pet grooming egroomer journal for professional pet groomers october/december 2012

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Oct/Dec 2012 Volume 2 Issue 3 A PetGroomer.com Publication $4.95

The Journal for Today’s and Tomorrow’s Professional Pet Groomers

Styling the Bichon Frise Puppy

Cover: Jay Scruggs

MUSHROOM CATS

Danelle German CFMG CFCG

COPING WITH PET LOSS GRIEF

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Meet and greet other groomers going to

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OCTOBER 2012 October 8 Super Styling Sessions Charlotte, NC www.groomerschoice.com October 12 to 14 Backer Pet Industry Christmas Show Chicago, IL www.hhbacker.com October 12 to 13 Cat Grooming Symposium at Pet Industry Christmas Show Chicago, IL www.catsymposium.com October 13 to 15 National Assn. of Prof. Creative Groomers Howloween Workshop Columbus, OH www.thenapcg.com October 26 to 28 27th Annual NDGAA Fun in the Sun Orlando, FL www.nationaldoggroomers.com October 26 to 29 Pet Pro Classic Plano, TX www.petstylist.com

JANUARY 2012

January 5 to 12 Pet Pro Cruise www.barkleigh.com

FEBRUARY 2012

February 21 to 24 Groom & Kennel Expo Pasadena, CA www.barkleigh.com February 28 to March 3 Atlanta Pet Fair Atlanta, GA www.atlantapetfair.com

MARCH 2012

November 2 to 5 Northwest Grooming Show Tacoma, WA www.barkleigh.com

NDGAA Colorado GroomFest 2012

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S T Y L I N G T H E B I C H O N F R I S E with J A Y S C R U G G S

Styling the Bichon Frise Puppy

with Jay Scruggs

Let's start by understanding the

Bichon Frise and the desired look

after styling. This breed should not

appear square. Their appearance

should be a little longer than they are

tall. A Bichon should have a soft

look, no sharp angles or anything too

extreme. Bichon styling is made up

of a lot of round circles, nothing

about the trim should be sharp.

Expression is the most important

part of this breed. In this article I will

give you some helpful hints to

achieve the correct breed profile.

First things first! Coat preparation is

key to having a perfect finished style.

I use Coat Handler 15-1 shampoo

followed by a very light conditioner

rinsed out. This way Coat Handler

will not soften the coat allowing you

to get a nice finish.

Conditioner helps free the coat of

static when drying and combing. It is

very important the dog is dried from

the skin out to the tips of the coat.

I high velocity the coat to about 98%

dry, and then use a little heat while

brushing to straighten the coat. It’s a

good idea to have anti-static spray

when drying and scissoring the coat.

Once completely fluffed and combed

out set lines with your clippers. This

is an important step when grooming

puppies. The goal is to reduce dead

or limp hair before you start to

scissor.

The first step is to set lines for the

front and rear. I start at the Adam’s

apple with a 1/2 inch snap-on comb

and trim from there to the breast

bone and skim out. I always use the

Wahl Stainless Steel snap-ons with a

#30 blade under them.

Next find the point of the rump and

trim down the back of the leg to the

bend in the leg. Once at the bend,

skim out away from the dog.




Be careful not to pinch the

elbows when going down from

under the ear to the shoulder.

Skim as you get to the elbows.

You do not want any definition

between the shoulder and the

legs. The same goes for the

hips to the back legs.

Everything should blend in and

appear even.

Next, start just behind the withers

and make a continuous line towards

the rump of the dog. Remember,

you want the top line level. Examine

how the dog carries its tail before

trimming. Once the top line is set

follow the lines down the sides into

the spring of rib being careful not to

cut into the tuck up. Then go under

the ear. Use the Adam’s apple as a

guide for how far to go up. Connect

the part under the neck into the

shoulders.

Continued on next page



I usually stand the dog up on its

hind legs and trim from between

the elbows to the belly. If you do

this be careful not to take out the

hair on the sides and into the tuck

up. We will use this hair to give the

dog a moderate tuck up.




At this point the lines are

blocked. It’s time to start the

scissor work. Remember,

round, round, round. I use

curved shears a lot for

Bichons.

The goal is to set the front, back and then everything in between. Start by cleaning up the clipper

work with scissors from under the ear to the shoulder. There should be a continuous line with no

break in it. Use curves to start the roundness that transfers to the chest and into the sides.

Set in the rear and hips. Hold the tail up and using curves round the hips in, and then flip your

curves over and set in the angulation to the bend in the leg. Set in the top line using straights.

Remember you want a level top line and round edges into the sides. Do not cut up into the

withers at this point. Leave the head and neck for last.




Once everything is blended

from front to back, and back

to front, set the feet and then

the legs. It is important to do

the feet before the legs.

Otherwise it’s hard to balance

everything and maintain

symmetry.

Start with the back feet. I

usually trim the back feet a

little tighter to make the dog

appear as if it is up

on its toes, and to

see a nice hock.

When looking at the

foot from the bottom,

make sure there is

an equal amount of

hair on each side of

the foot. I usually

trim my shape in

with the foot in my

hand, then set the

foot down on the

table to trim in the

bevel shape. On the

back feet trim from

the point of hock to

the back pad on the

foot. It creates a nice

angle.

Now that the back feet are set

use curves to blend from the

hip, down the side of the leg

into the foot. Work the same

curve shape to the front of the

leg and create the bend in the

knee. The bend on the knee

should match the bend on the

back of the leg.




Move to the front of the dog and

set the front feet. We want them to

appear round. Bevel the feet into

the leg hair. Everything should

look uniform and blended from leg

to foot. When feet are finished, go

from the point of the shoulder

down the side of the leg making a

round shape. Doing the outside of

the leg will correct any faults. Trim

the same shape on the inside of

the legs using curves. The best

way to trim the legs is with the

dog standing up. If you try to trim

with the leg in your hand it’s very

difficult to style them even.

Now focus on the tuck-up. The

tuck up should be moderate, not

extreme. If your tuck-ups look like

a Poodle you are doing them

incorrectly. Find the last rib and

make a cut using curve shears

just behind that point. Follow the

chest out to the elbow and scissor

into the shortest point of the tuck-

up. Imagine the dog without the

front leg. See a chest that flows

out the elbow into the underline

with no break in the line. Just

behind the shortest point of the

tuck-up leave some hair which fills

in to attach the front of the back

leg. When all of this hair is

removed the dog’s body will

appear very long.




The head and neck are the focal points of this

breed. They should never be groomed like a

Poodle! Start by using thinning shears to

clean the corners of the eyes. Comb the hair

around the visor or above the eyes forward

and with the curves facing out, trim right

above each eye. This effect will really show

off the expression.

Next comb everything up and using a 21 tooth

blender and start blending the head into

the ears. Do not lift ears or cut the hair

in front of the ears. Ears should be parts

of the head. I use blenders with soft

puppy coats. The blenders are more

forgiving than curves and help build

volume.

Pull the tip of the ear to the nose. If the

tip is longer than the nose take some

length off. Now trim from the Adam’s

apple to the bottom of the ears creating

a soft line. Work the shape of the top of

the head from right to left, and then left

to right to make sure all is even. Once

the top of the head

is finished blend

from the top of the

head into the

withers and into the

level top line. If the

client likes the neck

shorter or the dog

tends to mat use

the same guidelines

and go a bit shorter.

Finish the groom by

giving the coat a

good spritz of anti

stat. Comb out and

take off any loose

ends. Well done! ♦



A B O U T O U R A U T H O R S

Jay and his wife Michelle own Here Comes the Groom, a highly successful mobile grooming salon in Germantown, TN. Their company is in such demand that his clients pay a membership fee to get an appointment with Jay. He has won multiple

best in show and best all around groomer awards in competitions around the U.S. Jay was named American Groomer of the Year in 2001. He was also the first groomer to receive the Groomer of the Year Award at Westminster Dog Show in 2002. In the World Championships in Barcelona, Spain 2003 Jay won an International Gold and Bronze medal in two different poodle classes that helped Groom Team USA win the silver medal. In 2004 Jay was voted by the industry Grooming Judge of the year for his knowledge of breeds and the ability to judge them. Jay is the National spokesperson for Coat Handler shampoo. He is also a Wahl Clipper Corp. representative. Jay and Groomers Choice have teamed up to present the Jay Scruggs Signature Series line of grooming shears. Jay was the #1 ranked groomer in the United States in 2001 and part of the 2001 World Groom Team Championship team competing in Calgary, Canada. In the World Team Championship Jay won a gold medal in the Poodle class and then winning Best in Show with his Standard Poodle. In 2004 and 2007 Jay was voted Judge of the Year. Jay and Sue Zecco publish Super Styling Sessions DVDs and popular seminars and workshops.

Danelle German owned and operated CFA’s Bara Cattery from 1999-2005. During that time she produced and showed many National and Regional Award Winning Persians including CFA’s 3rd Best Cat in Premiership in 2005. She retired from

showing to focus solely on her feline-exclusive spa and resort, The Catty Shack, Ltd. Although the salon has only been open since mid-December 2003, it boasts an ever- growing clientele of over 2000. Danelle is a member of Foothills Felines Cat Club, serving as President and Show Manager for a number of years. She has authored several articles for publications such as “Groomer to Groomer” and “Pet Spa and Boutique” as well as the world’s largest cat grooming book, The Ultimate Cat Groomer Encyclopedia. Recognized internationally as an expert on all aspects related to feline grooming, she has been interviewed for various publications and programs such as Kittens USA and Discovery Channel and has appeared on Animal Planet’s “Cats 101.” She regularly conducts hands-on workshops at various schools in North America. By May of 2007 she brought her plan of setting cat-grooming standards and providing training to fruition by founding the NCGIA, the first feline-specific grooming association of its kind ever to be formed. Danelle currently serves as President and Certifier/Instructor of the National Cat Groomers Institute of America and is a member of Wahl’s Extreme Groom Team. Along with her husband, she is the inventor and patent holder of the Catty Shack Vac drying system. Danelle is also a GroomWise℠

Blogger at www.groomwise.com.

I am the owner and stylist of Pawsitively Pretty Mobile Grooming Salon in Danbury, CT, and one of only 13 Certified Master Pet Tech Instructors worldwide. My well-attended first aid and other pet educational seminars are offered across the U.S.

I take a holistic approach to handling animals, and this is evident in my titles of both Reiki Master and Certified Crystal Therapist. I am the East Coast Chair of the Professional Cat Groomers Association of America, as well as a member of the New England Pet Grooming Professionals organization, and am a Certified Canine Specialist with PIJAC.

I was nominated for the coveted Cardinal Crystal Mobile Groomer of the Year in 2011. My passion is to bring educational opportunities to groomers and pet owners everywhere. I share my heart and home with my husband Ernesto and 4 spoiled dogs. I am also a GroomWise℠ Blogger in conjunction

with PetGroomer.com. My blog Pet First Aid & Care can be read at www.groomwise.com.

Learn more about our authors in this issue as well as other authors featured in past issues at the eGroomer

Journal web site. Click the “Authors” tab at the web site. Click the “Topics” tab for a list of all articles published

in eGroomer Journal since 2011. If you have not yet subscribed free you can do so at the web site.

www.nationalcatgroomers.com www.superstylingsessions.com www.maryoquendo.org

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C A T G R O O M I N G

MushroomMushroomMushroom CatsCatsCats “You groom cats?”

I hear this at least once a week.

And it is usually followed by “Don’t

cats groom themselves?” I love it

when that question is asked.

For more than a decade my

answer has been: No!

Contrary to popular belief, cats do

NOT groom themselves.

Cats lick themselves.

If you licked yourself all over would

you be clean? Of course not! You

would be covered in saliva. So, no,

cats do not groom themselves. But

I GROOM cats.

As a professional who has spent a

great deal of time and money

refining the art of cat grooming, I

do not consider the act of a cat

licking itself to be the equivalent of

what I do during a normal grooming

session. After all, when a cat licks

itself it does not remove its mats,

trim its nails, clean its ears, get rid

of its dandruff, kill the fills, or

eliminate the grease in its coat.

Instead, the cat creates dander on

its coat.

Dander contains the protein Fel-

D1, which is responsible for

allergies in many humans. When I

GROOM a cat, I get rid of the

dander - at least until such a time

as the cat licks itself again, thus

creating more dander.

(Continued on page 22)

By Danelle German, CFMG, CFCG President, National Cat Groomers Institute of America, Inc.

BEFORE



I have never seen a cat lather its hair

up with a degreasing shampoo (or

any shampoo for that matter) nor

have I seen it turn on its $600 HV

dryer and fluff out its coat until it is

immaculately clean, mat-free and

boasting a beautifully flowing coat. I

have never seen a cat pick up a pair

of nail trimmers and snip off its sharp

nail tips before they grow so long as

to penetrate the paw pads. And I’ve

certainly never seen a cat wield a

Wahl Storm clipper and give itself a

nice clean sanitary clip.

So when someone asks, “Don’t cats

groom themselves?” I am briefly

offended that they could possibly

think what I do is akin to what a cat

is capable of doing. But then I get

over my momentary state of

(Continued from page 21) offended-ness and turn the scenario

into a learning moment that usually

results with the one asking the

question becoming my newest client.

How is this done? Simply by telling

the cat owner what they already

know and then getting them to see it

as a problem (which it is) before

showing them how I can be the

solution to their problem.

I ask the cat owner if their cat sheds.

Unless they have a Sphynx, the

answer will be “yes.” (and yes, even

the short hairs shed - in fact, they

typically shed more than the long

hairs do!) Then I ask the owner if

they like the shedding. I have yet to

meet the person that is happy with

having cat hair all over their house

and their clothing. Then I ask them if

their cat pukes up hairballs. I have

yet to meet the person that enjoys a

good hairball.

Then I ask the owner if their cat has

sharp claws. If the cat is fully

declawed they get me on this one,

but most of the time, they must admit

their cat’s sharp claws are an

annoyance.

I refrain from the next logical set of

questions: does your cat stink, is it

matted, does it have fleas? Things

become more personal at this point

and the insinuation can be that they

are a bad owner because their cat

does have mats or fleas or it smells

bad. So I stay away from those

questions. At least for now.

It doesn’t matter really though,

because I have them on the first

question. Yes their cat sheds, and

the hair is everywhere, and it’s

annoying, and yes, they’d love it if

something could be done about this.

AFTER

Prior photo, and this photo, courtesy of Alice Hescox, CFMG and Cheryl Maibusch, CFMG




Well guess what? I can do something for them. I can solve this problem. I can eliminate it altogether. And so can you. If

you don’t know how, get trained. It is easier than you might think. If you are grooming cats already and you know how

to take care of each and every grooming need that a specific cat may have, make sure you let people know that you

groom cats. Sooner or later you will hear, “But don’t cats groom themselves?” When that happens you will have found

your newest client. All too often cats suffer from problems much worse than the ones described above. They become


AFTER

BEFORE

Photos courtesy of Alice Hescox, CFMG and Cheryl Maibusch, CFMG



matted, flea infested, stained,

dandruff-laden, or pelted. And

sometimes they grow mushrooms.

When mushrooms get out of control

and aren’t removed from the cat’s

body, they turn into hideous

formations that look more like

tumors. A great place for fleas to

have a big party, eating the life right

out of the cat. And these must be

shaved off the cat.

But it doesn’t stop there! Educating

the cat owner about what causes

mushrooms and pelts and other

(Continued from page 23) disgusting conditions is the first step

in prevention. Explaining the

difference between a cat’s

“groom” (licking itself) and a

professional groomer’s groom (bath,

blow dry, etc) might be all it takes to

turn some cat owners into regular

customers. Others may need more

of a nudge in that direction, but

either way education is key!

What causes matting? Greasy skin

and dead coat, to put it simply.

What will prevent matting? Regular

degreasing baths and removal of the

dead coat with an HV dryer, to put it

very simply.

And who does that kind of work? I

do. How about you?

For more information on grooming

cats and educating cat owners on

the necessity of and benefits of

regular professional cat grooming

care, please contact the National Cat

Groomers Institute of America, Inc.

at www.nationalcatgroomers.com.

Changing the world one cat at a

time. ♦

Photos courtesy of photos courtesy of Kim Geidel, CFMG

Definition of

“GROOM”

What’s it not:

-Licking the coat and covering

it with saliva

-Brushing a dirty coat and

smearing the grease around

-Spritzing the coat with water

or wiping it with a wet cloth

-Using any form of waterless

“shampoo” on the coat

What it is:

-An entire process that

actually CLEANS and

improves a cat’s skin and coat

and solves real problems.

-An entire process that

includes a degreasing bath, a

thorough blow dry with an HV

dryer, a nail trim, cleaning of

the ears, complete de-matting

and removal of dead coat, and

any trimming or clipping that

is appropriate for a particular

cat.


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C O P I N G W I T H P E T L O S S G R I E F

Marcus was my

chronically ill

Miniature Pinscher,

a spitfire that was

diagnosed with

Cushings and

Diabetes early on in

life. He had not been

doing well for a couple

of days. He wouldn’t

eat. I spoon-fed him

baby food.

On Wednesday,

February 29th, my

alarm went off at 6am

and I noticed Marcus

isn’t sleeping over my

head, but has moved

over to other side of the

bed. I reached over and

felt him breathing, so I

hit the snooze button

and went back to sleep.

The alarm goes off again and when I

look over at Marcus I see that he died. I

performed CPR on him and while he

began to breathe, he did not regain

consciousness. I called the Katonah

Bedford Emergency Animal Hospital to

inform them I was on my way.

They have brought Marcus back from

certain death on several occasions. They

stabilized him and let me in to see him. I

gave him some Reiki and his heart beat

improved for a few minutes and then

settled back to where it was. He looked

like he was improving and dodged the

bullet yet again. A couple of hours later,

he had another heart attack. I could not

let him continue like this and let the

veterinarian send him up.

(I dislike the term put them down)

Probably the hardest decision I have

ever made. Marcus is the dog that

guided me into crystal therapy and Reiki.

I always said that in spite of his medical

problems, Marcus would not go until he

was damn well ready to do so. Looks like

he was even though I was not. I was

fortunate to have the full support of my

family and friends, but not everyone is so

lucky.

Grief is a normal response to the loss of

a loved one. There is no pill you can

take. Only time. Depending on whom you

talk to, there are either five or seven

recognized stages of grief. They do not

happen in any particular order. You may

not go through all of them or spend the

same amount of time on each. You may

work through one stage in three minutes

and another in three months.

Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross M.D.

described five stages of grief in her book

“On Death and Dying” as:

1. Denial – This is where you have

difficultly believing your pet has died.

2. Anger – You question how fair is this.

3. Bargaining – There has been a

mistake. Somebody needs to fix this.

4. Depression – You realize there is no

mistake and you are very sad over the

loss.

5. Acceptance – You accept what has

happened and do what is needed to

move forward.

Other grief counselors may add shock

and guilt as stages. Shock is the

numbness you may feel after learning of

the death. Guilt is blaming yourself. I did

not do enough to save him. I should have

seen this sooner. I waited too long. It can

express itself as anger, either directed at

someone else or yourself.

Grief can manifest in many forms.

1. There may be physical symptoms

such as crying, shock, lump in throat,

shortness of breath, tightness in chest,

(do not quickly disregard the last two as

it may also be the first indication of a

heart attack) lack of energy, disturbing

dreams, insomnia, lack of hunger or

overeating, body aches, and dizziness.

2. There may be mental and emotional

symptoms such as confusion,

preoccupied with the loss, hallucinations

particularly in regards to the pet,

sadness, anger, resentment, guilt,

anxiety, inappropriate behavior, and

feeling overwhelmed.

3. Symptoms presenting themselves

socially can include withdrawing from

your friends or becoming overly

dependent on them, and distracting

Article by Mary Oquendo shown here with Marcus.



C O P I N G W I T H P E T L O S S G R I E F

yourself with an increased workload.

4. It may strengthen or weaken your

spiritual beliefs, or move you to a

radically different belief system from the

one you currently practice.

Grief gradually improves over time, but

be aware of some warning signs that

immediate intervention is needed.

1. Thoughts of suicide. In grief, it’s

normal to have FLEETING thoughts of

suicide. When they do not go away, tell

someone.

2. Panic Attacks.

3. Depression. Depression and grief are

two very different behaviors. Grief may

mimic some of symptoms of clinical

depression. While grief can runs it’s

course without intervention, depression

cannot. Sigmund Freud summed up the

difference as follows, “ In grief, the world

looks poor and empty. In depression, the

person feels poor and empty.”

Support is crucial is helping grief run its

course. This process can be hindered by

such factors as circumstances

surrounding the death, no previous

experience with a loss, insensitive

comments, or multiple losses. As

everybody handles grief in his or her own

way, find what support system works for

you. There are many options.

1. Supportive family and friends. Not the

ones who minimize your feelings towards

your loss because “It’s just a pet.”

2. Grief Counselors. There are many that

specialize in pet bereavement.

3. Your religious or spiritual leader.

4. Animal communicators. Be careful

here because there are many charlatans.

I am fortunate to have the real deal as

one of my clients and good friend.

5. Online support. One of the best listing

of online resources can be found at

www.tufts.edu/vet/petloss/links.html.

Online sources can be valuable

particularly when in person support is not

available to you. Many organizations

provide free online counseling, help in

finding a local counselor, virtual candle

lighting, and chat rooms with other

people experiencing the same loss as

you. Most have online shops to buy

personalized mementos.

Marcus is forever in my heart. As a

memento of him, I have his necklace in

my pocket. Whenever I feel sad, I take it

out and hold it in my hands until the sad

thoughts are replaced with happy

memories. ♦

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48 HOUR TURNAROUND TIME

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S T Y L E 2 0 1 2 M I D - Y E A R S U R V E Y R E S U L T S

2012 Mid Year Survey

We asked PetGroomer.com visitors to

share their working experiences at the

midway point of 2012. Economic issues

were, and still are, at the forefront of our

thoughts. The industry endured the

squeeze of a questionable attempt to

vocationally license the profession in

California. Summer came early for most,

and it was hot. Amidst these pressures

1,034 groomers took part in our survey

helping us to better know where 2012

may lead us in its second half.

If the economy is on everyone’s mind,

let’s start there.

We asked groomers to describe how the

economy was affecting their businesses

or employment in the first half of 2012.

The results were more than promising

and once again indicative the resiliency

of the pet grooming trade. Only 7%

reported unfavorably whether self-

employed or employed. Over 50%

reported business was better in 2012

and for those employed, there was more

demand for their services. Not one

employed groomer surveyed indicated

any fear of losing their job based on

demand for their employment.

Here’s the actual breakdown:

Business is better in 2012 than 2011.

46%

Business is about the same in

2012 as 2011.

31%

Business is down in 2012.

5%

Business is good and my employment is stable.

9%

Business is so good and I am employed and grooming more in 2012.

7%

Business is not so good and my employment hours are down.

2%

Business is way down and I may lose my job.

0% It’s not surprising that confidence ratings

for the balance of 2012 are high. Actually




S T Y L E 2 0 1 2 M I D - Y E A R S U R V E Y R E S U L T S

Having to work as an employee instead of being self-employed.

Not getting paid enough as an employee.

Not earning enough net income from the business I own.

The management of the business I work for.

Physical wear and tear from grooming.

Having to work with other groomers instead of working alone.

Lack of professional recognition and respect by the public.

Getting bit by pets.

Not being able to get more continuing education.

Self-doubt of my grooming and/or customer skills.

Pet owners that do not care properly for their pets.

Lack of adequate jobs in my area.

What bothers you most about your career in pet grooming?


Head & Tail Styles with Jodi Murphy - Part Three www.jodimurphy.net 2 0 1 2 M I D - Y E A R S U R V E Y R E S U L T S

they are over the top. Of those surveyed

over 77% indicated “strong” confidence

in their grooming careers for the second

half of 2012.

Where there is positive somewhere else

lurks negative. We went looking and

asked groomers what is bothering them

(see chart on top of previous page).

Ironically, working income (10%) and

management (10%) were not the leading

bothers. Instead, groomer wear and tear

(34%) and pet owners not adequately

caring for their pets (24%) topped the

survey results for bothers. In our opinion

these results clearly illustrate the innate

caring nature of groomers whose

profession does take a toll on their

emotional and physical well-being. It’s

important for groomers to manage both.

We asked groomers to provide more

detail related to health concerns. We

offered them a choice of five common

physical side effects of grooming. Here

are the results:

Lifting side effects such as back problems, and joint impact.

41%

Repetitive motion disorders.

25%

Inhalation side effects from

breathing dirt, dander and microbes.

15%

Side effects related to standing long periods.

11%

Bites.

8% Compared to previous surveys the

greatest increase (6%) was for inhalation

side effects. In the July/September 2011

(Continued from page 34) issue of eGroomer Journal we presented

an article on the reality of debilitating

“Zoonotic Diseases” groomers have

contracted by inhalation. Groomer Diane

Baron Taylor contracted Pseudomonas

Aeruginosa and tells her story in the

article.

On the GroomerTALK℠ Message Board

groomers share more “bothers”

originating from pet owners. So how

often are the problems exacerbated to

the point that groomers refuse services?

We asked how many times in the first

half of 2012 did they refuse grooming

services due to problems with pet

owners.

None.

40%

Once.

28%

Twice.

15%

Three times or more.

17%

While the largest group of responders

providing the same answer (40%) didn’t

refuse services even once, consider

what else this survey is saying. The large

majority of groomers surveyed (60%) did

refuse services at least once. Compared

to previous surveys the majority figure

increased 6% in 2012.

Some groomers surveyed commented

on their reason for refusals related to pet

owners. The most popular explanation

was their being presented with severely

poor coat conditions requiring coat

removals. However these pet owners

would not accept strips. Are more pets

arriving with poorer coat conditions? If

so, is it a side effect of pet owners having

their pets groomed less frequently,

perhaps due to economic factors?

Here are the results of our asking about

the regularity of grooming clientele. In

2012, how much of your regular clientele

has cut back on the frequency of having

their pets groomed because of the slow

economy?

None.

64%

About 25% of my clientele has cut back.

28%

About 50% of my clientele has cut

back.

8%

About 75% of my clientele has cut

back.

0%

Almost all of my clientele has cut back.

0%

From our survey we cannot clearly come

to the conclusion that cut backs in the

frequency of grooming is a major factor

in refusing services when pet owners

won’t accept necessary strips or major

salvage work. However groomers did

indicate it was a factor for them, so we

are not proverbially throwing the baby

out with the bath water. We will look for

more in depth reasoning in future

surveys.

Let’s not overlook a very positive sign in

these last results. A large majority (64%)

of clientele have not cut back at all. The

next largest group (28%) has only cut

back up to 25%. Therefore the economy

is affecting groomers, but based on

those surveyed, the effect is relatively

minor or nil for 92% of those surveyed.

That is excellent news for early 2012.

So what about opportunities for

employment for the remainder of 2012?

We asked groomers about opportunities



www.jodimurphy.net Head & Tail Styles with Jodi Murphy - Part Three 2 0 1 2 M I D - Y E A R S U R V E Y R E S U L T S

for employment in their area. About 14%

said the job market for groomers and

bathers was slow with rare openings.

About 29% stated that job openings for

both groomers and bathers has been

occasionally available in 2012. The

largest group (31%) reported job

openings for groomers and bathers are

often available in their areas.

Compared to the results for the same

questions in 2011 the availability of jobs

for groomers is up 5% in the first half of

2012. These results align with studies of

help wanted ads at PetGroomer.com.

The number of job ads displayed is up

9% in early 2012.

Whose thinking about raising prices for

grooming services in 2012?

I am raising prices in 2012.

39%

I am raising prices in 2013.

41%

I am raising prices in 2014 or later.

20%

Pet owners should be prepared for price

increases. A significant majority of pet

groomers (80%) plan to raise prices in

2012 or 2013.

What about tips? About 97% of groomers

surveyed reported they receive tips. The

average tip for 39% of groomers is $3.00

to $5.00. But 46% average tips over

$5.00 with 3% reporting more than

$10.00 per tip.

A possibility of vocational licensing of

groomers in California made news not

only in 2011, but came to a head midway

through 2012. Although not a strong

showing a respectable group of



2 0 1 2 M I D - Y E A R S U R V E Y R E S U L T S

surveyed groomers (12%) went so far as

to say they would end their career in

grooming if forced to be vocationally

licensed.

Rumors abound that the forces behind

licensing in California are not finished.

We anticipate an even stronger showing

against similar attempts unless there are

fundamental and significant changes to

the basis of the legislation and already

18% of groomers surveyed said they

would work to repeal.

Moving to a lighter topic, who is wearing

grooming apparel? Well just about every

groomer is wearing professional

grooming apparel at least sometimes.

Compared to 2011 wearing grooming

apparel all of the time is up 21%

(Continued from page 37) Only 2% stated they buy most of their

supplies used. Support for local

distributors came in at 8%. Mail order

only buying continues to fall with 11%

shopping catalogs and placing mail

orders.

As we end this mid-year survey report of

results the holidays approach. We asked

groomers when they start booking

November and December holiday

appointments.

The majority of groomers surveyed

(48%) said they start 3 months in

advance. About 8% start 6 months in

advance. Almost 27% indicated they hold

special holiday dates for preferred clients

giving them first pick. Another 11% said

they book clients one year in advance

including holidays.

Have a great year remaining in 2012! ♦

Wear all the time.

78%

Wear most of the time.

13%

Wear sometimes.

6%

Never wear.

3%

Online shopping is popular, way popular

in early 2012. When buying new 73% of

groomers shop online pet grooming

suppliers. Trade show buying is up 11%

with 19% saving up for shopping on site.



G R O O M I N G B U S I N E S S I N A B O X ®

Authors face potential prejudice when

writing about compensation systems for

groomers. Often they are presupposed to

favor the plight of management versus

groomers struggling to earn more. In

fact, many authors simply avoid writing

about groomer compensation. Why stir

things up? At Grooming Business in a

Box® we relish writing about groomer

compensation systems as well as other

management issues.

It’s our purpose to destroy the

problematic fence between staff and

management relations. Our original book

From Problems to Profits: The Madson

Management System was a first step,

and the “Box” is another. We politely

challenge most of today’s grooming

management, mostly independents, to

treat personnel better, even legally. Have

you heard anyone else writing and

speaking so boldly about the dilemma of

misclassifying groomers as independent

contractors, or underpaying pet bathers?

We are going to introduce some simple

solutions. Up to 90% of groomers and

business owners with staff do not know

the information to be presented here.

Keep an open mind, the numbers tell

quite a story, not opinion.

There are two benefits from using our

Dual Rate Commission System. One is

for employers, and one is for employees.

1. Eliminate mistaken claims relating to

employers seemingly making their

employed groomers “pay” pet

bathers as if they are secondary or

substitute employers.

2. Boost pet groomer wages while and

yet reduce gross payroll, and without

asking groomers to groom more

pets or work longer hours (yes it is

possible).

Do you know how many groomers don’t

believe either benefit is possible? Plenty.

We don’t blame them. Most business

authors or employers don’t “show their

work” to back their claims with clear

financial proof. We do. Get ready.

Employers often make a serious mistake

of semantics when they advise their

employed groomers they must “pay” for

bather support. Employers cannot

require employees to assume the duties

and responsibilities of being employers in

their businesses.

How does this happen? Many employers

use commission wage formulas paying

groomers percentages of grooming

service fees in return for grooming pets

start-to-finish with no bather support.

When employers have pet bathers on

staff situations may arise where

commission groomers opt out of bathing

one or more pets a day. Groomers being

paid to bathe and style pets should not

get full commission when they don’t

groom start-to-finish. Employers have to

a wage calculation formula to prevent

overpaying start-to-finish groomers

opting out of doing services they are

being paid for in their commissions.

Unfortunately employers addressing this

situation often say to the start-to-finish

commission groomers, “You must pay

bathers when you don’t do the bathing.”

Danger! A can of worms has been

opened, even Pandora’s Box. Only

employers “pay” employees. Employed

groomers may use the “pay” term when

sharing with others how their wages are

calculated. Eventually someone

responds and reminds employees that

employers cannot make them “pay” other

employees. Suspicion barks. Sparks fly.

For the most part, the problem is with

semantics and it can be avoided entirely.

This problem can become severe when

confused employees contact legal

assistance or government agencies

related to employment law. Neither

attorneys nor the government

understands pet groomer commission

systems. The problem is employers

could better use terms such as

“reimbursement” or “adjustment.” Even

then, there are strict guidelines as to

what is to be reimbursed by grooming

employees opting to use bathing support.

Employers using the term “bather

reimbursement” instead of saying

someone else must “pay” their bathing

employees are more correct. However,

they are still wading in potentially

troubled waters. How are employers

figuring the reimbursement amount?

They had better be able to explain how

they calculate bathing reimbursements

when asked by employed groomers, or

representatives of employment law and

tax agencies.

What is the problem we see? Employers

should not require the full-charge

groomers to reimburse them for any

costs related to benefits, payroll taxes,

workers compensation, unemployment

insurance and similar employer-related

costs. Otherwise they are once again

coloring the affected groomers as if they

are employers. Employed groomers are

never employers of pet bathers assisting

them!

It is more correct for employers to review

the gross wages of bathers and to figure

approximately the average gross wage of

their bathers per pet. It’s simple to do.

Employers first state and publish their

expected performance standards for

experienced bathers. The standards


Dual Rate Commission System

Groomers Bathing Pets Lower Their Wages in Staffed Businesses

Gross Wage Losses Can Exceed $10,000 a Year


should be stated in related job

descriptions and agreements. There are

examples in the book From Problems to

Profits.

Assume a pet bather is paid $12.00 an

hour and they average 12 bathing

assignments in 8 hours, no overtime.

What is the average time spent by the

bather per pet? Divide 8 hours by 12

pets and the answer is an average of 40

minutes per bathing assignment.

Remember this figure is an average.

Don’t complicate calculations figuring for

occasional dematting sessions which

extend work time. We are looking for a

reasonable, general average bathing

time per pet by experienced bathers.

When the hourly wage is $12.00 an hour,

40 minutes is $8.00 gross wages. The

overall average cost of gross pet bather

wages is $8.00 per pet for this business.

Expect variations between businesses

when compared.

In the example above, the employer now

has a general pet bather reimbursement

fee of $8.00. It only addresses gross

wages and no other employer-related

costs.

Whenever employed groomers paid by

commission for start-to-finish work opt

out of bathing and use their employer’s

bathers, they adjust their gross

commission wages deducting $8.00 per

pet not bathed. In this way, employed

groomers are not literally “paying” for

bathers. They are not creating

paychecks. They are reducing their

paychecks avoiding overpayment for

work they did not do.

The “per pet” reimbursement system is

not perfect. Every employer should

review this system with their company

attorney for compliance with state and

local law before implementing it. The per

pet system has been widely used for

decades, whether its proper use was

verified or not. Where it is used,

employer communications with affected

groomer employees often creates

(Continued from page 39) It favors both employees and employers.

We’re straddling the fence between them

and saying sometimes new ideas

actually work well for both. Here’s the

magic and absolute proof.

The concept of a Dual Rate Commission

System is simple. Unfortunately most

employers don’t know how to do the

relatively easy calculations, and how to

prove its benefits to their employees.

The system is easily applied to any pet

grooming business paying by

commission and employing bathing staff.

Instead of one commission rate

universally applied to every grooming

assignment for start-to-finish grooming,

there is a second commission rate. It

applies only to those grooming

assignments where full-charge groomers

paid for start-to-finish grooming opt out of

bathing and use their employer’s pet

bather services.

Commission Rate 1

Commission Rate 1 is the highest rate

because groomers spend more time

grooming pets start-to-finish without pet

bather support.

Commission Rate 2

Commission Rate 2 is lower because

groomers spend less time grooming and

have the assistance of pet bathers. More

important, Commission Rate 2 also

allows full-charge groomers to groom

more pets per day and earn more.

Don’t be mistaken! Rate 2 does not

mean lower gross wages. Groomers

using the lower Rate 2 in our system

actually earn significantly higher wages

than Rate 1 groomers working the same

hours, and grooming the same pets at

the same prices. No tricks here! This is

rarely known by groomers today. Setting

the Commission Rate 2 correctly is

important, and it must be fair to

employed groomers. Again, it’s easy.

Fortunately we have a good start to set a

correct Commission Rate 2. Earlier in

this article we discovered the average


confusion. Employer semantics make it

sound as if the employed groomers are

acting as employers ‘paying’ bathers

instead of simply reducing their gross

commission wages to compensate for

opting out of their commission paid

bathing duties. We suggest simplicity.

How about something altogether different

with no legal confusion between

employer and employee status? We call

it the “Dual Rate Commission System.”

“The “per pet”

reimbursement system is

not perfect. Every employer

should review this system

with their company attorney

for compliance with state

and local law before

implementing it. The per pet

system has been widely

used for decades, whether

its proper use was verified

or not. Where it is used,

employer communications

with affected groomer

employees often creates

confusion. Employer

semantics make it sound as

if the employed groomers

are acting as employers

‘paying’ bathers instead of

simply reducing their gross

commission wages to

compensate for opting out

of their commission paid

bathing duties. We suggest

simplicity. Use our Dual

Commission Rate System.”





Every time Groomer 1 bathes and dries pets wages suffer. Groomer 1’s wages are about $11,000 a year lower than Groomers 2 & 3 grooming the same pets without bathing.

Providing pet bather support does not have to boost overall payroll costs. Sometimes it lowers it.

Freed from daily hours of bathing-related duties groomers finish more pets to boost their wages even after deductions for bather support. Groomers 1, 2 & 3 work 8 hours a day. Groomers 2 & 3 each do 5 more pets a day boosting their gross wages about $11,000 a year more than Groomer 1, and their employer enjoys $247 more a day in gross sales too. It’s a true win-win situation.

Lower commission rates do NOT always mean lower wages. Adjusting rates for bather support can mean equal or higher wages. Groomer 3 works the same hours doing the same pets as Groomer 1 and grooming fees are equal for both. Groomer 3 at 36% earns $11,000 a year more gross wages than Groomer 1 paid 50% commission rate. Groomer 1 pays the price for bathing!

GROOMER 2

Finish Grooming Only

50% Commission

Bather Support Requested

$8 Pet Deduction for Bather

12 Finish in 8 Hours

Same Prices and Pets Groomed by Groomers 1-3

Pet 1 $60.00 50% Wage $30.00 (-) $8.00

Pet 2 $55.00 50% Wage $27.50 (-) $8.00

Pet 3 $48.00 50% Wage $24.00 (-) $8.00

Pet 4 $56.00 50% Wage $28.00 (-) $8.00

Pet 5 $55.00 50% Wage $27.50 (-) $8.00

Pet 6 $64.00 50% Wage $32.00 (-) $8.00

Pet 7 $70.00 50% Wage $35.00 (-) $8.00

Pet 8 $72.00 50% Wage $36.00 (-) $8.00

Pet 9 $39.00 50% Wage $19.50 (-) $8.00

Pet 10 $74.00 50% Wage $37.00 (-) $8.00

Pet 11 $50.00 50% Wage $25.00 (-) $8.00

Pet 12 $42.00 50% Wage $21.00 (-) $8.00

TOTAL DAILY GROSS WAGE

$246.50 ANNUALIZED 2

$64,090.00

2 $246.50 multiplied by 260 (the number of days worked in a year 5 days (x) 52 weeks.

GROOMER 1

Start-to-Finish Grooming

50% Commission

No Bather Assistance

7 Start-to-Finish in 8 Hours


Pet 1 $60.00 50% Wage $30.00

Pet 2 $55.00 50% Wage $27.50

Pet 3 $48.00 50% Wage $24.00

Pet 4 $56.00 50% Wage $28.00

Pet 5 $55.00 50% Wage $27.50

Pet 6 $64.00 50% Wage $32.00

Pet 7 $70.00 50% Wage $35.00

Pet 8 $72.00 50% Wage $0 1

Pet 9 $39.00 50% Wage $0 1

Pet 10 $74.00 50% Wage $0 1

Pet 11 $50.00 50% Wage $0 1

Pet 12 $42.00 50% Wage $0 1



$53,040.00 1 8 hour work limit reached with Pet 7 because Groomer 1 does all bathing-related duties.

GROOMER 3

Finish Grooming Only

36% Commission

Bather Provided for All Pets

12 Finish in 8 Hours


Pet 1 $60.00 36% Wage $21.60

Pet 2 $55.00 36% Wage $19.80

Pet 3 $48.00 36% Wage $17.28

Pet 4 $56.00 36% Wage $20.16

Pet 5 $55.00 36% Wage $19.80

Pet 6 $64.00 36% Wage $23.04

Pet 7 $70.00 36% Wage $25.20

Pet 8 $72.00 36% Wage $25.92

Pet 9 $39.00 36% Wage $14.04

Pet 10 $74.00 36% Wage $26.64

Pet 11 $50.00 36% Wage $18.00

Pet 12 $42.00 36% Wage $15.12



$64,116.00

Groomers Bathing & Drying Dogs Makes No Financial Sense


time to bathe and dry a pet (including

nails and ears) was 40 minutes. We also

stated the bather was paid $12.00 an

hour, and therefore 40 minutes of gross

bather wages (before taxes) was $8.00

per pet. You will need to figure the per

pet fee based on your operation.

Commission Rate 2 actually reimburses

the employer about $8.00 per pet when

employed groomers opt out of bathing

and request bather support.

Using Commission Rate 2 for affected

grooms means no more counting bathing

reimbursements and deductions from

gross wages as did Groomer 2 in the

illustration on page 39. Instead,

groomers and employers track how

many grooming assignments are paid at

Commission Rate 1 and how many at

Commission Rate 2. Simple!

Setting Commission Rate 2 need not be

a challenge. It’s commonly between 35%

to 38% for most businesses when its

other groomers doing state-to-finish

grooming including bathing are paid

50%. Follow this procedure below.

Working with our previous example, we

want to reduce Commission Rate 1 to

recoup about $8.00 per pet. In our

experience we discovered Commission

Rate 2 is usually 12% to 15% less than

50%. Start there and test the results.

Total Grooming Fee $60.00

Commission Rate 1 50%

Groomer’s gross wage is $30.00.



The difference between $30.00 and

$21.00 is $9.00. That’s too high. Our

goal is $8.00, not $9.00.

Let’s redo our calculations assuming

Commission Rate 2 is 37%.



(Continued from page 40) Commission Rate 2 37%


The difference between $30.00 and

$22.20 is $7.80. We’re close enough to

$8.00 and without going over.

Now we have our two commission rates

and no need to further calculate

reimbursements for bather support in the

future.

Perception is important. Employees will

balk at the Dual Rate Commission

System unless it is properly explained,

and even lose sight they can increase

their wages without bathing.

When introduced to the Dual Rate

Commission System some groomers are

sure to think they are earning less

accepting 37%. Yes they are, but no less

than if they were paid 50% and deducted

$8.00 bather reimbursement fees where

applicable. In fact, with Commission Rate

2 shown above they get paid 20 cents

more. They must also realize they can

groom more pets when freed from

bathing and boost their paychecks.

Sit down with full-charge groomers and

patiently explain to them clearly what you

learned here. Provide examples,

including the illustration on page 39. In

about 30 minutes they should catch on.

Remind them, pet groomers that never

bathe earn more income than start-to-

finish only groomers when both work 8

hours? Make sure they understand the

difference between Groomers 2 and 3

and how they earned about $11,000 a

year more in gross wages working the

same hours, grooming the same pets

and at the same prices. The numbers

don’t lie.

Wait! When previous start-to-finish

groomers no longer bathe they will earn

less unless you give them more styling

assignments to fill 8 work hours daily.

Expect some or all of your employed

groomers to balk at change. They may

have a vice grip on reasons why they

must bathe.

Some full-charge groomers believe they

must bathe and dry their pets because

bathers won’t bathe and dry pets as well

as they can. If that is true who is to

blame? Management. We trained and

employed expert bathers that did every

bath perfect, or they had to redo their

work. No exceptions. When stretch-

drying was needed, every curl had to be

hand stretch-dried with a brush. The

force of any HV dryer is not enough to

adequately stretch dry in our opinion.

Assure your full-charge groomers that

every bathing assignment will be to their

standards, and make it happen.

Our Bathing Department Supervisor (see

From Problems to Profits book) ensured

every bathing assignment was quality

control checked before going to finish

groomers. Simple solution. Implement

the position straight away to enjoy fewer

problems.

Some full-charge groomers have reason

to exert control over their grooms for

other reasons, sometimes kept secret.

You may have to peel layers like those of

an onion to discover why they feel the

need for ardent control. Most reactions

come from past issues working in less

than well-managed businesses.

You should have fewer problems when

employees realize the full impact of what

was shown in the illustration on page 39.

Show them how Groomer 1 is losing

$11,000 a year in gross wages simply by

doing all bathing related duties.

Common sense efficiency experts

reviewing the steps of a full groom

immediately note that any work done by

the highest paid employees (full charge

groomers) that could be done by other

employees paid less (bathers) means

both profit drain for employers, and

potential loses for employees in a fair

compensation system.

It never makes financial sense for full-

charge groomers to do duties associated

with pet bathers. It costs them dearly in

wages, and for the owner it depresses

gross sales when groomers could be

grooming more pets daily. ♦



http://www.wagntals.com/



Are Pet Bathers Underpaid?

Do Dogs Bark? Do Cats Meow?

Not every grooming employer underpays

pet bathers but plenty do. It’s not that

they want to underpay their bathers.

From their perspective they are probably

paying the best they can afford. Don’t be

offended, here’s how to pay them well.

In 20 plus years of consulting we’ve

analyzed the setup of hundreds of

grooming operations. We discovered the

culprit creating low bather wages and low

profit for owners. It’s how grooming

assignments are made, and what

available job positions are present.

Quality and safety do not have to be

affected in order to create cost-efficiency.

Most notably we discovered a significant

compensation disparity between

groomers and bathers. It does make

sense for pet groomers to earn more

than pet bathers. They have more

elevated skills for the art of grooming and

broader knowledge and experience

requirements. Their tools and supplies

cost more. Bathers may not have to own

any. Are these reasons valid to justify

100% or even 200% chasms between

their wage levels? Are groomers to

blame for so many pet bathers earning

minimum wage or barely more? No.

Early on in our grooming management

careers we learned something most

astounding. Pet bathers generate

significantly more net profit (before

deducting operating costs) for business

owners after accounting for their gross

wages. So why do they earn so much

less? Refer to the illustration on the next

page.

There are 12 bath-only pets to be

groomed. The business employs highly-

skilled pet bathers capable of pre-bath

needs, nails, ears, bathing and drying.

They have skills to scissor perfectly

around feet, trim hairs between pads,

Poodle feet, and even do Poodle faces

for “touch up” baths. They can deshed

coats, and use thinning and blending

shears to touch-up. Finishing touches

including buns and bows are no problem.

Is this possible? We trained and

employed such bathers for more than

two decades. Our full-charge pet

groomers were pleased to stick to doing

the styling on full groom pets.

The illustration makes clear that bathers

properly assigned bath-only pets reduce

gross wages by $116 a day. The savings

results from not having 50% commission

groomers do bath-only pets. Leave the

full-groom assignments to the pet

groomers (except for bathing them). If

you annualize daily savings of $116 for a

business open five days-a-week, the

annual savings is an impressive $30,160.

No one is suffering from pay cuts to

create this savings. It is simply who is

assigned what grooming tasks

appropriate to their skills and position.

The bather is paid $12.50 an hour which

is higher than the national average. Their

employer could easily pay more, or

provide more benefits. As shown payroll

is $30,160 less annually simply by

assigning bath-only pets to bathers. It’s

that simple.

Even business owners having some bath

-only pets done by bathers can capture

more savings. It’s not about some but all

bath-only pets being done by bathers.

Every properly assigned bath-only pet

saves dollars. Don’t look at what you

save on one pet but hundreds or more

pets each year. It’s impressive and really

brings home our recommendation.

If you have no pet bathers and only start-

to-finish groomers your payroll savings

will be remarkable without lowering wage

levels. In a labor intensive industry like

grooming how your system properly

assigns every grooming service makes a

world of difference. Finally we have

proof, and a way, to pay hardworking

bathers better. They deserve it! You are

also more likely to keep them employed

longer when you pay better. ♦

“Most notably we discovered a

significant compensation

disparity between groomers

and bathers. It does make

sense for pet groomers to

earn more than pet bathers.

They have more elevated fine

skills for the art of grooming

and broader knowledge and

experience requirements.

Their tools and supplies cost

more. Bathers may not need

to own any. Are these reasons

valid to justify 100% or even

200% chasms between their

wage levels? Are groomers to

blame for so many pet bathers

earning minimum wage or

barely more? No.”




It’s more than possible. Some owners have done this system for decades. The “gravy” in grooming is bath-only pets completed by skilled pet bathers. Any business can train them to this level. How many owners are even paying bathers $12.50 as in our example? Few! This is how!

There is an essential marketing goal to make this happen. You must create demand for bath-only services with the same intent you do for full grooms. Your advertising much promote family pets of all sizes and coat types that rarely or only occasionally need finish grooming. When you show pets in your promotions make sure you have all types including short-coated to long-coated. Get as many of your full groom clients to use bath-only services in between full grooms as possible.

Skilled pet bathers can do deshedding, touch-up feet and faces on Poodles, light scissoring including feet and face and bun and bowing. Keep pet groomers busy on full grooms.

PET GROOMER

Start-to-Finish Grooming, No Bather Help

50% Commission

12 Bath-Only Pets in 8 Hours

Bath-Only Pet 1 $30.00 Bath-Only Pet 2 $28.00






TOTAL SALES OF GROOMING SERVICES

$432.00

TOTAL GROSS COMMISSION WAGES

$216.00

TOTAL ADJUSTED SALES

$216.00

SKILLED PET BATHER

Brush, Bath, Dry, Nails, Ears, Touch-Up

$12.50 an Hour

12 Bath-Only Pets in 8 Hours







TOTAL SALES OF GROOMING SERVICES

$432.00

TOTAL GROSS HOURLY WAGES

$100.00

TOTAL ADJUSTED SALES

$332.00

WOW! IS THIS REALISTIC? WHAT’S IT TAKE?

Pet Bather does bath-only pets start-to-finish generating 65% more

adjusted sales revenue than Pet Groomer doing same 12 pets.

$116 a Day / $30,160 a Year More in Adjusted Sales for the Business Owner

This is how better Pet Bather wages are possible, even better than shown here.

+ $116


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On-site Schools of Pet Grooming

2

3

4

◊ Diamond Level Sponsors of PetGroomer.com ◊

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PetSmart Employment Since December 1998

PETCO Employment Since March 1999

Double K Industries Since April 2003

All About Dog Grooming Home Study Since July 2000

Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions Since September 1998

Metro Air Force® Dryers

Since June 2004 Groomers Choice Pet Products Since March 1999

Golden Paws Schools & Consultation Since January 2000

Senproco Since January 2004

Hitch-on Mobile Pet Salons Since October 2007

Barkleigh Productions Since March 2003

Paragon School of Pet Grooming & Distance Learning Program Since June 2004

Learn2GroomDogs.com MelissaVerplank.com Since June 2004

Florida Institute of Animal Arts Since April 1999

Golden Paws Distance Learning Program Since January 2000

Quadruped Pet Care Since January 2012

PetzLife Products - Dental, Shampoo, Spa + Since January 2012

PetzLife Groomer’s Dental Kit - Income Opportunity Since January 2012

Oster Li+ION Volt, Juice, Amp Clippers Since May 2012

Pet Silk Since May 2012

PetGroomer.com Sponsor Buyer’s Guide 2011

Golden Paws School Consultation

1 800 GROOMER℠

Groomadog Academy Consultation

Animal Photography

PFWH.com Equipment Financing

Grooming Business in a Box®

Consultants & Services

All About Dog Grooming Home Study

Learn2GroomDogs.com

Paragon Pet School Distance Learning

Golden Paws Distance Learning

JKL Pet Grooming Home Study

Jodi Murphy Instructional DVDs

Mobile Pet Grooming Book Jodi Murphy

Super Styling Session DVDs

Groomadog Academy Home Study

HipDog Grooming School DVDs

National Cat Groomers Institute

Wet Dog Millionaire Book

Pawsitive Educational Training

Grooming Business in a Box® Books & CDs

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Trade Shows & Workshops

Page 2 of Sponsor Buyer’s Guide On-Site Schools Listed on Page 4

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National Assn. Prof. Creative Groomers

National Dog Groomers Association

International Professional Groomers Inc

Int’l Society of Canine Cosmetologists

National Cat Groomers Institute

WI Assn. of Professional Pet Stylists

Associations

Golden Paws School Consultation

1 800 GROOMER℠

Groomadog Academy Consultation

Animal Photography

Wet Dog Millionaire

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Consultants & Services

PetSmart Employment

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Hydrodog Mobile Groomer Employment

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Barkleigh Productions

Super Styling Sessions Seminars

Intergroom Trade Show

National Assn. Prof. Creative Groomers

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PetEdge Master Equipment ProBather

Groomer’s Choice - BathMaster

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PetEdge

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Soft Claws Nail Caps® / SmartPractice

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Elchar Dog Bows

Pawfume Value Priced Colognes

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PetEdge Master Grooming Tools

Kim Laube & Co.

MDC Romani - Clipper Vac®

WAHL Clipper Corporation

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PetEdge ProSelect Cages

Groomer’s Choice - DuraDog Cages

Snyder Mfg. Co.

Clark Cages

Groomers Best, Inc.

Forever Stainless Steel

CLIPPER VACUUM SYSTEMS


Kim Laube & Co.


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Air Muzzle® / SmartPractice


Groomers Helper®

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PetEdge Top Performance ProDental

PetzLife Groomer’s Dental Kit

PlaqClnz® Oral Hygiene / SmartPractice

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Groomer’s Choice - Monk Lite Shears

Kim Laube & Co.

Sharkfin Shears

SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER & SPA

PetEdge

Double K Industries

Bark 2 Basics, Green Groom, Coat Handler

Quadruped Pet Care

PetzLife Products

Pet Silk Products

Kim Laube & Co.

Soft Claws Nail Caps® / SmartPractice


Showseason Products

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Best Shot® Pet Products

Espree® Products

Canine Spa Therapies

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CLIPPERS, BLADES & COMBS


Double K Industries

Oster Li+ION Clipper Technology

Kim Laube & Co.



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PetEdge Master Equipment Dryers

Double K Industries


Kim Laube & Co.

Snyder Mfg. Co.


Clark Cages

B-Air Dryers

TABLES & ACCESSORIES

PetEdge Master Equipment Tables

Groomer’s Choice - DuraDog Tables

Groomers Best, Inc.


TUBS & ACCESSORIES

PetEdge Master Equipment Tubs

Kim Laube & Co.

Groomers Best, Inc.


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Sharpening & Repair

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Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions

Hitch-on Mobile Pet Salons

Governor Insurance

Ambers Mobile Pet Salons

Gryphon Mobile Trailers

Mobile Pet Grooming Jodi Murphy Book

Hydrodog Franchise & Groomer Employment

PetEdge Grooming Supplies


Ryan’s Pet Supplies

Westcoast Animal Groomers Supply

Shampoo Lady Grooming Supplies

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Ambers Mobile Pet Salons www.ambersmobilepetsalons.com

Animal Photography www.animalphotography.com

B-Air Dryers www.b-air.com

Bardel Bows & Finishing Touches www.bardelbows.com

Barkleigh Productions www.barkleigh.com

Best Shot® Pet Products www.bestshotpet.com

Border Pet Grooming Software www.petstar.co.uk

Breathe Healthy Grooming Masks www.breathehealthy.com

Cherrybrook Grooming Supplies www.cherrybrook.com

Clark Cages www.clarkcages.com

Double K Industries www.doublekindustries.com

Elchar Dog Bows www.elcharbows.com

Espree Products www.espree.com

Forever Stainless Steel www.foreverstainlesssteel.com

Go Mobile and Succeed Book & DVD www.gomobileandsucceed.com

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Governor Insurance www.governorins.com

Groom Classic Trade Show www.groomclassice.com

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Groomers Choice Pet Products www.groomerschoice.com

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Gryphon Mobile Trailers www.gryphontrailers.com

Hitch-on Mobile Pet Salons www.mygroomingtrailer.com

Intergroom Trade Show www.intergroom.com

Int’l Professional Groomers Inc. www.ipgcmg.com

Int’l Society of Canine Cosmetologists www.petstylist.com

ITS Grooming Software www.jmssys.com

Iv San Bernard Products www.ivsanbernard.us

JKL Pet Grooming School www.jklgrooming.com

Jodi Murphy DVDs www.jodimurphy.net

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Kim Laube & Co. www.kimlaubeco.com

Love’s Sharpening www.lovessharpening.com

Lynne’s Mobile Pet Salon Trailers www.lynnesmobilepetsalon.com

MDC Romani / Clipper Vac® www.mdcromani.com

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Metro Air Force® Dryers www.dogdryer.com

National Cat Groomers Institute www.nationalcatgroomers.com

National Dog Groomers Association www.nationaldoggroomers.com

Northern Tails Sharpening www.northerntails.com

PawFume Colognes www.packaginggroupcorp.com/pawfume.htm

PETCO Employment www.petco.com

Pet Valu Employment (Canada) www.petvalu.com

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PetSmart Employment www.petsmartjobs.com

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Prima Bathing Systems www.primabathing.com

PROFur Insurance (Canada) www.profur.ca

Ryan’s Pet Supplies www.ryanspet.com

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Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions www.wagntails.com

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On-Site Schools Listed on Next Page Page 3

Call 800-556-5131 or 360-446-5348 A to Z List of Sponsors Except On-Site Schools

All About Dog Grooming www.learntogroom.com

Ambers Mobile Pet Salons www.ambersmobilepetsalons.com

B-Air Dryers www.b-air.com

Bardel Bows & Finishing Touches www.bardelbows.com

Barkleigh Productions www.barkleigh.com

Best Shot® Pet Products www.bestshotpet.com

Canine Spa Therapies www.wisconsinpetstylists.org

Clark Cages www.clarkcages.com

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Elchar Dog Bows www.elcharbows.com

Espree Products www.espree.com

ExcelaGroom Pet Grooming Supplies www.excelagroomsupplies.com

Flying Comet Enterprises www.flyingcometenterprises.com

Forever Stainless Steel www.foreverstainlesssteel.com

Golden Paws Home Study & Consult. www.goldenpaws.com

Governor Insurance www.governorins.com

Groom Classic Trade Show www.groomclassice.com

Groomers Best, Inc. www.groomersbest.com

Groomers Choice Pet Products www.groomerschoice.com

Groomers Helper www.groomershelper.com

Groomers Newsletters www.groomersnewsletters.com

Grooming Business in a Box® www.groomingbusinessinabox.com

Gryphon Mobile Trailers www.gryphontrailers.com

Hitch-on Mobile Pet Salons www.mygroomingtrailer.com

Hydrodog Mobile & Employment www.hydrodog.com

Intergroom Trade Show www.intergroom.com

Int’l Professional Groomers Inc. www.ipgicmg.com

Int’l Society of Canine Cosmetologists www.petstylist.com

ITS Grooming Software www.jmssys.com

JKL Pet Grooming School www.jklgrooming.com

Jodi Murphy DVDs, Books, Apparel www.jodimurphy.net

Kim Laube & Co. www.kimlaubeco.com

Love’s Sharpening www.lovessharpening.com

MDC Romani / Clipper Vac® www.mdcromani.com

Learn2GroomDogs.com www.learn2groomdogs.com

Maser’s Clipper Repairs, Sharpening, Parts www.clipperfix.com

Metro Air Force® Dryers www.dogdryer.com

National Assn. Prof. Creative Groomers www.napcg.com

National Cat Groomers Institute www.nationalcatgroomers.com

National Dog Groomers Association www.nationaldoggroomers.com

Northern Tails Sharpening www.northerntails.com

Oster Li+ION Clipper Technology www.osterpro.com/lithiumion.aspx

PawFume Colognes www.packaginggroupcorp.com/pawfume.htm

Pawsitive Educational Training www.pawsitiveeducationaltraining.com

Pet Silk Products www.petsilk.com

Pet Supplies Plus Groomer Employment www.petsuppliesplus.com

Pet Valu Employment (Canada) www.petvalu.com

PETCO Employment www.petco.com

PetEdge Grooming Supplies www.petedge.com

PetLinx Software www.petlinx.com

PetSmart Employment www.petsmartjobs.com

PetSupermarket Employment www.petsupermarket.com

PetzLife Products www.petzlife.com

PFWH.com Grooming Supplies www.pfwh.com

PlaqClnz® Oral Hygiene www.plaqclnz.com

PROFur Insurance (Canada) www.profur.ca

Quadruped Pet Care www.quadrupedpetcare.com

Ryan’s Pet Supplies www.ryanspet.com

Senproco www.senproco.com

Shampoo Lady Supplies www.shampoolady.com

Sharkfin Shears www.sharkfinshears.com

Showseason & Naturals Products www.showseasonproducts.com

SmartPractice www.smartpractice.com/vet

Snyder Mfg. Co. www.snydermfg.com

Store Vantage Groomer Software www.storevantage.com

Stylist Wear www.stylistwear.com

Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions www.wagntails.com

WAHL Clipper Corporation www.wahlanimal.com

Westcoast Animal Groomers Supply www.wagsupply.com

Wet Dog Millionaire Book www.wetdogmillionaire.com

1 800 GROOMER℠ www.1800groomer.com

123 Pet Software www.123petsoftware.com

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On-Site Schools Listed on Next Page Page 3

Pet Grooming Schools (On-Site Only Programs or Combination On-Site & Online)

Gold Plus Level School Sponsors

Zoom Zoom Groom Academy of Pet Grooming (Canada) www.zoomzoomgroom.com

Academy of Dog Grooming Arts (IL) www.academyofdoggrooming.com

American Academy of Pet Grooming (NYC) www.aaopg.com

New York School of Dog Grooming (NYC) www.nysdg.com

South Carolina School of Dog Grooming www.scschoolofdoggrooming.com

Canine Clippers Grooming School (VA) www.canine-clippers.com

Pets Playground Grooming School (FL) www.petsplayground.com

Cindy’s Canine Companion Grooming Classes (PA) www.cindyscaninecompanions.com

Oregon Pet Grooming Academy (OR) www.oregonpetgroomingacademy.com

Merryfield School of Pet Grooming (FL) www.merryfieldschool.com

National Cat Groomers Institute of America (SC) www.nationalcatgroomers.com

Platinum Level School Sponsors

Pennsylvania Academy of Pet Grooming www.mdcromani.com

Groomadog Academy (SC) (resident school) www.groomadogacademy.com

Sensational Stylings Academy of Pet Grooming (IL) 815-469-2243 site under construction

Michigan School of K9 Cosmetology www.k9grooming.com

Nanhall Professional School of Grooming (NC) www.nanhall.com

Amber’s Academy of Pet Styling (CA) www.ambersacademyofpetstyling.com

American Grooming Academy (CA) www.americangroomingacademy.com

Academy of Animal Arts (FL) www.academyofanimalarts.com

Texas Allbreed Grooming School www.tagsperfectjob.com

Golden Paws School of Dog Styling (TX) www.goldenpaws.com

O.C. Academy of Pet Styling (CA) www.academyofpetstyling.net

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (CA) www.goldenpawsdoggroomingschoolpalmsprings.com

Dapper Dawg School of Professional Grooming (MA) www.thedapperdawg.com

Just Four Paws Academy of Pet Styling (PA) www.justfourpawsacademy.com

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (KY) www.goldenpawspetstylingacademyky.com

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (WI) www.goldenpawswi.com

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (IN) www.goldenpawspetstylingacademyin.com

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (NY) www.pinkdogparlor.com/school.htm

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (PA) www.goldenpawspittsburghpa.com

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy (IL) www.goldenpawschicago.com

Platinum Plus Level School Sponsors

Nash Academy (KY) Since December 2001

www.nashacademy.com

Diamond Level School Sponsors

Golden Paws (multiple locations detailed below) Since January 2000

www.goldenpaws.com

Florida Institute of Animal Arts Since April 1999

www.myfiaa.com

Paragon Pet Grooming School (MI) Since June 2004

www.paragonpetschool.com

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The Healthy Pet Groomer

Carding

What Are Your Client Records Trying to Tell You

Ear-ly Warning

OSHA Compliance

In-Home Pet Grooming

Pet Grooming Services Income Projection Worksheet

Client Relations Breakthroughs

Tons of Fun in Grooming

To Shave or Not to Shave

New Math for Groomers

Online Appointment Scheduling

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pet grooming egroomer journal for professional pet groomers october/december 2012

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