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Learn2GroomDogs.com
110 Chicago Drive
Jenison, Michigan 49428
616.667.7297
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teresad@paragonpetschool.com
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joellea@paragonpetschool.com
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On The Road Again!
Our 5000-mile road trip was just perfect! Marc and I have wanted to combine work and play for so long, and we did just that. It was a great balance of work and quality time spent with our pet family, all while enjoying trail rides in beautiful areas of the country.
We began our journey with Intergroom. Copies of "Notes from the Grooming Table" and "Theory of Five" as well as all of our Learn2GroomDogs.com gear filled the trailer. The tradeshow was good and our booth location was ringside - my favorite place! Marc and I had a blast judging the Magical Makeover Class on Monday. We were able to spend time shooting informal lessons for L2GD.com with vendors that were there before the opening bell. You'll see those lessons unfold in the next few weeks on Learn2GroomDogs.com.
Once home, we had less than 24 hours to turn the rig from a cargo trailer back into a horse trailer. We traded out dogs ('the boys' got to go to Intergroom while 'the girls' got to go on the next leg of the journey) and loaded up two of our Friesian horses. We were off to Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina - a true combination of work and pleasure.
Our next destination was our favorite riding spot, East Fork Stables in Jamestown, Tennessee. We've been going to EFS for over 10 years, but never in the spring. It was exciting to see how different these spots looked between seasons. We spent four days riding before we moved on to South Carolina.
Once there, we began shooting with Danelle German at her exclusive school, The National Cat Groomers Institute of America, Inc. Most of you know that I love kitties and have seven of my own, but even I'm a novice when it comes to grooming them on a professional level. Being involved with the class and shooting excerpts of her lectures and grooming demonstrations was an enlightening experience. If you have ever thought about grooming cats professionally and would like some extremely valuable instruction, I highly recommend this school!
Our next stop was 45 minutes away. We met with Debbie Beckwith, a colleague I've known for at least 25 years. I can still remember inviting her to Michigan before I even had a grooming school. Back then, I had a fleet of mobile groomers and recognized the value of a solid education. I hosted a clinic in my pole barn where Debbie and Rhonda Gran were my speakers. (Even now I think of Debbie whenever I do an English Cocker.) This time we were able to be in her hometown. We got our horses situated and spent the afternoon filming grooming demonstrations with an Australian Terrier and included footage about putting Afghans in pet clips.
From there we moved to North Carolina to ride in the DuPont State Forest. On Saturday, a group of us saddled up to spend the day exploring this delightful place. The waterfalls were spectacular! There just wasn't enough time to feature a 'saddle talk' discussion, so we spent the entire day exploring the beautiful trails. By the time we ended up back at the staging area, the horses needed to be cared for and we all needed to head home. The area was so gorgeous that we know we'll be back to ride with Danelle, Debbie, and a few other friends that we met along the way. From there it was a drive straight home, where we quickly switched the rig over once again.
The next adventure had been on our 'bucket list' for years - the Kentucky Derby. When our long-time friends, Dina and Chuck Perry of Wag 'n Tails asked us to join them there was no way we were saying "No"! We arrived in Louisville to the fanfare of the Derby. All of us wore special outfits for the day, featuring festive hats! I've traveled all over the world with Dina through the years. This unique experience was just as memorable as exploring Europe or getting lost together in Argentina (okay - we weren't that lost, but we did accidentally cross the border into Chile!) Unfortunately, none of us held the winning ticket, but Chuck did place a bet for someone who won over $400 on a $20 bet! Lucky guy!
I encourage all of our Learn2Groom members to get out there and make friends with your fellow professionals. Today is a different age: most of my friendships once came from personal networking with fellow professionals. Today everyone seems to be involved with social media and technology in order to stay connected. Find out which method works for you and get started! Learn about and meet your fellow pet professionals. You never know what hard work and dedication will bring you in 20 years. I hope that you will have your own personal 5000-mile journey that was as refreshing as the last three weeks have been for Marc and me!
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 Welcome to Learn2GroomDogs.com, the first streaming video library for the professional pet groomer and stylist! Select from over 100 training videos - all available with just a few simple clicks of your mouse! L2GD.com (and cats) is a unique way to get an edge over your competition. It's a well-known fact: the more you know, the more you earn, and the more successful you can be. L2GD.com can give you that edge. All of our Training Partners are at the top of the field. For the first time ever, you don't have to travel to shows or clinics to learn the secrets of the masters - we bring it right to you - computer side! Learn2GroomDogs.com (and cats) is for you if: - You are a solo stylist and want to see how your work compares to top level stylists
- You work in a small shop and want to know how your work compares to top level stylists
- You struggle to complete 6-8 or even 12 grooms a day with ease
- You are looking for an easy way to visually enhance your current grooming skills
- You struggle with efficient tool use
- Handling difficult pets drives you crazy
Here are a few of the items you'll learn in the videos that are going up for full view today. - Grooming the Pet Miniature Schnauzer (with Misty Fowler)
- Grooming the Pet Cairn Terrier, including a bonus feature on handling a dog new to the hand stripping process (with Lisa Leady)
- Grooming a Pet Springer Spaniel (with Suesan Watson) DOUBLE FEATURE!
- Learn how and why shampoos and conditioners have improved over the years and how you can choose the best products (presented by Best Shot)
- Home Remedies for the Home or Shop Groomer (presented by Lisa Leady and Suesan Watson)
We have some amazing footage to share with you. See what is on our editing table in these fabulous Sneak Peeks for our latest release. - Grooming the English Setter in a Show Style Trim. Featuring two lessons plus a Q&A session from the student audience. (Misty Fowler)
- Grooming the Smooth Fox Terrier. (Lisa Leady)
- Styling a Lhasa/Poo to bring out its best features. (Suesan Watson)
Membership pricing as low as $33.60 Membership Information Please take a moment to check out our "Membership" tab and be sure to share this link with all of your friends and associates! Happy Trimming, Melissa Verplank |
Great Videos Going Up for Full View
Grooming the Pet Miniature Schnauzer
by Misty Fowler, CMG
 The Miniature Schnauzer occupies the #12 slot in popularity with the American Kennel Club. This translates to lots of Schnauzers in our grooming salons! The proper way to groom this breed is by hand stripping, however, in the pet world, clipper trimming is the typical way most pet Miniature Schnauzers are groomed. Misty Fowler leads you through this grooming demonstration, showing you how to set the pattern, what blades to select, where to blend, how to scissor the legs and set in the head piece, including shaping the eyebrows. Even though this is a pet dog, there is no reason not to show off the proper breed profile for this beloved family pet.
In this video you will learn:
- How to set the pattern on the head
- How to set the undercarriage line
- How to scissor a soft coat without leaving marks
- How to set the pattern line in the chest area without leaving holes in the cowlick area
- How to set the lines on the rear legs from multiple angles
Approximate running time: 55 minutes
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Grooming the Cairn Terrier
by Lisa Leady, CMG
 Watch Lisa work with a recently adopted young dog and a more mature Cairn Terrier. Lisa provides some great handling tips for pets that may resist the grooming process and explains how long it takes an animal to learn new, acceptable behavior. She describes breed profile trimming and techniques that will help retain the color and harsh texture of the coat. Littered through the entire video are fabulous grooming tips, product suggestions, and wisdom that comes with three generations of experience.
In this video you will learn:
- How to identify what coat to remove
- The correct shape of the tail
- How to accentuate structure by opening up the shoulder and elbow area
- Which blade to use on the ears
- The best overall look
Approximate running time: 40 minutes
Learn how to gain the respect of a Terrier - Terrier personality to Terrier personality!
Approximate running time: 12 minutes
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Grooming the Pet Springer Spaniel
Suesan Watson, CMG
 Learn which tools give a great natural look - even if you use clippers. You'll also learn how to find conformation faults and ways to disguise them. Suesan also shares lots of breed standard information and ways you can apply grooming techniques to make the most of the breed in the least amount of time.
In this video you will learn:
- How to avoid cutting the extra skin flaps on the inside of ear leathers
- The best time to address the conformation of any pet
- Correct pattern-setting on the rear legs
- How to trim the 'butterfly' area
- How to determine where to set the highest point of the tuck-up so it's accurate every time
Approximate running time: 63 minutes total
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What Goes into Shampoos and Conditioners?
by Dave Campanella
 During this mini lesson at Intergroom 2011, we learn what to look for in high quality products. Find out which ingredients are used, how they impact the coat and skin, what to watch out for, and why it's almost impossible to have a 100% organic product. As a bonus, Dave (from Best Shot Pet Products) talks about the development of 'spa products' and how they can have a large influence in your grooming department.
In this video you will learn:
- Advances in pet cleansing products over the years
- Why it's almost impossible to have 100% organic shampoos and conditioners
- The best way to buy shampoos and conditioners
- How to minimize skin and coat issues
- How to cut your grooming time in half
Approximate running time: 30 minutes
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Home Remedies for the Home or Shop Groomer
by Suesan Watson, CMG
and
Lisa Leady, CMG
 Both of these award-winning stylists have been grooming dogs since they could walk. Their mother and grandmother were professional pet breeders and groomers, and spent most of their extra time at dog shows. They learned at an early age that products right from their own cabinets made the grooming process faster and easier. Some of these home remedies were replaced with commercial products over the years, but there are times when you just have to work with what is available at home. Don't miss this fun and informative lesson. The sisterly banter between these two will keep you chuckling while you learn.
In this video you will learn:
- What to use to soothe a hot spot
- How to make an instant deodorizer
- 80 uses for a single product
- Multiple ways to get a nail to stop bleeding
- A de-skunking recipe that really works
Approximate running time: 40 minutes
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5 New Sneak Peeks!
Grooming the English Setter in a Show Style Trim
Misty Fowler, CMG
 Misty Fowler leads you through the process of show style trimming an older English Setter. These techniques are suitable for everyday pet clients, contest grooming, and certification testing. Learn how to use a wide variety of tools to hand strip the coat for a natural look that accentuates the structure of the dog. We hope you enjoy the Q&A session from the live audience!
Enjoy all three sessions!
Lesson 1
Lesson 2 
Q&A |
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Who Says a Smooth Fox Terrier
Doesn't Need Grooming?!
Lisa Leady, CMG
 Lisa Leady has shown this breed in the AKC conformation show ring for years. You'll love watching the amazing amount of coat that is removed and the subtle outline changes she was able to make. The techniques she uses can be easily applied to many other breeds with a similar coat, such as Beagles, Parson Russell Terriers, Chihuahuas, and Toy Fox Terriers.
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Using Style to Bring Out the Charm in a Lhasa
Suesan Watson, CMG
One of the most common mixed breeds in the grooming salon is the Lhasa/Poodle mix. Sue gives a detailed demonstration using snap-on combs and hand scissoring techniques on one side, then grooms the opposite side at a much more rapid pace. This technique allows you see the grooming process twice! You won't want to miss Sue's secrets for taking years off the pet with a few snips of the shears.
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