There are so many things that can enhance your overall knowledge of quality pet grooming. Outlined below are a number of items that are readily available to you to increase your overall knowledge of pet care, handling, and grooming. The more you actively seek out, the more you will grow as a professional pet stylist, increasing your likelihood of advancement and success in your chosen field.  

                                       GROOMING & PETS

• Read and comprehend all information held within Notes From the Grooming Table and Theory of Five - know the material well enough to easily quote from the book on a daily basis as you work with employees, pets and their owners.
• Get and read all trade publications; Groomer to Groomer, Pet  Age, Family Dog by AKC, Pet Boutique and Pet Business.
• Subscribe to dog related magazines; Dog Fancy, Dog World, The AKC Gazette.
• Study photos of good examples of a breed and then compare them to lesser quality pets of the same breed.
• Study anatomy, proportion and angles. Know how they inter relate to one another.
• Read breed books of the most popular breeds, especially the ones that require trimming to best match breed profile.
• Learn to become proficient at all techniques utilized to groom and style all coat types and coat conditions.
• Study and memorize your AKC book. Know how to read the "Blue Print" of each breed and translate it into grooming language.
• Attend dogs shows and closely study individual breeds. Have a couple breeds you want to study closely and make a list of questions you want answered or verified PRIOR to hitting the show grounds. Take notes and make drawings.
• Watch Westminster, over and over and over again. First observe the entire show then go back and re-watch each group then dissect each individual breed. Review the tape often.
• Watch any breed tape available put out by a well respected organization or professional.
• Attend every trade show, seminar or clinic you can get to. (At least 6 to start per year for the first 3 years of your career and then 2 to 4 from that point foreword)
• Study and work towards certification testing.
• Enter the contest ring to test your skills and get critiques.
• Test yourself on technical skills and productivity skills. (ideally, most pets should take between 50 minutes and 1:15 to complete from start to finish) Time yourself.
• Work with a trainer, read books or take a training class up and beyond "basic obedience."
• Work with a breeder of individual breeds to refine and prefect breed type.
• The more general knowledge you know about dogs and cats, the more "professional" you will become.

  As professionals, we need to constantly seek ways to improve our overall communication skills with others. For customer service representatives, the more you understand about grooming, sales and customer service, the more confident you will become in dealing with customers. The key to an excellent trainer, in any field, besides teaching sound fundamentals is; the ability to make learning interesting, fun, and memorable The more you know about your chosen field, coupled with excellent communication skills, makes for the most successful employees. For all employees, learning how to work together towards a goal - a mission - will bring the most success to any business.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ENHANCE YOUR SKILLS AS A TRAINER OR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

Read anything and everything you can about;

• communication skills
• personal motivational skills
• team building
• speaking skills
• organization skills
• personal development
• coaching skills

• Take classes or seminars on any of the above listed professional development skills.

• Become proficient with multiple computer programs to enhance teaching materials.
• Take a college course on any subject that deals with communications and human relationships.
• Study entertainers and professional speakers. Why and/or how are they effective at getting their message across?

 
 
      Learning is a never ending journey - learning inspires and keeps us all fresh. It is the lifeblood of any successful organization. As Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) a former British statesman and prime minister said, "The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes." That translates into learning everything you can, both on a personal and professional level.

Happy Trimming!

Melissa