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Clocking speed is an excellent exercise to help you and your team during the holiday rush – and beyond. Practice makes perfect. Check out Melissa Verplank’s advice on how to get up to speed!

How To Improve Your Speed

We once asked a salon owner about her biggest challenge. The answer was simple – speed.

Most of her staff struggled to get even the simplest trims done in under an hour. That included bath, blow dry, and haircut. Even a basic #7F all trim on a smaller drop coated breed was daunting to some of them.

We walked in and saw a well-organized salon. It was bright. It was clean. The layout allowed for efficiency. The equipment was all top-notch.  Hmmm, we wondered. Why was turning a small to mid-sized dog such a challenge for them?

Then it hit us. There were hardly any clocks around. We only spotted one clock in the main room. It was a smaller digital wall clock set on military time. The owner of the salon was a career military gal who is now retired. I understand why she opted for that style of timekeeper, I’m just not so sure that style of timekeeping is the right one for a staff of non-military groomers.  Plus, when I was across the room, I could barely read it clearly. The clock was just too small!

If you want to be a successful groomer who can pay your bills while bringing customers back again and again – you need to embrace time.

• Watch the time.
• Track the time.
• Race against the time.

Everything we do with professional pet grooming involves time. You need to be highly aware of every hour, minute, and second. Ideally, a professional groomer should be able to turn a small- to medium-sized simple trim in an hour or less. That includes the bath, the dry, and the trim.

Click on the image to Download a FREE Time Chart

The first thing we suggested to this team was: GET CLOCKS! Nothing fancy, they just needed to be large enough to be easily seen from across the room. The simpler, the better. Every room in the salon needed one hung on the wall. By having a clock in every room, it makes it easy for the groomers to track their own time with just a quick glance. But clocks aren’t enough. Every person working on the pets needs to have a watch on, too.

For those individuals that are really looking to increase their speed, having a timer at their stations can be really beneficial. Before you can start timing yourself, it’s helpful to know what your starting point is.

Break the groom down into sections:

Bathing. Drying. Clipping the body. Trimming the feet. Rounding the feet. Scissoring the legs. Styling the head. If you don’t know how long it takes you to do each one of these items, you’ll never be able to improve upon your “best time.”

And it’s far easier to break it down into segments than to look at the dog as a whole. After all, who doesn’t want the opportunity to win at even one or two smaller segments than to get frustrated when they don’t hit the time goal with the overall trim?

Set Time Goals

Once you know how long it takes you to do each segment, you can set goals and objectives to beat your “best time.” Push yourself. Make a game out of it. The clock will be your score-keeper. Each time you gain even a few seconds, you’ve won a mini victory!  But you’ll never be able to do that unless you can easily watch the clock. Even with all the clock watching, always remember, speed and efficiency can never come at the sacrifice of quality or safety.

What are your time saving tricks? Jump over to the Learn2GroomDogs Facebook page and tell us.  You can even click here for a quick lesson in how to use the site.

FREE TIME SAVING LECTURE HANDOUT

Happy trimming,
~Melissa

By now, busy salons are bracing for the holiday rush. Thanksgiving. Hanukkah. Christmas. Are you ready?

This isn’t only your busiest season, it’s also the end of the year. It can make or break your earning goals. Will you finish off the year with a bang? Will your books be full for January and February of next year?

I love this time year. It forces us to be on top of our game. To be organized. To be ready. To have our days planned. To keep our communications clear with fellow team members and our customers. To know our limitations.

Most of us who are involved with the pet industry are here because of our passion. We simply love working with the pets. However, even the most passionate groomer can feel the pressures of holiday demands.

If you are one of those professionals who feels the pressures of the Thanksgiving and Christmas crunch, take heart. Get in front of it now and review areas that could use some improvement in the salon.

Here are My Top 4 Tips for Getting Through Your Day with Ease:

#1. Mental Control

Stay focused. Pay close attention to what you are doing at all times. You’re working with live animals and sharp instruments. Chatter between your coworkers and pets breaks your focus. You lose time and you make mistakes when you don’t stay focused on the pet.

Always practice the three C’s; stay calm, stay cool, and stay collected. When you’re working with a pet you want to be friendly but aloof. You want to correct any undesirable action before it becomes a major problem. Frustration and anger have no place in a professional salon setting. If you feel yourself getting frustrated, take a break. Breath. Step back to the grooming table when you have regained your composure.

Work methodically with all pets. Don’t get flustered. Set an even and steady pace when it comes to handling, bathing, drying, brushing, clipping, and scissoring. Set time goals for every step of the grooming process and strive to achieve them.

#2. Invest in Yourself and Your Equipment

What is the condition of your equipment? Are you working with top-quality equipment?

It’s amazing how much time you can save when your equipment is in top condition. Or when you splurge on that new pair of blenders that cut like butter. Or you have a high-velocity dryer that has plenty of punch. Oh, and all of your shears and blades have sharp edges on them — correct? There’s nothing more frustrating than working with dull and ineffective equipment when crunch time is on. Right now you’re in crunch time.

#3. Organization in the Salon

Do you have a smooth process for client check-in and checkout? If you’re computerized, is it easy to pull up client records in a flash? If you’re still working with a card file, are all the records pulled the pets that are scheduled for that day?

Most stylists in a salon setting find working in a minimum of three or four hour blocks of time can be highly advantageous to time management. The more you have to stop to check-in or checkout clients the more you lose your focus on the pet that is on the table. By working in blocks of time, you can check multiple pets in and out in tight windows of time when it comes to dealing with customers.

Do you have a method to track all the collars and leads that accompany the pets? This is no time to be looking for that lost collar or lead! Do you have a bright assortment of those pre-made? Do you have festive bandannas cut and ready to go on the dog?

#4 Mental & Nutritional Stamina

When the rush is on, you need to be at your peak — mentally, physically and nutritionally.

You’re not going to be at your peak if you’re not getting enough sleep. I know … I know. With all the demands between work, family and holiday festivities, slumber can be hard to come by. Normally, a professional groomer is so physically exhausted that when your head does hit the pillow — sleep comes easily. Just make sure you’re getting enough hours each night so you can perform at high levels the next day.

With the holidays upon us, most salons find themselves overrun with holiday treats from their clients. Be careful with this one. Personally I learned the hard way you are not good to feel your best if you consume all those goodies all day long!

I learned in my early 20s to pack healthy food options to keep me nourished all day long. I was mobile so in between every client by reward was to eat. If I had healthy options at my fingertips, it was easy to keep my energy level in high gear. In a salon setting, this might be a little bit more challenging. Still, eating healthy small amounts on a regular basis is the best way to keep you both mentally and physically content.

Pack a nutritional lunch plus snacks. (You know your days are going to be long!) Or do a potluck between staff members. We’ve done this for years at the Paragon School of Pet Grooming with great success. The rule is: Healthy, quick food options only. No sweets. No desserts. Our clients do a great job with that. The potluck is set up so everybody can grab a quick bite in between dogs quickly and easily.

If you’re not a cook – have a stack of local takeout menus available. If they deliver – BONUS!

The holidays are a great time to really test your skills. We’ll find out quickly just how successful you are. If you have a full book and struggling to fit into just one more pet each day, you know you have arrived. Be thankful for creating a service that your customers desire. If you take care of them well — they’ll take care of you. That’s what successful customer service is all about!

Happy trimming!

~Melissa

If you need a brush up on any time management lessons, here are a few titles from Learn2GroomDogs.com that could help you.

• Building a Grooming Code — the Card Game [Melissa Verplank]
• Preparing for the Holiday Rush [Melissa Verplank]
• Speed & Efficiency — Monster Sized Dog in 76 Minutes [Lisa Leady]
• Speed & Efficiency — Daisy Dog in Less Than 45 Minutes [Suesan Watson]
• Speed & Efficiency – Shih Tzu in 45 Minutes [Suesan Watson]
• Anything from the ‘Queen’ of Gettin’ er Done [Judy Hudson]
• Melissa’s Best Time Saving Tips [Melissa Verplank]
• Tails from Holidays Past [Suesan Watson, Lisa Leady, Marc Lafleur, Melissa Verplank]
• What I Know for Sure (this one will just make you feel good!) [Judy Hudson]

If you have a reasonably busy salon and have been at this for a few years, you know the holidays mean crunch time. You’ll be grooming most of your regular clients in days instead of weeks. Do you have control of your schedule?

You may find yourself racing to juggle the demands of your business and your family. Keeping your customers happy is crucial to the health of your salon, but not at the expense of those you love. Don’t let the insanity of the holiday season put a damper on your festive mood.

I learned the hard way. Grooming super long hours up to 14 days straight before Christmas left me totally exhausted and spent. I was definitely a Scrooge throughout the entire holiday season. I knew I had to make a change when one Christmas I literally slept through the entire day.

Here are a few ideas from myself and my team of seasoned grooming pros to help you make the most of the holiday rush. Read the rest of this entry »

Need tips on surviving the Holiday Rush? Check out this roundup of links to our archives on the topic.

Remember Self-Care:

• Physical Health – You’re an occupational athlete! What does it take to stay in top form?
• Food Prep – Plan meals ahead to stay “fueled” for top performance
• Mental Health – What helps you destress? Pre-book a relaxing massage or schedule time for relaxing hobbies.
• Pace Yourself – Know your limits and when to say no.
• Stay Merry – Keep the spirit in the season!

Resources for Surviving the Holiday Rush

• Hey Joe Podcast – Recouping After the Holidays with Dr. Matthew Phinney
• Bubble Baths and the Holiday Grooming Rush

• Plan Now for a Successful Holiday Dog Grooming Season

• Surviving the Holiday Rush
• Tips for Booking a Smooth Holiday Season

From the Archive: Videos at Learn2GroomDogs.com

Preparing for the Holiday Rush with Melissa Verplank

Tails from Holidays Past

Creating Holiday Ornaments on Hip Rosettes

Join the ParagonCares team in helping the Pup Relief Tour advocate for animal welfare and develop the grooming profession in its Africa 2025 Mission! The quest is to outfit 50 grooming students at two developing grooming schools with a complete toolkit to launch their careers. You can participate by either supplying tools directly, by purchasing at the Amazon Wishlist, or donating to the Pup Relief Tour’s GoFundMe campaign linked below. For more information, email [email protected].

Background:

The Pup Relief Tour Africa 2025 is a humanitarian initiative focused on providing essential grooming services to dogs in underserved communities across Africa. It’s mission is to improve the well-being of dogs by providing grooming services.

• 85% of pet owners in rural African areas report lack of access to professional grooming services, which leads to an increase in skin diseases and infections in pets.
• 60% of dogs in underserved communities suffer from preventable health issues such as parasites, infections, and matted fur.
• The initiative includes establishing two permanent grooming schools for long-term training and education of local groomers in Nigeria and Ghana.
• The PRT Team will provide continuous education and certification for local groomers, ensuring sustainability in grooming practices. Students will have access to industry-leading tools, trainers and resources, including partnership with Paragon’s Groominar® Network.

Here’s a List of Tools Needed:

Paragon is proud to support the Pup Relief Tour’s International grooming initiatives! Here’s a quick peek of what the team is up to in 2025 – scroll through the instagram slides to see ways to support the initiative. Check back soon for details on our tool drive and how your old equipment can help new groomers get started abroad!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Pup Relief Tour Inc (@puprelieftour)

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If you missed our Facebook Live or just want to delve deeper for tips on surviving the Holiday Rush, check out this roundup of links to our archive on the topic.

Recap:

• Equipment – consider investing in the best but must maintain all very well
• Schedules – Organize schedules NOW! Get commitments from staff now! Commit to your manager now! Ask clients to come early! Can they come in a week or two before the busy weeks? To balance the load?
• Dress rehearsal! Work with the team to iron out any kinks and ‘who is doing what’ during busy weeks.
• Manage the Flow – If you don’t stagger your grooming client arrivals, consider doing this for the Holidays for traffic flow (people and pets) in and out of your facility and to mitigate log jams and extended wait times.
• Stock up on supplies and holiday extras
• Have a contingency plan for surprises; staff outagaes, power outages, water issues, dog or people injuries, etc. Plan for the worst, hope for the best!

Resources for Preparing for the Holiday Rush

• Plan Now for a Successful Holiday Dog Grooming Season
• Melissa’s Top 4 Tips for Getting Through the Holidays
• Improve Your Speed for the Holiday Rush
• Bubble Baths and the Holiday Grooming Rush
• Why Should I Schedule Holiday Appointments in September?
• Surviving the Holiday Rush
• Tips for Booking a Smooth Holiday Season

Guest Article from Gingr

In the world of pet grooming, there are times when every dog seems to need a fresh trim and pampering session, causing your business to run at full tilt. While these peak seasons can bring in a flood of revenue, they can also put a strain on your resources and staff.

In this guide, we’ll explore five tips to help your pet business thrive amid the hustle and bustle. Whether you experience a surge of customers around the holidays or during the warmer months, these insights will help you prepare effectively. Read the rest of this entry »

As Giving Tuesday approaches, it’s time to turn our attention to the brave heroes who tirelessly serve and protect our communities—military and working dogs. These loyal canines often go unnoticed but play a crucial role in protecting our lives. One organization that’s making an impact in the lives of retired service dogs is Project K9 Hero.

The Mission of Project K9 Hero:

Project K9 Hero is a non-profit organization with a noble mission: to provide a peaceful retirement and quality healthcare for retired military and working dogs. These incredible animals serve alongside our brave men and women in uniform, risking their lives to protect and defend our nation. They detect explosives, locate missing persons, and perform a variety of other life-saving tasks.

However, once these dogs retire, they often face a significant lack of support and funding for their medical care. Project K9 Hero steps in to bridge this gap. Their work ensures that these retired heroes can enjoy their well-deserved retirement years comfortably, receiving the medical care they need.

Why Project K9 Hero Needs Your Support:

1. Lifesaving Medical Care: Many retired military and working dogs suffer from health issues due to their time in service, including injuries, chronic pain, and other ailments. Project K9
2. Hero provides these heroes with access to the best veterinary care and covers the costs, ensuring they live a happy, healthy, and pain-free retirement.
3. Financial Assistance: Project K9 Hero assists retired dog handlers by providing financial aid to cover the medical expenses of their canine partners. This support is vital in easing the burden on the shoulders of those who have already sacrificed so much for our nation.
4. Public Awareness: Project K9 Hero plays a crucial role in raising awareness about the vital contributions of military and working dogs. By supporting their work, you’re helping shine a light on the often-underappreciated heroes who protect us every day.

How You Can Help on Giving Tuesday – And Any Day!:

On Giving Tuesday, you have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these heroes. Here are a few ways you can support Project K9 Hero:

1. Donate: Consider making a generous donation to Project K9 Hero. Every dollar counts and will directly contribute to the well-being of retired military and working dogs.
2. Spread the Word: Share information about Project K9 Hero on your social media platforms and with your friends and family. Raising awareness can inspire others to contribute to this worthy cause.
3. Volunteer: If you have the time and skills to offer, consider volunteering with Project K9 Hero. Your time and expertise can make a meaningful impact.
4. Purchase Merchandise: Many non-profits, including Project K9 Hero, offer merchandise for sale, with proceeds going toward their cause. Consider buying a t-shirt, hat, or other items to support the organization.

This Giving Tuesday, let’s unite to support Project K9 Hero and ensure that our four-legged heroes receive the love, care, and support they deserve. These brave canines have selflessly served our nation, and now it’s our turn to give back. By donating to Project K9 Hero, you’re not just supporting a noble cause; you’re honoring the service and sacrifice of these incredible animals. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that every military and working dog enjoys a well-deserved retirement.

Paragon is proud to say that we stand behind and support the mission of Project K-9 Hero. So, mark your calendar for Giving Tuesday and consider giving to Project K9 Hero. Your support can help save and improve the lives of these unsung heroes. Join us in making a difference this Giving Tuesday, and let’s show our gratitude to the dogs who have faithfully served our nation. Learn more about the Project K9 Hero mission in this excerpt of their annual report.

“Protecting Those Who Protected Us.”

Dogs have long been our loyal companions, but for some, they are much more than that. They are service dogs, therapy dogs, and first responders, making a difference in the lives of countless individuals. Project K-9 Hero is here to shine a light on these remarkable canines and ensure they receive the recognition and support they deserve.

Project K-9 Hero is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting retired police K-9s, military working dogs, and service dogs. These dogs have devoted their lives to serving and protecting us, and now it’s our turn to give back.

The Mission, Vision and Purpose

Project K-Hero was born out of a deep love and appreciation for dogs, and it all started with a simple idea – to show honor and support for our  Police K-9 and Working Dogs in their retirement, giving them a life they deserve. Project K-9 Hero wants to provide them with the best quality of life by providing assistance with medical costs, rehabilitation, adoption, food and end-of-duty services.

Their mission is to protect those who protected our families, communities, and our America. Their vision is to ensure the best quality of life for our nation’s retired Military Working Dogs and Police K-9 Heroes by providing assistance with medical costs, food, rehabilitation, adoption, and end of duty services.

Project K-9 Hero has three main purposes:

1. To ensure each K-9 Hero is rewarded with health and the way of life that they deserve for their faithful and loyal service.
2. To educate the public on the costs and responsibilities of adopting a retired K-9 Hero.
3. To help cover or offset all medical, food, and end of duty costs for retired K-9 Heroes.

How can you help support Project K-9 Hero’s noble cause?

Supporting Project K-9 Hero is supporting those who have selflessly served us. Here are several ways you can make a difference:

1. Donate: Your financial contributions go a long way in helping these retired heroes. Every dollar helps provide medical care, basic needs, and more.
2. Sponsor a Dog: Consider sponsoring a specific retired working dog, providing ongoing support for their well-being.
3. Spread the Word: Share Project K-9 Hero’s mission and achievements on social media, with friends, and in your community. The more people who know about their work, the more support they can garner.
4. Volunteer: If you have the time and skills, consider volunteering for Project K-9 Hero. They often need assistance with events, fundraising, and education initiatives.
5. Purchase Merchandise: Many organizations offer Project K-9 Hero merchandise, and a portion of the proceeds goes to support their cause. Buying merchandise is a great way to show your support and raise awareness.

Project K-9 Hero is a vital organization that ensures our four-legged heroes receive the care and recognition they deserve. By supporting them, you’re not only showing your appreciation for these incredible dogs but also actively contributing to their well-being. Together, we can ensure that these heroes continue to live happy and comfortable lives after their noble service.

Paragon president Joe Zuccarello and VP Lorri Keller were joined by the Pup Relief Tour Team in our last Facebook Live. If you missed it, here’s a replay!

Special thanks to the PRT Team for elevating the profession of grooming!

“DogFather of Harlem” ⭐️ Brian Taylor from Harlem Doggie Day Spa HDDS, and the PRT Ambassadors: ⭐️ Gianna Richardson from Gia Styles Grooming Styles Grooming ⭐️ LaTonya Smith from LC’S Detroit Pet Salon & LC’S Mobile Pet Spa ⭐️ Labree Blaxon from Fluffy By Nature Pet Grooming.