Continued Education
Level 3 Award - Introduction to Dog Grooming
February 2024
My first taste at professional training after 5 years of hobby grooming, I learnt so many essential skills and health and safety knowledge. The course covered;
Bathing
Blow-drying
Preparatory trimming - paw pads, sanitary area.
Infection control
Basic first aid
Hand-stripping
Clipper work
Scissor skills
Safe handling of a dog
PATS 2024 - Seminars
Puppy Class with Sally Hart
This seminar taught me so much about correct handling. I learnt about safe de-sensitization techniques, how to introduce the sounds and sensations of the salon in a slow and non threatening way, the benefits of consistent grooming i young pups and all the risks that come with wriggly pups and how to manage them. the knowledge Sally passed over is invaluable and i use these tips on a daily basis not just on puppy’s but on every new client.
Continental Poodle with Christine Anderton
Christine is a world renowned international award winner and Groom Team England member, she also comes from a long line of poodle breeders. Although it was a grooming class I learnt a considerable amount about breeding lines, ethical standards, and what to look for when buying a pedigree pup. I learnt about balance and proportions in your grooming no matter the breed, and she taught me scissoring techniques I love to use at every opportunity.
Crufts 2025 - Seminars
Bichon with Georgian Ashton-FullerI learnt about the breed standard Bichon trim and also how to add an Asian fusion flare to the groom, scissor skills and how she prices her grooms in her salon in wales.
Kerry Blue with Cheryl Howard
Cheryl shared lots of tips and tricks to use in grooming competitions, what judges are looking for and the best breeds to use, i had the opportunity to ask questions about where the competition world was heading in terms of double coats and she encouraged me to look into competing as well.
Wire Fox Terrier with Luis Martin Del Rio
All the way from Spain Luis had a vault of knowledge on hand stripping and it was amazing to watch him work, the techniques he used were way more advanced and precise than i had been taught previously so i was excited to get home and practice using them on clients as soon as i could! My hand stripping skills have greatly improved since his super informative seminar.
Peanut and Pickle Seminar Sundays
Manchester:
Asian Fusion Poodle with Emma Darlington
My main take away from this amazing class what my grooming lines, simply moving a clipper line back a couple of inches and using that space to blend and smooth the transition has made so much difference in my everyday grooms, just because it isn’t a breed standard poodle, doesn’t mean you cant take inspiration from their shaping, filling out the neck helps balance out the dogs shape and adds takes our grooms from simple pet shave to work of art!
Wheaten Terrier with Cassandra Stephens
Cassandra really has a skill in taking any dog and making them something else, a prime example of balance and structure knowledge can make any dog look a million dollars. She has managed to groom her cockapoo into a wheaten terrier so well even the pros have to double take.
Dandy Dinmont Terrier with Julia Fox
Learning about this rare breed was so enlightening, it also helped when we go to do pass the puppy around the hall! I learnt about hand stripping and the breed standard trim, about where to scissor and where not, and about her personal breeding experience and how she shows her dogs in the ring.
Edinburgh:
Asian Fusion West Highland Terrier with Emma Darlington
Dolly’s ears are to die for, and so is she! i had the best time watching Emma groom her dog Dolly into the most gorgeous trim. I found the Asian style muzzle a lot easier to understand with this seminar and finally feel I’m getting the hang of this style as groomer since this seminar. cuddles with dolly afterwards where greatly enjoyed and i really appreciated Emma taking the time to answer my questions.
Asian Fusion Standard Poodle with Paige Tulloch
Whilst Paige was prepping her dog we got the opportunity to grill Elliot, Peanut and Pickles founder, anbout all things shampoos conditioners and sprays, he has wealth of knowledge on all their products and their compositions the benefits of all their ingredients and how they work with the dogs skin and coat. I really love that they are so involved and informed in the product development and that he was once a groomer himself.
Paige was so good at answering everyone’s questions about training and how to advance as a groomer, in such a short space of time she has gone from student ot salon owner to award winning and Groom Team Wales Member. Its incredible to see her groom and aspire to be at her level one day.
CRUFTS 2026
Grooming Seminars
I managed to watch quite a few demonstrations and talk to a lot of groomers this year so I wont go into too much details with them all, i watched; Lindsay Dickens Bichon on the Artero stand, demonstrating her stunning scissor work. Tina Jenkins on the Pewter stand demonstrating Asian Fusion Poodle. Rebecca Moores demonstrating a Standard Poodle Groom at Plush Puppy. Talking Lisa Hart at Melanie Newman. and got some invaluble advice about scissors from Verity Hardcastle at the Coat stand.
Owner Knowledge
Crufts is such a unique experience as you get the opportunity to learn from owners who groom their own dogs, not just as pets but at show level, they understand their breeds specific grooming needs and shape better than anyone, and they understand the purpose of every aspect of their grooming and breeding. I really benefited from speaking to the parson Terrier and Border Terrier Stands, speaking about hand-stripping, how to save a shaved coat, and the intricate science behind their coat type.
Unique Breeds
I was super lucky to bump into the Bergamosco Owners walking their dogs around the halls, I’m so grateful that they stopped to talk to me and answered all my questions about cording, how they’re formed how to maintain them and what owners are looking for from their groomers. I saw Julia on the Dandy Dinmont stand and watched her prep her puppy for their time in the ring. I also spent a lot of time at the Russian Black Terrier Booth as they are one of the breeds Im really looking into owning in the near future.