I was recently chastised by NAPCG members because one of our members groomed Kelly Clarkson’s dogs at her salon in Pittsburgh. My response to this exciting news was, “Who is Kelly Clarkson?” I was immediately hit with, “You know, the first winner of American Idol!” Well, as someone who has never watched a single episode of American Idol, this was of no help to me. After further explanation from our members, I understood ‘who’ Kelly Clarkson was, but I still wouldn’t know her if she walked into my salon. When I told them that I simply do not have time to watch American Idol, they informed me that I could tape it and play it back with Tivo. What?! I must remember to investigate this sorcery.

While I was away on my last trip, I was chatting with my liaison and confidant, Justine Cosley. Justine made a reference to a show called Futurama…another show I have never watched….and laughed hysterically. I had to inform her that I have never seen that show….so it just wasn’t quite as funny to me.

Because I do travel quite a bit, I also stay in hotels quite often. This allows me to experience something I do not have at home…cable television. It just so happened that while I was on my way home, I got to watch a couple of episodes of Futurama. I must admit it was entertaining…in a demented kind of way….but I don’t think I am quite ready to succumb to the magic of television just yet.

 I also caught a few episodes of Swamp People and Hoarders…both of which disturbed me greatly. Swamp People….really?! A show dedicated to human beings who purposely torture and kill one of the most fascinating creatures that reside in the southern United States? And Hoarders….as if we all don’t have enough problems in our lives that we need to watch a television show dedicated to the misery and illnesses of others. Nope….no television for me…and after seeing these two shows, my decision to not have cable television has been confirmed as the right thing for me.

Okay…I confessed…I do not watch television. Heck, I don’t even own a cell phone. How do I keep up with what is going on in our world? Well, some of you younger people may not realize it, but there is this thing I do with my hands, eyes, and brain…it’s called ‘reading’. There are publications out there called ‘newspapers’….yes, they still publish those…and no, they are not just for shredding and using in the kitty litterbox.

In a world where shows like Swamp People and Hoarders are watched as ‘entertainment’, I think I’ll just stick with my newspapers and novels. Same with cell phones….I know they allow the convenience of communication anywhere in the world at any given time. But there are some times when I simply do not wish to be found.

I am asked to do a lot of lectures at numerous grooming shows both nationally and internationally. I am also asked to hold workshops all over the country. I even have a list of groomers requesting private consultations. I do my best to accommodate as I love helping my peers. But I also love learning from them. Yep, that’s right…I love learning from them. For one thing, they help me to understand the needs and niches that need to be filled within our industry, and that is very important to me as a speaker.

No one, myself included, knows everything. So it is just important for me to learn as well as teach and this past weekend was no exception.

I had the privilege of spending some time with Melissa Shelton, DVM. Melissa is a holistic veterinarian who incorporates the use of essential oils for maintaining and healing pets. I learned that essential oils are not deadly to cats as I have always been told. The key lies in your educational knowledge of these oils and their sources as well as their processing. (If you are interested in this information, please check out Melissa’s book, Essential Oils for Natural Pet Care).

I also learned from a wonderful attendee (thank you Marney!) how to make bows that have the look of elegant patent leather….from duct tape.

I learned from Snyder Manufacturing about the sauna dryer (thanks for all the info Ralph!)….I think this is an investment I will be making soon for my own salon.

I meet groomers who have been in business for decades and don’t believe there is anything new to learn. I have also met groomers who believe that because they ‘teach’ something within the industry, they don’t need to attend lectures or workshops. No one is above education and education is paramount to our industry. Knowledge is not something one acquires and then just stops. The most successful salon owners know that the grooming industry is ever evolving and education is a never ending process. While I love speaking, I am always on the lookout for what I can learn too

When – July 2, 2012

Contact number – 919-304-2077

Time – 9:00 – 5:00

Cost – 100.00

As the pet industry continues to grow, owners are no longer looking for a ‘grooming shop’, they are seeking spa services in upscale salons where their furry family members can be pampered. Grooming is no longer as simple as cutting hair. Skin and coat management and specialty services are rapidly being sought by pet owners.

Would you like to operate and/or own a high end salon? How about a clientele that respects you as a professional in your field? Interested in services that will increase your bottom line? Tired of cheap paying clients, no shows, and disrespect? Would you like to be booked months in advance with clients who pay top dollar? Then this is the workshop for you!

NAPCG president Amy ‘Bullet’ Brown is owner of the prestigious A.B. Grooming Private Salon, which has been featured in publications such as Groomer to Groomer magazine. Her salon is booked a year in advance with a waiting list of clients trying to get in! Bullet will share her business expertise and show you how to take your business from a ‘grooming shop’ to an exclusive salon or spa.

Topics covered include your salon appearance, spa services, managing clientele, marketing techniques, and much more. You can be the best groomer in world, but if you can’t run a successful business, it means nothing!

Bullet’s ‘From Shop to Spa’ workshops are highly acclaimed as a must attend event for anyone wanting to reach a high end clientele and increase revenue!

REGISTER BELOW

Contact Number – 919-304-2077

When – June 30 – July 1, 2012

Time – 9:00 – 5:00

Cost – 200.00 for both days and 130.00 for the first day only

Day 1

Day 1 will be a day filled with the most in-depth information available in the industry concerning creative grooming. NAPCG president, Bullet Brown will prepare you for creative coloring with The Science of Creative Grooming. The first thing any professional groomer needs to know is what products are safe to use on pets.

Topics will include:

• Canine/Feline skin and coat anatomy
• How coloring products interact with canine/feline coats
• How to classify temporary and semi-permanent coloring products
• How products interact with differing coat types
• How to choose the most appropriate products for individual clients
• Why bleach and oxidizing dyes should never be used on pets
• How to prevent coloring mistakes
• Marketing creative services to your clientele
• Pricing creative services

Day 2

Day 2 will be reserved for hands on demonstrations by NAPCG president Bullet Brown. Let Bullet show you how to get the best results for your creative services. Demonstrations will include the use of semi permanent dye, temporary coloring products, accessories, air brushing, and more.

Certification exams will also be available for NAPCG members. (Please contact us no later than June 20th if you plan to certify)

Registration deadline is June 20th

All attendees will receive a sample bag as well as a complimentary copy of CGQ magazine.

NAPCG members receive a 10% discount. Non-members will receive a free one year membership with the NAPCG.

Limited products will be available for purchase.

For questions or more information, please contact us at contact@thenapcg.com or renee@cameospetspa.com

REGISTER BELOW

When asked if coloring dogs is safe, her response was that she uses vegan dyes that are non-toxic. Really?! Since when is bleach vegan and non-toxic? What this proved to me is that this groomer does know that the products she uses are dangerous…otherwise she wouldn’t have felt the need to leave out that little tidbit of information. Then again, maybe she simply had no answers…no education.

If this groomer were properly educated, she would have been able to defend her stance as a creative groomer by sharing her education with the audience and viewers. She could have explained the scientific difference between human and canine skin. She could have explained how safe products work and interact with the coat. However, thanks to her lack of education, creative grooming has once again been thrown into the spotlight as abusive and harmful.

Groomers like this who seek attention through the spotlight of talk shows have no idea how damaging they are to the creative grooming industry. They become so wrapped up in attention for themselves that they lose sight of the fact that creative grooming should be an educated part of the grooming industry….not a freak show for talk television.

As creative grooming continues to expand as a professional part of the industry, it is becoming even more important for pet owners to know how to find a groomer who is educated. Would you allow someone who knows nothing about coloring products and has no education to color your hair? Then why in the world would you allow the same thing to happen to your pet??

Coloring products contain chemicals…and that’s a fact. They are not “vegetable based dyes”. There are some products on the market whose color pigments are derived from vegetables. However, even these pigments have been chemically processed and are no longer molecularly “vegetables”. The first thing a creative groomer should know prior to coloring any pet is how to determine what chemicals are safe, as well as how they interact with canine and feline skin and coats. But, many groomers are simply interested in the end results…not what is in the best interest of the animals. These are the very groomers who damage the industry for everyone.

In contrast to this ‘talk show spectacle’, an experienced creative groomer also recently appeared on Animal Planet. Not only did she actually show the process involved with creative grooming, but she educated the host and viewers as to what products are safe to use, what products are not safe, how to choose a pet with the right temperament, as well as stressed the fact that creative grooming should be performed by an educated professional…just like any other part of the grooming process.

No matter what the topic….creative grooming, cat grooming, breed profile dog grooming….education is essential in our industry. But creative grooming in particular must go hand in hand with education that extends beyond “how to” and eliminates the dangers that can be posed to pets. After all, shouldn’t safety be the top priority of any professional groomer?

I love them all. I really do. Even the old guy with 3 teeth who tries to gum us to death every 6 weeks….and the Dachshund who hates his nails trimmed…and the yorkieshnoodlemaltidoodle whose owner paid big money for that neurotic little mixed breed. I accept them all for who they are even with all their quirks and issues.

One of the reasons I left the veterinary industry was the continuous abuse and neglect that veterinarians are often witness too. I had severe burn out and just couldn’t take it anymore. By moving into the grooming industry, I still got to do what I love…work with dogs. Yet, I wouldn’t have to see the awful neglect anymore, right? Wrong.

My salon is very exclusive and upscale. My clientele consists of owners who love and dote on their furry family members. So why did I have to fire a client today?

Well Chester, a miniature toy poodle, has been coming to me for years. Chester is a grouchy old man who always tries to bite. But, we always manage to get him groomed without incident…and I just accept Chester for who he is.

About a year ago, Chester had a small growth come up on his cheek, about the size of a pea. I pointed this out to the owner who assured me she would have it checked out by her veterinarian. Chester came in for a few more of his 6 week appointments and I noticed the lump was growing….rapidly. Within a few months, the diameter of the lump was about the size of a nickel. I once again mentioned it to his mom. She explained that she had given Chester to her daughter and as the daughter was now the owner she should therefore be the one to take him to the vet. She promised to speak with her daughter and get Chester seen by the veterinarian. Now, this went on for several months. The lump continued to grow, Chester was beginning to be painful with it, and I was getting nothing but empty promises and excuses of not being able to afford a visit to the vet’s office.

Chester came in this past Monday. The lump is now larger than a golf ball. It is extremely painful to him when it is touched. He also keeps a chronic ear infection now because the lump is so heavy that it pulls his ear canal closed.

When his ‘grandmother’ arrived to pick him up, I informed her that I would no longer groom Chester….at least not until the lump is removed. I explained to her that his grooming sessions have become painful for him. Her ‘neglectful abuse’ has forced me to make a decision. I have decided that I will no longer participate in his neglectful abuse, a term we often use in my salon for those owners who abuse their pets simply by neglecting them. I remained calm until she hit me with this little tidbit of information….Chester’s owner, her daughter….had recently gotten 2 more dogs. Now, she can’t afford to get medical treatment for the dog she already has, but she got two more?! This insanity was more than I could bear. I love ole Chester and to know his fate will be suffering until he finally dies took a toll on me.

While I always maintain a professional composure with my clients, that does not mean I can’t tell them the truth…and I did. I pointed out to her the common sense that was so obvious to me….she can’t take care of the pet she already has, so she gets two more?? The grandmother left in tears as I explained to her how much Chester had to suffer, how this is an animal who cannot seek help for himself and relies on his owner to care for him…and that he could not come back until he received the proper medical treatment he deserves.

I will miss Chester. My hope is that he will get the medical attention he needs and come back to me one day. If he doesn’t, I will be okay with that too. I can rest my head at night knowing that I took a stand for Chester, recognized his suffering, and refused to be a part of it.

When – July 14-15, 2012

Time – 9:00 – 5:00

Cost – 250.00 for both days and 150.00 for the first day only

Day 1

Day 1 will be a day filled with the most in-depth information available in the industry concerning creative grooming. NAPCG president, Bullet Brown will prepare you for creative coloring with The Science of Creative Grooming. The first thing any professional groomer needs to know is what products are safe to use on pets.

Topics will include:

• Canine/Feline skin and coat anatomy
• How coloring products interact with canine/feline coats
• How to classify temporary and semi-permanent coloring products
• How products interact with differing coat types
• How to choose the most appropriate products for individual clients
• Why bleach and oxidizing dyes should never be used on pets
• How to prevent coloring mistakes
• Marketing creative services to your clientele
• Pricing creative services

Day 2

Day 2 will be reserved for hands on demonstrations by NAPCG president Bullet Brown. Let Bullet show you how to get the best results for your creative services. Demonstrations will include the use of semi permanent dye, temporary coloring products, accessories, and more. Bullet will also be available to assist those groomers interested in creative competitions.

Certification exams will also be available for NAPCG members. (Please contact us no later than June 15th if you plan to certify)

All attendees will receive a sample bag as well as a complimentary copy of CGQ magazine.

NAPCG members receive a 10% discount. Non-members will receive a free one year membership with the NAPCG.

Limited products will be available for purchase.

For questions or more information, please contact us at contact@thenapcg.com or Meghan@doggiestylz.net

REGISTER BELOW

As I arrived at the show, I immediately noticed changes. For one thing, there were more speakers. My fellow Americans Dr. Michael Fleck, Sue Zecco, and Lisa Drake were also on the roster to speak. Last year, my friend and colleague Danelle German and I were the only American speakers.

There were also more vendors with numerous products available for the professional groomer. I especially enjoyed spending time with our British friends from Fit Fur Life who manufacture the highest quality animal treadmills available on the market (Cesar Milan uses these treadmills!)

I was also impressed with the fact that the number of creative competitors doubled from 2011. In only one year’s time the creative entries were much more skilled and I have no doubt this trend will continue.

The personal highlight for me this past weekend was that the NAPCG had the honor of presenting the first European Silas Award to Zoo Russia. Asti Group, the producers of Zoo Russia, is highly concerned with keeping the pets safe and protecting the integrity of professional groomers, as should all creative competition venues.

To not only see these changes, but to actually be a part of the growing industry in Russia makes me very proud.

The city of Moscow is huge…and to know that these advancing groomers have a venue to showcase their skills while protecting the safety of the animals is fantastic and shows us where the future of creative grooming in Russia is headed…in the right direction.

Some people think I am crazy when they hear that I am traveling to Moscow for a grooming show. Crazy?! What’s so crazy about helping our fellow groomers in another country? Is it crazy to aid in the advancement of our profession? Is it crazy to strive for higher education and professionalism in our chosen field? Not to me…and besides…I love Moscow, a city rich in culture and history, diverse and fascinating. Besides, where else can a groomer get caviar for breakfast? We are honored to be a part of this show and will continue to help and support in any way we can. After all, our organization aims to educate and support…even abroad.

Before the NAPCG, creative was creative…and that was all. But the NAPCG categorized different aspects of ‘creative’ grooming and established the term ‘salon creative’, a form of creative grooming performed for salon clientele rather than the extreme techniques such as my recent work of art with the Zombie Poodle.  The NAPCG and its members are very proud to be the organization that has finally set standards for various forms of creative grooming.

In the fall of 2011, the NAPCG established the first creative grooming certification program with both a written and practical exam. Our own Justine Cosley touts the first ever Master Certified Professional Creative Groomer title. I’m sure other organizations will follow suit, but again we are proud to be the entity that set the standards.

Before the NAPCG, safety regarding creative grooming was never spoken of. It was actually avoided like the plague. However, once the NAPCG published our book, The Science of Creative Grooming, groomers began speaking and lecturing on safety too. With so many groomers using products they are not educated about, it’s great to be the organization who has finally provided our industry with true education rather than the old “if it’s safe for people, it’s safe for pets” philosophy. To be the organization who set the standards for safety involving creative grooming and have others follow suit is a thrill to us all.

Even our members are trend setters! Justine Cosley set a long lasting trend with her 2009 entry in the abstract runway which included leopard spots. Now there are groomers creating dvd’s and giving lectures on…you guessed it…leopard spots. It makes me very proud that NAPCG members are the cream of the crop who set the trends for others.

NAPCG member Danelle German was the first groomer to enter a competition ring with both a dog and cat as her entry…and she took the title of Best Creative Groomer over groomers with many years of experience. Since then, creative cat grooming has become one of the newest trends within the industry.

Recently, there has even been a creative competitor who dedicated her entry to the NAPCG! To know that our organization has had such an impact as to have a competitor devote her time and energy to acknowledge the NAPCG is an honor for us all.

Creative grooming is quickly becoming a professional part of our industry and thanks to the NAPCG members and their high standards of professionalism, creative grooming will finally get the respect it deserves…thank you NAPCG members!

My husband who rarely travels with me decided to tag along for this trip. He knows that Murphy’s Law always applies when I travel, so apparently he was willing to take the risk. He has heard numerous stories about my travels, so I’m not sure if he just wanted to toss caution to the wind, or if he just had to see for himself. Either way…it’s too late now. He decided to see for himself what exactly happens when I travel.

We made it through Atlanta with a pretty uneventful ride comfortable in my husband’s truck. Then good ole Murphy decided to make his appearance. The truck died. I don’t mean it sputtered, backfired, jerked around and died…it just died…as we’re doing 70 down the interstate. My husband coasts over to the shoulder and uses a few choice words as he gets out on the interstate late at night in the freezing cold to see if he can figure out what happened. He stares under the hood…pokes around at a few things…then decides it’s easier to swear and curse inside the truck.

No big deal. We have AAA and they’ll take care of us. It doesn’t take too long for the wrecker to arrive…then we enter the Twilight Zone. It’s a good thing I am fluent in redneck, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to understand the driver’s “accent” between his spits of chewing tobacco. He tells us that he’s taking the truck to a good diesel mechanic and hands us the mechanics business card. My first clue that we were in the Twilight Zone was that business card. The name under the phone number on the card says “Bo”. No last name…just Bo. Alrighty then.

Now, AAA informed the wrecker service that there were TWO people to pick up. The cab of the wrecker holds THREE people…yet the driver decides he must bring his wife. Now, I don’t know if the two of them are joined at the hip or if they don’t do math in this remote part of Georgia, but there is no way my husband and I can fit into the cab when two seats are already occupied. Poor David…he got to ride on the back of the wrecker…which the drivers informs him is illegal and advises him to “not move around back there so the cops won’t see him.”

We get to Bo’s shop….a partial junk yard behind a trailer park where every tenant was a cousin, mother, brother in law or otherwise related. My husband and I decide to put on the redneck lingo and communicate with the natives.  I half expect a banjo to strike up at any moment as I cautiously step from the wrecker cab. There are 4 mechanics and a tow truck driver hovering under the hood of the truck….one of whom is actually wearing a leather eye patch…took everything I had not to go into pirate mode and say, “Argh Matey!”, but I manage to refrain. As I look at the ‘you’ll get my gun when you pry it from my cold dead fingers’ bumper sticker on Deano’s tow truck, I realize that we city folk are probably about to be used for target practice. It’s pretty scary to think that we, country folks from Alabama, are actually the ‘city folks’ in this episode of the Twilight Zone.

Thanks to our fluent skills in redneck, we manage to not offend and are therefore spared from being used as targets. My husband mentions that we should probably get a hotel room and call it a night. When Bo volunteers to get us to the hotel, we don’t dare refuse. But first, we have to walk up to the trailer park so Deano’s wife can take us in “mom’s” car. The hotel isn’t very far, but Deano’s wife hasn’t driven a stick shift in quite some time, so she has a bit of trouble keeping the car running. What should have been a 10 minute ride turned in to half an hour.

By this point, we don’t even think anything strange when she takes us down a closed, barricaded road to get to the hotel. Never mind the orange and white barrels or the big sign that say ROAD CLOSED…you just drive around them anyway. We get a room, get inside, and order some take out so we don’t have to leave the room again. I know we are in a hotel room and not an airplane but neither of us was willing to open the curtains and look outside for fear that William Shatner’s monster would be staring back at us.

My brain is always in work mode. So as we are making our way home I am typing up my most recent ‘experience’. My husband on the other hand is repeating the words, “I will never travel with you again” .

Next month, my agenda calls for travel to France, Russia, and Italy…should be interesting….