The FREE biweekly newsletter for the professional and aspiring pet groomer.
In This Issue
Grooming the Bichon Mix in a Modified Bichon Trim
Fabulous Finishing Touches #4: How to Color Ears and Add "Puttoos" to a Pooch.
Dematting Tips for Any Breed
Cat Grooming with Kendra - The Barbary Lion Trim
Interview with Pina
Double Feature! Grooming the Bichon in a Show Style Trim
Slope Side Chats - Independent Contractor vs. Employees
Grooming the English Cocker in a Show Style Type Trim
Meet Our Newest Training Partner - Kendra Otto
 

Hundreds of Videos to Watch At Learn2GroomDogs.com (and cats)!


For the first time ever, you can expand your educational horizon - and never leave home to do it! 

Did you know Learn2GroomDogs.com (and cats) now has over 227 videos in the streaming video library? We have hundreds of grooming demonstrations where you have a front row seat as award-winning stylists demonstrate how it's done. And grooming demonstrations aren't our only topics. Oh no. If it has anything to do with the pet grooming industry, we are seeking it out and bringing it to you.

  

With so much information on the site, finding the exact lessons you're looking for can be a bit of a challenge. For the first time ever, you can expand your educational horizon - and never leave home to do it! You've told us - and we've listened. You now have multiple ways to find titles that interest you.      

  

3 Simple Way to Search the Learn2GroomDogs Site

 

  1. Use the Learn2GroomDogs website search engine
  2. Search for lessons hosted by your favorite Learn2GroomDogs Trainer Partner
  3. Review all the titles on Learn2GroomDogs using our NEW PDF Master List

 

Using the Learn2GroomDogs

Search Engine

 

Learn2GroomDogs has a powerful search engine. You can find the Search Engine on the Home Page of the site. Simply type in a few key words of what you would like to learn more about. Do you want to learn about a particular breed? Type in the name of the breed you're looking for - such as 'Poodle.' All of the videos on the website that feature a Poodle will show up in the drop-down box. Are you trying to master a particular skill, such as scissoring? Type in the word 'scissoring' and you will be amazed at the number of videos at your fingertips. When working with the search engine, we suggest you limit the number of words. This will allow you to see the widest variety of videos available while focusing on your intended subject matter.

 

Learn2GroomDogs.com  

Training Partners

 

Our Training Partners are some of the best in the business! All of the grooming demonstrations are presented by Certified Master Groomers from one of the voluntary national testing organizations. Many of the L2DG Training Partners have earned the right to be members of GroomTeam USA. We are constantly on the lookout for knowledgeable presenters in all aspects of our industry, whether it be pet massage, sales and marketing, product knowledge or a wide array of other topics.

 

To make it simple for you, all of our Training Partners are listed in just two groups - Grooming & Styling or Business & Management. Simply click on the name on the Home Page. The site will take you to their full bio. At the Biography area, you will see a listing of all the videos that particular Training Partner has on L2GD.com. Remember, many of our Training Partners are multi-talented. You'll find their names listed in both areas based on the content of their videos.

 

Learn2GroomDogs.com  

PDF Master List:  

Table of Contents

 

The Master List is a PDF list of all the videos currently available. We've included those video lessons that are in the process of being edited, as well. Technology is great, but sometimes having a hard copy in your hands just works better!

 

We have added key information right on the page. With just a quick glance, you can isolate the subject matter, title, Training Partner, release date, video length, and general category as it is listed on L2GD. With this easy-to-use reference guide, you can now navigate the site with ease.

 

The Table of Contents  

consists of...

 

Grooming

  • Core Grooming Skills & Techniques
  • Sporting Group
  • Hound Group
  • Working Group
  • Terrier Group
  • Toy Group
  • Non-Sporting Group
  • Herding Group
  • Mixed Breeds
  • Miscellaneous Grooming

 Business & Operations

  • Sales & Marketing
  • Equipment & Grooming Supplies
  • Groomer Health & Well-Being
  • Pet Health & Well-Being
  • Repairs & Maintenance
  • Cats
  • Facility Tours
  • Creative Pet Styling (Color & Bling)
  • Personal Interview
  • Miscellaneous

So how do you use this as a tool? Find a video that catches your fancy and type in a few key words of its title into the search engine. If the title is "Grooming the Pet Bichon in a Modified Show Trim," just type "Bichon" or "Pet Bichon" to narrow the selection. The search engine will find all the videos on the site matching your search criteria. Or, you can simply type in the training partner's name. All of their videos currently available on the site will come up.

 

The wealth of knowledge packed into the Learn2GroomDogs.com site is simply amazing - and it's growing! Every month we add 10 new videos. Never before has learning been so easy - and so economical! It's like having a grooming show right on your computer!   

 

Like us on Facebook  Visit my blog  View our videos on YouTube
Melissa Verplank's Blog



 






 Sneak Peek Previews
Grooming the Bichon Mix in a Modified Bichon Trim

Lindsey Dicken, NCMG 



This is a highly stylized trim that's appealing and easy to achieve. Lindsey shows you step-by-step how to set this modified Bichon pattern with a clipper.  The longer snap-on comb leaves a plush finish that can easily be blended into a fuller leg.  As Lindsey works over the dog, she gives you great hints for how to bring out the best features of the Bichon while hiding faults.  She discusses how to establish reference points aiding in setting the pattern consistently every time.  The short ear style is a stand-out feature on this dog. It's cute. It's appealing. Amazingly, the short ear style was developed to ward off a health issues on this dog! Find out how and why Lindsey created this custom trim for this client.

 

This lesson is packed so full of great information, that we have broken it into a double feature.  PLUS!  We've broken those lesson into small, bite-sized chunks.  The entire lesson runs just over an hour, but if you don't have an hour to spare in one sitting, you can watch it chunk-by-chunk. 

Part 1: Setting the Pattern on the Body and Trimming Legs 
Click Here for the Sneak Peek

Part 2: Styling the Head and Finish Detail Work 
 
Fabulous Finishing Touches #4
How to Color Ears and Add "Puttoos" to a Pooch
Anglea Kumpe 
 
Have you ever wondered how those dogs get brightly colored ears? Angela shows you in this video lesson. She tells you what products work great for her, how to apply the dye, plus tips on how NOT to get the color on other parts of the dog! She also gives you hints on how to plan out the color so you don't get caught with the WRONG color for an upcoming holiday! Next, she shows you how easy it is to custom make your own 'puttoo' for your clients. Don't know where to get the image or design? Angela tells you in this video. This lesson is full of creative ways to dress up a dog with color and fun stencils. 

Dematting Tips for Any Breed
Karen Tucker, NCMG
 

     

Dematting. We deal with this every day. It's what guarantees we'll have work tomorrow! We know - it's a love/hate relationship. In this lesson, awarding winning stylist, Karen Tucker gives you a great lesson on how to demat quickly and painlessly. Her key secrets almost make the tangles melt away. We're not talking a severely matted pet - but those pets that come in every 5-6 weeks. These are the owners who don't know what a brush looks like between grooming. How can you save coat, remove knots and tangles while doing it in a manner that is soothing to the pet and efficient for you? Karen will show you how easy it is!
 

   Cat Grooming with Kendra - The Barbary Lion Trim

Kendra Otto  

 

Meet Spirit, Kendra Otto's personal feline. She is fun, sassy, and inquisitive - plus - she sheds! To overcome the hair problem in her home, Kendra designed this super-fast haircut for her kitty after the Barbary Lion. The Barbary Lion is one of two sub-species of lion that possesses dark belly fringe that extends throughout the groin. In this video, Kendra walks you through the steps of this trim. She tells you what blade to use on the body of the cat. Kendra clearly shows you where to place the pattern and how to blend it all together for a stylist look. 
 

Click Here for the Sneak Peek 


 

Need Help?

Check our FAQ page for answers to your most commonly asked questions.

Welcome to Learn2GroomDogs.com.   

 

Select from 227 training videos - all available with just a few simple mouse clicks!

 

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! All of our Training Partners are at the tops of their fields. L2GD.com (and cats) is a unique way to get  

the edge on your competition.  

 

Join us!

 

Learn2GroomDogs.com (and cats)  

is for you if:

  • You want to learn simple tricks to make every day pet grooming easier
  • You struggle to complete 6-8 grooms a day with ease  
  • You want to know how your work compares to other stylists
  • You are looking for an easy way to enhance your current grooming skills
  • Want to train with top professionals in the pet grooming industry
 

Here are a few of the items you'll learn in the videos that are going up for full view today.

  • How to trim the hock on an English Cocker so they flow into the rest of the furnishings - Karen Tucker, NCMG
  • Why Pina quit grooming after 10 years but then came back - Irina 'Pina' Pinkusevich, NCMG
  • What different shapes Lindsey uses to help her block in a show style Bichon Frise - Lindsey Dicken, NCMG
  • How you how to build an elegant neck on a show style Bichon Frise - Lindsey Dicken, NCMG
  • Where to find the IRS rules for employees versus independent contractors - Kathy Rose, Melissa Verplank, and Teri DiMarino 

 

We have some amazing footage to share with you. See what is on our editing table in these fabulous Sneak Peeks  

for our latest releases


  • Double Feature: Grooming the Bichon Mix in a Modified Bichon Trim -  Lindsey Dicken, NCMG
  • Fabulous Finishing Touches #4: How to Color Ears & Add 'Puttoos' to a Pooch - Angela Kumpe
  • Dematting Tips for Any Breed - Karen Tucker, NCMG
  • Cat Grooming with Kendra - The Barbary Lion Trim: NEW TRAINING PARTNER! Kendra Otto

Membership pricing as low as $33.60

  

  Click Here for 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

 

 

Videos Going up for Full View Today
Interview with Pina
Irina "Pina" Pinkusevich, NCMG 
 

 

Irina (Pina) Pinkusevich has made it to the very top in the pet grooming world. How she got there is fascinating. Pina emigrated with her family from the Soviet Union when she was 19 years old. She had her fair share of challenges adjusting to life in the USA. One of her largest hurdles was mastering the English language. Next, it was earning spending money while she was on scholarship to the university. While she was working at a small salon, the owner got violently ill and could not work. Pina went from bather to groomer with no formal training -- just a full roster of dogs to groom. At one stage she found herself as a single parent. Her immediate family had moved from New York to Florida. She had no one to help her and her infant son. In this interview, Pina shares with our members what led her into dog grooming. She tells you firsthand how she learned and what keeps her motivated today. This is a great life story about overcoming obstacles, doing what you love, avoiding occupational burnout and remaining passionate about your career options.     

 

In this video you will learn:              

  • How Pina got started in the grooming industry
  • Why she quit grooming after 10 years but then came back
  • How she developed the skills necessary to become a top stylist
  • Why a formal education in grooming is so beneficial
  • What she would fix in the grooming industry if she had a magic wand  
 
Approximate running times: 32 minutes

 

 

Click Here to See the Video

Double Feature!
Grooming the Bichon in a Show Style Trim

Lindsey Dicken, NCMG     
 
This is the video you have all been waiting for! You've seen Lindsey Dicken win multiple Best in Show awards with this dog. In this lesson, she shows you how to groom a Bichon Frise in a show style trim. Zoey is the gorgeous Bichon Lindsey has been competing with for over five years. Lindsay shows you how to groom this breed to breed profile. She uses a variety of shears to sculpt the coat - there is no cheating anything off with guard combs in this demonstration. As she hand scissors the coat, Lindsay talks about the importance of coat preparation, conformation trimming, and lots of tips for how to get the correct look. Even though this is a complicated trim, Lindsay's directions are simple and easy to follow. This lesson is so packed with useful information, we have broken it into a double feature.
  

 

In this section, Lindsay discusses how to set the pattern including: how to outline the dog, cut in the angulation on the front and rear assembly, round the feet, and shape the legs to accentuate the proper confirmation and movement of the breed.

 

 

In Part 1, Setting the Pattern, Body, Legs, and Feet, you will learn:              

  • The general overview of what the breed should look like when finished
  • Different shapes she uses to help her block in the dog
  • How to set the tail
  • How to set in the chest
  • Tricks to set in the tuck-up
Approximate running times: 36 minutes

 

 

Click Here to See the Video   

 

In Part 2, Bichon Head Styling and Finish Trimming Details, you will learn:              

  • How to build an elegant neck
  • What shape to look for when viewing the dog from the top down
  • How to open up the eyes and make them bright
  • How to trim the visor area
  • What line to set first to start your overall shape of the head
Approximate running times: 27 minutes

 

  

Click Here to See the Video  

Slope Side Chats -
Independent Contractor
vs. Employees

Kathy Rose, Melissa Verplank, and
Teri DiMarino
     
 
All of these women have operated very successful salons and businesses -- and some still do. With experience, comes wisdom. All three agree 100% on how to build a team. The most successful salons play within the rules of the IRS. Although it is tempting at times to think about using independent contractors -- in the long run (and for the short term) - none of them think it is the best way to build the business. In this short session, they share with you what experience has taught them.

For more information on this topic, check out these links.

This is a great test that is simple to do that outlines the IRS 20 Questions they use when determining what type of relationship workers are in.    

 

  20 Questions from the IRS 

 

 

   

In this video you will learn:              

  • Where to find the IRS rules for employees versus independent contractors
  • Why no one wins with independent operators
  • The percentage employers need to pay into the federal government for taxes
  • Some options for when you don't want to deal with the details
  • The #1 thing both salon owners and perspective employees need to know about a salon
Approximate running times: 11 minutes

 

 

Click Here to See the Video 

Grooming the English Cocker in a Show Style Type Trim

Karen Tucker, NCMG    

  

The English Cocker is a sporting dog that was bred to work in the field. In this lesson, Karen shows you how to accentuate their athletic attributes. She uses carding, hand stripping, and thinning shears to groom this dog. As Karen says, "When you have fur, you can create optical illusions." This dog has nice structure but has some less than ideal features, too. Throughout the entire lesson, she shows you how to pull out the best points of the dog while camouflaging faults. She molds the coat to create the proper illusion of a well-built dog. This is a great lesson for anyone looking to start hand stripping a sporting dog coat or who wants to learn how to correctly groom an English Cocker.   

     

Karen in available for private training.  Please contact her for cost and availability - 407.830.6655 or [email protected] 

 

In this video you will learn:              

  • What clipping technique to use to get a nice soft look on the muzzle
  • Knowing the right time to stop carding and stripping and move on to thinning shear work
  • How to trim the feathering on the front legs
  • How to trim the hock so it flows into the rest of the furnishings
  • How to create the correct head style for the English Cocker
Approximate running times: 51 minutes

 

 

 


Meet Our Newest Training Partner - Kendra Otto 

Kendra Otto graduated from The Great Lakes Academy of Professional Pet Styling in 1997. From 2007 to 2010 she was ranked in The Top 10 GroomTeam USA stylists for four years in a row. Additionally, she was ranked as the #1 stylist in the state of Illinois during that same time period. To date, Kendra has won multiple Best in Show/Best All Around Groomer awards. As an avid competitor, she has also won multiple creative styling awards and an Artistic Innovation award. She was invited to participate in the jackpot contest at Superzoo in Las Vegas in 2009. There she placed 6th out of 50 competitors with a Scottish Terrier. Kendra has won the Liz Paul Scissoring Award and the Will Stone Memorial Award for kindness to animals. She was honored to be the first recipient of the Groomy Spirit Award, and a nominee for 2009 Cardinal Crystal American Groomer of the Year. She placed in two Rescue Rodeos in Las Vegas and Atlanta in 2009 and 2010.

 

Kendra assists Woburn Scottish Terriers exhibit their dogs at American Kennel Club conformation shows. She also grooms other breeds to be shown in AKC shows. She delights in learning about and grooming rare breeds. She was the first competitor to bring the Hungarian Pumi into the grooming contest arena.

 

Kendra specializes in grooming challenging and fearful dogs. She enjoys the challenge of gaining their trust and seeing the transformation. This is the part of her career she finds more rewarding than any award she's ever received.

 

Kendra is a published author in industry related magazines. She has also been featured in a number of pet grooming training videos via Andis Home Grooming Tools YouTube videos and now Learn2GroomDogs.com. She is a certified judge with International Judges Association and is a United Show Manager. She is close to finishing her Certified Master Groomer title with the International Professional Groomers Association and is looking forward to become a Certifier with them. She is entertaining the idea of multiple grooming-related master titles by working on becoming certified through The Professional Cat Groomers Association and National Dog Groomer Association of America. 

 

Kendra is the board Secretary for Groom Team USA as well as a 1st year Board Member. She is an international representative for the Andis Company and was a representative in 2009 for the Chris Christensen Company. She teaches seminars worldwide. Kendra is an active professional pet stylist employed at The Barker Shop in Countryside, IL, a suburb of Chicago.

 
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