GroomTeam USA is now accepting applications for the Lonnie Lange Memorial Scholarship Fund. There are two levels of awards: one for college education, and the other for grooming education. The deadline for application submissions is April 30, 2012.

Level 1 will provide two recipients with $1,000 in college money. These funds may be used toward college education in any field and will be paid directly to the school. The only stipulation is that the applicant must be the child, stepchild or grandchild of a bona-fide professional groomer.

Level 2 is open to any and all applicants and provides one recipient with a full scholarship to a GroomTeam USA-approved grooming school. GroomTeam USA will also provide up to $1,000 toward the purchase of the standard grooming tool kit available through the selected school. The participating schools include Maser’s Academy of Fine Grooming (Kenmore, Wash.), Merryfield School of Pet Grooming (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Nanhall School of Dog Grooming (Greensboro, N.C.), Paragon School of Pet Grooming (Jenison, Mich.) and the Pennsylvania Academy of Pet Grooming (Indiana, Pa.).

The Lonnie Lange Memorial Scholarship Fund is intended to help the families of hard working pet stylists. It is made possible through the generous contributions of our Premium Sponsors, Andis, Wahl, LambertKay, Shark Fin Shears, 4420 Shears, Groomers Helper and Natures Specialties, as well as the continued support of the numerous manufactures, distributors and groomers.

GroomTeam USA employs the aid of The International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. of Nashville, Tenn., a professional scholarship selection company. The use of this outside source insures that the selection of the recipients is professional, fair and unbiased.

For more information, visit www.GroomTeamUSA.com.

I am always amazed by the amount of groomers who refuse to do cats? And while I understand that it takes a certain kind of ‘cat’ person to really have a passion for it, there is a lot of money to be made grooming cats. And while some groomers specialize in feline styling, all groomers can benefit from working with cats.

The majority of groomers I speak with are not at all enthusiastic about working with cats. They say they are too unpredictable and downright frightening. In my opinion, nine out of ten cats are afraid of their own shadow. But it is that one devil cat from down below that keeps nine out of ten groomers from working with cats. And yet, cat grooming is an incredibly profitable part of the business.

There are many cat grooming experts in the industry, as well as, cat grooming organizations that promote the safe grooming of felines and offer tips and tricks for stylists who want to offer cat grooming in their salon. Many successful salons now offer a ‘cats only’ day which helps to keep the cats calmer since they are not mixed in with canines. (Ever hear the phrase ‘fighting like cats and dogs?’) You can find a ton of information online about the proper way to groom a cat.

But what many groomers don’t know is they already have an incredible tool for cat grooming available to them. The Groomers Helper Professional Set is the answer! I have demonstrated this to thousands of groomers who now have the ability to groom cats with ease and safety.

Using the Professional Set with a cat is different from using it with a dog. First of all, the grooming loop is placed around the cats shoulders at table level, rather than around the neck and connected to the grooming arm. By placing the mini-arm with hook at table level, and lowering the Groomers Helper to table level on the grooming arm, a groomer is able to place the loop on the table, open it and secure it around the cat’s shoulders. It is quite effective and an amazingly simple way to safely hold a cat in position while grooming.

You can watch the Groomers Helper training video online to see this set up in action. Just CLICK HERE to begin. The demo for using Groomers Helper with cats starts at nine minute mark.

And remember that we are still offering special holiday pricing on Groomers Helper Professional Sets including free shipping. Click here to order.

So please consider cat grooming as an excellent way to boost your profits in 2012. If you don’t already offer this service, now is a great time to start and Groomers Helper is a great tool for success. CLICK HERE TO SHOP ONLINE

What better gift to give a groomer than the gift of safety?While many spouses and significant others can also call themselves “Groomers Helper,” the Professional Set is that extra set of hands that every groomer needs to groom smarter and not harder. It is now being used by the top professionals in the industry and taught in the top schools. Can you imagine not having to struggle anymore?

I often ask groomers why dogs do not want to be groomed. They reply that the dog doesn’t want to be there, or that the dog is remembering a bad experience, or that the dog just doesn’t like being groomed. That said, I tell them the real reason is that dogs struggle at home with their owners and win, so they think it is normal behavior. By the same token, groomers struggle and wrestle with dogs because they think it is the normal way to groom!

But can you imagine an artist hanging a canvas from a rope and spin it to try and paint it? And would a woodworker roll a log down a hill to try and carve it? Of course not! But groomers chase dogs around a grooming table with razor sharp scissors and clippers without thinking twice. In that respect, the Groomers Helper is the easel that holds your pet canvas and it allows you to unleash your grooming art!

One of the biggest problems facing new groomers is FEAR. Whether they fear injuring the dog they are working with or fear of being hurt themselves, confidence in the grooming salon is very important. Perhaps you have seen the handlers at Westminster and other dog shows chewing gum or sucking on a mint. They do this to cover the smell of fear and nervousness they are feeling in the ring. Because we all know that dogs can smell fear from a mile away.

Let’s face it – everyone has some fear and nervousness in their life. Perhaps it is the fear of working with a new client or the nervousness of grooming a nasty dog.

Bu a lot of fear will go away with time, as confidence levels build and grooming skills are honed.

Instinct also plays a part in overcoming fear. How many times have you heard a groomer say, “I just had a feeling about that dog! I knew it was going to try and bite me.” People can’t see into the future, but they had a feeling about something and they were right. Trusting your instincts will go a long way to relieving your fears.

Another weapon in the fight against fear are the tools that you use. Knowing that you have quality clippers and scissors that will help you get the job done will be a big boost to your confidence. And having a Groomers Helper on your table will help, too.

When the dog’s bite radius is reduced, your confidence level goes up. Knowing that a dog can’t spin around and bite you when you are working on its back nails is a real confidence booster. And knowing the dog can no longer walk off the table, back off the table, or hang itself will give you peace of mind that the dog can smell and will submit to.

Right now, I am offering free gifts with the purchase of select items in the Groomers Helper line. Give the gift of confidence this Christmas and receive some great free gifts to boot. In addition to the free gifts, I am offering free shipping, too.

And remember – you can always walk away from the grooming table to regroup if you are dealing with a particularly nasty dog. We are our own worst enemies when it comes to drawing the line and will try to power through difficult grooms. This only serves to increase tension and is a formula for disaster.

The greatest skill a professional groomers can possess is knowing when to stop.

Click here for holiday specials.