Paragon Helps You Save On Grooming This Holiday Season!

December 2011

Holiday Appointments

The holidays are almost here! We want to make sure your pets look their best for family, friends, and guests. Our appointment books fill up fast for the weeks just before Christmas, so please call ahead to make sure you get your preferred dates!

616.667.7297

Your Puppy's First Groom

Wet Puppy

Have you just adopted a puppy? Congratulations! Your newest member of the family is sure to bring you years of delight and companionship. How do you reciprocate such a gift? By making sure that your puppy has the best healthcare possible - and that includes proper grooming. Regular grooming and scheduled visits to your vet are vital to the health and hygiene of your pet. Let's talk about how soon should you begin this process and what should you know before you get started.

Your first visits to the groomer are a new experience for your puppy. There are lots of new smells, sounds, and vibrations. Sometimes just getting them into the car can be a challenge. So how can you make this easier and more fun for your pet? Start by getting them used to the experience while they are still at home. Spend a little time every day touching their feet, ears, and faces. Pets get a lot of affection and attention to their backs, heads, and bellies. Helping them get used to attention to these other areas will make them more comfortable and confident once the grooming process begins.

Consider getting your puppy groomed after their third series of shots. Dogs are typically still in their puppy coats until they are 7 months old and will start growing into their adult coats up until their first year. Our Puppy Intro is designed to take things at their pace. We limit how much we ask of them, taking lots of play and cuddle breaks. She'll get two hypoallergenic baths, a thorough brush out, and dry. We'll trim her nails, check her glands, and clean her ears. If she's ready and willing to participate in the process, we can give her her first haircut. If she need more time to adjust to the process, we'll concentrate on trimming her feet and face and look forward to helping her more on her next visit.

Before Your Appointment:

Play with your pet for a few minutes to help him get rid of some of his excess energy. A long, vigorous walk will help relieve pent up excitement and nervousness.
Help your pet associate grooming with bonding time with you so he'll look forward to it. Going on a short walk before or after the groom will help cement that idea.
Practice brushing your pet. He'll love it and it's a great way to spend some quality time with your puppy.

Gourmutt Holiday Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Mix 2 cups all-purpose flour and 1 cup of whole wheat flour in a medium sized bowl. In a large bowl, mix 1 teaspoon molasses, 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter, and 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until smooth. Scoop into small balls and place on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Flatten each ball with the back side of the fork in both directions, creating a crisscross score design. You can also get out your cookie cutters and have some yuletide fun! Bake at 350 for approximately 30 minutes. Cool before giving the treat to your dog. Store these treats in a sealed container for up to a week.

http://pawluxury.blogspot.com/2009/12/seasons-eatings-droolworthy-homemade.html

Spruce Up Your Pet Between Grooms

Spotlight on Marc LaFleur, CMG

Marc LaFleur has over 23 years experience in the pet grooming field. He is a Certified Master Groomer, an award-winning contest stylist, and a mobile stylist. Currently he is the Dean of Students and Home Study Program Coach at The Paragon School of Pet Grooming. Marc is also very actively involved with Learn2GroomDogs.com as the videographer and production assistant. He is also an industry consultant. Marc's specialties include hand scissoring, speed, efficiency, mobile grooming, and left-handed grooming

Marc is married to Melissa Verplank and is active in all of her business pursuits. When Marc is not working, you can find him working with the horses he loves - Friesians. Marc and Melissa established Black Falcon Farms where they focus on promoting the enchanting Friesian horse. He is a great outdoorsman and an incredible outdoor cook, including Dutch oven cooking methods. Marc loves scuba diving, downhill skiing, boating, exploring the country, trail riding, and camping with horses.

Help Paragon Help Pets in Need This Holiday Season

If you or anyone you know is interested in adopting a pet or would like to help Crash's Landing, please call (616) 821-6065
or send an email to generalinfo@crashslanding.org
for more information.

About Us

The Paragon School of Pet Grooming is proud to have you as a valued client. Our full service grooming is provided by talented and caring men and women who are dedicating themselves to learning the art and science of pet styling.

Our students come from all walks of life, near and far. Some juggle work and family schedules in addition to their studies at Paragon. Every student is educated and tested both in class work and practical application of their grooming skills.