Taking the Grrr Out of the Grooming Salon
Coaching Programme
A 3-month coaching programme for dog groomers who are exhausted from battling through difficult grooms with nightmare dogs and know there has to be a better way than the one they were taught.
You trained to be a dog groomer. You learned how to clip. How to scissor. How to prep coats and create a beautiful finish. And it works great when you’ve got a dog that is easy and doesn’t care.
But then that dog comes in.....
✘ The one that won’t stand still.
✘ The one that pulls their legs away.
✘ The one that panics when you go near their face.
✘ The one that turns the whole appointment into a wrestling match.
✘ The one that makes you feel sick when you see the name in your calender
Suddenly you’re rather stressed, the dogs stressed and the whole thing is just a nightmare unfolding in front of you.
✘ You’re trying to keep the dog safe and calm but you’ve no idea how and what to do.
✘ You’re trying to keep yourself safe, but with limited knowledge on how to do this unless you just stop the groom.
✘ You’re stressing that the next client is due in soon and you’ve hardly done anything on this difficult dog.
✘ You’re mentally and physically exhausted by these dogs and you’re wondering if the only solution is to stop taking dogs like that altogether.
Sound familiar? you’re not alone. Most groomers were never shown what to do when grooming gets difficult
The traditional way of grooming doesn’t work for every dog.
This is the problem most groomers discover the hard way. A lot of groomer training focuses on the aesthetic finish and how the dog looks when it leaves the salon. But very little time is spent on what to do when a dog:
✘ panics on the table won’t let you touch certain areas
✘ thrashes around during the groom
✘ growls or snaps when they’re overwhelmed
So when those dogs start appearing in your salon, you’re left trying to figure it out on your own.
✘ You ask other groomers but get overwhelmed by different suggestions
✘ You try tips online, but they rarely work
✘ You try different tools and handling approaches.
✘ You’re told to be more forceful. To show the dog who’s boss. To get the job done by any means.
Maybe you’re left thinking:
“I don’t want to do any of that”
“I’m actually scared of forcing the dog through the groom incase i get bitten”
“There has to be an easier way than this.”
And there is.......
Here’s What This Coaching Programme Will Help You Fix:
Stop certain dogs turning every groom into a battle.
Learn what to do when a dog thrashes, pulls away or refuses parts of the groom so you’re not just wrestling through the appointment hoping for the best.
Spot when a dog is about to kick off.
Recognise the early signs that a dog is becoming overwhelmed so you can step in before things escalate into growling, snapping or panic.
Make grooming easier for the dogs that normally fight you.
Simple changes to how you handle and work with dogs that reduce the struggle on the table and make the groom calmer for both of you.
Handle the dogs that currently make you feel out of your depth.
Instead of dreading certain dogs in your diary, you’ll have practical ways to approach grooms that normally feel impossible. Know what to do when a groom starts going wrong.
When a dog refuses part of the groom or things suddenly unravel
You’ll have options instead of feeling stuck or forcing your way through it.
Deal with owners when their dog struggles.
Learn how to explain what’s happening in a way that owners understand, without feeling defensive or like you’re making excuses.
Feel more in control
So the dogs that used to leave you exhausted and stressed start to feel far more manageable.
Create a calming and safe grooming environment
Learn how to put together amazing grooming introductions to prevent future grooming sensitivities.
Doesn't that sound like something that would give you more satisfaction?
What The 3-Month Coaching Programme Includes
During the programme you'll receive:
✔ Five 1-to-1 mentoring sessions with Sue (Week 1, 4, 7, 10 & 13)
✔ Two additional 30 minute 1-2-1 session to use within 12 months to discuss specific dogs or concerns
✔ Access to the full training modules covering canine behaviour, psychology and useful techniques (12 months access in total)
✔ Facebook Support Group
✔ Regular Rant & Reset live sessions with like minded groomers
This means you’re not left trying to figure things out alone. You’ll have someone experienced to talk things through with when you’re dealing with dogs that are difficult to groom.
Imagine Grooming Feeling Like This
✔ Instead of dreading certain dogs in your diary you know how to approach the groom before things spiral.
✔ You have ways to handle dogs that normally thrash, panic or refuse parts of the groom.
✔ Appointments feel calmer and more manageable instead of chaotic.
✔ You finish the groom without feeling completely exhausted.
✔ The dogs that used to ruin your day become ones you feel capable of working with.
✔ You get overjoyed at the satisfaction of seeing the dogs progress
That’s what Taking the Grrr Out of the Grooming Salon Programme is designed to help you achieve.
This Programme Is Perfect For You If You're A Groomer Who:
✔ Feels stressed when certain dogs come into the salon
✔ Dreads specific appointments in your diary
✔ Feels like you're constantly battling through difficult grooms
✔ Knows there must be a better way but hasn't found it yet
✔ Wants grooming to feel calmer and easier again
✔ Wants to stop giving away free or cheap grooms because you feel guilty charging more
If you nodded along to any of those, you’re exactly the kind of groomer this programme was created for.
And It's Probably Not For You If…
✘ You believe difficult dogs should simply be forced through the groom
✘ You’re not interested in changing how you work
✘ You think the traditional approach works for every dog
This programme is for groomers who care about doing the job well and want their working day to feel easier.
Meet Sue Williamson
Sue runs Happy Paws with Sue, a grooming business that works almost entirely with dogs who struggle during grooming. These are the dogs that other groomers often refuse, or are referred to Sue by behaviourist, vets, clients, and other canine professionals
✔ The anxious dogs
✔ The reactive dogs.
✔ The dogs that panic on the table.
Clients travel up to an hour to see Sue because they know their dog will be handled differently. For them it’s not about a perfect coat finish. It’s about the experience their dog has during the groom.
Sue has built a successful grooming business around working with these dogs — without relying on the traditional “secure them to the table and get it done” approach. Instead she works in a calmer, more thoughtful way that helps dogs cope better with grooming. And that’s exactly what she teaches groomers through Taking the Grrr Out of the Grooming Salon Programme.
If this approach to grooming resonates with you, the next step is to book a short call with Sue.
This is simply an exploratory conversation to understand:
whether the programme is the right fit for you
whether it’s the right time for you to join
whether this approach to grooming aligns with how you want to work
TESTIMONIALS
I really enjoy Sue's courses, and the detail you get to help understand why dogs react is always exceptional. You are also shown techniques to help you move forward in a patient and positive way.
Tracy Taft
Fairygodmother Grooming
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any prior knowledge I need other than how to groom? No, the Programme includes everything you need to get you started.
How much time will I need to dedicate each week? The 3 month coaching element is going to be the most time consuming. Each 1-2-1 session will be 1-2 hours, then in addition it will be useful for you to watch at least one of the webinars in the Education Programme element, so between 2-3 hours each week for the first 3 months. After that you will have access to the Education Programme Modules for another 9 months to study at your own pace.
If I apply the knowledge and techniques will I be able to recoup the investment? There are multiple financial benefits to Taking the Grrr approach:
✔ Your client retention will improve as the humans become invested in your approach.
✔ You can raise your fees because of this additional knowledge, especially if you build your reputation as a specialist with the more difficult dogs.
✔ You won’t need to refer “difficult” dogs else where therefore retaining your current income.
✔ Reduce risk of loss of earnings due to dog bites and body wear and tear
Will I need to invest more money during the course? Only if you want to. All the important stuff will be included in the course. However, there may be some additional pieces of kit you want to buy in order to adopt some of the techniques, but these are fairly low cost, or buy 2nd hand.
What if I need more 1-2-1 support? Additional sessions will be available to purchase at a discounted rate, however, there is a Facebook Group to ask general questions so you may find you don’t need any more 1-2-1 sessions.
But don’t the techniques you use mean the grooms will take much longer? This is an important aspect of the Coaching Programme. You will learn to adapt each groom to suit the individual dog, for some you may need to shorten the sessions, for others it may be to get the owner to bathe at home. However, once you have found the “perfect” plan for each dog, you become much more efficient and you will probably find grooms take less time and energy because the dogs are cooperating because they are less stressed.
Will I need to use all the techniques you teach? No, this is totally up to you what you adopt and what you throw away. What this Programme will give you is a range of techniques to help with a wide range of dogs. The techniques you use for each individual dog will be dog dependant.
I am useless at exams, will I need to take any? No! This is purely for you to learn then put into practice with the dogs you groom. This programme has been developed without exams as we know that students often given up completely because they have struggled with the assignments, or don’t have the time, etc.
Why isn’t there an exam to prove I am capable? There is a Certificate of Completion that you can display if you wish. In my experience many owners don’t ask or understand many of the qualifications have anyway. They care about the service you provide.
What if I want to join the programme but cannot start immediately? If you know when you will be available to start, you can put down a £100 (non refundable) deposit to hold your space for a specific month. There will be a limited number of places each month, so this is recommended if you want a specific start date.
But what if there isn’t demand in my area for a Taking the Grrr Approach? From personal and anecdoctal experience the demand is there. Taking the Grrr Approved Groomers rarely need to re-open their books to take on additional clients, or already have a waiting list.
I work in a multigrooming salon - will this still help me? Many of the techniques are suitable for use in the multigrooming salon, but much will depend on the management team of which techniques you will be allowed to implement.
Do you do team coaching for multigroomer salons? Absolutely. For salon owners who want to reduce the overall stress and incorporate Taking the Grrr approach into their salons I can create a bespoke programme so all members of the team can be coached together whilst still having access to the ongoing webinars to study individually. Please book a discovery call with Sue to discuss details.
I am a dog owner rather than professional groomer, will this help me? Yes, we can help you with your dog during the 1-2-1 sessions whilst the education programme will help you learn even more.
