Groomer to Groomer November 2020

“THE GROOMING INDUSTRY’S TRADE MAGAZINE!” VOL. 39 ED.11 • NOVEMBER 2020

SANITATION

FOR SAFETY:

AVOIDING CROSS-

CONTAMINATION

PROTECTING

YOURSELF

AGAINST COVID-19:

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR GROOMERS

SALON

SPOTLIGHT:

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CONTENTS | NOVEMBER 2020 PROTECTING YOURSELF AGAINST

THE ESSENTIAL

GUIDE

Pandemic Pup FOR GROOMERS Relief Tour

Pandemic Pup

by Corina Stammworthy

n

Tour

TY

Sanitation

Connor: What About Whiskers?

6 Knowles: Achieving Compliance: Educating 44 Your Clients with Compassion & Science

ATTENTION

70

FOR SAFETY

AVOIDING CROSS– CONTAMINATION

FOR SAFETY

Faver: Staph Dermatitis: “That's Really 22 Classifieds 72 Bad! Right?”

Calendar of Events/Groomer Humor Hansen: Too Sexy for My Legs: Setting 38

by Jonathan David Feline Leg Lines

52

Sanitation For Safety:

10 Tutorial: Beveled Cocker Spaniel Pet Trim 60

Salon Spotlight: Celebrating 10 Years: Stylapet 16 New Products Focuses on Pet Health and Education

NATIONWIDE

28 by Kathy Hosler

Relief Tour ic Pup Berry: Clean Sweep: Tidying Up the Business Side of Things

ATTRACTS

74

by Jonathan David

by Jonathan David

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“THE GROOMING INDUSTRY’S TRADE MAGAZINE!” VOL. 39 ED.11 • NOVEMBER 2020

SANITATION FOR SAFETY:

AVOIDING CROSS-

CONTAMINATION

PROTECTING

YOURSELF

AGAINST COVID-19:

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR GROOMERS

SALON

SPOTLIGHT:

STYLAPET COVER PHOTO OF STYLAPET IN NEW LENOX, ILLINOIS GROOMED & PHOTOGRAPHED BY HEATHER HUDSON

ON THE COVER Copyright November 2020. Groomer to Groomer is published monthly by Barkleigh Productions, Inc, 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. Postmaster: Send change of address to Groomer to Groomer c/o Barkleigh Productions, Inc., 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. Annual U.S. subscription rate $25. Outside U.S. $79. year, surface rates.

Groomer to Groomer is free to current Barkleigh Productions, Inc. customers. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. Editorial offices: 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. (717) 691–3388 FAX: (717) 691–3381 Email: info@barkleigh.com

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STYLAPET IN New Lenox, Illinois Groomed & Photographed by Heather Hudson

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

5

GROOMING BUSINESS BASICS

by Khris Berry

CLEAN SWEEP: TIDYING UP THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS

What does deep cleaning mean to you as a groomer? Likely, any mention of deep cleaning brings visions of removing insidious but invisible dog dander from walls, lights and air ventilation systems.

O

r maybe, when you hear deep cleaning you think of the yorkie–sized dust bunnies which live behind your fixtures and holding cages.

There are many ways for groomers and salons to deep clean—from purging old equipment to clearing unused scissors and products—but as groomers or salon owners, we rarely apply deep cleaning to the office side of our business.

Recently, I decided to do a deep cleaning of the business side of the business. And, like any aspect of the salon, your business affairs can get

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

pretty unruly if you leave them to collect dust. Here is a helpful checklist of areas of your grooming business which may need a good deep cleaning:

OLD CUSTOMER FILES Whether you are using a written filing system or a computer version, at some point, you need to address old customer files. This can be a tedious and daunting task. Much like any housekeeping chore, this one is easiest if you tackle it on a regular schedule. Your business structure will likely dictate how long you consider old customer records to be valuable

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or relevant. Keeping client records for two years will allow you to identify the “yearly” client more easily.

Today’s cloud–based systems may offer the ability to keep client records for much longer—but be aware—many of these systems have limits to data capabilities, costs associated with managing large databases and may reach a limit over time. My current customer database began “losing” data at 10,000 customers.

By the time I discovered that it had a maximum capacity, I had randomly lost client data. We are still finding “lost” clients today.

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Any list of clients will likely contain names of those who have moved, pets who are deceased, clients who are not accepted for services and any number of non–serviceable files.

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This is a great area to tackle if you are in the mood for some deep cleaning. This area of cleaning does require some caution as you must ensure that you are properly destroying documents which may contain sensitive data. Your business structure will determine how long you keep an application for someone you chose not to hire, but you should keep all applications and resumes at least one year from the hiring or rejection date of the applicant.

The same applies to employee personnel records. You should keep all employee records for a minimum of one year following the date they no longer work in your salon.

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By cleaning up your client database, you can make better decisions on all aspects of your business. Any list of clients will likely contain names of those who have moved, pets who are deceased, clients who are not accepted for services and any number of non–serviceable files.

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INSURANCE POLICIES This is an easy cleaning chore.

You should have a copy of each of your relevant insurance policies readily available and stored safely while the policy is in effect. As soon as the date on the policy terminates, you may purge the document. I like to write the effective dates in bold letters on the outer cover of every insurance policy so that I can easily identify which is the current policy.

CREDIT CARD RECEIPTS If your business accepts credit cards, you know the storage dilemma which can arise from

warehousing these slippery little tickets. Best practices suggest that you keep signed credit card receipts for 18 months in the event of a “chargeback.” This allows you, as the merchant, to properly defend your business and protect your revenue.

For tax purposes, it is recommended that merchants keep signed receipts for at least three years. I know, that’s a lot of slippery little white tickets to hold on to for a long period of time.

I find that storing them in a dedicated file divided into monthly folders is the easiest way to retrieve that needle in a haystack when you need to find it. That way there are no other documents mixed together with your signed credit card receipts.

PAYROLL RECORDS Under the Fair Labor Standards

Act (FLSA), the Equal Employment Opportunity Act requires employers to keep payroll records for at least three years. Keep in mind, these are some of the most sensitive documents in your business because they should contain W–2 and I–9 materials. These documents should be handled carefully, stored carefully and be maintained in a secure manner.

TAX RECORDS This is the set of records you will be required to keep for the longest time period. The Internal Revenue Service suggests you keep your business tax records and supporting documents for seven years.

Like some of the other records above, I suggest you have a system in place which allows you to maintain each year’s records, divided

into monthly folders, separately from every other year. This includes receipts, check registers, bank statements, credit card statements and many other documents which are necessary tools to manage your business’s financial welfare.

While not an exciting topic, understanding which records are important to keep and for how long will allow you to organize your files and maintain your business records in a neat and orderly manner.

Purging documents can be exhilarating (and if you have a lot of them, the sound of a paper shredder is satisfying), but ensure that you are keeping the proper documents, for the proper length of time, in the proper manner. Happy document cleaning! &

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

9

by Daryl Conner

WHAT

ABOUT

All dogs and cats have whiskers, even the hairless breeds. The proper name for them is vibrissae, and there is more to them than simply being coarse hairs.

L

ocated randomly on either side of the dog’s muzzle, over the top lip, along the eye ridge and under the chin, vibrissae are sensory organs and are among the first hairs to develop in utero and are present at birth.

Rooted up to three times deeper in the skin than regular hairs, the follicles that hold vibrissae have a blood supply and are rich in nerve

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

endings that send information to the dog’s brain. Vibrissae are sensitive enough to detect even small changes in air currents. It is said that a dog’s whiskers are similar in sensitivity to a human’s fingertips. So where we explore the world with our hands, dogs use their faces.

Whiskers are also able to give dogs information about the shape, size and even velocity of nearby ob-

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jects. This is important because vision is not the canine’s most highly-developed sense. Whiskers help dogs to maneuver in the dark, and to assess navigation in tight spaces. Since they are so sensitive to even small vibrations, they can also help alert dogs to impending danger. Vibrissae are mobile, and pets can direct them towards items of interest and can even retract them up to ¼ inch.

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40 Percent of the part of the brain set aside to process touch in the dog is devoted to a map of the whiskers.

An article in Psychology Today states1, “Furthermore, 40 percent of the part of the brain set aside to process touch in the dog is devoted to a map of the whiskers.”

Dr. Erin Flood, DVM of Clinton, Maine says, “These extra thick hairs have special nerve receptors deeply imbedded in the hair follicle. They immediately give information to the sensory nervous system, allowing the dog to navigate their environment

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

with innate ease. They help with the dog’s farsightedness. Passing along such data as where small objects are under the muzzle, what size things are, how tight the space is around them, how fast something is moving, and the current airflow. Also, whiskers will bristle when a dog is feeling defensive and signals that to the other dog. All of this aids in hunting, eating, navigation, and play.

So, those whiskers are telling those

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crazy dogs that zoom around like wild banshees how fast they’re going, when to blink to protect their eyes while tearing through the brush, and how the other dog they are playing with is feeling.”

As a groomer, there is not much I enjoy more than the look and feel of a well-clipped, smooth poodle face. But with the above information in mind, I must admit I cringe a little every time I put a clipper on a muzzle to create that lovely appearance. Even when I trim a short style on other breeds, letting those whiskers fall to the table gives me cause to hesitate. And how does a groomer clip a sporting breed to velvety smoothness and still leave the vibrissae behind? I haven’t figured that one out yet.

One research paper I read referred to such grooming as “Amputation of Vibrissae2.” That sounds grim, don’t you think? Sure, they grow back, and I have shaved or trimmed off millions of whiskers over the years without any obvious harm, but it does make me wonder if I am doing a disservice to pets when I do so.

An article on the American Kennel Club website sites the importance of whiskers on dogs, and goes on to state3, “The next time you’re at the groomer, let them know to leave those whiskers alone.”

A favorite local veterinarian has chided me about trimming whiskers, telling me it is cruel and unnecessary. What if I am, indeed, causing a dog sensory deprivation in order to make its appearance pleasing to me and its owners?

It is widely accepted that vibrissae on cats should never be trimmed, but groomers have been casually lopping them off of dogs since we first picked up scissors. Cat whiskers are different from dogs in only a few small ways.

Unlike the random placement we find on canines, felines have 12 whiskers on each side of their face, symmetrically distributed. Whiskers can also be found above their eyes, near their ears, and there are carpal vibrissae located on their front legs. These sensory organs help cats achieve hunting success by detecting minute vibrations from their prey. Feline whiskers are roughly the width of their bodies, which help

cats determine what size spaces their lithe bodies can fit in.

The only time I’ve ever intentionally trimmed vibrissae on a cat is when I find long, curling whiskers threatening to irritate an eye (usually on Persians). And even then I merely shorten the length back a bit.

This information is shared to provide “food for thought” for fellow groomers. The way we groom has

changed dramatically since I bought my first pair of clippers. We are constantly becoming more educated about our products and practices, and improving the way we work to make it better for the pets we care for.

Continual learning is key to our evolving as an industry, and hopefully you will occasionally wonder, “What about whiskers?” after reading these words. &

References: 1 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201912/the-surprising-reasons-why-dogs-have-whiskers 2 https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=acwp_vsm 3 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/why-do-dogs-have-whiskers/ Sources: https://www.livescience.com/44824-why-dogs-have-whiskers.html https://petmassage.com/canine-tactile-hairs/ https://www.purina.co.uk/cats/behaviour-and-training/understanding-cat-behaviour/why-do-cats-have-whiskers

om w fr e N

GENERAL PET RELEASE FORM

MATTED PET

R EASE FORM CAGE DRYEREL RELEASE FORM

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 Your Pet is IMPORTANT to Us! safety Because we care about your pet’s Your Pet is IMPORTANT to Us! you that Pet Name

and well being, we want to assure 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. injury, stress and more or matted, it is at greater risk of The use of a cage dryer is safer and All precautions will be taken. However, we dog, trauma. your comfortable for some dogs. For or after We will problems occasionally arise, during recommend the use of a cage dryer. mental or such as nicks, clipper irritation and when grooming, practices safe following the adhere to 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. used. be for cage drying will to • Only equipment manufactured this grooming establishment I hereby grant permission to be followed. for my pet at my expense.

• Manufacturer instructions will 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

treatment should it become necessary.

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

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

Date

Your Pet is IMPORTANT to Us!

Date

Pet Name

Pet Name

Owner Name

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

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Celebrating 10 Years: FOCUSES ON PET HEALTH AND EDUCATION Photo Credit Cedar + Moss Studios

Y

ou develop a special relationship with the clients, whether it’s through a breed you’ve owned or have a lot of knowledge about. I have about 20 Portuguese Water Dogs now as clients,” says Heather Hudson, a pet esthetician, dog groomer and salon owner in New Lenox, Illinois.

Her dog grooming salon, Sty-

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

lapet, celebrated its 10th anniversary on June 1st, just weeks after reopening following the Spring COVID shutdown.

Heather says, “We focus on the nicer aspects of pet grooming where we can get creative and do more than just maintenance trims. The groomers I hire are really interested in continuing education.”

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Education is at the heart of the Stylapet mission. As an esthetician, Heather says, “Skin health is so important. It translates into the health of the dog’s coat. One of the hard parts of the COVID shutdown was that we have clients who rely on us for skin therapies. But for six weeks we couldn’t get them in. We sent sprays and products to these

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

down the road,” shares Heather. clients, but it’s not the same as a good bath. Some dogs have had years of veterinary care trying to fix skin issues where we’ve been able to make a difference in just a few weeks for these dogs with chronic skin issues.”

Heather says she was introduced to the science of skin health at a trade show. “I love the artistic side of grooming and the science side. I got drawn in via one of the trade shows and started using the Iv San Bernard products on one of my dogs.”

Now the salon exclusively uses Iv San Bernard products. Heather’s been through their training program on skin health and some of her groomers are working through it now too.

“There are maybe five pet estheticians in the state of Illinois. It’s fascinating to learn about the things we do that affect the animal. A bath is not just a bath. What you do can affect the dog weeks and months GroomertoGroomer.com

down the road,” shares Heather.

Besides continuing education, the staff encourage re–bookings.

“We create that atmosphere of having regular maintenance because it’s healthy for the dog. I love the clients who come in on a regular basis because you get to know the dog and building the relationship is so much easier. You don’t have to focus on mats or dogs who are scared because they don’t know what grooming is,” concedes Heather.

One way they encourage regular visits is with their monthly Bath Club. The Bath Club is a new initiative since re–opening after the COVID shutdown. “Our groomers book out pretty far in advance. This is geared toward making it easy for people to get their dogs in for maintenance baths,” Heather says.

The maintenance baths are done by the bathers and include a nail trim and brush–out. When dogs are on a regular bathing schedule, not only do they feel bet-

@123petsw

@123pet

The 500 sq. ft. retail/lobby area offers treats and collars for the dogs, and shirts and décor items for the humans.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

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ter, but when the dog comes back for their next groom, they won’t be matted.

Stylapet’s staff includes a receptionist, three bathers and four groomers (including Heather.) They also have a retail space.

“In November 2018, we expanded our salon and now have a full boutique. That’s when we hired a receptionist. She manages the phone, check–in and –out, and retail,” Heather shares.

The boutique grew organically out of clients asking for certain things. When people ask about what type of brush their dog needs, now Heather can offer it to them directly. New Lennox is a rural area and she also carries a lot of locally–made items. The 500 sq. ft. retail/lobby area offers treats

and collars for the dogs, and shirts and décor items for the humans.

Heather says, “Business is an evolution. You won’t necessarily be able to start out with the $100,000 salon at first. But use what you have and keep at it.”

After hiring her first receptionist, Heather says that role is instrumental. “It’s a godsend to have someone managing the phones and rebookings. We always ask when they leave if they want to book the next appointment. I’d rather have fewer clients come in more frequently. I prefer having that relationship. The receptionist allows the groomers to work without interruption. Before the receptionist, they’d have to handle check–in and –out, and since dogs come in about every hour, there

were a lot of interruptions.”

In her decade as a salon owner, Heather has learned a lot. She opened Stylapet after only two years as a dog groomer. “It was a trial–by–fire approach,” she says. “I didn’t understand a lot of the business aspects when I started out.”

However, one of Heather’s biggest lessons is being selective of your clientele. “A lot of time as groomers, we’re afraid we won’t have clients when there are so many dogs out there. I don’t think that’s so much of a worry as finding the right clients. Shoot for the clientele you want rather than trying to take anyone. There’s always someone who will value you,” Heather concludes.

Now that’s great advice from a successful business owner! &

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One of Heather’s biggest lessons is being selective of your clientele.

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

21

DERM CONNECTION

by Dr. Cliff Faver

“That’s Really Bad! Right?”

As concerning as it sounds, Staph Dermatitis may not seem like such a bad thing once you understand the science.

F

irst, Staph Dermatitis is quite a common diagnosis, but is often a “guess” by the veterinarian versus a prognosis based on a lab test. To truly diagnose Staph Dermatitis, a culture and sensitivity test are required because we need to know exactly what bacteria or fungus (different test) we are up against. Therefore, all too often this is an educated guess based on Staph being the most common bacteria present on the skin.

The most common Staph that we find present on the skin of dogs and cats are Staphylococcus pseudointermedius and Staphylococcus schleiferi. These are a different species than

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

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the Staphylococcus aureus, which is more common in humans. These bacteria are considered normal flora of the skin which means they are present even on healthy skin. So, why did the vet say the dog has an infection if they are normal?

The Staph, as well as yeast/fungus (common to the skin), are what we refer to as opportunistic organisms. This means they will tend to overgrow (cause an infection) if they are given the right conditions or environment. Instead of Staph Dermatitis being a disease, it is a symptom or secondary issue.

It is especially important to realize that the bacteria and fungus of

the skin are in competition. If you wipe out one of these, then you get the other. Antibiotics (like penicillin) are often substances that are produced by yeast or fungi to repel or suppress bacteria. When we use antibiotics, a perfect environment is created to promote the growth of yeast and fungus. Without utilizing this science, many veterinarians and doctors will switch antibiotics if the skin does not respond without considering that we may already have a secondary yeast or fungus infection.

This practice also contributes to the Staph mutating and becoming drug– resistant, forming MRSA (Methicillin–resistant Staph aureus), or for dogs, MRSP (Methicillin–resistant

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

23

Skin is a living organism, so it needs the basics of life: food, water, protection and oxygen. If we remove any of these or fail to replace them in the process, then the skin will struggle to heal.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

Staph pseudointermedius). We often refer to these as MRSA infections, but that is not the correct terminology when referring to dogs and cats.

If we understand that bacterial and fungal infections are secondary, then that should prompt us to rethink our approach. By just treating the infection, we are merely treating a symptom, but not really addressing the true disease. Often the disease associated with skin issues can be vague and extremely hard to delineate, which is why we have so many frustrating cases. There are no precise tests to show why the skin is an issue, so commonly we are faced with the diagnosis of “sick skin with secondary infection” for lack of anything more concrete. Though this does gives us an operating plan, whether veterinarian or groomer.

We have two things to accom-

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plish; 1) we need to get rid of the infection, and 2) we need to return the skin to healthy again. If antibiotics and antifungals can create problems, then maybe we should take a different approach. If nutrition and medication struggle to cross the watertight skin barrier, then maybe that is not the approach to use either. Instead, let us go straight to the source of the problem…the skin.

A topical approach makes the most sense to be able to change the environment quickly, but we need to tackle it in such a way that we help fix the “sick skin”. There are several products on the market that claim to be antibacterial and antifungal. But the question is, how will they leave the skin after application? We must also realize that we will struggle if there are things occurring internally in the pet that are perpetuating the problem, which would be the veterinarian’s responsibility.

Skin is a living organism, so it needs the basics of life: food, water, protection and oxygen. If we remove any of these or fail to replace them in the process, then the skin will struggle to heal. The disease process itself will often deplete these necessities and will require them to be replaced to get back to a normal status.

The basis of shampooing (a stripping process) promotes the process of healing with “the solution to pollution is dilution.” By decreasing the bacteria or fungal levels, we can give the body a fighting chance. The problem with just shampooing is, unless you are using an antifungal or antibacterial type of shampoo, its only benefit is dilution. The main reason the body has not already healed itself is because it is overwhelmed, therefor just diluting does not suffice.

One of the keys to success involves using a shampoo or combination of shampoos designed to suppress or

KEYS TO SUCCESS

IN TREATING

✓ Use an antibacterial/antifungal shampoo ✓ Always condition with a hydrating/nutrient–rich conditioner ✓ Bathe frequently enough to get ahead of the infection ✓ Continue bathing long enough to allow the body to heal ✓ Be quick to start back up if not 100% after initial restoration

kill both the bacteria and the fungus (taking care of both competitors), allowing the body to catch up. Next, and very importantly, we need to follow that with a conditioner that replaces those essential requirements to bring the skin back to good health after the infection subsides.

It is important to remember that these types of infections do not usually occur overnight, so they will not go

away overnight. Bacteria is much easier to eliminate (sometimes a couple of hours to days), but fungus on the other hand is slow to grow and slow to get rid of. They are in competition with one another so we need to plan our restoration of the skin on a six– to eight–week timeframe to get rid of the fungus. Another important key to success is bathing the pet frequently enough to never allow the infection

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or the skin debris to return (“solution to pollution”), which usually means bathing them once or twice a week.

The trap that many of us fall into is, after three weeks when they look significantly better, we quit, thinking we are done. But the real proof is what happens two weeks to two months after we quit.

Many clients, groomers and veterinarians think there is too much involved, or that it is too costly, and try to short–cycle the treatment process by cutting something out (conditioner, time, frequency, etc.). The results are usually the same…failure!

The science is what the science is. And by following a solid scientific protocol, we will greatly enhance the success rate. & Dr. Cliff Faver graduated with a BS in Biology/BA in Chemistry before getting a Veterinary degree in 1987. He is the past owner of Animal Health Services in Cave Creek, Arizona and now the US distributor for Iv San Bernard products, teaches the ISB Pet Aesthetician Certification program, and speaks internationally on hair and skin. His passion is to merge groomers and veterinarians to aid in helping and healing pets. He is also a member of AVMA, AAHA, AZVMA, Board member with Burbank Kennel Club, and has served on Novartis Lead Committee, Hill’s International Global Veterinary Board, and a Veterinary Management Group.

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PROTECTING YOURSELF AGAINST

E by Corina Stammworthy e

It feels strange to say we’re coming up on one year of living in a global pandemic, but here we are.

O

ne year of a constant barrage of breaking news on this virus.One year of homeschooling and mask– wearing. One year of hand–washing and social distancing. You might be tempted into feeling like the world is a bit safer now; after all, didn’t we get through the worst of it already?

The short answer is, yes, and no.

HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT There were two peaks, with one in early April and the other in late July. As we come off the second peak and enter flu season,

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60,000

COVID 19 CASES

40,000 20,000

New Cases 7 Day Average March

April

it’s easy to feel COVID fatigue.

Despite our best efforts, the virus continues to spread.

During that first peak (which looks pretty small on the graph now), many groomers found themselves out of work due to government–mandated or voluntary shutdowns. Many of those restrictions loosened just in time

May

June

July

for groomers to be back to work for the second, much larger wave of cases. At the time of writing, the daily cases are dropping, but are still higher than the daily cases during the first wave.

Why does all this background information about the peaks and waves matter? Because groomers have to learn to operate in this new world and

Aug.

Sept.

be prepared for the next wave, which is inevitably coming. Until we achieve sufficient levels of immunity, we live in this careful balance of trying to keep the virus under control through public health measures.

By now we’ve all had our fill of information on the virus, but there is always more to learn.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

29

DROPLET NUCLEI

TRANSMITION OF THE VIRUS: INFECTED INDIVIDUAL

DROPLETS

SMALLER DIAMETER TRAVEL >1 METER

SUSCEPTIBLE INDIVDUAL

DROPLET

LARGER DIAMETER TRAVEL <1 METER

DIRECT CONTACT

T TAC N O CT C

IRE

*Transmission routes involving a combination of hand & surface = indirect contact

IND

TRANSMISSION In decreasing order of risk, transmission of the virus can occur through droplet, direct, indirect or airborne transmission.

DROPLET: Respiratory droplet transmis-

sion occurs when an infected individual expels virus through coughing, sneezing or talking. This is the primary source of transmission of SARS–CoV–2, and it’s the target of most of our infection control practices. Respiratory droplets are tiny water droplets in the air, usually small enough that they are not visible. They are large enough, however, that they typically fall to the ground within six feet of emission.

This property of respiratory droplets being large enough that they are unable to travel across large distances is where the six–feet rule of social distancing comes from.

Bottom line for groomers: Stay six feet away from other people at all times to protect yourself, but also wear a

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

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mask to catch your own droplets and protect others.

DIRECT CONTACT: Direct contact

with an infected person just increases your chances of being infected by respiratory droplet. For the reasons listed above, you shouldn’t have direct contact with your clients or staff anyway.

Bottom line for groomers: Continue to stay six feet away from other people at all times and don’t touch other people directly.

grooming salon to keep us and our customers safe.

INDIRECT CONTACT: Indirect contact is

SOCIAL DISTANCING: Stay six feet

where you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your nose or face. This is NOT the primary source of transmission for the virus. Theoretically, indirect contact can cause transmission, but luckily simple hand hygiene will cover this.

Bottom line for groomers: Limit in–person customer interactions and wipe down surfaces with a suitable disinfectant between customers.

away from other humans. The important part about this recommendation is to never let it compromise a dog’s safety. If you need an extra set of hands for handling a dog, then the rule must temporarily be broken. This is why a second level of protection is critical, which brings us to masks.

AIRBORNE: Airborne transmission

masked–up when interacting with one another—no exceptions! If a customer has a legitimate medical reason why they cannot wear a mask, feel free to make other accommodations for them to avoid direct contact (ask if a third party can facilitate drop–off and take payment over phone). The type of mask doesn’t matter nearly as much as vigilant compliance in wearing a mask at all times.

If you work alone or in a secluded workstation, it is okay to pull your mask down when no one else is around.

In salons with many other employees, remember that your mask is a gesture of goodwill. Wearing a mask demonstrates that you care about the safety of others and are willing to accept a minor inconvenience to lower their risk.

Face Shields: Face shields are a less invasive way to cut down on respiratory droplets, but wearing them alone is not

occurs when smaller droplets than the aforementioned respiratory droplets travel longer distances (beyond six feet).

There has been mixed evidence on airborne transmission’s role in propagating COVID–19, but primarily seems to happen in hospitals and small, inadequately–ventilated spaces. Just as discussed with indirect contact, airborne transmission is not the primary source of transmission.

Bottom line for groomers: Continue to stay six feet away from other people at all times to protect yourself, but also wear a mask to catch your own droplets and protect others.

GROOMING BEST PRACTICES Understanding all the science behind transmission can help us make informed decisions in the

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE): Masks: All humans should be

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nearly as effective as wearing a mask.

If you are looking for extra protection, consider wearing a face shield in addition to a mask, but never instead of one.

Added bonus: they’re kind of nice for doing messy double–coat blowouts.

Gowns: Gowns are probably overkill and expensive to use all the time unless you are a house–call groomer (discussed below). A less expensive option is to wear a vinyl or rubber apron over your smock that can be easily wiped down between clients.

Gloves: Gloves are a good idea but ONLY if you change them between each dog. It is easier and cheaper to just be diligent about hand–washing. However, this might be a nice option if you already have issues with skin allergies or are sensitive to constant hand–washing and sanitizing. Make sure you get latex– free because latex allergies are quite common, and always wash your hands immediately upon removing.

General Disinfecting: The single most important thing to disinfect is YOUR HANDS! Not with disinfectant; just wash them with soap. Viruses are protected by a simple oily lipid layer, which is easily disrupted by soap. Without a stable membrane, the virus quickly falls apart.

Any regular old soap will do the trick, so long as you wash for 20 seconds and get all the nooks and crannies on your hands. You should be washing your hands before and after every customer interaction, and between each dog.

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

31

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Can the virus live on dog hair and get us sick?

Theoretically, yes, but it is highly unlikely. It’s been over six months since a national emergency was declared in the U.S., and there are zero cases of animal care professionals contracting COVID-19 from a dog.

Dog hair is not a great surface

Other important places include anything the customer touches, like door handles, counters and card readers. The hot spots of your grooming station should be disinfected regularly anyway, including the table top, loop, arm and tools.

When choosing a disinfectant, look for EPA–Registered Disinfectants1. These are disinfectants that have demonstrated significant evidence that they can inactivate the virus—but remember—not all will be pet–safe. If you have a pet–safe disinfectant and are wondering if it’s effective against SARS–CoV–2, look for an EPA registration number and then check the EPA website.

The good news is, SARS–CoV–2 is not a super sturdy virus and many common disinfectants will easily deactivate it. The bad news is, these common cleaners are absolutely NOT recommended: ammonia, vinegar, pinesol, fabuloso, thieves’ cleaner and essential oils.

EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT At the beginning of each shift, confirm with a daily sign–in sheet that employees have no symptoms of COVID–19 and have not been in contact with anyone who is COIVD–19 positive. Also consider a quick temperature check with an infrared thermometer upon entering the building.

Throughout their shift, make sure

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

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for the virus to stay on for an extended period of time. If you’re still concerned, I recommend putting every dog straight in the tub. The same shampoo you use to wash them will work against the virus in the same way that hand soap does.

employees are wearing a mask and maintaining a minimum of six feet of distance from other people. Encourage hand– washing at a minimum of between customers, but preferably more. Grooming stations and tools should be disinfected thoroughly between customers as well.

If an employee calls in with symptoms, DO NOT let them come in, and immediately direct them to get tested.

Require a negative test to return to work. It can be a major inconvenience to have to move scheduled appointments when groomers call in to work, but it pales in comparison to the inconvenience of having to notify customers of an exposure event in your salon. If they are positive, direct all employees and customers who were in contact with them during their infectious period to self–isolate, and call your local health department for further guidance.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS CURBSIDE DROP–OFF: This is a

great option if you can safely do it.

Curbside will always be safer for your human customers, but riskier for the dogs. Don’t do curbside if you are on a busy street, or if you can’t safely contain the dogs.

GOING CASH–FREE: If you handle

a lot of cash, this may feel like a safer option for you. Alternatively, good hand–hygiene practices before and after handling money is a lot easier

and doesn’t require you to completely revamp your business practices.

when booking an appointment, at check–in or both.

WORKPLACE–SPECIFIC BEST PRACTICES SALON: The lobby is your biggest

MOBILE: Even if you don’t have a lob-

liability, as it’s the source of customer interaction. If you’re not doing curbside or contactless drop–off, then only allow one customer/family in the lobby at a time. Require masks in the lobby for anyone who wants to enter, and maintain six feet of distance when interacting with customers.

You MUST be able to track down everyone you interacted with on a specific day. Keep your appointment log and, if you allow walk–ins, require them to check in with at least their name and phone number so you can contact them in the event of an exposure.

Consider asking all clients if they currently have symptoms, have interacted with someone who has tested positive for COVID–19 or have recently travelled out of state. For added safety, these verification questions may be asked

by, any time you directly interact with the customer is your biggest liability.

Consider a hands–free exchange by bringing a foldable kennel, require masks and maintain six feet of distance when interacting with customers.

Disinfect everything in your workspace between customers (which is already standard best–practice) and do not allow customers in your workspace.

For mobile groomers who work with assistants, it will be impossible for you to maintain distance in your workspace. So you will need to be extra vigilant outside of the workplace so as to not inadvertently expose your grooming partner. When working alongside others, masks are strongly recommended at all times.

HOUSE–CALL: Of all the grooming

formats, house–call puts you the most at risk. It is strongly recommended to follow all of the above precautions, and, if possible, groom outside or in

a garage. A separate, well–ventilated area will be safer than indoors. Disinfect your entire working area before and after the groom. This is the only environment where more PPE is recommended. Wear gloves and a gown, or something that is easily wiped down between clients.

OVERALL RECOMMENDATIONS Limit your interactions with people whenever you can, but wear a mask when contact can’t be avoided.

Wash your hands often throughout the day, but specifically before and after each client. Wipe down your work area with an appropriate disinfectant before and after each client. And perhaps, most importantly—stay vigilant! It’s easy to feel COVID fatigue from months of social distancing, but this isn’t over. Stick to these practices and they will soon become good habits. & *Even well into the pandemic, we’re constantly learning new information about this disease and best prevention practices. All data is up to date at time of publication. Remember to always follow state and local guidelines.

Corina stumbled into the dog grooming industry by chance, but has brought fresh eyes and new ideas. She opened The Laundromutt, a self–service dog wash and grooming salon, on the concept that washing your own dog should be easy and fun. She believes that your dog should always be in the most educated hands, and in the cleanest and calmest environment possible. Corina is a college biology instructor and is currently in graduate school for Biotechnology.

References: 1 https://www.epa.gov/pesticide– registration/list–n–disinfectants–use– against–sars–cov–2–covid–19

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

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KITTY'S KORNER

by Deborah Hansen

M

Too

for my

SETTING FELINE LEG LINES

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any cat owners want their cats shaved; however, they do not want their cats to look like they are wearing a pair of fashion boots. This can be a real challenge for many groomers and grooming business owners. While we know the position of the leg line is important, we are not always able to explain the importance of the leg line position to our clients. Understanding why the leg line is positioned where it is will not only assist you in educating your clients, but will help to establish you as a professional and increase the likelihood of that client returning to you in the future.

The position of the front leg line is important because it preserves the whiskers on the rear of the feline’s front leg. These carpal whiskers are important when it comes to the function of the paw. When a cat catches and holds onto something such as a toy, human or prey, the carpal whiskers trigger the nerve which sends a signal to the brain about the exact location and movement of the item the cat has in their paw. By simply showing these whiskers to the client, they will instantly understand why the front legs cannot be shaved all the way down to the paw.

Most cat owners understand the importance of not altering whiskers; however, if the cat owner is not aware of the importance of not cutting or removing whiskers, this is an excellent opportunity to educate the client. Spending a little time discussing whiskers goes a long way to establishing you as the expert in your field.

But what about the back legs? The problem with shaving past the hocks on the shank of a feline is that the nerves, tendons and blood vessels run closer to the skin than in other parts of the body. Oftentimes the skin is indented

Even if it is a “good” calm cat, the potential harm to your business’s reputation—or to the cat—is usually greater than the benefit of shaving the lower rear legs. or pulled into the space between the fibula and tibia.

Keeping in mind how unexpectedly a feline can make a quick, random movement, the risk almost always outweighs the benefits of shaving past the hock. What would be a quick–to– heal nick on any other part of a cat’s body can easily become a cut to a blood vessel, tendon or muscle with lifelong consequences. Even if it is a “good” calm cat, the potential harm to your business’s reputation—or to the cat— is usually greater than the benefit of shaving the lower rear legs.

When a client requests the lower back legs shaved to the paw, I have the

cat owner feel that area on their cat.

Then I explain it is simply not safe to shave into the indented area. Explaining how the nerves, tendons and blood vessels run right under the skin in that area is usually enough to help the client understand the potential danger of removing the coat from the lower rear legs of a feline.

Even after explaining your reasoning behind the positioning of the feline leg lines, a few clients will still be insistent on removing the coat on the lower legs. These clients can be tricky. The way I have approached this dilemma in the past is by telling the cat owner I am happy to remove the coat

on the lower legs with a written note from their veterinarian. Most will not bother, and if they do speak to their veterinarian, I know my local veterinarians understand the danger and will educate these clients on why they will not promote shaving the lower legs of a feline.

Another approach is to simply tell the cat owner you are not comfortable with their requests and suggest that a different groomer may be able to better meet the goals for their feline’s haircut.

Now that the reason behind the placement has been explained, how exactly do we find the correct spot on each feline for the leg lines?

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On the front legs, the goal is to make your line at the bend of the leg when the leg is gently extended. To achieve this, position the cat in a way that is comfortable for you to work. I like to lay the cat on their back in my lap, then gently extend the leg by holding onto the bottom of the leg or base of the paw. Once the leg is extended, shave down the front from the shoulder towards the paw. Your blade will hit the natural bend at the elbow. This is where the front leg line is placed. After the front line is set, begin the side lines by shaving from the shoulder down the leg.

Pull the skin from the back of the leg to either side to complete the leg line.

The back leg line is made at the top of the hock. I shave down the outside of the leg from the body toward the paw and stop at the hock. I then move to the inside of the leg, starting at the hock and shave up towards the body. Next, I move to the front of the leg, finishing with sliding the skin on the back of the leg to either side to form a tight surface in order to make the rear leg line.

By seeing the cat’s legs as square or rectangular prisms and marking a starting point with your clippers, you can set the leg line on each side of the leg. If you were to look at the leg as a circle or column, your leg line will tend to spiral downward and never appear straight from a distance. To better define your leg line, finish by shaving between the leg line and the body in the opposite direction.

Knowing exactly where to make the leg line can seem like a mystery until we understand the reasoning behind the placement. As groomers it is important to understand not only how to get clean and polished leg lines, but to also understand how the position of the leg line benefits the feline. Once we have an understanding of why the lines are positioned where they are, it is much easier to educate clients on the importance of placement of each leg line. &

by Michelle Knowles

ACHIEVING

COMPLIANCE:

educating YOUR CLIENTS with

and

C

lients can leave you baffled.

They bring expectations, demands and needs—and complaints when you fail to meet them. I have an open invitation to any groomer to send me a copy of their clients’ pictures and grooming notes that are brought in for Fluffy’s groom; I believe in my heart these things need to be compiled into a coffee table book.

On the other side of the coin,

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

clients bring the money. It is necessary to develop the skills it takes to make the exchange of grooming for dollars a smooth and easy event in your daily salon life.

ALTERCATIONS OR MISUNDERSTANDINGS Every time there is an “event” concerning a groom that may or may not be what the client asked for, I always examine how I could have handled

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it better; what could I have said that might have put them at ease, or what should I have looked for in a client who is walking the edge towards a nerve?

The better part of all failed interactions comes from unclear communication at drop–off. The more specific you are, the better the client will understand how the day will go.

I work with many groomers who already feel undervalued and have taken to heart “the customer is always

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right” mentality, so they shy away from confrontation. Instead of telling a client with a matted dog that needs to be shaved down, “I will leave him as long as I can,” they really should be saying, “This dog will be smooth today.” The first statement leaves hope in the heart of a client, laying a foundation of expectation that the dog will have some fluff left.

The second statement will leave the owner with a good idea of what they will be picking up in the afternoon.

Bonuses are always won when you can under promise and over deliver!

If you can save some length, let it be a bonus instead of a promise.

Many groomers report that they fear being honest and blunt, and many of them say they are afraid of making the client mad. I gently remind them that the client will always be mad if they feel that they have been misled. Rip the Band–Aid off and try to be as compassionately precise as is necessary.

I have had clients choose to leave because I refused to de–matt their horribly tangled dog, but the options were all discussed so the client could make a better decision for their circumstances. The bridge back to my salon is still intact for this client.

Offer them science and exactly the services you are willing to give to their specific pet and let them decide if your salon is right for them.

Staying calm and objectively informative will always leave an impression of respect for your ethics and knowledge. And if not, then they were not a good fit for your salon in the first place.

THE CLIENT’S VIEWPOINT Clients come from many diverse backgrounds and have individualized views on what a pet means to them.

Everyone has a unique relationship with the animals in their lives.

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Perusing peer–reviewed articles and subscribing to scientific journals are excellent ways to find broad and specific information.

Sometimes as groomers, we become so saturated with the care of animals, we sometimes forget that we have learned by years of immersion and study but our clients have not.

Many times we get frustrated with them when we fail to realize that they are not as knowledgeable as we are, and that is not their fault.

They have pursued different lines of work and may have only a rudimentary education on the care of their animal. If they lack knowledge, it is very much a part of our job to educate them about grooming care or point them in the right direction for more specialization.

MEET IN THE MIDDLE Sources of qualified science are not hard to find. A great way to start is with the online Merck Veterinary Manual1. Perusing peer– reviewed articles and subscribing to scientific journals are excellent ways to find broad and specific information. And depending on how deep you are willing to go, veterinary and technician textbooks are always a fun Sunday read.

The point of finding accurate information that can be trusted is so it can be used to educate your clientele in an intelligent and professional manner. Even if they do not agree with what you are saying, they will have a better understanding of the procedure just for you having said it.

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When educating your clients, make sure to have diagrams and resource materials readily accessible. I found it handy to create a little science booklet that I use as a teaching tool and distribute to every concerned client and new puppy owner. This gives them the foundation of knowledge to understand even more advanced concepts in grooming, should issues arise.

I cover the hair cycle, a little bit about the needs of the coat types, and what coats should and should not be shaved, while also discussing why these things make a difference to the beauty and health of their pet.

If you do not shave down pugs, you should say so, and then provide solid reasons why or why not. If you do not de–matt at a certain point, the intricacies of shaving a pelted coat should be discussed. If you no longer express anal glands, you should be able to

communicate to the client why you no longer provide this service. I end every educational interaction with a printout or diagram for the client to take home.

At the end of the day, there will always be clients that do not understand, that get mad and leave, or are just insistent that you do something you do not believe in. You are not a mindless drudge meant to bend to their wishes; you are a professional who has the responsibility to decide how to practice your trade, ethically and functionally.

The more you stand by your standards, the more you will be respected for doing so—even if the client chooses to leave. A calm mind and an objective intent to educate will win the day and let you rest, knowing that you did the absolute best that you could. & References: www.merckvetmanual.com

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SOCIA L MEDIA RELEASE FORM Pet Name

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I hereby authorize the use of photos and/or information relate d to my pet’s expe rience at this establishment. I understand my pet may be used in publications inclu ding electronic, audio visual, promotion al literature, adve rtising, community prese ntations, letters to area legislators, medi a and/or in simila r ways.

My consent is freely given as a public service without expe cting payment.

I release this est ablishment and their respective and agents from employees, officers any and all liabil ity which may arise news media storie from the use of such s, promotional mate rials, written articl photographic imag es, videos and/o es. r I grant permission

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GROOMING GAB

by Kathy Hosler

ATTRACTS NATIONWIDE ATTENTION Photos By Tayler Smith

The Pandemic Pup Relief Tour is indisputable evidence that good things can happen—even in the midst of the worst year many of us have ever experienced.

B

rian Taylor, owner/operator of Harlem Doggie Day Spa (HDDS), is the driving force behind the tour. Brian had a successful business with HDDS that not only offered grooming, but also doggie daycare, dog walking, cage–free boarding and retail sales.

“Out of nowhere, in February, COVID–19 brought my business to a screeching halt,” says Brian. “I had

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to let all my employees go. That really affected me. So as I was rebuilding my business, I felt the need to give back.

I kept thinking about the restaurant industry and what they have done.

Even though they were suffering themselves, they started offering meals to the people who were working and saving lives,” Brian continues.

“That’s when I started the Pandemic Pup Relief fund. The idea was, whatever

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money a pet parent would donate to the fund or give me in tips would go toward a free grooming for someone who couldn’t afford to have their pups done. My clients support me a lot. Some go above and beyond in that support and it really touched me. In one month, I raised over $2,000,” Brian exclaims.

That’s when the wheels started turning in Brian Taylor’s mind. In the beginning, he was going to do this

relief grooming for just his local area— then it snowballed.

“The satisfaction of helping people and their pets made me want to do more,” shares Brian. “That’s where I got the idea of doing a Pandemic Pup Relief Tour. One of the things Americans love the most is their pets. If people don’t have the money to get their pet groomed, and if groomers can volunteer to groom them, it’s going to make a big impact on our country.”

Brian defines his three main reasons for organizing the tour as, 1) Giving back to the pet industry because it has done a lot for him personally and for all of us, 2) Uplifting and helping people who are in need because of COVID–19 or any other pandemic, and 3) To highlight black pet professionals and then inspire and to lead by example so we can get more groomers of all nationalities involved.

Brian, who is known as The Dogfather of Harlem, has a huge following on social media and is an active member in the Black Groomer Association Facebook group.

“I put my idea for the Pandemic Pup Relief Tour out over social media to see if there was any interest from my colleagues to go throughout the country and give free grooms to dogs in need,” Brian says. “Immediately, some of the BGA group members stepped up and offered their services.

Soon, 55 black professional groomers had signed up to participate.”

The website, www.puprelieftour. com was set up and plans for the tour got underway.

“In 2018, I won a grant from New York called ‘Love Your Local,’ and I purchased a used grooming van,” shares Brian. “I’ve always wanted to use my van and travel the country to meet my online friends and BGA colleagues in person, and hang out with them for a day or two and learn from them.”

“In 2018, I won a grant from New York called ‘Love Your Local,’ and I purchased a used grooming van,” shares Brian.

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Because of COVID–19, they had to make sure that the cities they chose would allow them to do the grooming and research what guidelines the groomers would have to follow.

This turned out to be the perfect chance for Brian to do just that. As more and more black groomers volunteered for the project, decisions were made as to which six cities would host the events. Because of COVID–19, they had to make sure that the cities they chose would allow them to do the grooming and research what guidelines the groomers would have to follow.

It was decided that the first event would be in New York City, then on to Washington D.C.; Wilmington, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas, Texas, and the last stop would be Los Angeles, California.

One of Brian’s social media fans is a reporter for CNN. She featured the Pandemic Pup Relief Tour and it was picked up by a lot of others. A GoFundMe account was set up and over $27,000 was raised for this amazing project.

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out to companies to get support and sponsorships for the tour. Many companies such as Andis, AdVet Hygienics, Clover and more eagerly partnered with them, and soon, shampoos, clippers, table mats, tools, merchandise and monetary gifts started to come in.

Brian drove to each city and hosted a pop–up grooming event for two days at a local groomer’s salon. Many of the volunteers lived and worked within 50 miles of the locations where they signed up to help, but some came from much farther.

At the NYC stop, the Diva Dogg Grooming team of eight traveled from Rhode Island. Candice of Kandi Kutz House Calls, along with a team of four, traveled from Indiana to volunteer.

Some groomers from Washington, D.C. offered to travel to Wilmington, North Carolina to lend a hand at that location as well. Also, Michael “Fluff Daddy” Joe, one of the founders of the Black Groomers Association, flew in from Dallas to help out in North Carolina. He then traveled to assist at the Atlanta location, and then back to Dallas for their event.

In Atlanta, in addition to grooming at the Chateau 4 Paws salon, four groomers brought their mobile grooming vans. That team of 18 groomers gave makeovers to more than 150 dogs in just two days. In all, more than 600 dogs received free grooming services on the Pandemic Pup Relief Tour.

“I think I made it fun for groomers to give back,” says Brian. “They got to connect with other groomers and learn different skill sets in an informal environment. Giving back to our industry, connecting with others in a meaningful way and helping pups—what could be better than that?’”

The first Pandemic Pup Relief Tour is now over, but, because of Brian Taylor, the willing volunteers and generous sponsors, it will have a lasting impact on every community they helped, and has laid the groundwork for future projects. &

“Giving back to our industry, connecting with others in a meaningful way and helping pups—what could be better than that?’”

— Brian Taylor

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BUT WHY?

by Jonathan David

Sanitation For Safety: AVOIDING CROSS– CONTAMINATION

FOR SAFETY

by Jonathan David We all know that in our pet grooming businesses we should be keeping

up with proper sanitation and cleaning procedures, but sometimes, for one reason or another, we can get a little lax with staying on top of it.

S

ometimes our grooming rooms, tables, scissors and tools look visibly clean, but it’s the things we can’t see that can be the most problematic—and could be doing the most harm. We can vacuum and wipe down surfaces and keep things tidy, but dirt, hair and dander can accumulate quickly in hard–to–reach places, corners and crevices, and even on our tools, pro-

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viding an opportunity for harmful bacteria to flourish.

Proper cleaning and sanitation protocols can help us to keep a safe and sanitary work environment, but why is it really so important?

Aside from the obvious need to keep a clean–looking grooming area, there are some extremely important reasons for utilizing proper cleaning and sanitation procedures in our

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grooming businesses.

Bacteria is ever–present in our environment; it’s on the surfaces we touch, it can be carried on clothing and shoes, dog leashes and collars, and active bacterial infections on a dog’s skin can cross–contaminate our tools and spread to other pets—or in some cases—to the groomers.

The same can be said about fungal infections. Fungus spores are airborne

and love to flourish in warm, moist areas, and sometimes those warm, moist areas are on the dogs we groom. We’ve all experienced yeasty ears or paws, causing redness, swelling, oily discharge and foul odors, or fungal infections brewing around weepy eyes, which left unchecked can spread to other areas of the pet, and possibly to our tools and grooming spaces.

Hidden dangers are lurking right in our grooming spaces. But fear not, there are ways to combat, control and eradicate these bacteria, leaving clean and sanitized work areas and tools. Let’s take a look at some of the tools and products available for fending off harmful bacteria and fungus in our work spaces and on our tools.

The most obvious are disinfecting products and sprays. For basic cleaning purposes, good old soap and warm water will break down dirt and oils and wash away some bacteria and fungal spores, but these tiny invaders can sometimes need a stronger approach. Creating a solution of 10% bleach and water is a very effective mixture to kill bacteria and fungus. I use a basic utility plastic spray bottle to hold the solution, and I use this solution to disinfect the stainless steel tub, shampoo mixing bottles and other nonporous surfaces.

For areas that could be damaged by bleach products, a great option is to use formulated disinfectants that can be diluted with water and are safe for all surfaces. There are many animal–safe disinfectants that can be used to clean spaces and to spray on tools.

I like to use Barbicide or Nolvasan diluted in a spray bottle to spray on tools that I don’t want to submerge in water but need disinfecting. For

Creating a solution of 10% bleach and water is a very effective mixture to kill bacteria and fungus.

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IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER TO SANITIZE THOROUGHLY AFTER GROOMING ANY DOG WITH A SKIN CONDITION TO AVOID CROSS–CONTAMINATION. my shears, I like to use 70% rubbing alcohol saturated on a cotton ball to wipe down the shears and remove dirt, hair and oil before reapplying scissor oils to the assembly.

It’s very important to remember to sanitize thoroughly after grooming any dog with a skin condition to avoid cross–contamination. Cross– contamination occurs when you use tools such as a brush, comb or other tool on a pet with a bacterial or fungal infection, and then use the same tool on an otherwise healthy pet

without sanitizing first. The brush, comb or tool can then spread the bacteria or fungus to the next pet, and if conditions are favorable, the second pet can now become afflicted with the infection.

The same goes with recirculating systems for bathing. If you use one of these bathing systems to wash a pet with problematic skin, your recirculating system now has the fungus or bacteria throughout and needs to be flushed with disinfectant before using it on another

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pet. Running one cycle with water and an antibacterial or antifungal product is also effective in cleaning out the bathing system.

Also remember to give your grooming table a good spray–down and wipe all hard surfaces well to avoid cross–contamination after grooming any pet with any health issue. Many groomers like to use a tabletop mat to make standing more comfortable for pets, so be sure to remember to clean and sanitize your grooming mats thoroughly.

Another type of disinfecting products are ultra–violet light box sanitizers. These products use extended exposure to UV–C light to kill bacteria, fungus and viruses.

You place your tools inside the box, and after a set time, you can remove them, confident that they have been disinfected. The UV–C light is strong enough to penetrate the bacteria and destroy it, but it’s important to note that this type of disinfecting process works best on smooth surfaces that can get full exposure to the light. So this option may not be the best for rough surfaces or tools with grooves and crevices. Sometimes a one–two punch option is best; use a liquid product to clean the crevices and finish with the UV light process.

Avoiding cross–contamination is crucial in providing the safest and best grooming services to our clients.

A few easy steps will go a long way in keeping your clients safe and maintaining a healthy and sanitary grooming environment. &

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STYLED UP AFTER

by Amanda Aaron and Brittney Valle

BEVELED

Cocker Spaniel Pet Trim

BEFORE

FIG. 1

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C

ocker Spaniels were originally bred as flushing dogs so their coat and trim are designed to aid them in field work. They have a natural back coat that should be carded to remove undercoat, and a natural flowing skirt that should be trimmed to neaten. They also have big, beautiful bevels that help them look like they are floating while on the move. Oftentimes, as pet groomers, we don’t get to maintain Cocker Spaniels as they should be, so it really is a treat when we get the option to work on a natural back coat.

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You can use the techniques and tools below even if you have a client that gets a clippered back coat. You can also introduce the concept of bevels on a modified trim with shorter legs and underline. Groomers often discount the majesty of the Cocker Spaniel, as they have a reputation for being difficult as pets, so I hope you have the opportunity to meet some of the great ones because they truly are an amazing breed to work with.

Fig 1) Begin this groom by carding out the undercoat on the back

FIG. 2

of the dog. To do this, hold the skin with your free hand to keep it taut and ensure that your carding knife lays flat and pull toward you. Again, the carding knife should run parallel to the skin— this will help you avoid cutting the hair instead of carding it.

Fig 2) After the undercoat is carded out, use a stone to pull the extra

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

top coat on the dog. This helps the back coat to lay flat and gives a smooth appearance. Removing the undercoat and pulling the longer topcoat will help promote growth and maintain the correct texture on the back.

Fig 3) Begin your clipper work by shaving the tops of the ears. A great guide for ears is the roll on the outside

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of the ear, where the ear leather stops folding out and lays flat, should be the lowest point of your shave line (this should also be around the jaw). Clip the inside and the outside of the ears to the same height. For this dog, I clipped the outside in a #9 reverse and the inside with a #30.

Fig 4) After the clipper work

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61

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

FIG. 8

FIG. 9

FIG. 7

is finished, use shears to clean up the edges of the clipper work for a finished look.

Fig 5) Continue your clipper work by shaving the sides of the skull. The area that should be shaved is from eye corner to opening of the ear canal, level with the eye and down. I shaved this area with a #9 blade on this dog.

Fig 6) Next, clip the throat in an upward direction and shave the bottom of the chin and lip. This should also match up with the shaved portions of the cheek. I shaved this area with a #10 blade.

Fig 7) To ensure you get all of the hair from the flew, pull the lip backwards to stretch the skin and shave the bottom lip in reverse.

Fig 8) Cocker Spaniels should have a more pronounced stop in relation to their English counterpart.

To achieve this look, make a small “V” with your clippers in between the eyes.

Fig 9) The lips of a Cocker Spaniel

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Email Rebecca@barkleigh.com

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FIG. 10

should be clipped clean, but have a “smooshy” appearance. To achieve this look, stand your blade up on its end and drag it forward on the muzzle. For this dog, I used a #7 blade.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

FIG. 11

Fig 10) Clip the back skull from right behind the tallest part of the dome down until it meets the neck.

Fig 11) Using a stone, card the top of the head and skull.

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FIG. 12

Fig 12) Finish the head by using thinning shears to blend the crown into the shaved back skull.

Fig 13) Finish your clipper work by shaving from the corner of the ear

FIG. 13

FIG. 14

down to the point of the shoulder. For shoulder. On a clippered pet dog, this this dog, I used a #10 blade. is when you could begin clipperwork Fig 14) Use thinning shears to on the back coat. blend the shaved portion of the neck Fig 15) Begin your bevels by holdinto the natural, carded neck and ing your shears at9:35 a 45–degree angle to WashUnit_GroomTable_half_12_17_F4P.pdf 1 12/19/17 AM

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FIG. 15

set the length. I prefer to start on the back bevels because it is easier to set that angle and then continue around to the front of the foot.

Fig 16) Continue scissoring

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FIG. 16

FIG. 17

FIG. 18

FIG. 19

around the side of the rear foot. To achieve a nice, stacked bevel, you want to start with your shears flat on the table and then ease the angle up as you go.

Fig 17) Begin your front bevels on the front of the foot. You will use the same methodology as the back bevel by beginning with your shear flat on the table and then ease that angle up gradually.

Fig 18) Finish this groom by scissoring your underline. This should match the angle of your bevels, and the transition from bevel to underline should flow seamlessly, no matter how much coat the dog has.

Fig 19) Lastly, blend the underline into the front of the back leg.

If you are seeking more in–depth knowledge of the breed, I recommend finding a local breeder or handler that would be willing to mentor you. This is a beautiful, oftentimes misunderstood breed and it truly is a joy when we are able to showcase them to the best of our abilities. &

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

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NEW PRODUCTS DOGGIE SPRITZ FROM TRU47 Simply spray Doggie Spritz on itchy and rashy skin to soothe irritation, and on minor cuts and scrapes to help fend off bacteria.

It has been reported to even chase away pesky fleas. Safe if licked by your four-legged friends—and safe for use on humans, too!

Refrain from using if allergic to silver.

Available in regular (4.25 oz.) and travel size (2.75 oz.). TRU47.com

FURZAPPER PET HAIR REMOVER FurZapper is an easy solution to removing pet hair from clothes, pet bedding, blankets and more. Just toss it into the washer and dryer with your laundry and let it work its magic! This tacky, flexible disc is just sticky enough to gently collect and pull fur, hair, dust and debris from items as they tumble through the cycles. It's non-toxic, re-usable, hypoallergenic and 100% made in the USA. So, if you’re tired of washing and drying your clothes and still having pet hair all over, try FurZapper!

For more information, please visit furzapper.com

GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY! This book teaches you to properly identify social cues, understand their purpose, and apply them correctly to connect more deeply and communicate more clearly with the dogs around you.

BARKLEIGHSTORE.COM

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

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CLASSIFIEDS Call (717) 691–3388 ext 220 to place a Classified.

Rates: 25 words or less – $50.00. Each additional word – $2.00 each. Classified ads must be prepaid. Call for issue deadlines. Agency Discounts Do Not Apply.

BUSINESS FOR SALE Established Grooming & Dog Wash Salon located 10 mintues from Robins AFB in GA. Turnkey Ready and comes Fully Equipped.

Addtional building attached can be used to expand business, or possible living

quarters. Serious Inquiries Only. Contact Amanda at 478 322 9921 or Aweiss@ muddymuttandmercantile1.com. Asking $150,000 OBO.

Contact pamperedpupnj@aol.com. A fun place to work.

BLADES & SHARPENING DOC GETTER'S SHARPENING is now accepting mail-in shear and clipper blade sharpening. NBTSG Certified Sharpener and NDGAA Master Groomer. Over 45 years of dog show experience. See www. docgetter.com or (575)921-8377

Wisdom & Grace O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29:13 Living Bible

GROOMER WANTED Experienced pet groomer needed for pet facility in southern New Jersey-Millville.

Make your own hours. Commission based.

Groomer Sales Slips Make more money without raising your prices!

With space for all the little extras you haven’t been charging for, the Groomer Sales Slip includes space for groomer’s name, skin treatment, next appointment, bows, medicated shampoo, tangling, bad behavior, and more!

AVAILABLE IN PACKS

OF 100, 500, or 1000!

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

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

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Meet Andis Educator

Nicole Kallish, manager of education at Andis Company, is a Certified Master Groomer, industry speaker and judge.

She was formerly a liaison for Groom Team USA. She owns three miniature Poodles and is showing one, Sofia, in AKC Conformation and another, Pippa, in other various AKC events.

Find Her at Upcoming Grooming Shows

SHOW SCHEDULE

ATLANTA PET FAIR 6/2/2021 – 6/27/2021 International Convention Center in College Park, GA www.atlantapetfair.org

CALIFORNIA GROOM EXPO WEST 2/11/2021 – 2/14/2021 Pasadena, CA (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com www.groomexpowest.com

NDGAA FUN IN THE SUN 11/5/2021 – 11/7/2021 Orlando, FL www.ndgaa.com

There are two types of p

TO LIST YOUR EVENT SEND AN EMAIL TO

SUPER ZOO 8/17/2021 – 8/19/2021 Las Vegas, NV www.superzoo.org

PET BOARDING & DAYCARE EXPO WEST 5/3/2021 – 5/6/2021 Burbank, CA (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com www.petboardingexpowest.com

ADAM@BARKLEIGH.COM

There are two types of people …

GROOMER HUMOR

ILLINOIS ALL AMERICAN GROOMING SHOW 8/12/2021 – 8/15/2021 Schaumburg, IL (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com www.aagroom.com NEW JERSEY

INDUSTRY EVENTS

are two types of people …

There are twoThere types of people …

There are two types of people …

INTERGROOM 4/15/2021 – 4/18/2021 Secaucus, NJ (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com www.intergroom.com

The ones who brush their dog everyday and tell us they’re matted

WORLD DOG EXPO 5/22/2021 – 5/23/2021 Secaucus, NJ info@worldexpo.dog www.worldexpo.dog

&

OHIO PETQUEST 6/17/2021 – 6/20/2021 Wilmington, OH (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com www.pqgroom.com

The ones who brush their dog everyday and tell us they’re matted

PENNSYLVANIA GROOM EXPO 9/9/2021 – 9/12/2021 Hershey, PA (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com Thewww.groomexpo.com ones who brush their dog PET BOARDING & us everyday and tell DAYCARE EXPO they’re–matted 11/8/2021 11/11/2021 Hershey, PA (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com www.petboardingexpo.com

&

The ones who brush their dog everyday and tell us The ones who brush their dog they’re matted the night before and tell us we won’t find one knot

& &

… elpoep fo sepyt o The ones who brus the night before a we won’t find o

The ones who brus the night before a we won’t find on

WASHINGTON NORTHWEST GROOMING SHOW 3/25/2021 – 3/28/2021 Tacoma, WA (717) 691–3388 info@barkleigh.com www.nwgroom.com

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The ones who brush their dog everyday and tell us they’re mattedGroomertoGroomer.com Groomer to Groomer • Vol 39 Ed 11 • November 2020

&

The ones who br god rieht hsurb ohw sthe eno ehnight T befor su llet dna erofeb thgin eht we won’t find tonk eno dnif t’now ew

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convenience Provided

By Wahl

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