GTG 25-7

Do groomers have dirty little secrets? I think we do. To be true professionals and upgrade our industry, this too must change, or we never will grow as individuals or as a profession.

I discovered it accidentally. As you may have seen in our ads, Barkleigh has begun financing of facilities through Barkleigh Commercial Funding, Inc. We are working with a broker to procure the best financing results we can for our industry. Banks don’t understand pet care professions and so it is difficult for us to get needed financing. Sorry, this sounds like a commercial, but hang on… it isn’t.

As our broker works on various projects and with many pet care professionals, he has uncovered the “dirty little secret” that many of us (way to many of us!) are hiding. We are hiding our cash sales. We are not properly reporting our true incomes and are not paying our fair share of taxes. And sadly, we seem okay about that. Okay that is, until we need a loan or want to retire. But, you can’t get a loan for a needed improvement or expansion when there is not enough documentation to prove that you have a viable business. That proof is an IRS return. And when it comes to retirement you will discover that you did not pay in enough to receive a decent amount of social security income, either. How sad that you find these things out when it is too late.

How does this happen? I think many of us start very small, and it is easy to pocket some of the cash. The IRS won’t miss it. But then it becomes a habit. Our businesses grow and prosper, but the skimming continues. Eventually you are ready to expand or build and you discover that banks and lending institutions find your facts laughable. You have no discernable income to substantiate an improvement or expansion.

Many people ask me how Barkleigh became so successful. There are many factors, not the least of it being hard work, a good friend and a great staff, but one of the cornerstones for me, as I look back, related to this issue. I was a young groomer, in my late twenties, raising a son with a husband who was often on disability. Money was usually tight and it was easy to use creative accounting. No one but me (and the Lord), knew that. I was far too small for IRS to bother with, so my little basement grooming shop provided “pocket money” and I do mean that.

Then came Barkleigh. I worked hard at every aspect of it. But I really didn’t get ahead. I kept my grooming while I tried to get this business off the ground. Creative accounting was out of the question for the Barkleigh business. My true accounting for Barkleigh proved that I was making about 25 cents per hour for my efforts (so little that there was no taxes to be paid). Grooming paid way better than that. I often felt that I should just throw in the towel and give up. But Gwen kept encouraging me. “At least you are not in the red,” she would say. Small comfort. I wasn’t making anything either.

Then came a tap on the shoulder from “up above.” I began to feel guilty for my groomer bookkeeping. I couldn’t shake the pressure. It was relentless. Day and night I tried to get out from under the burden of paying my rightful taxes and reporting my true income.

Finally it broke me. Tom (my husband) and I went to the bank for a loan to pay my grooming taxes. Back then, you couldn’t put it on a credit card. You went to the bank president, or loan officer, and laid out your case. He would decide on a personal loan and the terms. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I remember it being a very large loan. Whether it was $700 or $7000, I don’t know, but it was oppressive at the time and I wasn’t getting money for something fun… I was paying taxes. After I made the decision, it was a relief. The burden lifted and I paid back the loan, a little at a time over a few years.

In time, Barkleigh began to make a profit and little by little it grew to become a multi-million dollar company. But I truly believe, I would not be blessed now, if I hadn’t done that right thing, years ago. I am hearing a lot about “cornerstones” in business, and this was a strong building block for Barkleigh.

Since that time, Barkleigh has had it ups and downs but overall there has been steady growth. Recently, when Gwen and I went to the SBA for a loan for a new building for Barkleigh, it breezed through. Our paperwork trail was excellent. Our income proved our ability to pay the mortgage on the building and when I see my social security income for the future, I know that it is solid and based on what I truly earned. It is a great feeling and I know that it is honest.

Young groomers, if you want to succeed, build good cornerstones in your life and your business. Don’t rob yourself of building a business. One that you can truly borrow against. There is nothing like seeing your dreams succeed to give you great joy of accomplishment. And an added benefit, your business will then provide for you when you are older. You too will be able to reap the fruit of good work, good loans, and advancement in this great field of pet care services. God bless you.

Karen Tucker
Crowned GroomOlympics World Champion
By Kathy Hosler

Photo by Animal Photography

Some people train for years, devoting every ounce of their strength and every fiber of their being toward striving for one incredibly elusive goal – to win a gold medal at the World Olympic Games.

To achieve the recognition as “the best in the world” is an honor that is desired by many but experienced by only a few. Those elite few have given their all and surpassed their competition to become shining stars for all to see.

The pet care industry holds the GroomOlympics. This world class grooming competition is every bit as prestigious as the World Olympic Games, to the average groomer.

This premier event draws competitors who have fine-tuned their skills, honed their talents and earned the opportunity to compete for the industry’s highest honors. It is an event that is sanctioned by the International Judges Association (IJA) and by Groom Team USA.

The GroomOlympics consists of four tournaments that have three skill levels in each. There is the Lambert Kay Sporting Breed Tournament, Gibson-Governor Terrier Tournament, Tropiclean Mixed and Other Purebreds Tournament, and the Andis Poodle Tournament.

The level three winner of each tournament vies for the elusive top prize…being crowned the PetSmart GroomOlympics World Champion.

Who would be the one person in the whole world that would be awarded the title that everyone dreams of? Who would receive the honor that is reserved for the “best of the best”?

When you have the most amazingly talented groomers from all over the world pitted against each other, the competition ring becomes the ultimate test of their skills. In fact, that is one reason that grooming contests are such a valuable sector of the pet industry.

“At these competitions, groomers of all levels can compete at their specific level and get valuable feedback from the best judges in the world,” states Erick Goldberg, Director of Talent Acquisition for PetSmart. “It is then the groomer’s job to incorporate that feedback so they become better technically or in their pet handling skills. In the end, everyone wins, especially the pets.”

“Sponsoring grooming competitions enables PetSmart to give back to an industry that has been very good to us over the years,” Mr. Goldberg continues. “As leaders in the industry, we feel privileged to be able to recognize the best of the best.”

What does it take for a groomer to become a world champion? In Karen Tucker’s case, it took lots of dedication, hard work, and an unrelenting pursuit of perfection.

Karen Tucker’s career began when she was just thirteen years old. She started as a brusher-bather on Saturdays and during the summer. Little by little, she began to learn a bit of grooming. By the time she was eighteen years old, Karen was grooming fulltime.

In the true fashion of a future champion, Karen courageously entered her first grooming competition. Why was it courageous?

“When I entered my first contest, I had never been to a grooming competition, nor had I ever seen one,” recalls Karen. “In fact, I had never even been to a grooming seminar. I had no clue of what to expect.”

Karen’s results at that first competition were pretty dismal, but the seeds for her greatness were planted that day.

“When I didn’t get any placements at all,” said Karen, “I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.” From that moment on, Karen became driven to excel.
Nothing was going to prevent her from reaching the goals that she set for herself. “I knew the basics, but I didn’t learn about balance and lines in grooming until I started showing Poodles,” said Karen.

She began working with handlers and breeders, taking private training to further her ever improving skills. Karen began to enter more and more competitions.

“When I don’t do well, I get mad at myself,” states Karen firmly. “I challenge and push myself to do better the next time.”

Every grooming competition Karen entered became a stepping stone for her, leading her from that very first contest to the World Championship at the GroomOlympics in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

This year, competing has an extra special meaning for Karen Tucker. “I am dedicating this year to my mentor of many years – the late Liz Paul,” declares Karen softly, adding “Liz always pushed me to do better and helped me to fine-tune my skills. She has been the voice in my head that keeps me focused and encouraged.”

“I am going all out this year,” says Karen emphatically. “I am currently ranked number one on Groom Team USA and I hope to finish the year in first place.” This is where it is evident that all those years of hard work Karen has put in are paying off. You don’t become number one by accident.

“This has been a very fun year,” Karen continues in a confident tone, “I have worked very hard, yet I am enjoying it immensely.”

Karen’s GroomOlympic victory began at about four o’clock in the morning, when she started to prepare her Miniature Poodle for the competition in the bathing area.

“I am NOT a morning person,” confesses Karen with a big grin and a chuckle. “I know exactly how much time I need to prep my dog to allow me to get that extra five minutes of sleep.”

“The Conair Pro Grooming Salon at Groom Expo was really nice,” remarks Karen. “It had all the latest equipment and a great selection of products to choose from to shampoo and prep the dogs’ coats.”

Karen had the added advantage of having her two good luck charms with her at Hershey… her six-year-old daughter, Kierstan, and her Mom and business partner, Bonnie Grosskopf. They often accompany Karen when she competes; keeping her well supplied with moral support.

When Karen and GiGi entered the ring and the competition began, Karen pulled out all the stops. She focused on her dog and the job that lay ahead.
The GroomOlympic goal was now within her reach. She knew what she had to do.

Karen reached deep inside herself and allowed every bit of talent and creativity that she kept there to flow through her fingers and into her shears.

Karen thrilled the audience and wowed the judges as she sculpted her entry into a breathtaking design of perfection and won the Andis Poodle Tournament. Then it was on to the final challenge of the GroomOlympics.

The audience was spellbound as they watched Karen and the winners of the other tournaments go head to head for the ultimate goal – to become the GroomOlympics World Champion.

It was clear that the “super stars of grooming” were assembled on that stage and history was about to be made.

The room bubbled with excitement and tingled with anticipation, with everyone barely daring to breathe as the judges made their final calculations.

Later that evening, at the Best in Show Reception, all the finalists hopes and dreams hung in the balance as they awaited the judge’s decision.

The room fell silent as the judges lifted the trophy from its place of honor to present it to the winner.

As they raised the trophy over Karen’s head, her screams of joy and excitement triumphantly rang out. The entire ballroom filled with thunderous applause and wild cheering for Karen and GiGi … the new GroomOlympic World Champions.
Karen Tucker had done it! The victory, the trophy, and the World Championship title are hers!

Congratulations, Karen! Well done!

GroomOlympics World Champion • Karen Tucker
(L-R) Connie Bailey, Manager of Talent Selection, and
Erick Goldberg, Director of Talent Selection at PetSmart

Karen Tucker Takes Home GroomOlympics Title
Karen Tucker, of Wag’n Splash, in Altamonte Springs, Florida, took home the GroomOlympics World Championship title at Groom Expo 2006, held recently at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. She beat out other Level 3 winners from the divisions of Poodle, Sporting, Terrier and Mixed and other Purebreds. She received $5,000.00 from PetSmart for her win.

The International Judges Association and GroomTeam USA sanctioned the contests. Grooming was judged on three levels. Judges were Teri DiMarino, Karla Addington-Smith, Jarbas Godoy, Marea Tully, Judy Kurpiel, Denys Lorrain, Karin Kretschmer, Judy Breton and Melissa Verplank. Kathy Rose directed the panel.

Winner of Best In Show, Level 2 went to Krystal Purcell of Pooch Paws, in Hanover, Massachusetts. She was awarded $2500.00 from PetSmart for her win. Olga Zabelinskaya, from Grooming Gallery in Morris Plains, New Jersey, took home the Level 1 Best In Show award of $1000.00 from PetSmart.
Best All Around Groomer, also sponsored by PetSmart, and with a prize of $1000.00, went to Lisa Leady from Professional Pet Styling By Lisa in Genoa, Illinois.

For information on next year’s Groom Expo, contact Barkleigh Productions at
(717) 691-3388 or visit www.barkleigh.com.

Groom Expo 2006 Results

GroomOlympics World Champion
Karen Tucker

Krystal Purcell, Level 2, Best In Show
Olga Zabelinskaya, Level 1, Best In Show

(BIC) Best in Class, (T) Technical, (P) Profile, (D) Difficulty

Best All Around Groomer
Lisa Leady

Poodles
Level 3: Karen Tucker, Jackie Boulton, Julie Wilkins
Level 2: (BIC) Jonathan Dalzell, (T) Jonathan Dalzell,
(P) Michelle Breen,
(D) Deana Mazurkiewicz
Level 1: (BIC) Carol Basta,
(T) Carol Basta,
(P) Olga Zabelinskaya,
(D) Autumn Bridgers

Sporting
Level 3: Lisa Leady, Julie Wilkins, Misty Fowler
Level 2: (BIC) Krystal Purcell, (T) Krystal Purcell, (P) Deana Mazurkiewicz,
(D) Tonya Jonkheer
Level 1: (BIC) Jennifer Lee, (T) Autumn Bridgers, (P) Jennifer Lee, (D) Debbie Davis

Terriers
Level 3: Cheryl Purcell, Patricia Bon, Lisa Leady
Level 2: (BIC) Deana Mazurkiewicz, (T) Irene Ferrato, (P) Deana Mazurkiewicz,
(D) Michelle Breen
Level 1: (BIC) Aneita Frey,
(T) Aneita Frey, (P) Carol Basta,
(D) Olga Zabelinskaya

Mixed and Other Purebreds
Level 3: Lisa Leady, Haley Keyes, Yoshie Shouse
Level 2: (BIC) Irene Ferrato,
(T) Wynne Wong, (P) Ferrato Irene, (D) Deana Mazurkiewicz
Level 1: (BIC) Olga Zabelinskaya,
(T) Donna Fairbairn,
(P) Olga Zabelinskaya,
(D) Missy Arnold

Creative Styling Contest
1st place – Amy Beishuizen
2nd place – Justine Cosley
3rd place – Linda Jomphe
People’s Choice: Amy Beishuizen

Supergroom
Lights up Vegas!

Oster World Invitational Grand Champion
Julie Ostoski
(L-R) Kathy Rose, IJA Team Director; Sergio Murilo Villasanti, Oster Judge (Brazil); Jodi Murphy, 2005 Oster World Champion; Christina Pawlosky, Oster Judge (USA);Len Quist, Oster Marketing Manager; Julie Ostoski;
Denys Lorrain, Oster Judge(France); Derek Ernst, Oster Director of Marketing;
and Shirlee Kalstone, Tournament Director.

SuperGroom lit up Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center recently. This is the third year for the show, which is held in conjunction with World Wide Pet Industry Association’s SuperZoo. This year Barkleigh Productions introduced the new title of SuperGroom, changing from the previously titled ProGroom Las Vegas.

Over 500 attendees took in SuperGroom’s exciting seminars and contests. Seminars covered the topics of Grooming, Retail and Animal Behavior. Featured speakers were Marea Tully, Jodi Murphy, Bob Harris, Marlene Romani, Denys Lorrain, Gary Wilkes and Teri DiMarino. Two popular all-day seminars were also featured: Bather Brusher Certificate Seminar and Clicker Training Conference.

There were 89 entries in four classes: ANDIS World of Poodles Challenge, PETCO Mutt Makeover & Purebred Parade Tournament, B-AIR Terrier & Sporting Breed Tournament, and RYAN’S PET SUPPLIES / WAHL Creative Styling Showdown.

The International Judges Association panel for the Oster Invitational contest included Kathy Rose, Teri DiMarino, Jarbas Godoy, Judy Breton, Joey Villani, Karin Kretschmer, Naohisa Tsujihara and Marea Tully.

This year’s SuperGroom contests included the Oster World Invitational Championship, under the direction of Shirlee Kalstone. This event is one of the most prestigious and important competitions in the grooming world. Talented groomers from different countries are invited to participate in the Oster World Invitational Championship, which is governed under the rules of the International Judges’ Association. Out of 37 participants, this year’s grand prize winner of the $4000.00 cash prize and beautifully sculpted trophy was Julie Ostoski, from Pampered Paws in Merritt Island, Florida.

For information about the 2007 SuperGroom, contact Barkleigh Productions at
(717) 691-3388 or visit www.barkleigh.com.

2nd place: Jackie Boulton, Canada
3rd place: Sally Hawks, USA
4th place: Irene Ferrato, Italy
5th place: Misty Fowler, USA
6th place: Miki Igarashi, Japan

ANDIS World of Poodles Challenge
LEVEL 3: Barbara Prueckel,
Jackie Boulton, Daniella Vereeken
LEVEL 2: BIC-Suzanne Rampy, T-Suzanne Rampy, P-Noriko Tsuchiya,
D-Mimi Hollis
LEVEL 1: BIC-Jessica Cave, T-Jessica Cave, P-Jessica Cave, D-Jessica Cave

B-AIR Terrier & Sporting Breeds Tourn.
LEVEL 3: Romana Divisova, Tammy Colbert, Jenna Lostale
LEVEL 2: BIC-Saeko Todaka, T-Suzanne Rampy, P-Saeko Todaka,
D-Cindy Clark
LEVEL 1: BIC-Liane Lange, T-Liane Lange, P-Carrie Stroble, D-Heather
Hutchings

PETCO Mutt Makeover & Purebred Parade Tournament
LEVEL 3: Romana Divisova, Jackie Boulton, Barbara Prueckel
LEVEL 2: BIC-Saito Chihiro, T-Saito Chihiro, P-Suzanne Rampy, D-Alicia O’Dell
LEVEL 1: BIC-Liane Lange, T-Marjorie Shirley, P-Liane Lange,
D-Michelle Gabele

RYAN’S PET SUPPLIES/WAHL Creative Styling Showdown
First Place: Sandra Hartness “Dungeons and Doodles”
Second Place: Missy Gullett,
Third Place: Myra Macias

PetQuest 2006

ANDIS Best in Show and All Around Winner - Lisa Leady
with Andis Representatives, (L-R) Bill Carr and Marea Tully
Photo by Lucas Colton

PetQuest 2006 recently returned to the Great Lakes region in Lansing, Michigan to showcase the programs that it had for groomers, kennel operators, trainers, and other pet professionals. Those in attendance found a wealth of information, products and services to meet their needs. From add-on seminars to top grooming contests, there was something for everyone.

The location for this year’s event was new for the Expo. The Holiday Inn South Convention Center was a great host for this growing event. Over 650 attendees took in the trade show, loaded with nearly 50 booths offering show specials and deals.

The IPG workshop and certification took place on Thursday and Friday, providing groomers with a preparatory event for certification and practical skills testing. IPG is the only non-profit certification association for the grooming industry.

Popular all day sessions such as Marlene Romani’s Grooming Snippets, Shortcuts and Secrets; Jodi Murphy’s Mobile Grooming Success Seminar, Christopher Murphy’s Doggie Daycare and Stephen Rafe’s Animal Behavior Conference were held throughout the weekend. Industry speakers held many additional seminars for grooming, animal behavior, training and health.

The competitors in the grooming tournaments vied for a piece of the prize money of $5500.00 offered by Andis Company, Kennel Gear, Tropiclean and Electric Cleaner Company. The winner of Tropiclean Poodle Tournament was Lindsey Berry from Wag N Splash in Casselberry, Florida. Lisa Leady from Professional Pet Styling By Lisa in Genoa, Illinois was the Kennel Gear/RPM Terrier/Sporting Breed Competition and Electric Cleaner Company Mixed and Other Purebreds Tournament winner. She also took home ANDIS Best All Around Groomer.

Andis Grooming Tournament Results
(BIC) Best in Show, (T) Technical, (P) Profile, (D) Difficulty

ANDIS Best In Show
Level 3: BIS-Lisa Leady
Level 2: BIS-Angela Boeske
Level 1: BIS-Wynne Wong
Best All Around-Lisa Leady

TROPICLEAN Poodle
Level 3: Lindsey Berry, Misty Fowler, Lisa Leady
Level 2: BIC-Angela Boeske, T-Angela Boeske, P-Butch Singson,
D-Angela Boeske
Level 1: BIC-Melanie Wright, T-Melanie Wright, P-Richard Detzler Jr.,
D-Michelle Breen

KENNEL GEAR/RPM Terrier/Sporting
Level 3: Lisa Leady, Lisa Leady, Lindsey Berry
Level 2: BIC-Tara Denean, T-Tara Denean, P-Tara Denean, D-Tara Denean
Level 1: BIC-Julie Kent, T-Julie Kent, P-Julie Kent, D-Julie Kent

ELECTRIC CLEANER CO. Mixed & Other Purebreds
Level 3: Lisa Leady, Lindsey Berry, Lisa Leady
Level 1: BIC-Wynne Wong, T-Marie Ouellette, P-Wynne Wong,
D-Jessica Haering

We’ve all had those no shows and cancellations that make us stressed and angry. What can we do about them? Charge a cancellation fee! How would they feel if someone took $35 – $100 out of their pay for the day? What if two people did this in the same day?

The mother-in-law can only die once, so make sure you write down the date of cancellation and the reason given just in case they try to use that or any other excuse twice. If there truly is a death in the family or some other catastrophic event that happens that they cannot give you 24 hours notice, you could be nice and forgive them just this once. But if that same person cancels on you again with no notice I would definitely charge them a fee. People who cancel appointments or just don’t bother to show up will do it to you over and over again unless you impose a penalty. The same philosophy goes for the folks who always show up late.

Don’t worry about losing this person’s business because after all, if they cancelled on you once you just lost an average of $50 and if they do it to you twice, you’ve lost $100. Do you really want to lose $150 by the time they do it to you three times? No, of course not!

If a customer gives you 24 hours notice of a cancellation, chances are you can fill that appointment from your cancellation list and therefore charge no fee. The first time a customer tries to cancel on you I would explore the reason and see if you can work something out. If they won’t have a car the next morning, maybe you could suggest someone else in the family or even a neighbor drop the dog off earlier or even later if you can get someone else to switch times with them. If they won’t have the money tomorrow, perhaps (if you know them well) you could take payment later in the week or next week. That’s a lot better than losing the entire payment. Perhaps one of your employees could stop on their way in to work and pick up the dog for a nominal fee.

If you can’t work out anything else besides a cancellation, you could explain to the person that they will be taking $xxx out of your pay for the day and that you are sure they understand that you will have to charge them a fee, perhaps 1/3 of their bill since you will still be losing 2/3. The second time I would charge them 50% of the bill and the third time they would have to prepay. I usually forgave the first time but told them then there would be a charge the next time and most of them never cancelled on me again or they made sure to give me 24 hours notice.

I only ever lost one person in my 35 years of grooming who went for the third time and when I told them they had to prepay they said they wouldn’t be back. This was telling me that they likely were going to pull another no show since they didn’t want to prepay. What did I lose? A customer who doesn’t show up and costs me wasted time and money. That’s no loss!

Some of you must think what a mean old goat Marea is. Well consider what other “professional businesses” do. Don’t the hotels charge you the first night for your room if you don’t show up? What about your doctor’s and dentist’s office? Do they put up with that stuff? Absolutely not and neither should we. We have a business to run and we can’t run a business if we don’t know how much money we’re taking in or losing due to inconsiderate customers.

It is a good idea to always call the customer the night before to remind them of their appointment. Always speak to the person who will be bringing the dog. If you have to leave a message on the answering machine or with teenagers and husbands, (unless they’re the person bringing the dog) call back the next morning.

You must run your business and not let your business run you. When you let others take the upper hand to your detriment, it will cause stress and anxiety that none of us need and most of us have too much already. Showing up for an appointment or giving notice of cancellation is a matter of respect and WE deserve to be respected just like anybody else.

You’re probably thinking, “What is she talking about now?” Once while judging, I was asked if a consistent look was a style to be overlooked while judging because the competitors were from another country? So I am going to attempt to explain.

For me, style comes from the side profile of the dog and is dictated by the interpretation of the breed standard as well as the structure of the dog. No matter the breed association. Function is what the breed was meant to do and the grooming done should compliment the breed standard and anatomy. In my mind, function should be considered a basic in grooming that can not be compromised. Deviating from it, unless instructed from an owner or because of poor coat condition, is just wrong and should never be considered a style. Strong words coming from me, I know. But I need to make a point.

Using breed standards straight from the AKC – American Kennel Club, FCI – Federation Cynologique International is the World Canine Organization, CKC – Canadian Kennel Club and The Kennel Club – in England.

Let’s break it down into parts. Example: Top lines are normally described very clearly in most breed standards. AKC Poodle – top line is level, FCI Poodle – Short harmonious top line, neither roach nor saddle back. CKC Poodle – The back short and strong and very slightly hollowed immediately behind the withers. The Kennel Club – Poodle back short, strong.

The point is that all of these descriptions describe the same thing. In Poodles, the only discrepancy is the outline in FCI is a bit longer backed, AKC is square, and CKC is a bit more leg then body. Which can be seen as a country’s style dictated by the breed standard used in their country.

Another Example: Front legs of a Poodle. AKC – Straight and parallel when viewed from the front. FCI – Front legs perfectly straight and parallel. CKC – Forelegs straight, parallel when viewed from the front. Kennel Club – Legs set straight from shoulders.

Third Example: Rear legs of a Poodle. AKC – Hind legs straight and parallel when viewed from the rear. FCI – Hind legs parallel, the “trousers” on the back legs must allow the typical angulation of the Poodle to be seen. CKC – Straight and parallel when viewed from the rear. Kennel Club – Hind legs turning neither in nor out.

These are perfect examples of the basics. Top-lines, front and rear leg structure. You can see there is little change in the Poodle breed standards from around the world. I found the same in Airedale Terriers, American Cockers and many others. When grooming, the basics should always be reflected with coat left or taken away. When viewing the front and rear, the coat remaining on the inside and outside of the dog’s legs should create straight lines.

In many breeds the standard calls for legs straight, toes pointing neither in nor out and many ask for those same legs to be parallel to each other. This means you need to reflect that in your grooming. If a breed’s standard deviates from the basic then it is okay to reflect it in the groom because it is based on that breed’s structure and function. A Tibetan Spaniel describes a bow in front legs but not in the Poodle breed standard. For me, if you do not have the basics top line, front and rear view, I have a dog that has been groomed to look crippled and that is a big fault in any country. Even extreme styles should have correct width between and straight lines on legs when called for in the breed standard.

When does style compromise function? It shouldn’t. The only thing I want to stress in the style department is more or less hair is left depending on the breed and the country. But no matter where you are from, you need to reflect angulation in the correct places and the breed standard in which country you work. Plan or extreme trimming should still reflect a sound dog and
its standard.

Four Retail Secrets to Pleasing
Your Clients and their Dogs
by Maggie Johnson

Your customers love their dogs as much, or depending on the day, more than members of their own families. They choose to bring them into your grooming salon for a reason – they want the very best for their beloved pets. You have been trained to service and care for the outside of the dog. You take care of their coat, claws, skin, and now you are beginning to realize that you could make more out of your salon space than just a service center and actually begin to service the inside of each companion animal, as well. I am talking about nutrition, appetite, snacking, and pleasure.

Chances are the dog owner who wants the very best in skin and coat services for her pooch will also believe in the very best nutritional options when it comes to meal time as well as snack time. Knowing this will help you in the long run as you decide how to make the most out of all your potential retail space.
When it comes to dog treats, there are products today that follow the design trends as well as the nutritional expectations of today's dog-loving health-conscious pet owner. Four main things that today’s pet owner looks for in a dog treat are:

1) Good-looking packaging. This could be anything from simple hand-made bags tied with ribbons, to a colorfully cutting edge box designed to be almost too cool to not re-use. Consumers today want quality packaging that speaks for itself. Some of your customers may be into urban-contemporary hip and trendy design and some may be into simple fancy tins and jars, which can be re-used. These days more than ever, there are so many more pet-related gift-giving opportunities that it’s nice to shop for items that are not necessarily going to be on the weekly grocery list and yet they are affordable enough and good looking enough to be a birthday gift for Fido.

2) Healthy but tasty ingredients. People who shop at your salon will tell their friends all about the treasures they find. You can hold your head high knowing that the products you select are made with only the best of ingredients. People are drawn to anything that mimics their own favorites. And that applies to doggie treat flavors as well. When you select products that use creative ingredients, most likely those recipes will speak for themselves. Like, Meatloaf, Sweet Potato, or Apple Peanut Butter dog treats.

Starting to feel like you are at your favorite restaurant? Don’t forget the dogs. Chances are they are sick of doing tricks and sitting still for just another bland reward. Treats with unique ingredients will please owner and doggie alike. You sell a treat that someone’s dog can’t keep his paws off of, and you’ve got yourself not only a loyal retail customer, but chances are word will spread as people love to brag about what pleases their pooch.

Read the ingredient list and you will know if the product is made with anything synthetic or if the company uses any artificial preservatives. Although many dog treats today are made with human-quality ingredients, it’s important to know that manufacturers legally are not allowed to print the phrase “human quality” on their packaging. But you can always call them and ask about the quality of ingredients they use.

3) Size matters. You know who your customer’s dogs are because you service them, which is a leg up, if you will, on many non-salon boutiques that only see owners without dogs browsing around. Take this information and use it to help select what kinds of shapes and sizes you want to offer in a dog treat. Chances are you have the space and business sense to offer a nice variety. Don’t forget to cross market your treat sizes. Tiny bones are perfect for the little Bichon Frise but don’t forget to also suggest them to your Golden Retrievers as well – they make perfect training bites for the big dogs. And large bone shaped treats can also go both ways. A nice snack for your Huskies but also a considerable chew toy for Yorkies. And finally,

4) Offer bulk if you can. Customers like choice. And I am talking about the same customer maybe wanting to buy a few boxes of gourmet treats as well as a pound of bones from the bakery case. There are several companies now that custom-bake dog treats in bulk quantities for shops to either sell individually, by the pound, re-packaged under their own private label (Wow, you could become an instant barkery baker!). The great thing about this is that you can design your bakery counter any way you want and you don’t have to hassle with bringing in a bakery facility to your space in order to look like you did.

Perhaps you want to offer “scoop by the pound” cookie jars or bulk bins full of dog treats that come in three or four flavors and perhaps you also want to sell individual treats displayed in a basket or lined up on a tray. Or maybe you want to slap a cool looking sticker on some little bags and sell a variety of hand-baked dog treats under your own name. Perhaps you have a hint of “boutique” in you and you want your bakery counter to look like a Krispy Kreme, packed with frosted delights, cookie cutter shapes and fresh pup cakes. And when it comes to custom bakery orders, you are likely going to have a lot of control over what goes into your treats. For example, your baker may offer you a choice between sugar-free, wheat and corn-free and organic recipes and in many cases you may be able to customize what else goes into the treats. Once you know you want to sell unique, gourmet dog treats, you can create the boutique doggie “barkery” of your dreams that pleases everyone.

Maggie Johnson co-owns and operates Sojourner Farms Natural Pet Food Company (Sojos) along with her husband, Ward. They manufacture healthy pet food and bake several lines of their own healthy dog treats as well as custom batches of gourmet treats for wholesale stores.

For more information, please contact the Sojos Doggie Bakery experts at mail@sojos.com or toll-free 1-888-867-6567

Why those belly dragging, stump legged, over stretched out dogs were ever invented must have been to torture groomers with bad backs.

Take for instance the typical Basset Hound. I have yet to see one that doesn't weigh like a kazillion pounds and is forty feet long. This always happens when I'm by myself or the owner has had shoulder surgery, (probably from trying to lift the monster in the first place) and can't aid me at all.

You reach down and, of course, the first thing the dog does is lie down. The second thing it does is pee. So now you have a thoroughly soaked arm, which is pinned under the animal, and you are nearly brought to your knees. Yes, you're right... it's rather enjoyable.

You heave, you ho, you finally manage to get the thing in front of the rear legs and behind the front legs and the belly goes south. It's like watching a guy lifting a bar bell. You know how the bells sag on the ends when he does the lift? The only difference is that the dog is sagging in the middle. Needless to say, it's usually starting to pee again by this time. Ahh, the good life.

Or, how about those Beagle types? The ones who always eat their own weight in bacon and eggs every morning when Grandma makes Grandpa his breakfast. The dog, of course, gets the same meal, minus the toast. You now have a Beagle that weighs 60 pounds and is ready to burst when you try to lift it. Odd sounds often are emitted from the back end of the dog when you finally get it off the ground.

Then there are the Shih Tzus that are overfed to the point of looking like an Easter Ham with just paws sticking out from its stomach. I don't think they even have legs... just paws stuck onto their bellies. Must be a velcro kind of thing going on down there. And they tend to lay prone once you get them into the tub. I have one that actually lies down in the tub and when I turn the water on, he rolls onto his back. So there we have this Shih Tzu playing dead, all four feet stuck straight into the air. Tongue hanging out the side of his mouth and I'm trying desperately to wash him without drowning him. I just know he's going to quit breathing as a joke one of these times and wait for me to try to give him CPR. I AM a dog lover, but the thought of doing mouth to mouth on that guy
creeps me out.

Then we have the Labs. They too must lie down as soon as they see you coming. I have found dogs to have an incredible gift of radar when it comes to knowing they're about to be suspended in mid air for a few seconds. All I have to do is look at them and they hit the deck.

On the occasions when I don't have anyone around to help lift and I have to enlist the aid of the beer guy next door, it's a farce. I think the dogs must have some sort of a deal going on with him. Steve comes over and is not what you'd call a dog person to begin with. He hates animal hair of any sort on him and begins the lifting process, usually only to see that he has two lone hairs on his shirt. He immediately quits lifting, usually as we are mid-way between the floor and bathtub. He then lets go to pick the hairs off his shirt, leaving me to balance 110 pounds of Lab on my own. And people wonder why I'm built like a sumo wrestler on top? I only ask him to help as a last resort.

Don't even think about forgetting the Dachshunds. These seem to always be the ones that are named Gretel and they have the bellies that drag the ground. They are kind of like automatic floor sweepers as they will accumulate any stray dog hairs on the grooming floor as they walk. I should look at it as at least they are doing ME a service by cleaning the floor. They also seem to have teeth that never end. There is nary a dog that can whirl around and nail you as fast as one of those kielbassas on legs when you bend over to scoop them up.

And then there is the problem of trying to groom some of these dogs on their underbellies. It's not bad enough that they are so short that you need a floor jack to lift them up to get those stomachs clipped. These dogs just have a commitment to lying down on the grooming table. They're too short to allow me to get the clipper under them smoothly, so when I lift them by the front legs, the back legs collapse and the whole dog kind of rotates to the left or right on their rear ends. Now I have a dog on it's side, but only for a split second and the tail is tightly tucked under the belly, always in the way. Or else you lift them by the front legs and the stomach protrudes like a 9-1/2 month pregnant woman's. You need a miner's hat with a flashlight to see what's really going on down there.

Sometimes in life you just have to know when the cards are stacked
against you...

Sometimes grooming can be a lonely business. Many of us work alone, and we might go an entire day without speaking to another human for more than a few moments. We may carry on really lively conversations with the dogs we groom, but often our human connections during the average day are slim. This can be stressful, especially on a day when things go horribly wrong, as they sometimes do. I have found there is nothing like being able to pick up the phone and call another groomer. No one else can understand what it feels like to have four dogs in a row relieve themselves on your grooming table, or how frustrating it is when an entire pack of clients no-show all on the same day.

I live in a rural community. There are fewer than ten pet stylists in a 25-mile radius. But I have a list in the back of my file drawer that has the name and address of every one of them. Most of them I have met, by way of Groomer Gatherings I organize from time to time. Some have become good friends. Any of us interested share a Happy List. This list was the brainchild of my grooming friend Marion Whitman, who owns Appleton Ridge Pet Care in Union, Maine. The full name of the list is the Happy NOT to do Business with You list. Folks who make this list are those who bounce checks, are rude, have truly vicious dogs, or are repeat no-show offenders.

The above-mentioned Groomer Gatherings are informal affairs that happen once or twice a year. We have met in restaurants, had a potluck in my home, and at our most recent meeting we all just came to my shop. We swap tales, share ideas, discuss new equipment, eat, laugh and genuinely enjoy the camaraderie of spending time with people who really understand each other’s day to day work.

The benefits of these parties are multifold. First off, they are just plain fun! Secondly, they foster a sense of community. When a Poodle client asked me last week if I knew the whereabouts of the woman that bred his Poodle, I was able to make a few phone calls to the groomers on my list and find out who groomed the Poodles for the breeder, and give my client the information on how to find her. When another local groomer had some questions about bathing systems, she called me to ask what we recommended. When a new groomer moved to town, I called and then went in to welcome her.

Of course, not everyone is open to the radical idea of talking to his or her peers. I called one business to invite the groomer to our party, and her boss called back moments later, furious that we had invited his employee to fraternize with the “competition.”

I remember well the first grooming seminar I ever attended. After the speaker stood up and introduced himself, he had each of us turn to the people sitting on either side of us and shake hands and say hi. I can still recall how awkward that was, and also how very comfortable it was after I’d actually met the people around me. When we were done sharing greetings, he said, “There, no one died.” The room erupted in laughter. The grooming industry has historically been notorious for not socializing with each other. My theory? There are plenty of dogs to go around! We don’t need to be so competitive.

If you are feeling isolated, there is help! There are grooming shows located all across the country. Sometimes it is easier to go meet groomers who you do not feel in direct competition with. Once you establish some pleasant friendships at shows, perhaps you’ll feel more comfortable reaching out to stylists in your own neighborhood.

The Internet has formed a marvelous online community for groomers. I have been an active member of Internet grooming sites for 11 or more years, and this has enriched my life more than I can possibly express. I have grooming friends from Israel to Alaska, men and women who freely share wisdom, support, humor and compassion. I have found that pet stylists are among some of the nicest people I’ve ever known.

When I recently had some questions about a business decision, I called some of the top groomers in the country and every one of them graciously took time to stop what they were doing and talk to me. They freely gave me sound advice, asking nothing in return.

If you are feeling isolated, there is hope. Plan to attend a seminar near you, smile and introduce yourself. Bring business cards to pass out, and collect them from people you meet.

Get online and check out www.groomertogroomer.com, www.groomers.com, www.petgroomer.com or other stylist-based sites. Having the support of a community is more comforting and encouraging than you can begin to imagine. After all, having a chat with a dog can be a lot of fun, but you have to admit that sometimes it is nice to hear someone talk back!

Daryl is a certified Master Pet Stylist who has loved grooming dogs and cats for over 20 years. She is the proud recipient of the 2005 Cardinal Crystal Award for Journalism. You can find her happily plying her trade at Yankee Clipper Pet Grooming in Rockport, Maine.

One of the most common reasons dogs are taken to the veterinarian is for a problem called otitis externa. Translated, otitis externa simply means inflammation of the outer ear. There can be many causes of inflammation that may all lead to similar signs. To properly treat ear infections it is necessary to identify the underlying cause. Although cleaning a dog’s ear can be very helpful and important, cleaning alone will not resolve an infection. An otoscopic examination of the dog’s ear combined with a complete physical exam, and possibly diagnostics, gives the best chance of control or cure of an infected ear. This article is intended to give you, the groomer, a better understanding of what is taking place when you see a dirty or inflamed ear so that proper advice can be passed on to the pet owner. The next article in this series will discuss ear solutions and cleaning.

One of the reasons dogs have more frequent ear infections than people is due to some anatomical differences between the two. People have a very short horizontal ear canal that allows good ventilation. The dog has a vertical component to the ear canal, which then takes a bend to the inside creating a long L-shaped canal. The shape of this canal, especially when combined with hair growing in the ears and floppy ears that fold over the ear opening, may lead to a warm, moist, dark environment – a perfect place for bacteria and yeast to grow.

There are certain breeds that are prone to ear infections and may be related to inherited immune disturbances or predisposing anatomical considerations such as the Cocker Spaniel, Shar-Pei, English Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever. A comprehensive but not necessarily all-inclusive list of causes of ear infections in dogs includes foreign bodies, atopy (a common type of allergy to microscopic cofounders in the environment such as pollens from grasses, weeds and trees, dust mites, molds, etc.), food allergy, contact allergy, flea allergy, and immune mediated skin diseases, primary skin disorders such as seborrhea, parasites, hypothyroidism (under active thyroid) and neoplasia (tumors, cancer).

Foreign Bodies:
In some areas of the country spiny plant material such as grass awns and fox tails may find their way into the ear canal and embed themselves, making it impossible for the pet to shake them out. Left in place, they can cause serious infections and damage to the ear. It may require sedation or anesthesia for the veterinarian to remove a foreign body.

Allergies:
Allergies are very common underlying causes of ear infections. Oftentimes the only sign one may see in an allergy patient is an inflamed ear. Although treatment with ear drops and antibiotics may seem to give relief to these patients for a time, unless the underlying allergy is identified and controlled, ear infections will tend to recur. Greater than 50% of dogs with atopy may also have otitis externa and 80% of dogs with food allergies may suffer with ear problems. Allergy testing through blood samples, skin tests or special hypoallergenic diets may be needed to identify and help these patients.

Contact allergies are probably the least common of the allergies influencing otitis in the dog and are usually caused by sensitivity to medication, ear wash or other solutions being applied to the ear. If an ear becomes inflamed, or an inflamed ear becomes more irritated while using a topical preparation, ceasing use of the product will usually resolve the problem.

Immune Mediated Skin Diseases:
Immune mediated skin diseases are also commonly known as autoimmune diseases. Simply stated, an autoimmune disease is when the immune system makes a mistake and recognizes self body tissue as an offending substance. This may seem bizarre at first until you consider how the immune system works. Besides attacking invaders such as bacteria and viruses, a very important job of the immune system is to check every cell in the body every day for changes and if changes occur, to remove that cell. Thus, if the immune system were working perfectly cancer would never happen.

Sometimes the immune system makes a mistake and recognizes normal body tissue as being abnormal. When this happens the immune system continues to attack those misidentified cells in the body and inflammation is a result. Because the patient in this case can never be isolated or immunized against itself, immune diseases are very difficult to control.

A couple of common immune diseases that you may have heard of are lupus and pemphigus. When the immune system is involved it is most commonly the flap or pinna of the ear that is primarily involved. However swelling and inflammation occurring around the opening in the ear may soon spread down into the canal causing a more typical otitis.

Primary Skin Disorders:
Seborrhea is the most common primary skin disorders seen in dogs. Seborrhea is a defect in the keritinization skin of dogs and results in inflammation and increase scales of the skin being produced. Keratin is the tough outermost layer of skin. There are two forms of seborrhea, a dry form called seborrhea sicca and an oily form called seborrhea oleosa.

The breed most commonly affected by seborrhea is the Cocker Spaniel. The most visible signs of seborrhea may be on the trunk of the body, however, the same skin development defect occurs in the canal of the ear and leads to excess skin scales and waxy build up making one very prone to an inflamed and infected ear. Dogs with seborrhea may require ongoing management and never completely have their condition cured.

Parasites:
The most common parasite involved in your infections is the ear mite. It is responsible for at least 50% of ear infections in cats and approximately 10% of ear infections in dogs. Demodex is a mite that lives in the skin and primarily affects the ear flap. Other types of mites such as scabies and ticks also primarily affect the outer ear.

Hypothyroidism:
An under active thyroid gland will predispose that patient to numerous skin conditions including ear problems. Thyroid function can be easily tested for with a blood sample and should be included as a part of the diagnostics for any recurring ear infection. If hypothyroidism exists it can easily be treated by giving tablets on a daily basis to replace the deficient hormone.

Neoplasia:
Tumors may occur near the opening of the ear or within the canal where they may not be visible from the outside. These tumors tend to be a source of irritation and lead to excess wax and inflammation in the ear and sometimes occlude the ear canal, further trapping moisture and debris. Tumors may require surgical excision to resolve the dilemma.

Now that we have examined some of the causes of ear infections lets look more specifically at what happens when an ear becomes infected. The skin of an inflamed ear is less resistant to infection and produces increased secretions. This allows bacteria and yeast, which may be normal inhabitants of the ear, to produce disease. The infection increases the inflammation and a vicious circle is set up. To interrupt this cycle, the underlying cause must be addressed as well as treating the ear infection. Cleaning the ear alone or even using antibiotic drops in the ear may not resolve an ear infection or at best give temporary relief and a recurring scenario.

Typical diagnostics appropriate for treating ear infections may include a complete physical exam and otoscopic exam, parasite checks, thyroid testing, allergy testing and cytology. The veterinarian may make a swab of the ear canal to be examined under the microscope to determine if the infection is being caused by bacteria, yeast, or a combination of both. Sometimes cultures and sensitivities (lab testing to see what antibiotics may be effective) may be indicated. With this information in hand an appropriate treatment protocol may be implemented.

Ear cleaning both in the hospital and at home is a vital part of a successful treatment. Accumulation of puss and excess of wax or scale will serve as an insulating barrier preventing topical treatment from reaching the source of infection. Excess hair in the canal will serve as a magnet and collect debris and hinder ventilation of the ear canal, therefore it must be removed when present. It is important to continue to treat your infections until they are completely resolved. It is impossible to simply look at the ear from the outside and know if the infection is contained, therefore follow up with the veterinarian is imperative.

There are some times when ear infections cannot be controlled by topical or oral medications alone and surgical procedures such as a lateral ear resection or total ear canal abolition may be needed. Total ear canal removal is a last resort treatment however, lateral ear resection's are often postponed past the optimum point to benefit the patient. This is a viable option that should be discussed with your veterinarian when other measures have failed to give good control of recurring ear infections.

What is a groomer’s role in identifying and helping with ear infections? Plucking the hair in an otherwise healthy ear can be a first-line defense. Identifying a dirty, greasy or waxy ear can be an important warning sign. Often times, the pet owner is unaware of a dirty or inflamed ear. Cleaning the ear and alerting the owner is a very valuable service. In the next article we will explore how to properly clean an ear and how to choose the best ear cleaner for the job at hand.

It may be appropriate to take a dog to the veterinarian for an exam if any of the
following signs are seen:

• Shaking of the head or scratching at the ears
• Discharge from the ears especially if it is moist
• Abundance of wax from the ears
• Odor in ears
• Red or painful ears
• Swollen ears
• Head tilt
• Problems with balance

The author, Dr. Boyd Harrell, currently practices pet medicine in central Florida. He formerly owned two veterinary practices in Illinois nationally recognized for their exceptional management. He is an international speaker to pet lovers and veterinarians, a pet consultant with Oxyfresh Worldwide and a trained personal life coach. He may be reached at 866-388-3578, at boydharrell@email.com or at www.healthypetwebsite.com

Clipper blades are commonly one of the biggest headaches for today’s groomer. Proper care and cleaning of your blades will eliminate many of the problems that can develop on a daily basis. Many of the blades we receive for re-sharpening are not cutting simply because they are jammed with hair and dirt between the blade teeth.

Daily cleaning and oiling will improve the efficiency and extend the life of your blades. Use an old toothbrush, or a blade clipper brush to simply brush out hair and dirt that can accumulate between blade teeth.

Slide the cutter to one side, but not completely out from under the tension spring, and brush out any additional hair that can get caught between the cutter and comb.

Then, using premium clipper lubricating oil, place a few drops of oil on the rail riding surfaces and on the tension spring guide slot (blade guide). Slide the cutter to the other side and repeat the process. Be sure not to over oil. Too much oil can cause hair to stick to the blade. A light film of oil is recommended.
Never loosen the blade screws or disassemble the blades to clean them. This can change the tension setting and alignment of the blade, resulting in a bad cutting or dull blade. As a blade is used over time it will develop a wear pattern on the mating surfaces of the two blade halves. Eventually your blade will become dull from use and require re-sharpening.

Gary Hartwell has been the sharpening and repair manager for Ryan’s Pet Supplies since 1991. In addition to working at Ryan’s, he has owned his own grooming shop in northwest Phoenix with his wife Janis since 1986. He has received factory training at Andis, Double K Industries, Oster, Stewart and Wahl. The Ryan’s Pet Supplies Sharpening and Repair Center is an authorized repair and warranty dealer for Andis, Conair, Double K, Dri Eaz, Oster, K9 Electric Cleaner, KleanKut, Paw Brothers, Value Groom and Wahl. Gary Hartwell can be reached directly at 1-800-525-7387 Ext. 231.

Karla Addington-Smith, Judge; and Jerry Schinberg, Show Manager.
The 34th Annual All American Grooming Show was recently held in Rosemont, Illinois. Educational opportunities were varied and plentiful with forty-eight seminars and demonstrations in both the Management and Stylist Series. Many focused on mobile grooming, which is a rapidly growing segment of our industry. Vendors displayed products new and old to the delight of shoppers. Competition was fierce among the contestants. Next year marks 35 consecutive years for the show, so mark your calendar for August 16 – 19, 2007.

34th Annual All American Grooming Show Results

Best Groomed Dog: Greta Dalrymple
Best All Around Groomer: Anita Belue-Leinard
Best First Timer: Myrza Gascon
Creative Styling Challenge: Amy Beishuizen, Sarah Ray, Andrea Fleeman

GroomTeam USA recently announced their current Top Ten ranking of groomers. Coming in first place is Karen Tucker with 68 points. Julie Wilkins is second with 28. Jodi Murphy is third with 26 points. Lisa Leady is fourth with 23 points. Cheryl Purcell takes fifth with 13 points. Colin Taylor has 9 points for sixth place. Misty Fowler comes in seventh place with 7 points. Kellie Black and Tracy Duncan tie with 6 points each. Haley Keyes and Steve Madonna tie with 5 points each.

Each year the FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale) designates a major world capitol of the World Show. For 2006, it’s Poznan, Poland. Over 300 different breeds will be shown during the World Show on November 6 – 14, 2006. This is a feast for the senses that no real dog fancier should miss. Fresh Pond Travel is known for quality accommodations at European dog show destinations.

Andis Company announces that Marea Tully, National and International Groomer Consultant for the company, received her fifth Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Award at the ceremony in Somerset, NJ. Tully was named the Grooming Contest Judge of Year 2005. Since 2000, Tully has received three Cardinal Crystal Grooming Awards for Grooming Journalist and one for Congeniality. The awards are sponsored by Cardinal Laboratories and were established in 1988 to recognize and publicize the outstanding achievements of dog groomers, grooming judges and grooming journalists.
Retired from active grooming and competitions, Tully now travels extensively with the Andis Company. She has judged and spoken at grooming competitions nationally and internationally. She was a member of the 1995 GroomTeam and winner of Best in Show in the European International Competition, Birmingham, England.