GTG 25-4

Exciting things are happening in the grooming world. We just completed the Pacific Northwest Grooming Show, the first one in a number of years in that region. Over 400 eager attendees came to this great event and a new national show was born. Yes, we will be back and expanding that show to take in the whole northwest. Don’t forget, PetQuest is coming soon!

WORLD GROOMING EVENT MOVES TO VEGAS!
The Oster World Invitational Tournament of Champions is moving to SuperGroom in Vegas in September. This contest is the “crème de la crème” of grooming events, pitting the best groomers in the world against each other for prize money, prized trophy, but mostly the title of Oster World Grand Champion. And what better place for it to be held than in VEGAS at SuperGroom (a part of SuperZoo, a huge pet industry trade show with hundreds of booths.)

Coordinated by noted author, Shirlee Kalstone, this event is by invitation only. It will pull in winners of all major grooming events from every continent.

DEAR ABBY… GROOMING STYLE!
I feel like Dear Abby. Lately, for some reason, I have gotten some “personal problem” emails from groomers. Now, no one would consider me to be a wise person. I can name a number of people who would find that laughable. I pray for wisdom frequently, but I don’t feel bestowed as yet.

But I do have a long history in grooming, wow, nearly thirty-five years. I was a groomer for fifteen years, following in my mother’s footsteps of grooming for thirty years. And I helped raise a family on “dog hair” (clipping and otherwise). I am married to a man who has supported me from the beginning and I have a best friend, Gwen, who is never shy on telling me whether I have wisdom or not. So, I might have a go at some of these questions.

So lets see if I can help. Be sure to send your helpful comments too, as you see fit. And email your problems.

Dear Sally:
I own a very successful grooming shop in western WA. My problem is my family. They work during the week and are off on the weekends. I work in my shop Tues – Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. During the weekends my family expects me to close up shop during business hours, or call my customers and lie to them (tell them someone died in the family when this is not true) just to see a movie, lunch, … I love grooming and all of my customers like the fact that I'm here to groom their pets. I’m frustrated and sick and tired of my family telling me how I should run my business! I get the third degree when I decide not to give in to their rude comments. Any suggestions? Frustrated in Washington.

Dear Frustrated,
Sounds like you like work more than your family. But how lucky you are that you have a family that wants you to be with them. However, you must honor your clients too, if you want to keep and grow your business. Lying is never an option.

You might want to keep one or two Saturdays open per month to do things with them, too. Or quit at noon to leave the afternoon open. Perhaps you could work some evenings to enjoy the family on weekends.

Families grow and change. Your family's fun times may change later, and you would enjoy time with them... and perhaps it just won't be there. Treasure your family too, and balance your grooming. It can work out. God bless you.
P.S.Heard at an employment agency: “If you pay peanuts, you get monkies!”

Few people realize everything that is involved, and how much groomers have to sacrifice to be in grooming competitions,” explains Mary Meeks, President of Nature’s Specialties. “At Nature’s Specialties, we are proud to sponsor grooming competitions that allow groomers the opportunity to show off their talents and be rewarded for it.”

The Winner’s Circle Tournament is the world’s most amazing grooming competition in that it offers the largest jackpot in the grooming industry. Whoever wins the tournament three times claims the ever-increasing jackpot, which currently stands at an incredible $30,000.00.

Ultra talented groomers from all over the world converged at Groom & Kennel Expo in Burbank, California. They came to compete for the huge Winner’s Circle jackpot and for the opportunity to appear on the cover of Groomer To Groomer magazine.

One of this year’s competitors, Marnie Mathison, journeyed from Canada to enter the competition. Canadian winters can be very brutal. So the thought of the welcoming warmth of California in February and the chance of winning the first leg of this tournament were all Marnie needed to enter the competition.
Although this was the first time she had entered the Winner’s Circle Tournament, Marnie is no stranger to the competition ring.

Marnie has been in dogs all her life. Her mother, Barbara Mathison, was the first Certified Master Groomer in Canada. Barbara was also the founder of Pets Beautiful Grooming School in Ontario, Canada. And, when Marnie was quite young, her family showed Collies and Miniature Schnauzers.
Marnie started her career as a Junior Handler and was soon a familiar sight in the conformation and obedience rings.

When she was sixteen, Marnie took the Pets Beautiful Grooming Course. Then her mother Barbara encouraged her to further expand her knowledge by saying, “No two groomers groom alike. You will always be the best if you learn from everyone — not just one person.”

Marnie went to two additional grooming schools and then worked one on one with Chris Pawlosky and several other industry professionals.

Soon, Marnie was encouraged to try her hand at grooming competitions. Unfortunately, her first experience didn’t turn out quite the way she had expected.

“I was running late preparing my dog for the competition, and I asked my brother to enter me in the contest,” recalls Marnie. “Well, he mistakenly entered me in the advanced Poodle division instead of the novice division. Oh, what a disaster! I didn’t even get the head finished.” Then she chuckles as she adds, “All I can say is…It was baaaad!”

Despite her rough beginning, Marnie loves to compete. She is a member of Groom Team Canada and competes all over Canada and the United States, and even in France where she recently placed second in the world at the World Grooming Competition.

Marnie constantly challenges herself to achieve new goals and to expand her capabilities.

“When I prepare for a competition, I study a lot,” says Marnie. “I buy and watch all the videos I can. And, I go to experts to fine tune my skills on the breed that I am entering.”

The Winner’s Circle Tournament is a Triple Crown IJA event. The
winner is determined by a panel of highly qualified judges from the International Judges Association, who go over each entry before and after the groom and as a team determine the winner.

Marnie had heard of the Winner’s Circle Tournament and its ever-growing jackpot. She was intrigued by the incredible jackpot and the possibility of competing with some of the most talented groomers on the planet. Marnie was ready for the challenge.

“Being from Canada, a trip to California in February was very inviting.“ And, even though it costs about $1000 to fly a dog to the competition, Marnie and Sundance, a gorgeous Soft Coated Wheaten headed for California.
Marnie was ready, mentally, physically and emotionally. Now was the time for all her preparation and hard work to pay off. She was determined to create in Sundance what every Soft Coated Wheaton dreams of being.

As the competition began, it was evident that the finest groomers in the world were there and that determining a single winner would be a difficult task for the judges.

As a major sponsor of the Winner’s Circle Tournament, Nature’s Specialties President Mary Meeks says emphatically, “Everyone in that ring is a winner, and we support them. Also, when they compete and display their awards and pictures on their salon wall, it tells their customers that they take pride in their talents.”

The competition was intense, with each groomer seeking perfection.
When time was up and the contest was finished, Marnie thought to herself, “Whether I place or not, I am proud of my groom and happy at how it turned out.”

The judges began the difficult task of determining who would be in the Winner’s Circle.

One by one, each dog was examined and evaluated by the IJA Judges. As they conferred, the contestants waited with nervous anticipation. The room grew still and the judges prepared to announce the winner.

“When they announced my name as the tournament winner, I was totally stunned!” exclaimed Marnie breathlessly.

“To win the competition in my first attempt…it took a while to sink in,” she excitedly continued, “We had actually won the competition, the first leg of that huge triple crown jackpot — and we were going to be on the cover of Groomer To Groomer! Wow!”

What’s next for Marnie Mathison, the accomplished groomer, capable business owner, inspiring teacher and fierce competitor?

Well of course, she will be competing for the remaining two legs of the Winner’s Circle tournament and that ever-increasing jackpot.

“I’m still learning.” Marnie says emphatically. “I still feel like a beginner in some ways. I’m climbing the ladder – but I’m only on the second rung.”
“One of my goals is to travel and learn the different ways of grooming all over the world, and especially to teach and pass on that knowledge to others.” Marnie states emphatically. “I want to make life better for all groomers.”

Marnie will be working to accomplish that goal through her grooming school, www.petsbeautiful.ca. Since her Mom, Barbara, has retired, Marnie is the head of Pets Beautiful. The school has several locations in Canada and one in Singapore. Her busy life and career keep twenty-nine-year-old Marnie constantly on the go.

This incredible gal inspires by example. Dedication, hard work, setting goals, and constantly challenging herself have put Marnie Mathison right where she belongs…in the Winner’s Circle!

Groom Expo is coming! This exciting four-day event returns to the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center Sept. 14-17, 2006. Last year, this stellar event drew 3200 pet pros and 170 booths.

This year’s theme is “The Changing World of Professional Pet Care.” What an exciting time to be in the pet industry. Attendees will rub elbows with some of the most successful people in pet businesses. You can select from multiple tracks of educational seminars covering grooming, pet health, holistics, boarding and daycare, animal behavior, business, marketing, retail and training.

Groomers, veterinarians, boarding and kennel operators, mobile groomers, trainers, daycare operators, breeders, handlers, vet technicians, pet retailers, animal behaviorists, shelter personnel and anyone else in the pet care industry will find topics that enhance their business.

From France… Denys Lorrain!
Denys is one of the top Terrier people in the world. An exceptional groomer, competitor and judge. But his greatest talent is teaching! Don’t miss this charming Frenchman. You will never look at grooming the same way again.

The Oster Grooming Theater…
See every snip and clip on a giant screen. Lots of new presenters and topics in this exciting event.

Sarah Wilson will lead the Animal Behavior Conference…
The Animal Behavior Conference, featuring Sarah Wilson, is a hugely popular two-day program showcasing solutions to behavior problems while gaining a unique perspective of the canine mind. Sarah, and her husband, Brian Kilcommons, have authored several books together. A premier dog trainer, she also writes for Parade magazine.

Carol Boerio – Croft Carol will be featured in Business, Marketing, Boarding and more. Her unparalleled success in exciting facility design will be shared and she will open your mind to possibilities that you have never thought of. She will show pet professionals how to benefit from their investment, motivate staff, and introduce new features to their facilities.

Cozy Inn Pet Resort & Orchid’s Spa, owned by Carol, has grown from housing a capacity of six pets to over 600, including the pets of many famous people. It incorporates a grooming salon and spa, veterinary clinic, daycare, training and hydrotherapy center.

Other Notable Speakers…
At this time, we have confirmed Jarbas Godoy, author and artist Ron Heavener, Jim Krack and past ABKA president, Sally Smith. Watch for more.

Mobile Round-up…
Mobile groomers are once again able to participate in the popular Mobile Round Up. Participants get a free Basic package when they enter their van.

Dancing with the Dog Stars…
Yes, it is back and stronger than ever as this exciting venue draws some of the top dancers… and dogs. You will laugh and cry as you watch the special bond between trainer and dog.

What a Trade Show!
It is the BIGGEST pet services trade show in the world. See the newest items and take advantage of trade show specials. And join Debbie and the Newbies if you are new to Groom Expo. She will take you on a special tour of the show where several exhibitors will greet you with coupons to return to their booth for a gift.

GroomOlympics…
Multiple grooming contests take place on the trade show floor. Huge prize money is offered in all levels of competition. Contestants from beginner to expert test their skills in the grooming arena. Watch for Jackie Boulton! She is up for the Triple Crown Jackpot on Sunday morning, which is right now at over $30,000.00!

The Hershey Lodge…
The Hershey Lodge and Convention Center is once again the host for Groom Expo. Along with housing several restaurants and lounges, the Lodge is located near ChocolateWorld, HersheyPark, the famous Rose Garden and ZooAmerica.

For more information about the show, call Barkleigh Productions, Inc. at (717) 691-3388 or e-mail at info@barkleigh.com. Visit our website at www.groomexpo.com.

A groomer from Tucson, Arizona wrote in and asked, “What do long time bathers make per hour?” Her bathers start out at $6 an hour and go up over time to a recent $9 and $10. These bathers do other things like answer the phone, make appointments and file. They also partially brush and blow out the dogs. She stated that other shop owners in the area told her she should not be paying more than $8.50.

Due to recently raising their pay to $9 and $10, she has had to ask her groomers to pay more towards the bathers. They were not too happy. The owner was told it should be a 50/50 split so if her bathers cost her $800 per week she puts in half and expects the groomers to put in the other half, which amounts to 8 percent. Her groomers are getting a full 42 percent with no bathing or clerical duties included. She wants to know if she’s paying everybody correctly and wonders what other grooming shop owners do?
First, no other groomer has the right to tell you what you should or should not pay your help. How you pay your help depends on what YOUR expenses are, what YOUR gross dollars are and how much YOU have to pay to get good help. Have you ever heard the expression, “YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR?”

Second, what you pay and what you charge will depend in large degree to where in the country you live and what the standard of living is there. Third, these bathers are not just bathers; they are also receptionists. Here in Southwest Florida (not the highest standard of living around) hair salons are paying $8 an hour to a fifteen-year-old high school kid with no experience to answer the phone and sweep up human hair. She gets to look pretty with makeup and nice clothes, not covered in dirty water and smelly dog hair.

Discussing this issue with Christine De Filippo, owner of Intergroom and a large grooming salon in Massachusetts, we both thought that groomers having to chip in for bathers would be a bookkeeping and tax nightmare. What do you do if the groomer wants to bath their own dog because the bather is running behind or because the groomer doesn’t like the way the bather washed the dog, or what if the bather washed two of your dogs and three of another groomer? We think the owner should pay the bathers and leave the groomers out of the paying process. That’s the owner’s responsibility.

In the old days, shop owners paid their groomers 50 percent, for which they washed their own dogs, helped answer the phone and waited on customers. Today when shops incorporate bathers and receptionists, they quite often reduce the groomer percentage to 40 percent because it is costing them 10 percent in added labor. Remember the percentage doesn’t mean a hill of beans. What counts is the PRICE BEING CHARGED.

The bathers that worked for me also washed the windows, cleaned out crates, washed down the tub, washed the towels, cleaned up doggie accidents, helped customers to their cars with the unruly animals and pulled all the client cards for the next day and gave them reminder calls about their grooming appointment. How can anyone think this is not worth more than $8.50 an hour and most especially after years of service?

We also had a question from a mobile groomer in Alaska about how to pay the groomers their tips when they are incorporated into the check written out to the establishment. She is currently paying them through payroll and that is exactly the way it has to be done if the tip is included in the check.

The temptation of course is to give the groomer the tip in cash from the cash you received that day in grooming. But what if you didn’t get any cash that day? And what if the IRS audits your books? The IRS expects to have every penny claimed that the owner receives, as well as they expect all persons in the tipping profession to claim all their tips.

The owner has to deposit the checks into a business account and unless they show that money going back out, they will have to pay taxes on that money themselves as though it were a charge. The unfortunate part about doing it this way is that then payroll taxes will be taken out against the tip but the owner has no choice.

Perhaps the way around this might be to post a large sign at eye level or on the place where they write their checks that reads, “CASH TIPS appreciated by groomers and bookkeepers.” Put a large glass jar there with TIPS on it, or put more than one out or envelopes with each groomer’s name on them. (Barkleigh Productions has a “Tip” sign for this purpose.)

What is your greatest behavioral issue or concern in dealing with dogs that come into your establishment? Is it fear related (blowers, dryers, clippers, grooming table, grooming loop, nail clipping, barking dogs, etc.)? Is it aggression related (touch-sensitive, space/distance related, etc.)? Is it a crating issue? Or is it something altogether different?

I groom a lot of Poodles. The problem that I have with dogs is resistance to having their feet worked on, either to have them shaved or to have the nails cut. I mean, they really don’t want to even have their front legs held to be either scissored or clipped. I am not quite sure if it is fear or what. For the record, I am not trying to pick on Poodles because other breeds of dogs have the same issues and I have a Poodle myself, and he gives me a hard time... it sometimes becomes a tug of war, and it is extremely tiresome. Joy Cummings, Gone With The Fur, Raleigh, NC

I’m still in school for grooming but in the past four months, I’ve noticed a huge issue with the puppies. They seem to be scared to death of the dryers and a few are scared of the water. The only other huge issue is their feet… a lot of them that have even been getting groomed for years HATE their front feet touched.

I have recently gone mobile, best thing I ever did, but before I went mobile the biggest issue I ran into with dogs was ear plucking or nail trimming. I always was on my toes a bit when I groomed a new dog, because nine times out of ten they hated having their nails trimmed or the ears plucked. Since I have gone mobile though, they are so much more relaxed I barely have a problem with either thing anymore. Rose Cyrus, Rose’s Spa-Day Mobile Grooming LLC

I believe a few things are becoming apparent to the dog behavior I am seeing. Most dogs are defensive and it isn’t always their fault. We have to finesse dogs and really put yourself in what the pet feels when something is done to them. Smiling at them and laughing diffuses a tense pet. Problems are power blowers accidentally going to ears and eyes and the noise, blasting water in tub and water going into nose and clipping front legs and feet. Be aware of how you must conform to the most comfortable position for the pet, not the other way around. Lastly, ear cleaning should be pulling as few hairs out at a time and watch dumping the cleaner into ear. I recall in my 26 years of grooming some groomers choose to attach the hemostat, lock it and turn it until all the hair is in it and pull! OUCH! We need more finesse. Lori Zozulia, ESMT, MG, Grooming by Lori, Wood-Ridge, NJ

The biggest problems we see are fear of nail clipping and fear from whatever happened at another grooming shop. Some fear the crates, others the dryers, other just being handled. In our shop we work with a lot of older, behavior problem dogs that other shops have turned away. We recommend frequent visits in the beginning and we have seen very good results with our handling technique. Laura Schwarting, Four Paws Spa, Broken Arrow, OK

The main problem at my place is aggression. If I do get a dog that is fearful it usually is a young dog or pup. They’re easier to train to overcome their fears. As with the aggressive ones, I keep a kennel leash on them and keep the other end outside the kennel so I don’t have to reach in after them. And with the aggressive dogs it has a lot to do with the owner not socializing their pet during the younger years of the pet’s life. So if I keep a certain routine during the pet’s grooming session, everything goes well. C.W., Hillsboro, OR

By far it’s the lack of obedience training, especially in the large breeds. When you have 120-pound Golden Retriever that WILL NOT go into a cage, it’s an issue; it stresses the groomer out, the dog out and makes for a totally unpleasant day. I have dogs that I have refused to groom because they are completely out of control. The owners are being dragged around by them and are relieved to be rid of them for a day. They pawn them off on us. You can condition fear out of a dog, but bad behavior is forever unless it’s intervened. Tami Dille, Salon Manager, PetSmart, Monroe, NC

Most often, I have dogs that are fearful of the high powered dryers. I can see why the noise and feel of it can be quite scary to the inexperienced dog, but I usually remedy this by using a regular hand-held dryer for the first few minutes. This usually has a relaxing effect on the dog and when I feel they are more confident, then I may move onto the high powered dryer at a lower level. I start with their back feet or backside area first and see how much they let me finish before deciding to move onto a more sensitive area such as the front feet and chest area. If the dog remains nervous with the high powered dryer, I succumb, and dry the rest of the dog with the hand-held dryer since I do not do any cage drying in my shop. Vanessa Legeckis, Philadelphia, PA

I am a one person grooming business (23 years). My biggest concern is the stupidity of owners who do not leash their dogs when walking up to my shop door. I am on a fairly busy street and give out free leashes to those leaving the shop and a warning to those coming into my shop without a leash. How can us groomers educate the world of people who don’t have a clue as to how to control their dog? How about if we create a legal Holiday called, Leash Awareness Day? Let’s do it! Roxanne Johnson, It’s A Dog’s World

I have found that with almost all these behavioral issues they are related to your state of mind/body at the time of working on these dogs. If you are in a panic, stress, or agitated state it enhances all of these fears these dogs have. Having a calm mind and state I have found really alleviates the issues that they have. Also I found nature sound CD’s and gentle noises (streams, birds chirping, gentle wind blowing etc.) playing help tremendously! I also think limiting the amount of other animals in the shop works wonders for those who seem to have issues. I seldom run into a dog with any of these behavioral problems that we have not been able to work out together. Cindy Geisler, Forget-Me-Not Pet Grooming, New Tripoli, PA

I find that the worst behavior occurs when I get a dog that will not stand still and is hopping all over the table. These are the ones that get choppy haircuts, won’t keep their faces still and end up going home with incomplete heads. For the dogs that are fearful of equipment, I remain calm and matter-of-fact. I put a light hand on their chest, leg or back, turn on the dryer or clipper, blow a little air on their feet so they get used to the sound... then dry them or clip. Sus’n G, Nashville, TN

Our biggest grooming concern is the aggression-related issue. A dog that is aggressive for whatever reason takes so much more time and puts everyone in the salon on edge. Our aggressive dogs are usually fear-aggressive as much as we can figure. We are a two-groomer shop, and only Pam has agreed to groom aggressive dogs. After attending a seminar, we found out that almost everyone else charges more for the extra time, so we will begin to charge more, too. We do request that an aggressive dog come in for our first appointment at 7 AM when it is quieter, and Pam can focus totally on that dog. The problem there is that not all owners tell us that they have aggression problems. Donna Engeldt, Paw Here Pet Salon, Dover, DE

The greatest behavioral problem in my shop is fear related. Especially this time of year, we get a lot of once a year dogs for shave downs. They haven’t been out of their backyards in a year and are either hyper or scared to death. These poor dogs are usually matted to the skin and just the act of trying to get that coat off freaks them out. Not to mention the bath, hair dryer and nail clipping. They probably haven’t been touched much in the past year period! Brooke Clark, Puff Grooming, Las Vegas, NV

I would say one of the behavioral problems I have the most difficult time with is when the owner drops off their dog. One out of ten, the dog will start shaking while the owner is telling the pet it is okay and holds their pet as close as possible. I would suppose it annoys me more than anything does. I say to the owner (as polite as possible if it is a new owner to a puppy) that they are reassuring her behavior and to please walk them in on a leash with a positive attitude. As soon as they are out of the picture he or she will be fine. An older pet owner is a bit trickier, I will say it is like daycare or I say nothing. I am too annoyed at them. Debbie Foster, Debbie’s Pet Boutique, Windsor, CA

My greatest issue in dealing with dogs in my shop is trying to calm them down after the abuse they’ve suffered at other grooming shops in the area. They are literally PETRIFIED and unnecessarily. They’re biters, shakers, etc…you name it. I get the whole spectrum of animals with painful experiences they’re trying to get over. Why must groomers treat dogs this way?

It seems like the majority of groomers in my area are untrained, and as such – they don’t know how to properly handle dogs. This causes the dogs a lot of grief in their future lives. Lynne Schlumpf, Chugiak, Alaska

My biggest behavior issue is in handling fearful dogs. I’ve always been able to handle aggressive dogs and calm hyper dogs, but fearful dogs are tough. It’s hard to gain their trust and build their confidence in the limited time you have to work with them. With fear biters I often settle for a less than perfect groom in the interest of gaining more trust for the next visit. It seems to work. Jaimie L, Pooch, Philadelphia, PA

In 38 years of grooming pets the biggest behavioral concern for me is dogs wiggling to the point I am concerned about cutting them with the clippers. The smaller and older the dog, the worse the concern while clipping.

Fortunately this has happened very few times in my many years of grooming but it is one of the worst things to explain to the pet owner. Their baby may only have a superficial cut but it is monumental to them.

I also do not appreciate when the owner does not watch their pet while in the entry area of my shop. They will often let their dog urinate on the products and act like it is OK. Whew, would I like to see how they would act if the shoe was on the other foot and I was to do this at their place. Linda Bruinsma, Grooming by Linda B., Rosesburg, OR

“Oster Professional Products is very excited to be moving to SuperGroom at SuperZoo 2006 in Las Vegas in September,” exclaims Chris Pawlosky, National Training Manager for Oster.

This prestigious competition will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Sept. 22, 2006, as a part of the SuperGroom grooming events and coordinated by grooming legend, Shirlee Kalstone, founder of Intergroom and noted author, speaker and judge.

“The Oster World Invitational Championship is one of the most prestigious and important competitions in the grooming world,” says Kalstone. “The competition, organized by Barkleigh Productions under the rules of the International Judges’ Association, will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, the most exciting city in America.”

“Each year, some of the most talented groomers from many different countries are invited to participate in this famous event. Competitors cannot enter the Championship at random; they have to be invited. Winning the coveted title Oster World Grand Champion has become the dream of groomers worldwide,” continued Kalstone.

“We expect this year’s championship to be the largest ever. Distinguished groomers from the following countries: United States, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, The Netherlands, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Spain – are being invited to compete for the grand prize of $4,000.00 cash and a new, beautifully sculptured trophy,” said Kalstone. “What’s more, all past Oster World Grand Champions are eligible to compete.”

“For the first time this celebrated tournament will be judged by IJA along with an elite Oster team,” says John Nash, Co-Director of the International Judges Association. “The judging panel will be made up of a core group of IJA judges and three representatives from Oster: Christine Pawlosky, Oster’s national training manager; Jodi Murphy, the 2005 Oster World Champion; and esteemed European judge, Denys Lorrain.

“We are very excited that Oster has decided to move its Invitational to SuperGroom and that it will be judged under the auspices of IJA. This is a great move for our profession, and will further the standardizing of grooming competitions world-wide. We look forward to working with Oster, Chris Pawlosky and Shirlee Kalstone, to make this a spectacular event. We see this moving our industry one step closer to the cohesiveness it needs and deserves,” stated Vivian and John Nash, Founders and Directors of IJA, and prominent grooming teachers and judges for decades.

For SuperZoo information, visit www.superzoo.org.

We all have had it happen to us. Whether it is because we get a little greedy for the extra money, had too much caffeine, taken an overdose of vitamins or just plain screw up. Mostly in my case, it’s of the screw up scenario. Surprisingly, not USUALLY my screwing up, but rather the customers. I am talking about overbooking.

We had an interesting day last Thursday. Let me play it out for you… fifteen dogs were booked. For me being the only one in my shop that does any cutting, that is a full day. A couple dogs were just baths, of which Jackie handles on her own. It started out being a nice mix of breeds. At 9:30 a woman phoned and Jackie answered. “Does Tippy have an appointment today?” the lady asked her. Jackie looked at the book. “Yes, she does. It’s 3:00,” she informed her. “Well, I thought so,” the lady responded. “But “XYZ” grooming just called and said I had an appointment with them. I’d never go to anyone but Bonnie. I don’t understand why they’re calling me,” she told Jackie. They hung up with each other and the day progressed. In fact it was progressing so well, that I made the comment around 12:00 that the day was flying by as far as I was concerned. “Such a nice mix of dogs and nice owners,” I remember saying. Shortly thereafter, it all hit the fan, so to speak....

You have to understand the way I am used to working. I know it’s against the principles of many other places, but in the interest of my own sanity, which dangles by a thin thread most of the time, I prefer to have a dog coming in roughly every 1/2 hour. This allows us to do the pet and have the owner come back as soon as it’s done. I just can’t stand that infernal barking, crapping and peeing of those dogs that hate being in a cage until they’re picked up.

At approximately 12:30 the 1:00 appointment showed up. Jackie already had a dog in the tub and I was finishing one up on my table. One was caged waiting to leave. I added the early arrival to another cage. At 12:40 the 1:30 showed up. I added it to a different cage.

For some reason, which I say was a conspiracy to have me committed to the new Psych ward, EVERYONE was showing up early. A couple of the people were almost two hours early! This, for me, was pushing me near the edge. It wasn’t that I didn’t have enough cage space to contain them; it was just that it so happened they all were either one of those dreaded barkers, or pee-ers. Between the urine flowing like the Nile and the noise, Jackie nor I was tolerating it very well. “I can’t do this!” Jackie stated reaching for a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup with one hand and juggling a shrieking Westie with another. “What’s happening here?” she asked her voice rising.

“Calm down. We’re just a little rushed right now,” I said as I sidestepped a couple brown things that someone left next to my grooming cart.

Then the crisis came. In walked a woman whose last name was Shaffer. She owns Tippy, the Terrier mix. I was puzzled. She didn’t have an appointment that day. She didn’t have an appointment at all, as a matter of fact. Another lady by the last name of Walker also had a dog named Tippy, but it was a Shih Tzu and she DID have the 3:00 appointment. Her dog was one of those who had already arrived early for her appointment. Mrs. Shaffer was the one who had called that morning and spoke to Jackie, asking if she had an appointment that day. When she told Jack her dog’s name was Tippy, Jack just assumed it was Mrs. Walker. I wasn’t aware of any of this at this point. So Mrs. Shaffer is telling me all about “XYZ” grooming calling her and she didn’t understand why. I am saying I don’t know why either, but don’t worry about it, leave the dog here. “You have an appointment here like always,” I told her.

I bring Tippy #2 in and Jackie about has a cow. “Who’s THAT?” she asked her eyebrows going up to the top of her forehead. “Tippy,” I announced. “Who?” she asked again. “TIPPY,” I said louder than necessary. “Huh? Tippy’s already here,” she told me. I started after the appointment book to see what was going on and in came another dog. A Lhasa who’s hair had obviously been chopped from the face back to the shoulders to about two inches. From the shoulders back it was about six inches. Six inches of matted clumps and felting and red skin from under some of the matting.

Naturally, the first words out of the woman’s mouth were “Now leave her with all the length. Just take the ends off.” Well, first of all we were already pushed for time. Second, this dog had so much matting that had we been able to get it out, it would have been cruel to put it through all that anyhow. I tactfully explained the situation of the dog’s hair problem. “The only alternative is if you leave her here and we’ll work at getting the mats out for this appointment. Then bring her back for another appointment and I’ll cut her then,” I offered. This was going to be quite the job.

Suddenly, the woman burst into tears. Now this was a woman who owned another dog before this one and I had done it for years. She knew I wasn’t a masochist or anything. “I’m sorry,” I babbled. Jackie just turned back toward the tub muttering something unintelligible. “Do what you can,” the woman practically shouted at me. I put her dog into a cage and deposited Tippy, whom I had been holding onto this whole time. I still had to solve that one.
The front door slammed as the woman who owned the Lhasa left. Not more than three minutes could have passed and she stormed back in. She appeared in the grooming room. “WHERE’S MY DOG?” she said screeching like a mad crow. I pointed at the cage that she had seen me place it in.
She stepped over to the cage, yanked open the door, picked up the dog, clutching it to her as if I would decapitate it and flew back out the door. That’s it. I looked at Jackie, she looked at me. We were both speechless for a moment. “She’s NUTS!” was what escaped her mouth next. “For Pete’s sake, it’s a dog’s haircut, not an appendectomy,” she added. I still didn’t know what to say. It was over.

It was time to figure out this whole Tippy mess. I found the appointment book and saw that only one Tippy did have an appointment for 3:00, and it wasn’t the one that I took in. Obviously, the older lady had indeed called “XYZ” grooming by mistake. It all worked out, however since we just replace “the crier” with the other dog.

We got through the day without any further incident. It does make me wonder though how I manage to stick with this profession for so many years. I guess I’m just a glutton for punishment. That, and the fact that I like the Christmas presents.

Lots of groomers ask my opinion about shampoo; specifically, is there really a difference? The simple answer is yes. The active cleaning ingredient in shampoo is the surfactant. Surfactants range from very high quality to very poor quality. The quantity of surfactant a manufacturer includes in a gallon of shampoo can vary greatly. Unfortunately, the posted dilution ratios on the bottle is not a true measure of the quantity or quality of surfactant in the shampoo.

To select a shampoo, look for a brand that includes a complete listing of ingredients. Higher quality shampoos will tend to include many ingredients beyond water, surfactant and fragrance. Knowing the shampoo’s ingredients will help you pick the right product to be used to improve the pet’s skin and coat condition. Test the shampoo by hand bathing, starting with a 12:1 ratio, seeing how large an area you can effectively clean. Continue testing at several higher dilution ratios and judge the shampoo’s effectiveness.

You should expect to pay 10 – 30% more for a better quality shampoo, due to the extra ingredients contained in them. The good news is that whether you pay $14 a gallon or $40, the cost per bath is not that significant compared to your other costs. At 40 baths per gallon (depending on animal size, coat, level of dirt and applicator used), that is only a difference of 65 cents shampoo cost per bath. We are all budget conscious shoppers, but you should try a few of the more expensive brands. You might find that you could wash more animals per gallon and actually reduce your cost of shampoo per bath! Don’t forget you can always charge for shampoos addressing a pet’s special skin and coat needs to offset the added expense of many specialty products.

Remember to select a shampoo that best meets the need of the animal being bathed. Bathing is a great opportunity to help correct skin and coat ailments. Make certain you communicate to your customer what type of shampoo you use and why. Your customers will appreciate the extra thought you put into caring for their four-legged member of the family. If ever in doubt, use a hypoallergenic product. Hypoallergenic products normally will not cause future injury and will give the skin a chance to reestablish its normal flora.

Grooming Scholarships

PetGroomer.com has organized the North America Pet Grooming Scholarship Program offering $40,000 worth of scholarships for eight deserving pet grooming career seekers in the U.S. and Canada. Eight highly respected pet grooming schools and home study providers, seven in the U.S. and one in Canada, are participating. The unusual effort is part of PetGroomer.com’s objective to spread the word that the pet grooming industry is brimming with career opportunities.

According to the 2005 Survey of Grooming Career Seekers conducted by Find A Groomer Inc., 60% of groomers surveyed in the U.S.

reported earning $25,000 to $40,000 a year (personal income before taxes). Another 12% reported $50,000 to $75,000 a year of which approximately one-half were self-employed.

Applicants are accepted from the U.S. and Canada that meet minimum eligibility requirements described at PetGroomer.com. Applicants identify the pet grooming school or home study program of their interest and submit an essay on how a grooming scholarship would better their lives.

Applications are accepted through PetGroomer.com at www.petgroomer.com. The deadline for applications is December 31, 2006.

Dear Friends,
Six months have past since Katrina. We are now in the rebuilding stage of recovery. Many long days have passed as we enter this new world we now have. As they say “You aren’t in Kansas anymore.” Nothing is the same; every part of each day is changed. Our surroundings look different, our schedules are changed, and all day to day routines are different. Many of our friends and family have had to relocate; all of our lives have been turned upside down.

The one thing that has sustained each and every one of us has been the wonderful outpouring of caring from so many of you.

Within a very short time many of you began to send help. Food, water, clothes, gas and money; these things made it possible to keep our lives together and endure the immediate effects of the hurricane.

Dog, cat, bird, horse and every kind of pet food arrived for weeks, so that our beloved pets made it through the harsh days that followed.

Within weeks the many donations of grooming supplies and equipment gave us the hopes and dreams to reopen.

It has been a very slow journey, without your caring hearts we would not be recovering. Your wonderful kindness has touched each of our hearts, we are thankful to be a part of the grooming industry.

The end is not in sight; it will take two to three years before a large part of the rebuilding will be finished.

Without you we would not have made it though these tough times. Thank you for your caring and sharing.

Sincerely, Gulf Coast Groomers,
Dazzling Dogs, Lamay’s Kennels, Grooming by Marilyn, Pampered Pets, Websters Bed & Bone, Bayou View Pet Grooming, Cherokee Kennels, Clip & Dip, EJ’s Grooming, Janie’s Dog Grooming, K-9 Paws, Grooming by Barbra, Penny’s Pampered Pets, Tailwaggers Grooming, Custom Pet Grooming, Jill’s Mobile Dog Grooming, PJ’s Paws & Claws, Pet Pourri, Classie Lassie, Maxhaus Boarding, Oakmere Kennels, Dog Wash on Wheels, Whispering Pines, Doggie Dude Ranch.

We love you all,
Wanda Dewberry

The Groom Classic 2006 trade show took place recently in Kansas City, Missouri. This is the annual trade show for professional groomers throughout the Midwest. The show offered three full days of professional grooming seminars covering breed grooming techniques, mobile grooming, business aspects of grooming, and emergency care and skin disease issues related to animals.

The show also offered two full days of a trade show which featured nearly 70 exhibitor booths, representing over 50 companies. Attendees were able to try, see and buy thousands of professional grooming products.

Next year’s show dates will be April 13 – 15th, 2007. Next year’s show will feature all new seminars and events, along with the opening of their new Host Hotel, which will be connected to the convention site.

Left to right - Ann Stafford, Show Manager, Karen Tucker, Winner, Christine Defilippo, Best In Show Judge, and Marea Tully representing sponsor, Andis.

The Atlanta Pet Fair was held recently at a new venue, the Atlanta Airport Hilton. The hotel and staff were “dog friendly” and greeted guests with dog treats at check in. Attendees have requested more in-depth lectures and were accommodated by the addition of two day-long sessions on Thursday. “Super Sessions with Jay and Sue” by Jay Scruggs and Sue Zecco was presented on a big screen. “Handling Problem Dogs” by Pam Lauritzen was also presented.

Seven classrooms commenced lectures on Friday and Saturday morning covering Management, Mobile, Prep Tech and Stylist topics, providing attendees with a choice of 28 speakers each day. Sunday lectures offered 21 speakers. Another highlight was the presentation of the Oster Grooming Theater. Next year’s show is already underway and will be at the Atlanta Airport Hilton for the next two years.

Next year’s dates are March 2 – 4, 2007.

Best In Show: Karen Tucker
Best All Around Stylist: Karen Tucker
Best First Time Competitor: Heather Oliphant

Terrier Breeds
(Entry) Krystal Brooks, Rebecca Harrell, Heather Shultz
(Intermediate) Kimberly Turbyfill,
Debbie Slocum, Wendy Delrie
(Open) Karen Tucker, Kellie Black, Lisa Leady
(Group) Karen Tucker, Kellie Black, Lisa Leady
(1st Time Competitor) Courtney M. Elliot

Sporting Breeds
(Entry) Tina Balance, Carmon Baker, Robin Cantu
(Intermediate) Lindsey Berry, Deanna Magliano-Mazurkiewicz, Krystal Purcell
(Open) Jodi Murphy, Karen Tucker, Tracy Duncan
(Group) Jodi Murphy, Karen Tucker, Tracy Duncan
(1st Time Competitor) Christy Lynn Vosselman

Potpourri Breeds
(Entry) Donna Fairbairn, Tina Ballance, Lindsey Lopp
(Intermediate) Lindsey Berry, Holly Lowery-Richmond, Wendy Delrie
(Open) Karen Tucker, Lisa Leady, Jodi Murphy
(Group) Karen Tucker, Lisa Leady, Jodi Murphy
(1st Time Competitor) Donna Fairbairn

Non-Sporting Breeds
(Entry) Anita Belue-Leinard, Rebecca Harrell, Heather Oliphant
(Intermediate) Debbie Slocum, Christina Hankins, Wendy Delrie
(Open) Julie Wilkins, Karen Tucker, Lisa Leady
(Group) Julie Wilkins, Karen Tucker, Debbie Slocum
(1st Time Competitor) Heather Oliphant

Non-Sporting Large Breeds
(Entry) Liz Streithorst, Anita Belue-Leinard, Krystal Brooks
(Intermediate) Adriane Pope, Christina Hankins
(Open) Julie Wilkins, Karen Tucker, Lisa Leady
(Group) Julie Wilkins, Karen Tucker, Lisa Leady
(1st Time Competitor) Donna P. Spurlin

Backer’s 18th Annual Pet Industry Spring Trade Show was held recently at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, NJ. They celebrated the 18th year in Atlantic City with a variety of free educational seminars that helped retailers and distributors learn more about marketing and animal care throughout the entire weekend.

Backer’s Cash Bonanza contest was a big hit with retailers, with nearly $9,000 in instant cash being awarded to qualified storeowners and managers. Diane Hamilton, Bark (Clarksville, MD) won the final $2,000 cash jackpot drawing in the Backer Cash Bonanza contest.

H.H. Backer Associates next show is the 40th Annual Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show on October 6 – 8th, 2006, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.

Next year’s Spring Trade Show will be held March 30 – April 1, 2007, at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

While on the Hawaiian Cruise seminar, Marlene Romani was showing her videos about grooming tips. When I heard her say, “You know how hard it is to get the front and back of the ear even?’ My ears perked up and I thought, “I’ll say.” She showed how she simply folded the ear lengthwise and trimmed around it. Eureka, great looking ears. Thank you, Marlene!