The Most Important Piece of Equipment – Your Mind! typography in white and pink
A Deeper Dive into Defining the Double Coat typography in white and pink
The Highs and Lows of Grooming Tables typography in white and pink
How to Maximize Your Worth With Deliberate Practice typography in white and pink
March 2024
“The Grooming Industry’s Trade Magazine!”

Contents | March 2024

28

by Louise Dunn

44

by Blake Hernandez

Editorial Staff
Editor/President
Todd Shelly
todd@barkleigh.com
Chief Operations Officer
Assistant Editor
Gwen Shelly
gwen@barkleigh.com
Managing Editor
Rebecca Shipman
rebecca@barkleigh.com
WEB MASTER
Luke Dumberth
luke@barkleigh.com
ART DIRECTOR
Laura Pennington
laura@barkleigh.com
SR. GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Brandi Aurelio
brandi@barkleigh.com
JR. GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Carlee Kubistek
carlee@barkleigh.com
DIGITAL MARKETING
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Cassidy Ryman
cassidy@barkleigh.com
Marketing COORDINATOR
Allison Smith
allison@barkleigh.com
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & CLIENT RELATIONS
James Severs
james@barkleigh.com
ACCOUNT MANAGER/EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Karin Grottola
karin@barkleigh.com
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Britany Smith
britany@barkleigh.com
Columnists
Kathy Hosler
Daryl Conner
Mary Oquendo
Jonathan David
Lynn Paolillo
Dr. Cliff Faver
Jennifer Bishop Jenkins
Blake Hernandez
Copyright March 2024. Groomer to Groomer is published monthly by Barkleigh Productions, Inc, 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. Postmaster: Send change of address to Groomer to Groomer c/o Barkleigh Productions, Inc., 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. Annual U.S. subscription rate $25. Outside U.S. $79. year, surface rates. Groomer to Groomer is free to current Barkleigh Productions, Inc. customers. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. Editorial offices: 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. (717) 691–3388 FAX: (717) 691–3381 Email: info@barkleigh.com
Derm Connection
The Most Important Piece of Equipment –
digital vector illustration of head with brain shaped flower sprouting
Your Mind!
by Dr. Cliff Faver

As groomers, it is essential to have the right equipment to function. We try to get the best quality for the best price, and then we have to do maintenance on it or replace it when it wears out. But have you ever sat down to determine which piece of equipment makes you the most money? Probably not, because with being a busy groomer, it is often hard to find the time to do that. So, to save some time, I will cut to the chase. The most important piece of equipment you have in the grooming salon is your mind.

Using your head
The unfortunate part of it is that we are often so busy working that we forget to utilize it. One thing I have found in working with groomers (especially coming from the veterinary field) is how creative you all are. You rarely find the creative names of salons or the cute hairstyles and colors you groomers have created in the veterinary world. We are pretty dull in comparison. You are artists and exude that in many different ways. But sometimes there is a disconnect when it comes to the business side of grooming. I think this occurs because of the focus on just getting dogs out the door. We forget to contemplate how we could do it better, learn more skills or get more creative in our marketing.

John Maxwell, a well-known business/motivational writer, says you should take time daily to be bored. At first, I had a hard time with the concept. But I found that if I take time to do nothing, I get my most creative thoughts. I found I could make more money sitting in my office being creative and strategizing than working hard in the exam rooms. Why is that? It is because I thought about ways to work smarter, not harder. If you are always working, you don’t have time to think about new or different ways of approaching problems.

You have to start somewhere
Typically, the best place to start is to think about the big picture. Do you have goals? How much do you want to make this year? What are you putting away for retirement? What is your exit strategy? How can you get and keep better employees?

From there, you start taking those big items and working them down into your day-to-day strategy. For example, I need to work with an accountant to help me figure out my prices. I need to talk to a broker so I know how to prepare for a sale (years in advance). I need to figure out what to do when my body no longer lets me groom a 140-lb. Great Pyrenees. Let’s organize a training program (or utilize some already available online) for the staff. Let’s work to fill our slow times of the year with specials. Let’s get more education and offer services that we don’t already offer. The sky is the limit. The secret is that you need to take time to brainstorm and think through all the possibilities.

You only fail when you fall to plan.
Meeting of the minds
If you have a piece of equipment breakdown, most of us have a friend who will loan us one of theirs or the company will give us a loaner. The flow of good ideas is no different. Have brainstorming sessions with your staff, your grooming friends or even with people in other businesses (vendors within the industry). Sharing of ideas helps everyone.

Sometimes we think we have to do this all on our own, but the reality is, some of the best ideas are those from others. You may take those ideas at face value or morph them into your own with a twist on the original idea. Some of my best pearls of business practices I picked up sitting around with a cold drink and talking with friends.

Putting ideas into practice
The most important part of this undertaking is putting the idea into action. Many of us have wonderful thoughts and ideas, but the hard part is taking them from the idea stage to the action stage. It would be easy if it were just up to us, but unfortunately, other people are almost always involved in the process. Things like raising your prices to meet your goals or adding new education for the staff will fall flat if we don’t get buy-in for the process. So, part of the planning must include how to get others involved.

Before you force people (clients or staff) to get involved, think about what would motivate you if you were in their position. Strong-arming or being a dictator may get you there, but if the people involved are unhappy about the process, this can turn a positive strategy into a very negative experience. And if it goes bad, often, as an individual, you are afraid to stick your neck out the next time. You only fail when you fail to plan. As a general rule, people don’t like change, so as a good leader in the business, you have to work on making these changes as painless as possible.

The very last step is to keep everyone accountable in the process of change. This step is critical if any change is going to occur long term. They say it takes 21 days to change a habit (I find it closer to three months), but the change will not survive without this step.

Your thoughts and creativity that occur in your mind make it your best piece of equipment; take time to use it, trust it and hone it. When you start using it, you will find life is easier, making you far more money than any other piece of equipment in your shop.

Dr. Cliff Faver graduated with a BS in Biology/BA in Chemistry before getting a Veterinary degree in 1987. He is the past owner of Animal Health Services in Cave Creek, Arizona and now the US distributor for Iv San Bernard products, teaches the ISB Pet Aesthetician Certification program, and speaks internationally on hair and skin. His passion is to merge groomers and veterinarians to aid in helping and healing pets. He is also a member of AVMA, AAHA, AZVMA, Board member with Burbank Kennel Club, and has served on Novartis Lead Committee, Hill’s International Global Veterinary Board, and a Veterinary Management Group.

Groomer’s Guide
A Deeper Dive into Defining the Double Coat typography in bright pink thin and bold letters

by Jennifer Bishop Jenkins

woman in white lab coat holding a large hair follicle diagram while smiling

T dropcaphere are an estimated 900 million dogs in the world and most are double coated. Approximately 80%1 live without a home or owners and are called free ranging.2 They are all short- or medium-length double coats, and a large number of pet dogs are also double coated. All their fellow canids in the wild, such as foxes, coyotes and wolves, have a medium-length double coat, which is called the “natural” or “normal” category of canine coats by veterinary dermatology texts.3

Had humans not spent millennia selectively changing dogs’ coats to serve other purposes, this would likely be the only coat type for dogs—but it is not. We have everything from Poodles to Bergamascos to Maltese to the American Hairless Terrier now.

hair icon

A Language Problem

So why is defining this basic term “double coat” even an issue for us? To precisely define what the double coat is and how it works should be important to our industry, given its universality. Yet, this most common of all dog coats illustrates a language problem we struggle with, because the term “double coat,” like some other key vocabulary words for us, is not always used by groomers to refer to the same thing.

Our pet grooming industry is not only largely unregulated, but certification through extensive hands-on testing under the direction of a master (mandatory in other trade industries), is entirely voluntary for us. Our industry has, as a result, not yet acquired the standardization of curriculum and practice that other trades have. Such standardization leads to the creation of jargon—a mutually agreed upon common vocabulary of specialized terms used to speak about technical specifics, like the words that doctors and lawyers use when they speak to each other.

Sadly, it is the dogs that sometimes pay the price for this lack of agreement on basic concepts in dog grooming. However, the more we all work to educate ourselves by attending trade shows and online events, by reading researched publications and by talking with each other about this, the more we help to build that common understanding of words we all use.

diagram labeling different parts of a hair
hair icon

Primary vs Secondary Hairs

The most common misunderstanding that I hear is that double coats apply to any coat type that has both primary and secondary hairs. These different hairs are also called topcoat, or guard hairs, and undercoat.

Mammals all have hairs of various kinds that are governed by genetics. Like our skin, hairs are made up of keratin proteins and are filament-like extensions of the skin composed of mostly dead cells. In mammals, all hairs and their follicles can have different shapes, pigments, lengths, sizes and textures.

Anatomically, primary hairs have three layers. The scaly, outer protective part of the hair is the cuticle. The strong, stretchy, inner core of the hair is the medulla. And in between those two lies the middle layer of the hair, the cortex, which contains, among other things, hydration, pigment and nutrients. Primary hairs have all three of those layers. They are always longer, taller, more substantive, more weather resistant and more pigmented than secondary hairs, as well as longer lasting, often for years.

Secondary hairs lack a medulla. They are not fully formed hairs. They are temperature-regulating fuzz—a form of insulation that increases during the colder, shorter days, and falls out quickly when the days grow longer and warm up. They change their entire thickness twice a year prior to the solstices. They are always fuzzy, come in and fall out very quickly, and are not weather resistant or protective of the skin.

On a true double coat, the primary and secondary hairs are on an entirely different schedule and agenda and do not require much human interference. The primary hairs have a slow-growing or anagen growth phase, and a long dormancy in the telogen or resting phase, often for years. They come in and are meant to stay in order to provide structure and protection of dogs’ skin. The secondary hairs go from anagen to catagen to telogen and out very rapidly, several times a year. Their job is to regulate temperature.

This is why fur-type dogs can’t be cut or shaved. Only de-shedding should be done to assist in removing the undercoat as it sheds out naturally. If you shave a double coat a few times in their lives, they will likely never grow back their primary hairs, leaving only the undercoat to grow back. Skin cancer, among other things, is a danger if the primary hairs are removed. Our job as professional groomers is to remove seasonally shedding undercoat and protect the topcoat for its long-term job of skin protection.

hair icon

A CLOSER LOOK

While it is understandable that some would feel the term “double coat” could apply to any dog’s coat that has both primary and secondary hairs, it is not a very helpful term for us to use simply because almost all dogs have primary and secondary hairs. So, if that were the definition of a double coat, we could not distinguish between the coats of a Labrador Retriever, a Shih Tzu, a Poodle and a Border Collie. Virtually every coat type except smooth coats like Boxers, Dobermans, and hairless breeds have both primary and secondary hairs. The double coat is more than just the presence of those two types of hairs.

Double-coated breeds have primary and secondary hairs, as most dog coats do, but what is unique to the double coat is the natural seasonal shedding cycle of a massive amount of undercoat. This is aligned to the seasons and triggered by the change in the length of light as winter and summer solstices approach.

Taxonomy table for dog

On wolves in the wild we can observe tufts of undercoat blowing out on their own in the spring, making way for a summer coat that allows airflow to the skin while still reflecting dangerous sunlight away. This natural double coat largely cares for itself and works well without professional grooming. Of course, if you are living with an Australian Shepherd, a Newfoundland or a Samoyed—all true double coats of different lengths—professional grooming helps keep your home much cleaner.

Wire-coated breeds like many terriers do not seasonally blow out their secondary hairs the same way. Their coats require some pulling to help their shedding cycles because of their thicker skin, deeper follicles and more complex wire-textured protective hairs. The secondary hairs of Poodles and Shih Tzus may appear on our combs as we pull through their coats, but they do not shed out seasonally like a true double-coated dog would. In fact, in most hair-type, undetermined-length coats, the secondary hairs are almost as long as the primary hairs.

hair icon

Defined in Biology

The best and most basic definition of anything biological is to look at that organism’s taxonomy, a term you may have heard in high school biology. Taxonomy is a scientific naming convention that systematically classifies all living organisms, from microbes to plants and animals.

Taxonomically, dogs are a multi-celled organism—clearly an animal, not a plant. Their phylum is Chordata, which means they are vertebrates. Their class is Mammalia, which means they have skin and hair, and are warm-blooded and nurse their young, like us Homo sapiens. The order level is where we split from them; they are carnivores and we are primates. Their family is Canidae, commonly referred to as canids. This includes foxes, coyotes, wolves, jackals, dingoes, dogs, etc. Their genus, species and variety is Canis lupus familiarus (meaning domesticated dog).

The most important way we groomers can define the double coat is to ground it in that scientific understanding of its biological makeup. The double coat is the natural coat of the entire Canidae family. The double coat is, by definition, what most canids have all over their bodies.

One reason why the dog is so diverse in appearance is because they have co-evolved with us for tens of thousands of years—the only two species on Earth known to co-evolve in this relational way. We humans live in diverse climates, hunting for diverse food sources, all over the planet. The most diverse single mammal species is the dog, developed both naturally and with some human help, over tens of thousands of years to be built for those specific places and those specific jobs.

While still very present, not just in the wild but in our homes, the many domesticated true double-coated breeds that are our beloved pets—from Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds to the longer double coats of Shelties and Newfoundlands—we groomers still have a job to do for them. We can help remove the shedding secondary hairs for their weary families while protecting the vital primary hairs to keep their natural coats functioning throughout the year. And, since we already know when these coats will need the most care, we can schedule accordingly and be ready for them when shedding season arrives!

References:

  1. Lord, K., Feinstein, M., Smith, B., Coppinger, R. (2013). Variation in reproductive traits of members of the genus Canis with special attention to the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). Behavioural Processes. 92: 131–142.
  2. Gompper, M. (2013). The dog–human–wildlife interface: assessing the scope of the problem. Free-Ranging Dogs and Wildlife Conservation. Oxford University Press. pp. 9–54.
  3. Miller, W., Griffin, C., Campbell, K. Muller and Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Edition. Saunders.
Mary’s Musings
Illustration of artist sitting in front of an easel that has a dollar sign painted on it, a dog sitting next to the easel

by Mary Oquendo

Pricing is one of the biggest challenges groomers face. How much should I charge? and What would you charge? are questions frequently posted in Facebook grooming groups. The fact that my time had value was a concept I had a hard time wrapping my head around. It countered how we, as an industry, were taught to think. It wasn’t until I nervously sat down with a client right after I opened my mobile grooming business in 2002 that the concept made sense.

The average shop price for a small dog was $35 at the time and took anywhere from an hour to an hour and 15 minutes to complete. When I went mobile, I knew I needed to charge more than the shops, so that meant a small dog was now anywhere between $50 and $65.

At the time, mobile grooming was unheard of, and several people called me and expressed sticker shock. But it was a client that set me straight. I was sitting in the kitchen of a client that followed me from the shop. Her price went up $30, and based on the average price in the area, I was almost double for most breeds.

I felt comfortable enough with this client to ask how she felt about my pricing. She looked at me and said that I just gave her back two hours of her day. That’s the time she spent driving back and forth to the shop where I worked. She said she used those two hours to work on a book she was writing. And with her writing time being limited, those two hours were worth the extra cost.

That was an eye-opener for me. My time has value. But what exactly was my value? How do I determine what my worth is? Well, it involves knowing your numbers…

Say I want to earn $100,000 for the year, and my business expenses are $50,000. (Understand that these are random numbers based on ease of math. For this to work, you have to know what your living expenses are and what it takes to run your business.) So, the total income I need is $150,000 to clear that $100,000. I plan to work 50 weeks of the year (don’t forget vacation time) for approximately 40 hours per week.

Illustration depicting a breakdown of an hourly wage needed to make 150,000 dollars a year
There are two ways I can capitalize on my $75/hour value: I either have clients pay me at least $75 an hour, or I save $75 an hour by investing in skills that improve my bottom line. See how I used the word “investing” rather than any loss of time. Taking business classes is a business expense and is factored as continuing education into my cost of doing business. When I started taking business classes and understood the finances behind how a business operates, I learned how to set an accurate hourly value.

Another option is hiring, whether it’s grooming employees (paying employees is a whole other article) or outside service providers such as cleaning companies to work at a lower hourly rate than your value.

Now I want to introduce another principle called “Deliberate Practice.” I first heard this term in the book Badass: Making Users Awesome by Kathy Sierra. Deliberate Practice is when you work on one particular skill until you master it and then move forward. The intent is to make the most of the value assigned to your time.

Business owners often overwhelm themselves with trying to learn several things at once because they feel they must wear all the hats. What happens is you might be adequate in those skills, but you don’t master them. How many of us are doing our financial books, designing and maintaining a website, creating social media marketing, grooming pets, and so forth?

Instead of being exceptional, you are “meh.” You’re spending too much time on a task while not being effective at what you’re doing. But what if you took the time to master each skill or hire out?

Statistics show that when Deliberate Practice is effective, it should take three sessions to master. If it is taking longer than three sessions, you need to re-evaluate. An example would be learning how to use QuickBooks and being responsible for the bookkeeping vs hiring a bookkeeper.

There are always jobs as a business owner that you are responsible for but dislike doing or don’t want to take the time to master. If that’s the case, don’t waste your time trying to master that skill. Hiring out is the only option.

When you know precisely what your time is worth, you can make better decisions that propel your business forward rather than just wasting time and not earning your true potential.

Groomer Story
Stephanie Staple: From Wall Street to Independent Dog Groomer title
Stephanie Staple standing on a small concrete wall on the side of the road, with a map outline in the background
Photo by Genetta N. Staple-Ward
by Jen Phillips April
Photos provided by Stephanie Staple
In 2009, Stephanie Staple started walking dogs as an excuse to get outside and add balance to her life. Little did she know, it would grow into a new career direction…

“After 20 years in Corporate America, deep down, I knew I needed a change,” shares Stephanie. “I used my degree in Business Management and Marketing on Wall Street. Though it was exciting and flattering, I wanted something different and to reinvent myself.”

To find that something different, Stephanie turned to her love of pets. “I started walking on the weekends for leisure, and the idea of walking dogs for a living was born,” she says. “I walked into a building in Brooklyn with 16 or 17 floors, thinking surely someone here had pets, and I offered dog walking services only on weekends since I still had my full-time job. My first call was for cat sitting.”

painting of a flower
painting of a flower
Stephanie wanted to convey a professional impression from the very beginning, so she arrived at her appointment prepared and dressed the part. “I dressed nicely and had a contract and a payment plan,” says Stephanie. “People don’t like to see paperwork, but I wanted to make sure we agreed verbally and on paper.”

Word got around, and she quickly added dog walks, then dog boarding, and finally dog grooming. “I thought if I can walk them, I can board them, and ultimately groom them,” Stephanie recalls. “It was a home away from home for my clients’ pets, and exactly what my clients were looking for. People trusted me, and still do. I boarded dogs for about five years, but the demand became too much.”

During this time, Stephanie started taking night classes at a (no-longer-operational) dog grooming school in Manhattan. She currently works as an independent contractor at Paws in Paradise in Park Slope, Brooklyn and also offers in-home pet care for senior dogs.

“I have a handful of senior pets and senior clients, too, and they prefer to see their baby get groomed at home,” Stephanie shares. “They say grooming shops are noisy. It makes it easy on the owner because they don’t have to travel to a grooming salon. Most of them have a table, and all I do is take my tools, including the [arm] to secure the dog. I’ll recommend specific shampoos for their baby’s skin if needed.”

before and after instances of dogs that have been groomed
before and after instances of a dog that has been groomed
before a dog was groomed
after a dog was groomed
Stephanie’s philosophy is, “Dog grooming entails not only the fancy, beautiful cut; it takes patience, determination, focus, prayers, and a special gift of love for dogs. It is considered to be a form of art that allows the dog to be your canvas. Having a steady hand along with a good grip on your tools, with soft movements and gentle motions, you will begin to see the art revealing right before your eyes.”

A Native of Panama Republic of Panama, Stephanie grew up visiting relatives across the United States. She attended Department of Defense schools in Panama, too, which means she’s grown up bi-lingual and bi-cultural. Both are an asset as a New York resident. Since she speaks fluent Spanish, she can work with many Spanish-speaking pet parents.

Stephanie Staple headshot surrounded by painted flowers

“Dog grooming entails not only the fancy, beautiful cut; it takes patience, determination, focus, prayers, and a special gift of love for dogs. It is considered to be a form of art that allows the dog to be your canvas.”
– Stephanie Staple

Stephanie enjoys mentoring prospective groomers and wants to incorporate more mentoring and teaching in the coming year. “I’d like to do seminars with a Q&A,” she says. “Teaching face-to-face gives amazing feedback, and I’m researching options in NY. I also like reading about the pet industry and would like to write for the industry.”

She says she offers two pieces of advice for new groomers:

“First, ask yourself, ‘Can I commit myself to dog grooming for the long term?’ Also, if you start like I did as a dog walker, keep in mind there are four seasons throughout the year. Are you willing to walk in the snow, rain, and extreme heat?

collage of Stephanie Staple grooming dogs, intertwined with painted flowers
before and after instances of a dog that has been groomed
“Second, don’t think about the money. The money will come. Focus on the grooming—the artistry. Make sure your work is done right. How would you treat your own dog? Every dog has a different personality. And learn how to handle those with physical disabilities.

“Sometimes you’ll feel like you aren’t getting anywhere,” she adds. “But don’t give up. Feelings and emotions are normal. They come with the territory. Stick with it.”

before and after instances of a dog that has been groomed

“There’s no reason to slow down. The reward is so valuable. Not just money-wise, but the trust.– Stephanie Staple

The future is bright for Stephanie in her new career path in dog grooming. She’s exploring teaching in 2024 and plans to continue to improve in her own grooming.

“There’s no reason to slow down. The reward is so valuable. Not just money-wise, but the trust. It puts a smile on your face every day,” she concludes.

Grooming Gab
The Highs and Lows of Grooming Tables title on vector illustration of grooming table
by Kathy Hosler
As a groomer of many years, I love what I do. But as we all know, pet grooming is a very physically demanding job, and by the end of a long day many of us are exhausted, often with an aching back, sore neck or painful wrists. What if you had something that would make your job easier and less taxing on your body?

It doesn’t matter whether you are mobile, a salon or house-call, or if you are a new groomer or one that has been grooming for decades, the majority of your day is spent standing at a grooming table. Hour after hour, day after day, everything you do is centered around the table. But are you using a grooming table that is right for you?

The Highs and Lows of Grooming Tables title on vector illustration of grooming table
by Kathy Hosler
As a groomer of many years, I love what I do. But as we all know, pet grooming is a very physically demanding job, and by the end of a long day many of us are exhausted, often with an aching back, sore neck or painful wrists. What if you had something that would make your job easier and less taxing on your body?

It doesn’t matter whether you are mobile, a salon or house-call, or if you are a new groomer or one that has been grooming for decades, the majority of your day is spent standing at a grooming table. Hour after hour, day after day, everything you do is centered around the table. But are you using a grooming table that is right for you?

Since groomers come in all heights and sizes, as do the dogs they work on, grooming tables that are adjustable to a range of varying heights offer tremendous benefits to the user. Whether you use hydraulic, electric or even portable tables, having one that is adjustable is a must.

Problems with your back, neck, shoulders, legs or feet can all be caused by working at the wrong height or in awkward positions. When you have to stand on your tip toes or are hunched over while working on a pet, your body pays the price.

Since groomers come in all heights and sizes, as do the dogs they work on, grooming tables that are adjustable to a range of varying heights offer tremendous benefits to the user. Whether you use hydraulic, electric or even portable tables, having one that is adjustable is a must.

Problems with your back, neck, shoulders, legs or feet can all be caused by working at the wrong height or in awkward positions. When you have to stand on your tip toes or are hunched over while working on a pet, your body pays the price.

If you already have an adjustable table, are you using it to its fullest potential? Be mindful of how often you contort yourself into an unnatural position instead of adjusting the table. Let your equipment do the hard work for you.

Another huge advantage of using an adjustable grooming table is that you can groom while seated. If you do not already sit while you are grooming, you should give it a try for at least part of the groom. It will give your feet and legs a break. Training yourself to groom while seated could be invaluable if you ever experience an injury such as a sprained ankle that prevents you from standing for long periods.

Also having anti-fatigue mats in your work area is important for your comfort and health, and to cushion any of your tools that may accidentally fall. (I think that most of us can attest to this!)

Tables that go low enough for dogs to safely step onto and off of make it easier for the dog and the groomer. This is especially important if you groom large, older dogs that need assistance. Once you lower the table and the pet is safely on, you can raise it to a convenient working height. Often just a small adjustment can make a huge difference in your comfort and productivity. Grooming tables need to be sturdy at every height and offer a safe and stable work surface.

In addition to the table itself, there is a multitude of additional equipment available to assist you and keep the animal safe. There are various types of slings, harnesses, grooming arms and other specialty equipment that will help you work more efficiently, safely and comfortably.

Using the right equipment will allow you to groom faster, more ergonomically and a lot more comfortably, and it can certainly help you feel less pain and fatigue at the end of the day.
Some tables have features like lighted tops to give you better visibility when scissoring or clipping. Others have tops that rotate which allow you to work on all sides of a pet without lifting and repositioning it. It can be a real bonus if you have a table that has wheels. This feature enables you to roll a big dog directly to the bathtub, saving you from removing the dog from the table then lifting it up into the tub.

Speaking of tubs, having one that is adjustable is also a big plus. Just like with your grooming table, it can be lowered for easy entry and exit of the dog, then it can be raised to a comfortable height for you to bathe the animal. Tubs that can raise up also allow the dirty water to drain faster.

Using the right equipment will allow you to groom faster, more ergonomically and a lot more comfortably, and it can certainly help you feel less pain and fatigue at the end of the day. Adjustable tables and tubs are indispensable pieces of equipment for today’s groomers and stylists, allowing you to enjoy the highs of your day and minimize the lows.

Accountability & Its Importance in Creating a Positive Team Culture typography

by Louise Dunn

by Louise Dunn

How do you define “accountability?” Is it making a commitment to achieving results and following through? Is it about discipline and getting the job done? Or is it taking the blame when something goes wrong?

While the personal definitions of it vary, most people know accountability by the ripple effects they see. A lack of accountability appears as delays in team performance, missed deadlines, unfinished work at the end of a shift, lack of punctuality, frustration and disengagement with the team.1 The effects become compounded as disengagement leads to low trust and low morale—even resulting in the departure of great employees. Eventually, the lack of accountability affects the financial performance of the business.

minimalist illustration of a woman with red hair sitting on a stool with a laptop in her lap
Spotlight on Accountability

Accountability cannot be delegated to specific team members, nor can it be forced on a person or team; they must take it upon themselves. Accountability often gets a bad rap—as if the mere mention conjures up anger between team members and negativity in the workplace. So, when you hear “accountability,” what is the feeling you experience in your gut? Do you feel motivated and engaged, or do you feel stressed and uncomfortable?

In addition, the term is often used as an excuse; “lack of accountability” is such an easy management group-speak phrase to cover any error, problem or failure to achieve a goal by the team. Before jumping to the conclusion that there is a lack of accountability on your team’s part, get them to agree on what accountability is and to understand that it is a positive word.

Illustration of a pink sheet of paper with a check list on it
Accountability must be about building solid working relationships and improving job performance. Understanding accountability in a more positive light means that team members can take ownership and work towards success.
Being held accountable or having a culture of accountability should not be about punishment or trying to catch someone doing wrong. Instead, it should be about each person holding themselves to a higher standard of job performance and welcoming feedback. Accountability must be about building solid working relationships and improving job performance. Understanding accountability in a more positive light means that team members can take ownership and work towards success.
minimalist illustration of figures standing around a blank profile and shaking hands
Spotlight on Accountability
To create an accountability culture, it is important to be clear. A business must achieve clarity in these five areas:2
  1. Clear expectations. State expectations and outcomes and discuss how to go about achieving those expectations. Do not simply say, “You need to do better talking to clients.” Detail what should be said and how to say it.
  2. Clear capabilities. Provide resources to develop the skills necessary to achieve what is expected of the person and task.
  3. Clear measurements. Discuss what success will look like, what numbers are expected to change and what milestones should be reached.
  4. Clear feedback. People on the team need to know where they stand. Ongoing, real-time feedback is necessary.
  5. Clear consequences. Being clear makes it much easier to know what the consequences will be, such as repeat training for performance improvement, rewarding a job well done or releasing the team member.
The first thing to put into practice—after acknowledging the importance of clarity—is communication in the form of regular conversations. This means not only communicating what is expected, but also communicating feedback (which many employees have negative feelings about). Regular, consistent communication solves many of the roadblocks to accountability.

The other thing to note is that not all feedback is bad. Reread about clear consequences; “rewarding a job well done.” Most managers dislike giving negative feedback, and if there was ever a formula for avoiding the unpleasant task, it is in being clear so that rewarding a job well done is more common than giving negative feedback. An accountability culture makes work more enjoyable for everyone.

A culture of accountability requires consistent action by the owners, leaders and managers to manage job performance. It does not mean strong-handed tactics, a “my way or the highway” mentality or micromanaging—these only serve to demoralize, demotivate and crush what little performance is given. So, if getting angry and “cracking the whip” to get everyone into “accountability shape” is not the correct answer, what is?

minimalist illustration of a female figure with red hair using a large magnifying glass to look at profiles on a large desktop screen
Spotlight on Accountability

Research has shown that managers are weak at holding people accountable.1 This may be due to the Iceberg of Ignorance Theory.3 This theory states that only 4% of problems are known to top managers, 9% to middle managers, and 74% to supervisors. Therefore, a manager may be unable to hold anyone accountable if they are unaware of problem. Unfortunately, ignorance is not bliss when problems grow to the size of icebergs.

Next, consider the management team. It may be a team of one (such as the owner, manager or head groomer) or a team of two or more. Regardless of the number, they may not have been trained in being “clear” and may not have the authority to deal with particular problems. Accountability becomes even more challenging when the management team lacks a clear understanding of the company’s strategic plans and goals.

The first step in having a culture of accountability must begin with strengthening the management team by giving them the resources and skills to change the culture. The management team should not be on an accountability “gotcha” mission. If the management team is always angry with people when they fall short, it is unproductive and kills team motivation and performance.2

To avoid this, the management team must be trained how to:

  • Give clear communications (clear expectations).
  • Teach people via learning styles (clear capabilities).
  • Understand the strategic plans of the business (clear measurements).
  • Provide ongoing, real-time feedback (clear feedback).
  • Be consistent (clear consequences).

Accountability starts at the top. Ensure that the management team is not guilty of “deadly sins” against accountability, such as avoiding monitoring, not giving feeding, fostering the blame game, failing to recognize success or avoiding holding people accountable. In essence, accountability is a two-way street whereby management is counting on the team to do what they said they would do—and the team wants to know that they can count on management to do what they said. The management team must have the tools to set up a culture of accountability and examine their own words and actions.

minimalist illustration of a  male figure sitting in a chair while holding a laptop, beside him floats a three item check list

Set for Success

In a time when it is challenging to attract and retain great team members, it helps to promote a culture of accountability. When it is part of the culture, the team knows what it means, why it is essential, how it looks in daily operations, when there is a failure to achieve it and what to do when there is a failure. The gossiping and finger-pointing will be replaced with clear directions on holding everyone accountable.

So, take some time to step away from feel-good gimmicks that attempt to provide a quick fix to a poor workplace environment and instead put some effort into creating a culture of accountability.

References

  1. Lipman, Victor. (2016, March 24). The Best Managers Always Hold People Accountable. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/victorlipman/2016/03/24/the-best-managers-always-hold-people-accountable/#1fdc5f9728c8
  2. Bregman, Peter. (2016, January 11). The Right Way to Hold People Accountable. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2016/01/the-right-way-to-hold-people-accountable
  3. The Iceberg of Ignorance. Values-Driven Culture. https://valuesdrivenculture.com/iceberg-of-ignorance/
Grooming Matters
Bringing Education to You! typography beside and image of pet groomers in a salon

Bringing
Education

by Daryl Conner
Photos by Liz Jackson

What if you seriously want to learn new grooming techniques and improve your skills but getting to a grooming expo or seminar is not in the cards? Have you ever considered bringing a grooming educator to you?

After graduating from grooming school eleven years ago and later opening her business, Spike Dog Grooming, in Biddeford, Maine, Liz Jackson became interested in learning more.

“My first continuing educational experience was when I attended Groom Expo in Hershey, PA,” Liz said. “It was awesome, for sure, but I really think my first hands-on class is what lit a fire for me. I drove for three hours with my dog, Spike, to take part in a class put on by Anne Francis. I remember her going over my dog and saying that he looked good, but he just needed a little more style. She did a quick pass with her shears and, my gosh! My boy had style!

“I smiled and nodded knowingly and thought in a quiet panic, ‘What did she just do? How did she do that?’” continued Liz. “I didn’t dare ask because I didn’t want her to think I was stupid. I ask questions now; you learn more quickly that way. And it turns out that most people won’t think you are stupid for not knowing the things they are being paid to teach you.”

pet groomers in a salon

To
You!

With the excellent experience of having a successful hands-on lesson with a grooming mentor, Liz searched for similar experiences in her area, but became disheartened when she couldn’t find any. So, she decided to try putting something together herself.

“This would be a great time to tell you an anecdote about how arranging to have someone come to my shop to teach was very difficult and of all the things that went wrong,” Liz quipped. “Honestly, though, it turned out not to be very hard at all, and everything went according to plan. I’ve hosted a Pet First Aid class, a dog trainer Q&A, Girl Scouts Pet Care badge event, and two hand-scissoring classes.”

So, who attends these events?

In addition to Liz’s two full-time staff members, she said, “There are quite a few groomers in the area. And I’ve had groomers come all the way from Vermont for a couple of the seminars we have hosted. The groomers who want to learn are willing to do a lot to get that education.”

low angle view of a whtie standard poodle standing a top a grooming table as a female groomer trims the hair on a hind leg
When asked what her favorite venture so far has been, she said, “We held a mini dog grooming competition. That one was really important to me. ‘The Shear Determination Grooming Competition’ was more than continued education. We had a group of local groomers who had been preparing for a competition. We arranged a hand-scissoring seminar to prepare our dogs a couple of months before the competition. But when signups went up that year, they filled in less than three minutes, and most of us did not get in. It was our first local competition after the COVID lockdown, and most of us had been preparing our dogs for over a year.
back view of a black medium sized poodle as two women groomer's work on its face
back view of a small to medium sized breed dog with white and black fur standing atop a grooming table as a female groomer trims its hair, in the background other dogs are also being groomed at separate grooming tables

“The absolute best thing about holding educational events is the people you meet. It’s the best way to find like-minded people with your values; people who you get to grow with and cheer on.”

– Liz Jackson

“The thought of all that hard work not paying off was demoralizing to me,” Liz continued. “I thought maybe if we put on a mock competition, then we could all bring our journey to its payoff. We got a Master Pet Stylist to judge for us. I didn’t compete because I didn’t want there to be a conflict of interest. Walking around and watching the judging up close taught me so much that I would never have anticipated.

“The absolute best thing about holding educational events is the people you meet,” she added. “I’m not a people person, but all my best friends came from dog educational events. It’s the best way to find like-minded people with your values; people who you get to grow with and cheer on, whether that means you are cheering from the competition audience or cheering from the other side of the salon. After an event, the feedback I get most is, ‘Will you let me know when the next one is?’ I think that is some very positive input towards my efforts.”

In addition, Liz has been able to see how learning new skills affects her business. “The most popular niche service my shop offers is creative color,” she said. “We do anything from tail tips (rainbow tails seem to be a favorite) to full-body color work. And after a year of studying, we are pleased to be offering hand-stripping now, too. Vallery, one of my fabulous employees, has found a passion for it, and it is so cool to see the healthy change in the hand-stripped dogs’ coats.”

With great enthusiasm, Liz shared, “I would absolutely recommend other groomers try bringing educational opportunities to their areas. Social media has made reaching out and connecting with people so easy. Organizing events is easy; advertising events is easy. The hardest part is coordinating schedules. If you are intimidated about asking a groomer to teach a class, remember that they are just a person. Yes, an incredibly talented, successful, industry-leading person, but still a person!”

So, the next time you lament that you can’t work out a way to attend a grooming event, consider emulating Liz Jackson, a groomer from a small town in rural Maine who is making meaningful changes in the lives of fellow industry members in her area.

To conclude, Liz said, “A couple of groomers have said that they see me as the kind of dog-girl who lifts up other dog-girls. That is the person I want to be, and I’m sure hosting educational events is part of that.”

Better Cat Grooming
The Unexpected Similarities of Grooming Cats and Driving in Snow typography in white beside a masked image of a cat displaying the view of a snowy road

by Lynn Paolillo

dropcap s grooming cats easy?”

This is a question I get asked quite frequently, especially about the differences between grooming dogs versus cats. And the answer isn’t a simple yes or no, because I’ve found that saying “grooming cats is easy” is like saying “driving in the snow is easy.” It struck me how grooming cats and navigating snowy roads require a surprisingly similar set of skills. Both demand precision, patience and a deep understanding of the environment at hand.

Preparation Is Key

Before embarking on a journey over snow-covered roads or beginning a grooming session with a new cat, preparation is essential. Just as you wouldn’t drive in the snow without proper tires and emergency supplies, you shouldn’t approach cat grooming without the right tools and mindset. Your salon space should be as ideal as possible with a calm and well-organized environment. Everything should be where you need it, when you need it—just like you wouldn’t forget any of your travel essentials at home before leaving for a trip.

Mental preparation is equally as crucial. Whether facing an icy road or a fussy feline, staying calm and focued is vital. It’s about anticipating potential challenges and being ready to tackle them head-on. When scheduling a cat’s groom, ask additional questions to learn about their potential temperament, any possible pain or previous injuries, and their current coat condition. This information can help to make sure you have the proper environment, you have an assistant if needed, and you have scheduled plenty of time if the cat seems particularly challenging or matted.

You need to read the signs—whether it’s a cat’s body language or a road’s slippery curve— and respond accordingly. This adaptability comes from experience and a deep understanding of the environment you’re working in.

cat playing with car

Understanding Your Environment

Every cat, like every winter road, is unique. Just as you must adjust your driving technique for varying snow conditions, you must also adapt your grooming approach to each cat’s temperament and grooming needs. In both scenarios, being observant is key. You need to read the signs—whether it’s a cat’s body language or a road’s slippery curve—and respond accordingly. This adaptability comes from experience and a deep understanding of the environment you’re working in.

Feline body language isn’t as simple as a flicking tail or the direction the ears are pointed. While those are factors, it’s important to look at the animal’s overall stance and movements to get a full picture of what it is trying to communicate. If the cat responds negatively or escalates during handling of specific areas of the body or when moved into a position, then you’ll need to move to something else or try a different approach. Quick escalations can be signs of pain or discomfort, and the best techniques should prevent aggravating cats, both physically and mentally.

Grooming different cat breeds requires an understanding of their specific needs—much like how driving in snow demands an awareness of how your vehicle reacts to different conditions. Both require a steady hand and a gentle approach. Whether it’s avoiding snags in a long-haired Maine Coon or navigating a tight turn on a snowy road, the key lies in your ability to handle situations delicately and thoughtfully.

Patience

Patience is perhaps the most critical skill in both these tasks. A grooming session can be longer, especially when dealing with a matted coat or a nervous cat. Similarly, a journey through a snowstorm tests you to remain calm and not rush. Both situations can be frustrating, but the satisfaction of a well-groomed cat or a safely reached destination makes it all worthwhile.

Working methodically and having a solid plan for the cat’s groom will help you with going slowly and carefully, but without taking so long that the cat becomes stressed and impatient due to the length of time. Clipper work especially takes a deft hand to make sure every clipper swipe counts while maintaining safety.

Here are a few tips for shaving difficult cats:
clipboard and clippers icon

Stay on top of cleaning and maintaining your equipment and tools. Dull and broken blades can lead to skin injuries, and clippers that aren’t serviced regularly can chew and snag hair, leading to frustration for both you and the cat.

clipboard and clippers icon

Move the skin from the “danger zones” like the armpits and tuck-up by relaxing the cat’s leg and gently rolling the skin to a flat area like the shoulder, side or center of the belly.

clipboard and clippers icon

Shave in small sections by stretching skin between your thumb and forefinger, and then shaving in between them. This will take longer, but you’ll have much more control and be able to hold the skin flat and firm while shaving more delicate areas or removing mats.

clipboard and clippers icon

Use your forearm and/or elbow to act as an extra hand to hold or stretch cats who curl up tightly so that you still have your hand free to hold the skin while shaving.

Grooming cats and driving in the snow might seem worlds apart, but they share a surprising number of similarities. Both require preparation, an understanding of the environment, precision in technique and a great deal of patience. Working with an experienced groomer can help you plan and practice staying calm under pressure and tackling challenges with grace.

So, whether you’re navigating icy roads or grooming in your cat salon, remember that success lies in your approach—steady, patient and always prepared for the unexpected.

Elevate Your Grooming
A Creative "Cow" Inspired by Lisa Frank

by Blake Hernandez

by Blake Hernandezzz

Before Picture of dog before grooming
Bright colors, tie-dye, and even Lisa Frank art are timeless styles that bring smiles to people’s faces, no matter their age. And the options are endless for creating a unique color palette or animal print all your own! This particular creative groom is for shorter haircuts, so it could easily be done on all sorts of coat types with white or light natural color. 
Figures 1 and 2 trimming the coat and rear

Figure 1 To start, take the coat in tight with a #2 guard comb to get rid of all the excess hair that you won’t be coloring so you aren’t wasting dye. However, you also want to leave just enough on the areas you’re going to keep white so you can trim away mistakes during the final cut.

Figure 2 You can take the rear in super tight with a #4 guard comb, as cows really aren’t very angulated.

Figures 3 and 4 showing leg fur being trimmed
Figure 3 The legs can be left a little longer so they appear stuffy, but not so long that it is hard to get crisp dye lines. 
Figure 4 Here is the finished rough trim before the dye is applied.
Figures 5 and 6 showing color application to various parts of the fur
Figure 5 To start the dye process, begin by applying a color and then surrounding that color with the next in the color wheel, keeping the shapes very abstract.
Figure 6 Continue that application process with all of the colors, otherwise you will end up with cruddy brown color where opposite colors meet.
Figures 7 and 8 showing what parts of the fur are left white or colored black
Figure 7 The areas I left white are the muzzle, ears, chest and two “horns” on his head secured with rubber bands. You’ll let this first round of dye process for 30 minutes and then rinse.
Figure 8 Next you’ll use a two-part black dye to give the dog hooves. 
Figures 9 and 10 showing the cow pattern come to life
Figure 9 Then using the black dye, you’ll make a cow pattern on the body. Place the spots randomly or anywhere your previous dye work is unsatisfactory.
Figure 10 Let the black dye process for 20 minutes and then rinse.
Figures 11 and 12 showing the cow tail and muzzle

Figure 11 Start from the beginning and even out your trim all over, going short on the body, leaving stuffy legs and creating a lion/cow tail.

Figure 12 To finish, create an Asian Fusion muzzle with a small curved scissor in order to set off that cute expression and go short on the ears. For the horns, I used hairspray and wrapped the hair around my pinky to give them the curved look.

finished groomed dog that resembles a colorful cow
Creative dyes aren’t for everyone. This groom took over twice as long as normal to get a cute finish, but I could charge four times as much and have less client stress in a day. For some people, it’s the perfect way to spice up their work schedule and create a colorful work of walking art.
Yes, Dear…
Bella typography

by Anjie Coates
Photo by Anjie Coates

  • Bella is a lovely mixed breed that I’ve groomed regularly her entire life. She was a sweet and somewhat shy pup, but blossomed into a lovely, happy dog. Bella’s Mom was telling me that she has become very sensitive about her feet, which I thought was odd, as Bella was never one to have any issues with her feet or her nail trim. However, they’d just moved to a new house where their lawn wasn’t in yet, and it was mud season in Massachusetts.
  • Scissors
    “Hey, Bella. You ready for spa day?” I ask.
  • Dog
    Bella: “I am! We do all the good massages?”
  • Scissors
    “Yes we will!” I assure her. “And as soon as your bath is done, we’ll take a peek at those feet and see what’s going on.”
  • Dog
    Bella: “OK! But my feet are fine.”
  • Scissors
    Nothing seemed amiss in the tub, but figured I could get a better look at her feet on the table.
  • Scissors
    “Ready for your finish?” I ask.
  • Dog
    Bella: “Yes! More rubs?”
  • Scissors
    “Yes, more rubs,” I reply.
  • Dog
    Bella makes a beeline for my grooming table and hops up, spins and sits with a grin.
  • Scissors
    “OK, let’s take a closer peek at those toes, shall we?” I say as I pick up each foot and examine every toe closely. But I find nothing, and Bella doesn’t seem to mind me handling her feet at all.
  • Scissors
    “Are your feet sore?” I ask.
  • Dog
    Bella: “Nope.”
  • Scissors
    “But your Mom says your feet are sensitive,” I say.
  • Dog
    Bella: “No, feet are fine.”
  • Scissors
    “Well, let’s do your nails then, OK?” I ask.
  • Dog
    Bella: “OK!”
  • Scissors
    I get her nails done and she doesn’t even move except to lean against me.
  • Scissors
    “OK, what’s going on then, babe? Why are your feet so sensitive at home but fine here?” I ask as I rub paw balm into her pads thinking maybe the snow has made them uncomfortable.
  • Dog
    Bella: “She does it wrong.”
  • Scissors
    “Who does what wrong?” I ask.
  • Dog
    Bella: “Mom. She does it wrong.” And offers me her back foot by sticking it out.
  • Scissors
    “Right. What exactly is wrong?” I ask still confused.
  • Dog
    Bella: “My feet. She does it wrong.” And she lifts her other back foot for me to rub the paw balm into.
  • Scissors
    I grin in realization, and ask, “So Mom is going in the wrong order?”
  • Dog
    Bella: “Yeah! She’s drying both my front feet, one after the other!”
  • Scissors
    “So she doesn’t do it in the order we do your feet every time?” I ask as I suppress a laugh.
  • Dog
    Bella: “Right. I tried telling her. She didn’t understand.”
  • Scissors
    “Well, I will explain it to her. She doesn’t know my order—our order—it’s not her fault,” I reassure her.
  • Dog
    Bella: “OK, good. Because there’s only one way.”
  • Scissors
    Calculating how many hundreds of times I’d done Bella’s nails over all these years I nod, realizing that for her, there was only one way she’d done this for her entire life. And now with all the mud in the new yard, she needs her feet wiped all the time.
  • Scissors
    “How about I write down the order you prefer for your Mom so that she’ll never forget?” I ask.
  • Dog
    Bella: “You promise?”
  • Scissors
    And I reply,
    Yes, dear As it turns out, that was indeed the entire issue. Once Bella’s mom changed the order, all foot-wiping problems disappeared!
Show Schedule
Barkleigh Show Schedule with colorful illustration of map of the united states
Groom Expo West
Coming 2025
Pasadena, California
www.groomexpowest.com
Fun in the Sun
10/10/2024 – 10/13/2024
Orlando, Florida
fits.barkleigh.com
All American Grooming Show
8/15/2024 – 8/18/2024
Schaumburg, Illinois
www.aagroom.com
New England Grooming Show
9/26/2024 – 9/29/2024
Springfield, Massachusetts
www.newenglandgrooms.com
Heart of America Grooming Show
5/31/2024 – 6/2/2024
Kansas City, Missouri
www.heartgrooming.com
Intergroom
4/4/2024 – 4/7/2024
Secaucus, New Jersey
www.intergroom.com
Pet Boarding & Daycare West Expo
5/20/2024 – 5/23/2024
Las Vegas, Nevada
www.petboardingexpowest.com
PetQuest
6/20/2024 – 6/23/2024
Wilmington, Ohio
www.pqgroom.com
Groom Expo
9/5/2024 – 9/8/2024
Hershey, Pennsylvania
www.groomexpo.com
Pet Boarding & Daycare Expo
11/4/2024 – 11/7/2024
Hershey, Pennsylvania
www.petboardingexpo.com
Groom Texas
7/19/2024 – 7/21/2024
Houston, Texas
www.txgroom.com
Pet Pro Cruise – Alaska
8/23/2024 – 8/30/2024
Seattle, Washington
www.barkleigh.com/shows
Northwest Grooming Show
4/25/2024 – 4/28/2024
Tacoma, Washington
www.nwgroom.com
World Groom Online
See Online Schedule for More Details
www.worldgroom.com
For More Information
New Products
Woman using lime green colored TiCK MiTT product on a German Shepherd dog somewhere outside at a park area
TICK MITT
TiCK MiTT’s scientifically engineered microfiber effortlessly removes ticks from clothing, skin, and pet’s fur with ease. Its gentle, non-abrasive design ensures comfortable use on children, pets, and delicate materials. Chemical-free and always ready for action, TiCK MiTT offers instant tick removal anywhere, anytime. This user-friendly, grab-and-go solution is a low-tech, gentle, and reusable way to stay tick-free. TiCK MiTT is your first defense against ticks and can reduce chances of contracting Lyme disease and other tick-carrying diseases. Machine washable and each mitt comes with a mess dryer bag. Available in two colors; yellow and gray, and in packs of 10. tickmitt.com
Woman smiling as she is glancing downward at a dog on the Waggz Roll-Bright LED Grooming Table product
WAGGZ ROLL-BRIGHT LED GROOMING TABLE
Waggz’s most upgraded grooming table has been dubbed the “Rolls-Royce of grooming tables!” Now you can illuminate every detail with elite, upgraded LEDs that are guaranteed to shine for 20,000 hours. Use touch-control buttons to switch between LED color tones and adjust brightness from 10% to 100%. The patented lift mechanism eliminates open tracks and rolling wheels, so hair will never get trapped. Two sets of waterproof pedals control a high-powered push rod with anti-vibration stabilizers for added safety. Upgrade your workspace with the same high-end materials and patented mechanisms that are trusted by hospitals. www.waggz.com

Call
(717) 691-3388 ext 224 to place a Classified.

Rates: 25 words or less $50.00

each additional word
$2.00 each

Classified ads must be prepaid.

Call for issue deadlines.

Agency discounts do not apply.

Wisdom & Grace bible verse (Romans 8:38-39) sentence with a red flamed heat floating in the air and brown cross symbol floating above the heart with nine ray beam sun shaped lights in the distance
BioOx Advertisement
Groomer to Groomer masthead
Thanks for reading our March 2024 issue!