Alexa Geissler

Alexa Geissler’s love for animals is what drew her to the grooming industry, and wanting to take care of dogs is what drove her to graduate from The Paragon School of Pet Grooming in 2018.

“I’ve always had a love for animals, but I also wanted a job where I can be creative,” Alexa said. “With my love and passion for animals, and creativity the grooming industry was the perfect choice for me. Having the ability to make dogs look their best puts a smile on my face every day.”

Now, Alexa is approaching a year and a half working as a dog groomer and says as time goes on, her drive grows to further her education and refine her grooming skills. She says she keeps her Paragon curriculum book, “Notes from the Grooming Table” by Melissa Verplank handy in order to reference back what she learned at the school.

“[I use the book] particularly on breed patterns that I either just need a refresher on or haven’t done yet in my career,” she said. “It’s very helpful to me especially since I’m always wanting to learn more.”

The dog grooming industry is growing, and with that growth comes new techniques and tools. Alexa said that as the industry develops, her hunger to learn increases.

“I am most passionate about pushing myself to be the best I can be and also wanting to continue to be particular with my work,” Alexa continued. “I want every dog that comes off my table to look its very best but also continue to be proud of my workmanship.”

In her pursuit to learn, she found that being a good groomer takes more than technical knowledge, but personal touches too. For example, because of the various temperaments of animals, the relationship between a groomer and the dog is important to how the appointment will go.

“It can be very hard but keeping calm and knowing your limitations is very important,” Alexa said. “Dogs are great at reading off of your emotions and putting them away for a minute and taking a breath is better for both you and the dog.”

Alexa said the tools Paragon has equipped her with and the mentorship that has accompanied her through her learning journey, serve as a solid foundation for her career.

“Paragon was an amazing start to my grooming career,” she said. “I learned about Paragon through my current mentor Tammy Siert. Having a mentor as talented and helpful as she has really benefited me in the start of my career.”