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AKC

Friday Programs

AKC Advanced S.A.F.E. Program

Corina Stammworthy

The American Kennel Club recognizes that grooming is important to the overall health, comfort and well-being of pets. Setting the standard in grooming safety to ensure these needs are met for all pets in salon, The AKC is proud to offer the Safety in Salons Certification Program to groomers and salons.

As reputable and quality pet care professionals, groomers should consider the safety and welfare of the pets entrusted to their care. The Safety in Salon course will review best practices focusing on pet care, health, and safety. Topics covered include accident avoidance, disease awareness, and sanitation.

This course builds off the AKC Safety in the Salon curriculum and it is required as a prerequisite before taking this class. This follow up course will cover more advanced topics in sanitation, emergency preparation, and salon best practices.

Creative Grooming: No Experience Necessary

Angela Kumpe & Adriane Pope

Think creative is too messy? Too complicated? Too time consuming? You aren’t artistic? Clients just won’t pay for it? Angela Kumpe and Adriane Pope will blow you away by showing you that creative can be done with no mess, no complication, no time, and with absolutely no artistic talent. The best part is your clients WILL pay for it!

Hour 1) Creative – My client’s just won’t do it!

One of the most common comments we get from groomers is, “I really want to offer creative services but my clients just won’t let me do it.” It is all about MARKETING! In this fun-filled class, you’ll learn how to get your clients interested in creative services and even PAY for them. Creative is unique and different, and the marketing for it is also different than your regular grooming services. We will also cover pricing for all types of creative services and accessories in this class.

Hour 2) What’s New? Creative Products and Accessories

The world of creative styling is evolving rapidly. With all the exposure on social media and television, more and more clients are asking for special touches. There are always new products and accessories to explore, all of which are so user-friendly that your receptionist can do them. Not comfortable using color? No problem! Angela and Adriane will show you several ways to be creative without using color, and will share all the new creative products, accessories, and tools. Learn how to use these tools to amaze your clients and increase your income.

Hour 3) Simple Color Ideas and Options

In this hour, Angela and Adriane will show you all types of easy color options and ideas for your clients. They will share where to find products, how long your clients can expect them to last, and how to apply them. Not sure where to start? These creative legends will share dozens of easy inspirations to get you started.

Hour 4) Yes! It is that EASY!

Seriously, no experience needed! This hour will play out a day in a busy salon, from check-in to check-out. Angela and Adriane will ask for your help on this one. They will select random volunteers to play the part of clients, groomers, and maybe even pets. Guaranteed to be entertaining as well as educational. Literally dozens of scenarios and creative applications will be completed to show you how to promote, market, and apply creative styling into your salon.

Advanced Hair and Skin Certificate Course

Dr. Cliff Faver

This is the advanced course for those that have already attended the Hair and Skin 101 course. In this course, we will take the concepts learned in the first course to a deeper level of understanding. We will cover more of the science, talk about different techniques and misunderstood info on products, as well as address how to approach skin issues in a logical manner for successful outcomes.

Bichon in a Nontraditional Style

Olga Zabelinskaya

Bichons are one of the most stunning breeds, and Olga has made her mark all over the world with her award-winning Bichon grooms. Olga is also known for all her "Modern Styles" grooming seminars and magazines. In this seminar she takes one of her favorite breeds and grooms them to be cute and cuddly by accentuating their beautiful features. Olga will share her knowledge of balancing breed profiles while giving them their own unique personality through their trim.

The JRG Body Blueprint

Jess Rona

Being a skilled groomer isn’t based on how blended a haircut is, or if the haircut is even all over. Groomers need to have a developed eye to see the shapes of the haircut, and the technical know-how to balance every dog. But that can be overwhelming, so Jess developed an easy-to-follow, step-by-step blueprint that takes the big picture and cuts it down into small concepts. This pet trim course will help you develop your eye so you can make every dog balanced, intentional, and adorable.

Terrific Terriers: The Airedale

Chris Pawlosky

Airedale owners are looking for groomers who understand and can create the ideal breed image. In this seminar, Chris will demonstrate some shortcuts to create this image for a practical pet trim that still reflects the breed standard. Every stylist will benefit from these timesaving techniques that are an essential part of making every grooming shop efficient with large breeds.

Super Styling Heads

Sue Zecco & Jay Scruggs

First impressions are everything in the art of grooming. The first thing your client should see when the dog is groomed is a great expression. In this informative seminar, Sue and Jay will take you through the grooming steps of different head styles. You will learn breed-specific techniques as well as different head style options. This seminar is for those groomers who want to fine tune their techniques in order to wow their clients immediately upon seeing their dog.

The Invisible Grooming

Victor Rosado

Join Victor in this one-of-a-kind training seminar that features the art of invisible grooming. Done properly, this can bring in big revenue to your grooming practice. This is a must-see seminar that will help you to understand the use of some specific tools to achieve a more natural look, the way it is required in many breeds. Invisible grooming will help you to set a profile with seamless transitions.

Let’s Accessorize It

Alyssa Kasiba

Do you want to add creative touches to your salon menu but don’t know where to start? Alyssa Kasiba of ABC’s Pooch Perfect will show you how to get creative with accessories! Dipping your toes into the world of creative does not have to be scary. Alyssa will push your fears aside and show you ways to put a creative touch on every groom. Accessories are a simple way to add revenue to your salon, and with proper marketing, clients will request your creative touch.

Perfecting Your Grooming, One Leg at a Time

Ashley Pacini

Legs are one of the most difficult parts to achieve on a dog and have the potential to negatively impact your overall groom. In this hour-long demonstration, Ashley will share how, through refined clipper and scissor work, you can achieve the perfect column leg on any breed with any coat type.

Matter of Habit

Erin Flynn

Good habits are the basis for a lot of great things. Have you ever wondered how habits and expectations can impact your day-to-day work, including the dogs on your table? In this session, Erin will go over using techniques that make the grooming process smoother, reactions more predictable, and sets an overall calmer experience for both you and the dog. Your pups will be feeling the spa experience in no time with these handling and management techniques!

Marketing Yourself Through Photos

Anna Stowell

Want to learn how to build a portfolio of your work through photos? Let Anna show you how to brand yourself, track progress, and market yourself to potential employers or employees! You can target your ideal clientele by showcasing your work. The “Doodle Queen” herself has done all this to build up her 42k plus followers! She is excited to also share her best tips and tricks for angles, lighting, cameras, backgrounds, and more!

The Life of a Professional Groomer

Joey Villani

Getting up early, going home late, working on scheduled days off, and everything else in between—all of this and still struggling to make ends meet? Doesn’t sound like an ideal career, does it? But there’s no reason why that sacrifice should not pay off and offer a happy, successful life. Listen to an expert as he guides you through your day to make it a happy, productive, and profitable venture.

Success in Your Grooming Business

Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins

While there are many ways to define and experience success, the key for anyone who owns a grooming business or wishes to start one is to have a plan based on values that you want your business to reflect and goals you wish to achieve. Learn how to avail yourself of the many wonderful free resources that will assist any potential grooming business owner. In this class filled with detailed steps, learn how to navigate local, state and national regulations and guidelines, write a mission statement, set goals, write policies and manuals, and implement practices that will set you on a path to success. While the pandemic has dramatically changed the grooming business landscape, there has never been a better time to start or be in a grooming business.

JRG Business Magic

Jess Rona

The success of a business is a direct reflection of its leader. This course will help you learn to embody the version of yourself that generates wealth, mindfulness, and joy in your business. You will learn Jess’s concepts and practices that will help you cultivate a mindset so you can build a thriving, healthy grooming business. Jess will give you the tools and resources to create an abundance mindset- and success-centered routines and strategies to attract and keep ideal clients, and create a community of raving fans. She will also provide tips for social media creation and maintenance for busy business owners.

Creating Feline-Friendly Grooming Environments

Mary Oquendo

Cat grooming doesn't have to be tough! When you intelligently design your workspace to accommodate cats rather than expecting them to comply with a dog friendly environment, cat grooming becomes much easier. In this seminar, Mary will cover everything you need to know to create a feline-friendly grooming environment.

Meow, Wow! With Dana: Extracting a Cat

Dana Chavez-Rey

In this one-hour course, Master Groomer Dana Chavez-Rey, global educator for Andis, explains when it's best for first introductions, where to source cats to practice on, reading body language, and beginning a five-point inspection.

Feline Behavior and Handling

Mary Oquendo

As we know, cats are not dogs; they have different behavioral cues as well as need different handling. In this seminar, Mary teach you how to read feline behavior and how to safely handle cats in your care.

Meow, Wow! with Dana: Feline Grooming Success

Dana Chavez-Rey

In this one-hour class, Dana offers her secrets to being a successful cat groomer and what to have on hand to make grooming less stressful for you and the cat. Do you have the right attitude? Why are you grooming this cat? What will set me apart from the rest?

Friday Evening

Taking Care of You, the Groomer

Judy Hudson

Judy will share what she has learned over her 30+ year career that has enabled her to continue to groom 10-12 dogs a day, pain free. Topics will include exercises she does to stay strong in this physically demanding job, inflammatory foods you should steer clear of, and things you should do for your peace of mind.

Bomb A** Bichons!

Macie Pisa

Learn how to turn those “little white crusty dogs” into puffy perfection with Macie Pisa, winner of ABC’s Pooch Perfect. In this one-hour demo, Macie will teach you how to give your Bichon clients the perfect butt lift, creating bootylicious curves. You’ll also leave this seminar with the skills to create the biggest cotton candy head you have ever seen!

Ready to Start Your Own Business?

Mary Oquendo

In this seminar, Mary will give you an understanding of your legal and governmental responsibilities as a new business owner so that you can make informed decisions to ensure the success of your venture. Mary will also discuss what professionals are available to help you, resources that are available to you, different business structures to choose from, and most importantly, how to put together a business plan.

Barkleigh Pet Professional First Aid & CPR Certificate Course

Kelsey Ann Sexton

As a pet care professional, you want to be equipped with the skills to handle medical emergencies that arise while a pet is in your care. Whether a pet becomes ill, injured, or needs help in a disaster, this course will teach you how to respond.
In this two hour course, you will learn how to stock a first aid kit, perform CPR, respond to breathing and heart emergencies (including choking), and disaster procedures, with some of these exercises being demonstrated on a live dog. This unique course is customized for pet care professionals and you will learn how to respond to emergencies specific to your industry. Upon completion of this course, you will receive a frameable certificate stating that you are certified in Pet Professional First Aid & CPR.

Hand-Stripping The Schnauzer: Standard Vs Mini

Ashley Pacini

In this 2 hour course, Ashley will guide you through the process of setting the correct pattern on a Standard Schnauzer. She will include how to achieve the correct profile, differentiating an underline from a skirt and more. She will discuss and demonstrate the basics of hand- stripping and scissoring techniques, as well as how the pattern differs in Miniature and Giant Schnauzers.