How Can You Get the Perfect Round Head Every Time? We'll Show You How!

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Recommended Reading

If you like
"Notes from the Grooming Table,"
you'll love
"Theory of 5" and "Notes Pocket Pal!"

World Grooming Championships
by Teresa Dreese, CMG
GroomTeam USA Executive Board of Directors

Teresa Dreese, Marco Koot, Scott Fraser, Jennifer Lee, Isabella Bergen, Chuck Simon, Lindsey Dicken, Pina Pinkusevich, Olga Zabelinskaya, Michell Evans

Five of our top pet stylists earned the right to represent the U.S. at the World Grooming Championships. On September 16, GroomTeam USA team members, spouses, and friends arrived in Brussels, Belgium for Groomania - an annual grooming show run by Kitty and Darren Dekeersgieter of Transgroom. They hosted the 2011 World Team Competition in conjunction with their annual grooming show.

It was a beautiful fall day with the sun peeking through the clouds as a bus took everyone to the hotel. After check-in, some of the team members were excited to see the facility and headed straight to the show site. A couple of the team members were also scheduled to give demos on Friday.

On Friday night, Wahl Corporation was extremely generous. They invited GroomTeam USA, plus their traveling companions, to a wonderful dinner. They also included seven other international teams including Italy, Canada, France, and Australia. It was a delightful way to interact with other international teams at such a memorable event.

Saturday morning was the start of the competition. Groomania started off with Individual Classes for the Handstrip and Pure Breds. Michell Evans, who brought an Australian Terrier from America to groom in the Handstrip Class, took second. Jennifer Lee groomed a rented Lakeland Terrier that did not enjoy being hand stripped, but she did a great job. Lindsey Dicken groomed a Soft Coated Wheaten and took second. Olga Zabelinskaya groomed a Bichon and took third in that class. Saturday afternoon was the Spaniel and Poodle Individual Classes. Irina Pinusevich groomed an American Cocker Spaniel and took third place in her class. Best in Show went to Eve Raison from Italy with a beautiful Cocker Spaniel. Saturday evening Groomania hosted a gala dinner party with a live band for all of the attendees.

Sunday started with a Beginner's Class and two Model Dog Competitions, one for adults and one for children. What a great idea to get the kids involved!

Meanwhile, GroomTeam USA was preparing their dogs for the team event. Three new teams - Russia, Poland, and Ukraine - increased the World Team Competition to a total of fifteen teams. Each team had four members for the Scissored Dogs, Poodles, Handstrip, and Spaniel classes. Sixty of the world's best groomers had up to 2.5 hours to snip, clip, strip, and style their dogs.

GroomTeam USA had quite a large cheering section. Not only did they have family and friends joining them but three of the U.S.'s show mangers attended. It was an honor to have Jerry and Sally Schinberg, Ann Stafford, and Christine DiFillipo to help cheer on the U.S. team.

The afternoon seemed to stretch on and on. (The U.S. dogs looked gorgeous!) Judging seemed to take forever. The anticipation was incredible! Finally, the floor was cleared and six rows of tables were set up. When the top six teams were announced, GroomTeam USA was in the top six! It was a nail biter as they started announcing the placements. Canada took sixth place, England fifth, and forth went to Italy. All three teams received beautiful trophies. The top three teams received trophies and prizes. The bronze went to Russia. Finally, the United States captured the Silver as France earned the Gold medal in the World Team event.

Taking the Silver was a huge accomplishment for the U.S. Team. Their work was beautiful. We were extremely proud of GroomTeam USA! Congratulations to all the teams in the placements, especially the French team, whose dogs were stunning!

Photos were taken and congratulations went out to the other teams. At the close of the event, team USA returned to the hotel to celebrate over dinner. After the show, all the U.S. team members headed off in different directions for a week of sightseeing. With their traveling companions, they explored Germany, England, Paris, and Brussels for a wonderful week abroad.

In the coming months, The European Grooming Association will announce the location of the 2013 World Team Championships. GroomTeam USA will be there to do their best to reclaim the Gold!

You Just Never Know Who You're Going to Run Into...

Rhonda G. on Melissa's Friesian mare, Gevalia

For years, we have been traveling through the Smoky Mountains and the Cumberland Gap enjoying beautiful fall trail riding.

We were at one of our favorite spots, East Fork Stables in Jamestown, Tennessee. Marc and I were caring for our horses after a long ride. Our horses always capture attention wherever we go - Friesians have a tendency to do that. These big black creatures with their long flowing feathers and noble presence always seem to draw folks with lots of questions about the breed.

We had just put our horses in their stalls up in A Barn. Rhonda G., a 9 year vet tech from Petal, Mississippi, stopped by and started to chat. We start talking Friesians and swapped trail stories, and all the while she had an adorable rescued Corgi at her side. During the course of the conversation she mentioned that she grooms a bit, too. I made a mental note, "Hmmm, a groomer..."

After we chatted for about 10 minutes, we finally got around to what Marc and I do for a living. I tell her that we're involved with the pet industry professionally - primarily in grooming education. I mention that we have one of the largest training centers in the United States and that I've written a few books on grooming... At that point, Rhonda's eyes got REALLY BIG. She looked directly at me and demanded, "What's your name?" When I answer, "Melissa Verplank," her jaw dropped. She stammered. "OMG, I have two of your books! Can I hug you?!?" You just never know who you're going to run into out on the trail.

Two days later, we ran into Rhonda and her friends on the trail at the lunch spot East Fork Stables had selected that day. Marc, knowing that Rhonda is captivated with our breed, asked Rhonda if she would like to ride a Friesian? It barely took her a second to say, "YES!"

Rhonda was beaming. Her friends tell us there was no dealing with her that afternoon on their ride back to camp. She was on cloud nine... Not only had she met Melissa Verplank, she got to ride a Friesian!

October 20, 2011

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 mouse clicks! L2GD.com (and cats) is a unique way to get the edge on your competition.

Stay curious. Challenge yourself. Let your drive and creativity increase your success. As the saying goes, 'the more you learn, the more you earn.' L2GD.com (and cats) can help. All of our Training Partners are at the top of their 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 them right to you from the comfort of your computer!

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 Doodle in a Highly Stylized Trim (Double Feature - Part #1 with Courtney Ramstack, CMG) How to use the 'push and skim' clipping technique to blend beautiful lines.
Grooming the Doodle in a Highly Stylized Trim (Double Feature - Part #2 with Courtney Ramstack CMG) How to avoid a pinched look on the head.
Using Notes From the Grooming Table: Part 2 (England Lecture) with Melissa Verplank, CMG - How to get a satin smooth finish in three clipper passes or less.
Greatest Hits - Round Heads Only: Version #1 with various top stylists: How to trim a drop coated head by hand, creating a feather look without scissor marks.
Hand Scissoring the Pet Pomeranian to Retain Personality with Marc LaFleur, CMG: What shears to use to get a plush teddy bear look.

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 Poodle Like a Kerry Blue Terrier - Part 1 with Courtney Ramstack, CMG
Grooming the Poodle Like a Kerry Blue Terrier - Part 2 with Courtney Ramstack, CMG
Using Notes From the Grooming Table : Part 3 (England Lecture) with Melissa Verplank, CMG
Greatest Hits - Round Heads Only: Version #2
Open Mic Q&A with Melissa Verplank at the Festival of Grooming in the UK

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 Doodle in a

Highly Stylized Trim

Courtney Ramstack, CMG

Doodles seem to be every where. They come in a wide variety of sizes, coat types, and colors. There is no breed standard so we get to make up the trim as we go along. In this session, Courtney Ramstack leads you through a highly stylized trim on a large Doodle. The trim is stylish, yet easy for the owner to maintain at home. The haircut is fun, bringing out the best features of the dog. Courtney takes you through the trim, step-by-step. As she trims Opal, she shares with you tips like; "feel the dog - get your hands in there", "use your clipper like a paint brush," and "use vantage points."

Grooming the Doodle in a Highly Stylized Trim: Double Feature - Part #1

In this session, Courtney sets the outline of the dog. She uses a combination of clippers, guard combs, scissors and blending shears to mold and shape the coat.

In this video you will learn:

How to find the starting point for the crest
How to use the 'push and skim' clipping technique to blend beautiful lines
Where to look for 'vantage points' to help you as you trim any dog
How to see, and set, the 'W' in the chest area
How to set in a full beveled foot

Approximate running time: 48 minutes

Click here to see the full video!

Grooming the Doodle in a Highly Stylized Trim: Double Feature - Part #2

In this session, Courtney shows you how to style the head and tail to balance with the overall dog. This dog has one of those challenging coats - it's floppy. Courtney shares with you great styling tips to bring out the personality of this dog and work with the soft coat.

In this video you will learn:

How to clear the throat latch area
How to avoid a pinched look on the head
How to shape the beard
How to trim the topknot on a floppy coat
How to trim the tail like a Golden

Approximate running time: 14 minutes

Click here to see the full video!

Greatest Hits - Round Heads Only

Version 1

You asked for it, and here it is! We searched the archives to bring the best round head styling techniques to you. Join this group of award winning groomers as they show you their favorite way to style the round head. Melissa Verplank, Misty Fowler, Marc LaFleur, and Suesan Watson snip, clip, and trim this classic head style on a number of different breeds. You will be amazed at how subtle changes in techniques and lengths can make a huge difference in the finished product. They all have a slightly different way to routinely create one of the most popular head styles on many purebreds and mixed breeds - the round head.

In this video you will learn:

How to trim the ears so they stay neat and clean yet look very soft and appealing
How to consistently set the jaw line
How to use a guard comb to get a consistent look in all of your dogs
How to trim a drop coated head by hand, creating a feathered look without scissor marks
How to take years off a dog, bringing back a 'puppy' expression

Approximate running time: 49 minutes

Click here to see the full video!

Hand Scissoring the Pet Pomeranian Into a Teddy Bear Styled Trim

Marc LaFleur, CMG

Marc LaFleur takes you through styling this Pomeranian into an adorable trim. In the end, 'Muck-Muck' is so cute, he looks like he should be a little stuffed bear! Marc shows you how to set this trim up using snap-on guard combs. Using a snap-on comb will set the overall length of the trim. He goes on to hand scissor the entire dog to give it a plush, stylized look. Marc is a left handed stylist who loves to scissor. He shares with you lots of scissoring tips - whether you are left or right handed - that will help you achieve a beautiful, smooth finish. In a salon setting, this little dog goes from scruffy to adorable in about an hour. Join Marc to see how you can get this look in your shop.

In this video you will learn:

How to establish the body length quickly and easily so it's constant
Where to set the pattern
How to keep the pet tethered with a safety lead while still being able to work on the neck area
Which shears to use to get a plush teddy bear look
How to shape the head and crest

Approximate running time: 42 minutes

Click here to see the full video!

Using Notes From the Grooming Table:
Part 2

Filmed Before a Live Audience at the Festival of Grooming in the UK
Melissa Verplank, CMG

Notes From the Grooming Table is the hottest grooming reference guide out on the market! In this session, the author, Melissa Verplank, CMG, will personally share her best tips pulled from the book. In the second part of this three part series, she talks about how Notes is used as a resource for pet grooming. In this session, Melissa highlights the drying section of Notes. She shares with you plenty of helpful tips on what drying methods get the best results in the least amount of time. Next, Melissa discusses how to work with your clippers to get a super smooth finish in the shortest amount of time.

In this video you will learn:

The most effective drying techniques that yield the best quality
How you can boost productivity in the drying process
How to get a satin smooth finish in three clipper passes or less
Why it's important to hold your clipper up on the 'cutting edge'
How to remove tangles from a coat so it's almost effortless - making it easy for both the pet and the groomer

Total approximate running time: 36 minutes

Click here to see the full video!

5 New Sneak Peeks!

Grooming the Poodle Like a

Kerry Blue Terrier

Courtney Ramstack, CMG

Want to have some fun in your grooming salon? Try turning one breed into another! Courtney does just that with a retired Champion Miniature Poodle. Courtney has groomed this dog many times but never in this style - that of a Kerry Blue Terrier. Join her as she goes through the transformation. Courtney has a gift for not only grooming but also explaining how and why she does things. In this lesson she discusses the advantages of using guard combs to set the basic outline. She then goes into detail how to set the profile and the challenges you typically face when turning one breed into another. She also does a fabulous job of talking about scissor technique. Courtney shares a wide variety of helpful tips and tricks you could apply to most any pet immediately.

Grooming the Poodle Like a Kerry Blue Terrier

- Part 1

In this lesson, Courtney talks about setting the body pattern using guard combs to save time. She also covers scissor techniques, shaping legs, rounding feet, setting in the front and rear assemblies, plus establishing the topline and the undercarriage line.

Grooming the Poodle Like a Kerry Blue Terrier

- Part 2

In this lesson, Courtney guides you through styling the head and crest. As a bonus, she summarizes what she has done and shows you how different the look the body takes on between being fluffed out or re-curled by moistening the body coat after you are totally finished. (As a Kerry Blue should be!)

Greatest Hits

Round Heads Only

Version 2

In this video lesson, three top stylists lead you through three different round head styles. Annette Quick works on a Portuguese Water Dog. Even though she's showing you how to trim the head to breed profile on a PWD, think about how many other dogs this head style would well on! Lhasas, Shih Tzues, Doodles plus an entire range of mixed breeds. Next, Misty Fowler trims an adorable black and tan mixed breed (whose pet parents want the eye lashes saved.) She'll share tips on how to work around those eyelashes without accidently trimming them. Suesan Watson works on a pet Westie she's never trimmed before. She guides you through styling the head of a Westie. She's working with less that the ideal amount of coat. She'll help you see what you can do and what you need to do so the next haircut will be more in line with what the head should look like.

Open Mic Questions and Answers at the Festival of Grooming in the UK

Melissa Verplank, CMG

This is a rare occurrence - while speaking in the UK, Melissa ended up with some extra time on stage! In this session, filmed before a live audience, you get to be a fly on the wall. Melissa looks for questions from the audience. Real problems you - and they - deal with every day! With over thirty years of experience running multiple grooming facilities, there isn't much Melissa hasn't dealt with. Join her as she trouble shoots, coaches, and makes suggestions on ways to handle 9 different problems her UK audience tossed to her for suggestions.

Using "Notes From the Grooming Table"
Part 3
Melissa Verplank, CMG

Notes From the Grooming Table is the hottest grooming reference guide out on the market! In this session, the author, Melissa Verplank-CMG, will personally share her best tips pulled from the book. In the second part of this three part series, she talks about how Notes is used as a resource for pet grooming. In this session, Melissa highlights the art of scissoring. She'll share with you exercises you can do at home to gain control of your shears. With practice, you'll master the art of a velvet finish on all your dogs. Next she shares tips on how to trim the natural foot plus how to trim 4 poodle feet in three minutes. To conclude this lecture, Melissa guides you through a number of different breeds represented in Notes From the Grooming Table. She reviews the principles outlined in the book and how you apply the techniques to your everyday dogs.