purchase for each application. ✂

REFERENCES 1. A.L. Hunting (1985). Encyclopedia of Shampoo Ingredients. New Jersey: Micelle Press, Inc. 2. Williams, Daniel. “A comparison of air velocity with increased hose length in three motor arrangements.” EZ-Groom Internal Publication June 12, 2009.

3. Cosmetic Bench Reference, Allured Publishing Company, Abbott Park, IL 1998 4. Meisler, Elizer. “Independent variables studies by percentage separately and together for synergistic reduction of water’s surface tension” EZ-Groom Internal Publication July 12, 2007.

Daniel J. Williams is the managing director of EZ-Groom Pet Products Inc. in Oak Park, Michigan, U.S.A. He holds an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Lawrence Technological University and has completed advanced studies in metallurgy and thermodynamics. Dan earned a master’s degree in business administration from Baker College and has completed the University of Chicago Advanced Leadership program. He has authored numerous articles on cosmetics, and metallurgy as it relates to pet grooming shears. Dan has designed and engineered a number of manufacturing projects at metalmaking factories in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Over the past 22 years, Dan has served as president and CEO of three small closely held organizations where he managed a number of mergers and acquisitions. Dan has worked with EZ-Groom since 2002.

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PET DRYING

MORE THAN

HOT AIR E by Kathy Hosler e

Pet dryers are one of the most important pieces of equipment that a stylist uses. They are essential for producing a beautiful groom.

They also allow you to make wise use of your time, while you provide a safe and stress free experience for the pets you groom.

T

o get the optimum performance from any dryer, you've got to know how to properly use it. However, some of the most important and time saving procedures to remove the excess moisture from a pet's coat happen before you turn the dryer on.

THE ALL-IMPORTANT BATH Of course you want every pet that you groom to go home squeaky clean.

All the dirt, grease, and skin flakes must be removed from its skin and hair to facilitate quick and complete

40

drying. Have you ever tried to dry a Cocker ear that was still a little bit greasy? The hair doesn't want to dry, and it doesn't look clean.

GET THE SUDS OUT After the pet is washed, they need to be thoroughly rinsed. Then, remove as much water from the coat as possible by using your hands to squeeze out the excess while the pet is still in the bathtub. In shorter coated breeds like Labs, using a squeegee (going with the lay of the hair) will quickly remove a lot of water.

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Pets with longer hair should be towel dried. Do not rub the coat vigorously, that can tangle the coat and make your job more difficult.

Instead, press the towel against the coat and blot and squeeze to pull the water out. Place a couple of moisture magnets or other type of water absorbers on the pet, then wrap it with a thick towel. Many groomers refer to this as a burrito wrap.

You can then place the pet in a cage for anywhere from five to twenty minutes to allow as much water as possible to be pulled from

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41

IF YOU DRY

8 PETS

PER DAY 40 PER WEEK

YOU DRY

2,000

PETS PER YEAR

Drying that many pets can have a dramatic and

devastating impact on your hearing.

the hair. While the wrap is extracting moisture, you can be working on another client. Once you have removed as much excess water from the coat as possible, it's time to turn on the dryer—well, not just yet.

PROTECT THE PET Most groomers use an HV (high velocity) dryer to quickly and efficiently dry pets, but there are a few things that you need to know first.

HV drying can produce a lot of noise, and it can be very stressful for some pets. Place cotton in their ears before drying. (Remember to remove it when you are finished). In addition, a lot of groomers find that placing a Happy Hoodie on pets before they turn on the dryer really helps keep them calm and lowers their stress during the drying process.

Some pets cannot tolerate force drying. If you Google 'dryer induced seizures in dogs,' you can find many examples of pets that react badly to being force dried. If you are drying a dog and it becomes agitated, anxious,

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or distressed—stop immediately and allow it to calm down before continuing. These dogs may have to be air or cage dried, and then finished with a stand or fluff dryer.

PROTECT YOURSELF As important as it is to protect the pet's ears during drying, it is even more important to protect yourself. For a pet, the drying process occurs only once every few weeks. A groomer is exposed to the noise all day, every day.

If you dry 8 pets a day, that's 40 per week, and over 2,000 per year.

Drying that many pets can have a dramatic and devastating impact on your hearing. Many groomers suffer hearing loss or tinnitus that can be directly linked to the constant noise of the workplace.

In addition, when you are using a high velocity dryer, you should always wear a face shield, goggles, or safety glasses to keep debris from blowing into your eyes. And, a face mask can be a real lifesaver to keep you from ingesting or breathing in floating particles, hair, and any other particulates the HV dryer may put into the air you breathe.

You may think that all this is not necessary, but when you are drying thousands of pets, you have to take precautions to protect yourself too.

And when you make it part of your everyday routine, they take only a minute or two to complete. So do the prep, turn on your dryers, and make finishing those pets a breeze! ✂

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Call us at 877.800.2247 Visit us at www.b-air.com/pet/ Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017 43

FOCUSING ON FELINES

by Kim Raisanen

Cats & Dryers Some cats shouldn’t be dried by any dryer. But for the ones that we do dry, the quieter the dryer, the better it is for the cat! Cats for the most part don’t mind being dried, they just don’t like the sound and the feeling of the forced air on their face and whiskers.

N

o matter what technique you decide to use, placing an E–Collar or draping a towel around the cat’s shoulders will deflect some of the sound and airflow.

Once you become familiar with the cats that you groom, you will know what dryer they are okay with and which techniques not to use.

TOWEL DRYING I use a towel warmer to heat my

44

towels in order to lessen the chill of coming out of a bath. We want to keep the cats calm and this really helps. I wrap the kitty up in the warmed towel and sit with him on my lap for a couple of minutes. When that towel is saturated I replace it with another warmed towel. You may be surprised just how much water is absorbed. This technique allows the hair to dry at a faster rate, cutting down on drying time. When I have

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the cat wrapped in the towel, I will gently clean his ears and wash his face with a warm watered face cloth and rinseless cat shampoo.

Did you know that there are breeds of cats that you should only air dry? The Rex breed’s coat resembles a woman's hair that was just permed.

With these cats, you can towel dry them very well and then enhance their curls with a flea comb. If we were to blow dry their coats, their curls would

be blown out similar to a freshly groomed poodle. These curls are what sets up their breed uniqueness.

In addition to the Rex’s, towel drying is beneficial for those felines that you don’t think would or could tolerate a dryer at all. Those cats could include scared, physically fragile, seniors (10+), or aggressive in nature.

HANDHELD DRYER I personally use a well–known pet industry handheld dryer. It has 5 speeds of velocity and 5 heating levels, cool–shot button and an ION button. This dryer has held up with daily use for 4 years now. If you can find a quiet multi–level dryer for human use, I would use that before I would use a high velocity dryer.

There are flexible groomer arms that can clip on your table and clamp the hand held in place for convenience, acting similar to a stand dryer.

I have one of those arms, but I still prefer to have the dryer in my hand.

As I dry the cat, I also comb him.

Once you get a technique that you like, you’ll get more efficient during the dry time.

STAND DRYERS The stand dryer can be your best friend in the salon. Its maneuverability, different heat settings and the adjustable directional drying capabilities make this piece of equipment well worth the investment that you would make in purchasing one. Stand dryers are one of the quietest dryers on the market which is a great fit for cats.

HIGH VELOCITY DRYERS Please don’t make the mistake thinking that you have to blow dry cats with a high velocity dryer. That’s an old wives tale. Sure, there are those cats who are not frightened by the high wind and noise level of the dryer, but for the vast majority of cats, sound and air speed can stress them. Some cats can become so stressed that they may urinate or

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The stand dryer can be your best friend in the salon. Its maneuverability, different heat settings and the adjustable directional drying capabilities make this piece of equipment well worth the investment that you would make in purchasing one.

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No matter what dryer you decide works best for the cat, remember to have it at a low heat setting. I describe the temperature to be warmer than the room but not as hot as you would dry your own hair. defecate on your table.

Let’s say you use a high velocity dryer and the cat urinates, now you are back to square one having to re-shampoo the cat. The cat’s stress level is going to be higher because of this and you may become frustrated because of the additional work involved in this groom. Remember, the secret to cat grooming is to keep the environment as calm and quiet as possible. If you absolutely have no choice but having to use a high velocity dryer, I would recommend that you have the air flow set to the low-

est level and remove the condenser.

You may want to place an E–Collar or a towel on the cat to deflect them from the rush of wind.

CAGE DRYERS To me, cage dryers are more humane than high velocity dryers, but cats do not like wind on their face and whiskers. If you place a wet cat in a cage and turn on the dryer, the cat is more likely to go to the back of cage and curl up in a ball. They really are not being dried in the most efficient way and can become stressed or aggressive.

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You will probably end up placing the cat on your table and finish drying him there anyways, so you might as well use a hand–held or a stand dryer from the beginning. But on a positive note, there are cats who will tolerate being cage dried and actually walk around the cage as if nothing is going on.

No matter what dryer you decide works best for the cat, remember to have it at a low heat setting. I describe the temperature to be warmer than the room but not as hot as you would dry your own hair. Do some experimenting and see which one is working the best for you and the kitties in your care.

When deciding what your preferred method of drying is, keep in mind the noise level, the air temperature and the velocity of the dryer.

As we know, most cats can benefit from a bath, so let’s keep them as calm as possible during the drying process. Take a couple of minutes to allow the cat to adjust to drying by holding and reassuring them. Remember, these kitties have a mind that never forgets or forgives us if we push them past their tolerance level. Take a few minutes and help the cat be as peaceful as possible. Who knows, you may even get a sandpaper kiss at the end. ✂

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Twitter!

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Written by Barkleigh Honors Award Winner Daryl Conner and Barkleigh Honors Nominee Mary Oquendo.

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BARKLEIGH PRODUCTIONS, INC • BARKLEIGH.COM • (717) 691-3388 Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017 GroomertoGroomer.com

47

SELF SERVICE:

? u o Y r fo Is it

T

here I was again, on my knees, bent over my bathtub, trying to give my two uncooperative Cockapoos, Molly and Oscar a bath. I have two towels under my knees to cushion them from the hard tile floor. The sudsy Molly and Oscar are jumping in and out of the bathtub, shaking dirt and suds all over the bathroom walls, and this was just the beginning of their biweekly bathing process.

I still had to take them to the basement and try to dry them with my blow dryer. Certainly another chase would ensue during this process as well. There had to be a better way… there had to be another bathing option

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E by Patti Jessup e

in between my bathtub and their regular grooming appointments. After a lot of research, thought and planning, we opened Dirty Dogs Self Service Dog Wash on September 1, 2012.

We have six fully equipped self– service stations and a grooming area for myself and my other groomer, Miranda. Our fee for self–service is $20, no matter the size of the dog.

And we will do the nails for $8. In our current configuration, we can get six self–service customers in and out in about an hour. Our profit margin is 90%, so for every $20 customer our profit is $18.

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Once established, to our surprise, many of our grooming customers began using our self–service facility in between grooms, and many of our self– service customers became grooming customers. please keep reading. There are positives and negatives with self– service. When we initially started our business we were self–service only.

A good day yielded $800. An average day yielded $300. Still pretty good.

But, because we are located in the south, that average drops sharply in the summer when some customers go back to washing their dogs in their driveways.

So in 2015, we decided to begin offering grooming services as a way to offset the summer months.

We sent Miranda to grooming school, taught by Hayley Keyes. I was literally thrown to the dogs, and taught myself, with the help of a local groomer Margo Friebott, the videos by Judy Hudson, Kathy Rose and Amy Triezenberg on Learn2groomdogs.com and practicing, practicing, practicing on

my two Cockapoos.

Once established, to our surprise, many of our grooming customers began using our self–service facility in between grooms, and many of our self-service customers became grooming customers. It was a big win for our business, despite the fact that within a 5–mile radius of our store are 2 “Big Box” pet stores who offer grooming, and an established locally owned pet store offering grooming right across the street.

The difference? We offered both.

Therefore, we became the place to go for everything. People love convenience and the one–stop shop. Over the last two years our business revenue has grown by 90%. Now an average day is $600 and a good day is $1500.

I’d like to tell you that self–service is an EASY way to significantly grow your business; however, there

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We clean constantly...tubs, floors, getting up the hair from the forced air dryers with a shop vac, while simultaneously answering a multitude of questions from our self-service customers. And in between all of this, we are washing and folding towels to replenish the tubs. are some hurdles that are not so apparent. First, the term “self–service” is a misnomer in itself. You would be shocked at the number of people who have no idea how to wash their dog. I cannot stress the importance of excellent customer service and a clean environment enough. These two things will determine how successful or unsuccessful you will be.

You become a teacher of sorts and you must do it with a smile, no matter how irritating the customer.

50

We always have at least one employee dedicated to self–service at all times. We clean constantly... tubs, floors, getting up the hair from the forced air dryers with a shop vac, while simultaneously answering a multitude of questions from our selfservice customers. And in between all of this, we are washing and folding towels to replenish the tubs.

You never allow any customer to bring in any kind of grooming equipment. No clippers, no scissors,

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no nail trimmers. Remember, your goal is turn over tubs as quickly as possible. You can’t do that if you have a novice trying to groom their own dog, customers trying to cut mats out, or trim nails. Most customers understand, and are happy to have us do the nails or shave out a mat for a fee. A nice upcharge for us.

We have a firm rule that no more than four people are allowed at a self–service station. Some people, especially during the holidays, want

GroomertoGroomer.com

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51

At each station we have a bathing system with shampoo, whitening shampoo and conditioner, a forced air dryer, fragrance, ear wipes, a pre– pasted toothbrush, brushes and towels. to bring the whole family. In the past, we have had as many as eight people washing one dog. We also have a firm rule regarding children.

We require that parents keep their children within their self–service station. If you don’t, you will have children running around screaming and jumping everywhere. I have escorted more than one child back to their oblivious parents. This is not only annoying; it is a big liability if a child were hurt.

52

Our hours are 10:00 AM—7:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday, and 10:00 AM—5:00 PM on Sunday.

We take the last self–service dog in 45 minutes before we close and the customer must be finished by closing time. We hold very firm to this policy. If we didn’t, customers would come in at 6:55 with two Great Pyrenees. Then, we wouldn’t actually close until 9:00 pm by the time we cleaned up, and would be paying our staff two hours of additional wages.

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Lastly, you cannot allow aggressive dogs of any kind. We have been very fortunate in this regard, and have turned away only a few customers.

We have tried to make self– service as easy and intuitive as possible. At each station we have a bathing system with shampoo, whitening shampoo and conditioner, a forced air dryer, fragrance, ear wipes, a pre–pasted toothbrush, brushes and towels. We tether the dogs to the tubs so the customers

have their hands free, and we provide and because we made them black and than print media. The key to success here is keep your pages up to date, white,Quality everyone noticesand them. waterproof aprons.

Grooming Veterinary Equipment at Affordable Prices promptly respond to questions and You will also be dealing with Most of your self–service post pictures on at least a weekly clientele will be large dogs; therefore, two very different customer probasis. We are also rated as A+ with files. Your self–service customer is your grooming growth will likely the BBB and list the logo on our typically thrifty and your grooming be composed of large dogs. We do front door and our website. customer is more willing to pamper Newfies, Pyrenees, Goldens, Collies My hope is that this article has their pets. Therefore, you have to and oodles of Doodles. Again, bigger retail offerings for everyone. given you more insight into the dogs = higher grooming New revenue.

Harnessingprovide System For example, In closing, I’d like to discuss 18 Different Locking Positionswe offer cute, lower end ins and outs of self–service and if Perfect For ALL Size Animals collars, leashes and leash sets for our you should or shouldn’t offer these marketing and advertising.

On the self–service clientele walls in our facility, black This system we is a have truly unparalleled design

by Groomer’s Best. and handmade, services in your salon. ✂ can find many different restraintsilk systems the market linedoncollars and leashes for our and white You canvas pictures which are today - butand nothing quite like this. Featuring 18 different locking higher end grooming customer. We photos of Miranda I posing with Patti Jessup and Steve McMillian have positions, this system will suite dogs of ALL Sizes—eliminating also offer treats, bully sticks and ant- been successfully operating Dirty Dogs some of our favorite groom dogs. grooming loops to lers. Everything retail is on or beside Self–Service Dog Wash and Grooming This does three things; it showshassle and allowing be used on both the neck and abdomen our counter. These are impulse buys the customer that we are talented in Greensboro, NC for almost 5 years. region if necessary. All Groomer’s Best and need to be where the customers groomers, we love what we do, and Dirty Dogs has gone through much trial equipment is backed by our limited are checking in or out. reinforces that we offer grooming and error to accomplish the perfect self– 3-year warranty. us online we or use social For Visit advertising services. We took these photos with service set up for optimal profitability. give us a call at our number below. media, online advertising and our our phones, blew up the size and They are available for more detailed, you to all Groomers! website.

These venues are much had them canvassed by a company Thank private consultation and can be reached ONLY BY GROOMER’S BEST cheaper and have a broader reach online. The cost was less than $300, at info@dirty-dogs.com.

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You can find many different restraint systems on the market today - but nothing quite like this. Featuring 18 different locking positions, this system will suite dogs of ALL Sizes—eliminating hassle and allowing grooming loops to be used on both the neck and abdomen region if necessary. All Groomer’s Best equipment is backed by our limited 3-year warranty. Visit us online or give us a call at our number below.

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20 17

E by Mary Oquendo e

The Westminster Dog Show is held every year in mid–February in NYC. I’ve always loved going, especially as it’s just a train ride away.

Last year I shadowed Leah Shirokoff and Finn. As I walked through the staging area, I realized I knew half of the groomers from our own trade shows. No wonder these dogs look so good!

M

ackensie Murphy was kind enough to allow me to interview her.

WHEN DID YOU DECIDE YOU WERE GOING TO BE A GROOMER? Mackensie: I'm not positive I decided to be a groomer or if my mother (Jodi Murphy) and her industry peers decided for me. I was a bather for my mother and tagging along to competition and dog shows well before I was even in high school.

I even tried my hand at bathing at a local Petsmart when I was 18 and on my own. I quickly realized

54

grooming was going to be a much better and more rewarding fit for me, even though I tried to deny it as the rebellious teen that I was. At the time I was struggling through art school and couldn’t find a genre that fit for me. It didn't take long for me to realize that grooming would fill that niche.

WE’RE PRETTY SURE YOUR CAREER PATH WAS CHOSEN FOR YOU. I REMEMBER YOUR MOTHER POSTING A PICTURE OF A DOG YOU HAD GROOMED ON YOUR OWN. SHE WAS SO PROUD

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OF YOU. SO, TELL US ABOUT YOUR GROOMING CAREER. Mackensie: My grooming career has been quite an adventure.

I started grooming in Cincinnati, Ohio at local salons here and there.

Strictly basic pet grooms. After watching my mother climb the ranks with Groom Team USA, I finally decided it was time to perfect my skills. I began to study under some of our industry legends. I begged Karla Addington– Smith and Diane Betalak for jobs. I spent Saturday nights with Judy Hudson, who I credit for my work ethic. And let’s not forget

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"Bringing home a silver medal from Italy at our world tournament was by far the highlight of my career. I never thought I would be standing next to some of the world’s best groomers in that tournament."

Mackensie Murphy, far right

—Mackensie Murphy

irreplaceable lessons on technique in the middle of our kitchen with my mom. In addition, I tagged along with as many different breeders and handlers to dog shows as I could to really learn each breed in and out.

I jumped into the contest ring in 2011, and haven't come up for air since. I've ranked in the top ten for Groom Team USA from that first year on. In 2016, I made the Groom Team USA travel team, ranking num-

ber two in the country. That year, we brought home the silver medal after beating out 21 other countries. I currently work in NYC with an amazing clientele that vary from show dogs, pets, and the occasional celebrity client. This year I've been doing seminars and workshops, and have been named an Andis Global Ambassador. I’m excited to be representing the United States in Belgium at the world tournament this October with

Groom Team USA.

GOOD LUCK IN BELGIUM! WHAT WOULD SAY HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? Mackensie: Bringing home a silver medal from Italy at our world tournament was by far the highlight of my career. I never thought I would be standing next to some of the world’s best groomers in that tournament. Being a part of that team with girls that share the same insane passion that I have was something I will never forget.

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Mackensie: I couldn’t believe it when I started to receive grooming inquiries for Westminster alongside my success in the grooming industry competition ring. These breeders and handlers wanted me to groom some of

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017

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Mackensie: Once I know which dogs I am taking on for the show, I figure out how long each would take to groom in their entirety. Then, I need to know the amount of time to coordinate each dog to be ring ready at the proper time. Timing is very important.

I pack a bag with every imaginable tool and product I could possibly ever need. With the help of my awesome friends, we meet each dog at my salon in Manhattan. They are bathed, blown out, and receive the most perfect groom that I could possibly manage. Then, they are sent back with their handlers to their hotels until they actually have to be benched at the piers and ready to show. I meet with each dog at their set up about 45 min before their ring times to do any last minute touch ups and prepping. My trusty assistant and good friend, Anne Francis makes sure to keep me focused and on time as we bounce from set up to set up prepping multiple breeds for their classes. Once every dog was groomed, prepped and had finished showing at the piers, my grooming day was over. We have maybe a half

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hour of down time before Groups and Best In Show began at Madison Square Garden later that night.

The magnitude of work that goes into getting dogs ready for a show like this is crazy. Not just for me, but also for the handlers, breeders, assistants, and the supportive spouses that are trying to stay out of the way. Sitting in Madison Square Garden when the entire place lights up with purple and gold, watching some of the most gorgeous dogs in the world do what they love, all the while knowing you're one of the few who can make them look like that, makes it all worth it.

I KNOW YOU HAVE FUTURE PLANS. CAN YOU SHARE THEM? Mackensie: In a few years I'd love to still have a foot in the contest ring, I don't think I'm quite ready for that phase in my career to completely be over. I want to inspire and educate groomers around the world in whatever way I can. I never want to stop learning and am deeply appreciative of all our industry leaders who take the time to share their expertise.

It’s been a pleasure to watch your career from the time you were that rebellious teenager to that motivated, responsible adult you have become. I’m sure I speak for the entire industry when I say how proud we are of you. ✂

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Hi Michell. I have a problem with one of my employees. She has decided that she is her own boss and the boss of some of my other employees, and even some of the customers! It is partially my fault because I let it happen. I was ill for a year and needed her to take more responsibility. Now that I am back to work full time, I see that many of the policies that I had in place have been changed or discarded all together. She has taken over. How do I regain control of my business without making her feel like she is being pushed out?

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by Michell Evans

T

hank you for bringing this up, Andy. This happens in grooming salons often! I will give you a few things to consider and we may be able to help other salon owners and managers preemptively manage this issue. If you are an employee reading this, you can reverse many of these strategies.

As soon as you know you are heading into a period of absence, choose one of your employees to promote to Temporary Assistant Manager. This gives them some power to make decisions in your absence—but only temporarily. Also by paying them an additional amount for this period, you show a clear time frame for the temporary position.

If these events have already taken place, try giving the employee who has been taking the additional responsibility a bonus and letting them know that they can now relax and let you worry about the business.

If you can do this publicly, say in a

There might be situations that come up in the salon that you do not feel comfortable handling because you may not know the back story due to your absence. It is better to ask the client or the affected employee to bring you up to speed than to ask the employee whom you left in charge. staff meeting, it can really help relieve them of their managerial responsibilities to the rest of the staff, too. In fact, throw a party to celebrate your return and celebrate her generous contribution to your business during these hard times. This is meant to mark the end of a period.

Try to speak matter–of–factly.

We all understand the desire to be gentle, but if you want to have distinct boundaries you must speak

in those terms. Try saying, “Thank you for taking care of my salon in my absence, now I am back and I am ready to take control again. You really helped me out when I needed it. Now you can relax and just worry about getting your own work done.”

It is very important that you make a clean switch. There might be situations that come up in the salon that you do not feel comfortable handling because you may not know

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the back story due to your absence.

It is better to ask the client or the affected employee to bring you up to speed than to ask the employee whom you left in charge.

Remember that if you are going to relieve them of their managerial duties, you must handle all matters on your own now. You might also discover new information that could be helpful.

The same goes for the other side, the employee might jump into situations

Written by Barkleigh Honors Award Winner Daryl Conner and Barkleigh Honors Nominee Mary Oquendo.

GROOMING

Transform your grooming practice into one that reduces stress and promotes the feeling of comfort and security for pets, clients and yourself!

THE ART OF

Helping

INCLUDES: •

Pets Feel

• •

AS GREAT AS THEY LOOK

ON SALE NOW AT

•

Mindful techniques to reduce stress & improve health.

Calming handling procedures for both cats and dogs.

Equipment suggestions to make your job easier & safer.

Natural cleaning options, marketing tips & more!

WWW.BARKLEIGHSTORE.COM

GroomertoGroomer.com

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017

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to help out because they know the back story and frankly they are just used to doing it. In these situations you must thank them for their help and remind them that you got this.

It is really easy in the course of a busy day to let the employee do things to assist you, but remember that you would be perpetuating the very behavior that you are trying to stop.

You said that you don’t want her to feel like she is being “pushed out”, but in fact you do want her to be pushed out of her managerial position. It is ok to reassure her that she is still a very valuable groomer in your salon but that you no longer need her assistance in the matters of running the salon.

As far as the policies that were changed in your absence, it might be worth asking at your next monthly

staff meeting how your staff feels about the changes. Maybe they all have a good argument as to why those policies were changed. Maybe bossy manager girl is the only one who thinks they needed changing.

Maybe the clients were the reason for the change. In the end, if your policies are the best policies then it is time they be enforced.

Just a note on the importance of staff meetings; they are important!

You can have them quarterly, monthly, yearly or even weekly if you have a huge staff. This is an opportunity to celebrate business victories, individual victories, discuss policies, bring up new issues that need new policies, and ask your employees if they have everything they need to do their jobs easily and well. Thirty minutes is usually enough

om w fr e N

GENERAL PET RELEASE FORM

MATTED PET

R EASE FORM CAGE DRYEREL RELEASE FORM

Pet Name

Because we care about your pet’s safety and well being, we want to assure you that every effort will be made to make your pet’s visit as pleasant as possible.

Occasionally, grooming can expose a hidden medical problem or aggravate a current one. This can occur during or after grooming.

In the best interest of your pet, we request your permission to obtain immediate veterinary

Date

us. will be made to make your effort your pet is important every to The health, safety and comfort of pet’s visit as pleasant as possible. in conversations We also believe in including you Because your pet is severely tangled about the care of your pet. and it is at greater risk of injury, stress more matted, or and safer is dryer cage a of The use However, trauma. All precautions will be taken. your dog, we comfortable for some dogs. For or after We will problems occasionally arise, during recommend the use of a cage dryer. irritation and mental or when grooming, such as nicks, clipper adhere to the following safe practices

treatment should it become necessary.

physical stress. the dryer is in use: request your permission to In the best interest of your pet, we • Dryers must have working temperature should it become necessary. obtain immediate veterinary treatment gauges and timers. for cage drying will be used. to • Only equipment manufactured this grooming establishment I hereby grant permission to followed. be will for my pet at my expense.

• Manufacturer instructions obtain emergency veterinary treatment during will be properly monitored. have a greater chance of injury • Dogs drying in a cage dryer Also, realizing that matted pets a cage dryer to be used. establishment responsible for • Owner must give consent for grooming, I will not hold this grooming I hereby grant permission to this

Date

Your Pet is IMPORTANT to Us!

Date

Your Pet is IMPORTANT to Us! safety Because we care about your pet’s that Your Pet is IMPORTANT toandUs! well being, we want to assure you Pet Name

Pet Name

I hereby grant permission to this grooming establishment to obtain emergency veterinary treatment for my pet at my expense.

accident or injury to my pet.

grooming establishment to

Owner Name

comfortable drying of my dog. use a cage dryer for the safe and

for a staff under 10 people. Over 10 people might need forty-five minutes to an hour.

Remember that no matter how much you want to, you cannot ask her for help. If you are relieving her of her managerial duties, then do so.

Good luck. ✂ I am a multi-Best-In-Show and Best-AllAround groomer. I am the recipient of many Barkleigh Honors Awards including journalist of the year. I am a Silver and Gold medalist for GroomTeam USA. I am the winner of Show Dog Groomer of the Year 2015. I am a (VIG) Very Important Groomer-Ambassador for Purina and I have been teaching as The Grooming Tutor since 2000. And I groom to make a living, just like you. Please send questions to michell@groomingtutor.com

Same Message, SENIORNPE EWT Style.

RELEASE FORM Pet Name

Date

Your Pet is IMPORTANT to Us! Because we care about your pet’s safety and well being, we want to assure you that every effort will be made to make your senior pet’s visit as pleasant as possible.

Occasionally, grooming can expose a hidden medical problem or aggravate a current one. This can occur during or after grooming.

In the best interest of your pet, we request your permission to obtain immediate veterinary treatment should it become necessary.

I hereby grant permission to this

grooming establishment to

obtain emergency veterinary treatment for my pet at my expense.

Also, realizing that aged pets have a greater chance of injury during grooming, I will not hold this grooming establishment responsible for accident or injury to my pet.

Owner Name

Owner Name

Owner Name

Signature

Signature

Signature Signature #MP-2 © 2016 Barkleigh Productions, #CD-2 © 2016 Barkleigh Productions,

h.com

Inc. • 717.691.3388 • www.barkleig

h.com

Inc. • 717.691.3388 • www.barkleig

#PR-2 © 2016 Barkleigh Productions, Inc. • 717.691.3388 • www.barkleigh.com

#SP-2 © 2016 Barkleigh Productions,

Modern Release Forms

Inc. • 717.691.3388 • www.barkleig

See page 77 for details or visit www.barkleighstore.com

62

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017

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h.com

Your Pet Care Professional Taking

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When Your Pet Needs a Smoothie

care of your Puppy at home…

Lear ning to Br ush Your Pet

nal

Mission Accomplished – a Happy Puppy!

chnique to you, Brush Your brushing cannot

Because you and your professional groomer took the time to introduce your puppy to grooming in a step-by-step, gentle, loving way, you made your puppy’s all-imp ortant first visit to the grooming salon a wonder ful experience that will help him enjoy being groomed throughout his life.

Askhave Youra friend Groomwho If you er could this publication, froma Copy benefit for pleaseofpass it on.

Learning to Brush Your Pet Pamphlet

d who could ublication, it on.

• Mechanicsburg PA #PS-3 Barkleigh Productions h.com • www.barkleigh.com (717) 691-3388 • info@barkleig

have a friend who could

benefit from this publication, Sweet Succes s

Tiny fleas can crea please pass items. on. te huge p robl By working with your p et care professional and following their rec ommendations about products and their corr ect usage, and by diligently treating and protecting your pets a nd their surroundings, you and your pets can kiss

the ferocious flea good bye.

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#PS-4 Barkleigh Productions • Mechanic sburg PA (717) 691-3388 • info@barkleigh.co m • www.barkleigh.com

Pet Care Series #3 J590

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Puppy’s First Visit to the Grooming Salon

The Ferocious Flea

If you have a friend who could benefit from this publication , please pass it on.

uto

groomer r your se them et looks

Your Pet Care Professional

Are there any disadv antages to these products?

Fleas have to come in contact with the product to be killed. T hat means that fleas actually have to get on , and could possibly bite your pet, before th ey die. There is also a possibility of skin irrit ation at the site of application.

If you

Photo by: Sherri Regalb

r time nefits in ng, not to

Fle

Your Pet Care Professional

Between professional groomings, you may need to brush and bathe your puppy at home. Your groomer can recommend and supply the equipment and coat care products that you will need.

She will also be happy to demonstrate the correct brushing and combing techniq ues that you need to learn to properly care for your puppy.

ring spend ecial ur pet. s hair more rt em as ming. reinforce

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Keeping your Pet

a Free

In many areas of the country, flea control is a year round necessit y.

In conjunction with con tinuing premise control, many pet ow ners have great succes s with oral or topical pr oducts that are administered once a m onth to their pet. The y come in a variety of bra nds like - Advantage®, Frontline®, Revolution®, and Program®.

There are specific form ulations for dogs and cats, and most are approved to use on puppies and kittens six to eight weeks and old er.

Read and follow the i nstructions, making sur e to use the product that is specified for your pet. These products ar e extremely popular because of their once a month convenience, ease of application, and effectiveness. Most are

waterproof, allowing y our pet to be bathed, or to swim, without dec reasing the product’s effectiveness.

Also, keeping your pet flea free with this continuous protection, is far less costly than trying to eliminate an i nfestation on your pet and in your home.

cause any irritation to himself. Remem ber that his freshly clipped nails may be sharp and can easily irritate his puppy skin. If you have any questions or concerns, contact your groomer immediately.

ll at ou

Pet Care Series #4

#PS-5 Barkleigh Produ ctions • Mechanicsburg (717) 691-3388 • info@ PA barkleigh.com • www .barkleigh.com

Pet Care Series #5

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Pet Care Series Brochures

Your Pet Care Professional

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Pet Care Series #7

AVAILABLE IN PACKS OF

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Written by Professional Groomers for Your Clients!

These quality brochures not only answer the constant questions you get from pet owners, but they will also help you sell products that work and that you personally believe in – products that you retail. They will teach your client how to care for their pet between groomings, which will save you lots of time.

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C

ALL THINGS PAW

by Michelle Knowles

ommunication and ducation

Pet Professional

First Aid/CPR Certification As a pet care professional, you want to be equipped with the skills to handle medical emergencies that arise while a

E

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EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON IT

As I sit here, answering one last Facebook message for the night, I am struck by how important communication is in our lives.

Communication can be verbal, or with body language and even the tone we use to convey a message.

W

e all know how essential good communication is between the groomer and the pet. We also know that communicating well with our clients can make or break a lifelong business relationship or friendship. But I am profoundly aware of the opportunity we have as groomers to discuss our ideas, techniques and knowledge with each other.

In this digital age, we can share product results, tool expertise and new research the second it becomes available to all our peers, worldwide.

Our industry is moving forward at a

64

rapid pace and just like veterinarians who were once not even considered a trade, we are experiencing a renaissance of ideas and growth into a respected profession.

We are many, with various schools of thought, education, mentoring and experiences. We all add to the health of the industry. I have a motherly love for groomers everywhere. I care deeply for you, not just what you do. I have traveled the road of needing tips to feed my family, having hands so cut and bitten and falling into bed so tired that I don’t know if I can do it again tomorrow. My love of our craft has

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017

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sustained me through these hard times and I wouldn’t go back and change my decision to be a groomer at any price.

I have learned from dogs, cats, many peers, mentors and students.

The one thing that remains a given in this profession of change is that we learn by sharing the things that we know with one another. My wish is that all groomers everywhere never tire of learning new things that they may better communicate with each other, as well as clients and the pets they love. Certification, up to now, has not been required by state law or licensing but in a

The more groomers that seek continuing education

make the grooming industry stronger.

WE ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS OUR WEAKEST LINK.

multibillion dollar industry, you may find yourself left behind without the proper education.

There are many different certification courses that are available today. These can and do enhance your credibility to your clients, employers and your peers. I have heard too many times that certification doesn’t mean anything and it is not a worthwhile endeavor, but this is far from the truth.

The grooming and boarding

industry produces about 5 billion dollars a year within the United States alone. The more groomers that seek continuing education make the grooming industry stronger. We are only as strong as our weakest link. Education is valuable in that it promotes communication. Pick an online group you feel comfortable in, find a mentor, learn a new breed trim that you haven’t done before.

Remember when you first started grooming? You may have needed

help constantly before you became comfortable with the process.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, well I say it takes a village to raise a groomer. Hold your sisters and brothers close, boost them when they need it. Share your knowledge so that those who follow are better than we are. It is important for us to remember that open discussions are better in finding solutions, and when we stop talking with one another the learning stops as well. ✂

Groomer Sales Slips Make more money without raising your prices!

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Barkleigh Productions, Inc. barkleigh.com • barkleighstore.com • (717) 691-3388

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New THE

GROOMING SALON

PART III: DESIGNING AN EFFECTIVE FLOOR PLAN E by Kathy Rose e

Creating an effective floor plan is crucial for an efficient salon. Well organized salons have at least four area considerations in their floor plan.

Smaller salons may combine spaces but regard should be given to the tasks at hand: Receiving & Evaluating Clients Holding Area (for pets during their stay) Bathing & Drying (the “Wet” room)

Styling & Finishing

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ven the smallest space should incorporate the four main areas into the salon design. Keep in mind, as the salon size increases so does the importance of the floor plan. This will require exact measurements of the space you have chosen. Being just a little bit off in measuring can prove to be frustrating and costly when installing large equipment such as kennel banks and tubs.

It is also important to consider the size of the walls where large equipment will be placed. An error by an inch can cost a lot of money in redesign, construction or product return. Consider how the doors, including cage doors, open in relation to adjacent walls. It is difficult to place a large dog in a cage adjacent to a wall when it opens away from the wall instead of toward the wall.

Larger salons should incorporate multiple access points within the salon from styling room to wet room, to kennel room to reception. It is important to consider the order of things; dogs check in, go to holding area, proceed to bathing and drying and then perhaps back to holding area prior to being groomed in the styling area.

There are many useful programs and application tools available via the Internet for designing a space. I have found www.floorplanner.com to be the most user friendly. This site is cost effective and provides video tutorials that are easy to follow. The floor plans pictured are some examples of plans created using this program.

CREATING THE PLAN Walking through your prospective space should ignite a spark of creativity. Keep the four areas in mind when evaluating the space.

The first impression should be warm and inviting. Pick a theme and carry this throughout the salon.

Modern, antique, country, whatever your choice, carry it throughout your salon in your design plan.

RECEPTION An important part of reception is the evaluation area. A designated area for evaluating the clients’ pets helps to reduce stress and can serve as a holding area while pertinent information is gathered.

Your initial reception of clients will set the pace of the entire experience. They deserve the time and attention for a thorough evaluation, especially on the first visit. This space will say, “I care about you and your fur baby!” Perhaps even more importantly, this initial evaluation provides the opportunity for you to interact with

Take accurate measurements to insure that integral equipment will fit in the allotted space. the client and pet and create a bond.

Placing the pet on the front desk or evaluating small pets on the floor does not speak professionalism. Set up a designated table for pet evaluation.

This area is also a great space for record keeping. It is imperative to keep track of every pet and what takes place at every visit. A reception desk housing a file cabinet, cash drawer, computer, printer, phone and office supplies should have integrated electrical and phone outlets. A battery back up system is advisable. Take accurate measurements to insure that integral equipment will fit in the allotted space.

The reception area is a prime location to offer retail items. Even the smallest salon can offer some retail to earn a bit of extra income.

Sell what you use and use what you sell. Items such as shampoos, conditioners, combs, brushes, and other grooming and styling products are easy to stock and display. Clients look to you for advice about their pets and these items encourage a dialogue about coat management.

The front reception area should provide an added measure of safety to minimize escapes. Inward swing-

GroomertoGroomer.com

ing gates will help to create a safer atmosphere by blocking an escape route. Strategically placed magnets and auto close hinges will help to secure the gates automatically.

HOLDING AREA Whether waiting for retrieval by the pet parent or waiting for a procedure, at some point during a pet’s visit he will require a place to wait. The holding area should be a comfortable area where the pets can be easily monitored.

Remember that dogs will be dogs and dogs BARK! Evaluate the sound proof-ability of the interior walls and ceiling. Consideration should be given to minimize the transfer of noise to adjacent tenants. Installation of noise reducing insulation will help to keep your neighbors on friendly terms and reduce complaints to the landlord.

Kennels or cages are one consideration for housing. They should be comprised of non-porous materials with a comfortable floor and good ventilation.

Another consideration is a benching area. This method of holding the pets utilizes a benching sys-

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tem or table with dividers containing a leash to tether the pet to prevent escape. It is imperative to insure the pet is unable to reach the edge of the bench while tied.

Play pens or built-in enclosures are also popular and clients like the cage free feel. A variety of pen configurations are available with and without gates and may be more cost effective than those custom built. A mat, pee pad and fresh water help to provide a comfortable atmosphere for the pet.

An enclosed free play area for multiple dogs is another choice. Many dogs are not receptive to confinement and enjoy playtime with other pets.

You may choose to utilize a combination of housing options offering the client a choice at a price. Whichever method is employed the pets should always be carefully monitored.

BATHING AND DRYING The bathing and drying area is best placed separate from the rest of the salon. An enclosed “wet” room will help control humidity, aid with hair containment and help to control dryer noise. This will reduce time spent keeping a clean shop and help to maintain a professional spa atmosphere.

Plan on the installation of an exhaust fan vented outside. This will help to expel the warmer air, reduce some humidity and provide an extra source of ventilation.

Ideally, all surfaces in the “wet” room will be made from water resistant materials such as tile board or tile. But all the areas adjacent to the tubs must be water resistant. If electrical outlets are to be placed near the wet areas be sure that they are ground fault protected or GFCI.

STYLING AND FINISHING The styling and finishing area is best stationed away from the wet

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room and near the reception area.

Consider installing a “viewing” window for the clients. This will help contain trimmed hair and give clients the chance to view their pet’s grooming procedures, but at a distance.

Make sure to install abundant electrical outlets. Contemplate installing floor outlets during the build out. This will reduce the need for dangerous extension cords.

Lighting is also a major consideration for this room. Try to make use of as much window light as possible.

Natural ambient light is easiest to work with. Track lighting is also a good option because you can direct the flow of light to avoid shadows.

CREATING A FLOOR PLAN THAT FLOWS

tionship to each other. How does the typical workday flow? Check in clients, proceed to holding area, bathing follows, next dryers, on to styling, and then inevitably back to holding area.

Create these areas relative to typical order of procedure. Avoid bottlenecks, especially in cramped spaces. Always take into consideration the direction of door opening and alter this if needed. It is much more efficient to change door opening direction during the initial buildout rather than in hindsight after the painting has been completed.

Designing your floor plan is a strategic part in the build-out of your new salon. Creating an efficient plan and following some basic concepts can help you to create the salon of your dreams. ✂

It is important to think of the separate areas discussed above. It is strategic to consider their spatial rela-

Next month: Part IV Hiring a General Contractor & Understanding Terms

Top 10

☐☐ Install inward swinging gates with automatic latches ☐☐ Use durable, non porous and easy to clean materials ☐☐ Avoid bottle necks and plan for smooth traffic flow ☐☐ Plan for abundant electrical outlets ☐☐ Don’t skimp on the lighting ☐☐ Make sure interior partitions accommodate large equipment Design for your specific uses ☐☐ Reception ☐☐ Holding ☐☐ Bathing and drying ☐☐ Styling

Top Ten Reasons

T-ShirTS Your customers will chuckle when they read the back of your T-Shirt!

✂

Floor Plan C hecklist:

Why It Costs More To Get Your Pet Groomed Than Your Own Hair cut: 10. Your hairdresser doesn’t wash and clean your rear end.

9. You don’t go eight weeks without washing or brushing your hair.

8. Your hairdresser doesn’t give you a sanitary trim.

7. Your hairdresser doesn’t clean your ears.

6. Your hairdresser doesn’t remove the boogies from your eyes.

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5. You sit still for your hairdresser.

4. Your haircut doesn’t include a manicure or pedicure.

3. Your hairdresser only washes and cuts the hair on your head.

2. You don’t bite or scratch your hairdresser.

Will not shrink and looked pressed right out of the dryer!

1. The likelihood of you pooping on the hairdresser is pretty slim.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017

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2017 June 22–25 Rob e rt s Ce n t r e • Wilmington, Ohio

Again this year, PetQuest will feature a fantastic collection of new and

N

exciting speakers and topics, combined with the return of many of the NW

D

industry’s most respected speakers.

ebuting this year are: Khris Berry doing a four hour Business Makeover class on Friday, Victor Rosado teaching groomers how to develop their eye for grooming conformation, Laura Hearn demonstrating how to best use Google AdWords, a three hour hand stripping class by Jared Lane, and Ann Francis sharing her time saving shop shortcuts, among others. Other show highlights include Teri DiMarino’s Brusher Bather seminar, the AKC Salon Certification class and a four hour drop coat series on Friday, featuring four separate speakers.

Over 50 companies will be exhibiting from Friday through Sunday.

This is the perfect opportunity to see and sample new products. The tradeshow pass includes all shopping and all contest viewing, in addition

70

W

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to floor demos. Any pet care professional can attend the trade show for N by referencing this article. freeW PetQuest also hosts a GroomTeam USA sanctioned contest being NE held on Friday and Saturday. Sunday features a creative grooming competition and a Rescue Round–up contest.

PetQuest will take place June 22–25 at the Roberts Centre in central Ohio. The Roberts Centre is known to be a very dog friendly hotel/convention facility. There is a permanent bathing area, a designated fenced–in dog play area, and a friendly staff that is always quick to greet you and your dog.

Jill Pipino, a groomer who travelled to the show from upstate New York to attend and speak, says that PetQuest is her favorite show because, “It is so relaxed and every-

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017

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one is so personal.” Jill also loved the facilities, “This hotel is so friendly towards the dogs. And, they do so much to make the whole experience better with the bathing, walking, and clean-up stations. Oh, and there is a Dairy Queen in the parking lot!”

Since its inception more than a decade ago, PetQuest has grown every year, but one. That was a few years ago when the show fell on Father’s Day. Because of the show’s steady growth, another section of the exhibit hall had to be opened up last year to accommodate the additional vendors.

More information about the show can be found at www.PQgroom.com.

Please note that only groomers and other pet care professionals can attend the show, and trade show is open from Friday through Sunday. ✂

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www.GroomertoGroomer.com 72

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS CALIFORNIA

NEW JERSEY

GROOM EXPO WEST 02/15/2018 — 02/18/2018 Pasadena, CA (717) 691-3388 info@barkleigh.com www.groomexpowest.com

WORLD DOG EXPO 6/9/2017 —6/11/2017 Secaucus, NJ info@worldexpo.dog www.worldexpo.dog

PET BOARDING & DAYCARE EXPO WEST

OHIO

5/1/2017 — 5/4/2017 Burbank, CA (717) 691-3388 info@barkleigh.com www.pbdwest.com

PETQUEST 6/22/2017 — 6/25/2017 Wilmington, OH (717) 691-3388 info@barkleigh.com www.pqgroom.com

FLORIDA

PENNSYLVANIA

THE NDGAA FUN IN THE SUN 2017 10/27/2017 – 10/29/2017 Orlando, FL (724) 962-2711 ndga@nationaldoggroomers.com www.ndgaa.com

PET BOARDING & DAYCARE EXPO

GEORGIA ATLANTA PET FAIR 3/8/2018 —3/11/2018 Atlanta, GA info@atlantapetfair.org www.atlantapetfair.org

ILLINOIS ALL AMERICAN GROOMING SHOW

8/10/2017 — 8/13/2017 Wheeling, IL (717) 691-3388 info@barkleigh.com www.aagroom.com

MASSACHUSETTS NEW ENGLAND GROOMING SHOW

10/12/2017 —10/15/2017 Sturbridge, MA (717) 691-3388 info@barkleigh.com www.newenglandgrooms.com

TO LIST YOUR EVENT, SEND IT TO ADAM@BARKLEIGH.COM

11/6/2017 — 11/9/2017 Hershey, PA (717) 691-3388 info@barkleigh.com www.petboardingexpo.com

GROOM EXPO 9/14/2017 — 9/17/2017 Hershey, PA (717) 691-3388 info@barkleigh.com www.groomexpo.com

EVENTS PET BOARDING & DAYCARE EXPO WEST

5/1/2017 – 5/4/2017 Burbank, CA WORLD DOG EXPO

6/9/2017 – 6/11/2017 Secaucus, NJ PETQUEST

6/22/2017 – 6/25/2017 Wilmington, OH GROOM TEXAS AT THE HOUSTON WORLD SERIES OF DOG SHOWS

7/21/2017 – 7/23/2017 Houston, TX ALL AMERICAN GROOMING SHOW

8/10/2017 – 8/13/2017 Wheeling, IL

TEXAS GROOM TEXAS AT THE HOUSTON WORLD SERIES OF DOG SHOWS

7/21/2017 – 7/23/2017 Houston, TX (717) 691-3388 info@barkleigh.com www.groomtexas.com

WASHINGTON NORTHWEST GROOMING SHOW

April 2018 Tacoma, WA (717) 691-3388 info@barkleigh.com www.nwgroom.com

GROOM EXPO

9/14/2017 – 9/17/2017 Hershey, PA NEW ENGLAND GROOMING SHOW

10/12/2017 – 10/15/2017 Sturbridge, MA PET BOARDING & DAYCARE EXPO

11/6/2017 – 11/9/2017 Hershey, PA GROOM EXPO WEST

NEVADA

2/15/2018 – 2/18/2018 Pasadena, CA

SUPERZOO 7/24/2017 — 7/26/2017 Las Vegas, NV info@superzoo.org www.superzoo.org

NORTHWEST GROOMING SHOW

April 2018 Tacoma, WA

GroomertoGroomer.com

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 36 Ed 5 • May 2017

73

Exciting 8.5” x 11” four-page newsletter becomes your OWN personal Salon Newsletter!

Save 15% on your next order with our Standing Order Program!

No obligation to future purchases. Cancel anytime.

These four-page newsletters contain grooming and health information, stories, and cartoons that present a professional image to your community. Give them at each appointment.

Groom-O-Grams encourage better home care and more frequent appointments.

AVAILABLE IN PACKS OF 25 TO 2500!

Barkleigh Productions, Inc. barkleigh.com • barkleighstore.com • (717) 691-3388

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