Course Code PG 101: 500 Hours
This description represents the types of pets that may come to our school and in turn what will be appropriately taught. The following description includes core competencies plus the learning objectives: Preparation work (core competency)
American Cocker Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Golden Retriever, etc.
- Customer Relations
- Ear Cleaning
- Nail Cutting
- Pad cleaning (utilizing the electric clippers)
- Private Area Cleaning (using the electric clippers)
- Rough Clip Training, which means that if the pet is matted, you will shave off any hair that cannot be detangled without causing undue discomfort to the pet, and or removing the unnecessary hair according to the pattern or clip requirement.
- Brush out the pet to remove tangles before you bathe the pet. You must comb through the pet to check your brushing progress.
- Pet Bathing. There is no need to pre-wet the pet unless it is extremely dirty, the shampoo is already pre-diluted. Use tearless shampoo on the face. Rinse extremely well once this task is completed.
- Pet Drying to approximately 80-90% using a forced air dryer. Finish your drying with a stand dryer. Please note that for Poodles, curly coated breeds and drop coats force dry to only 50%. Your pet should be damp for a proper fluff dry. Fluff drying straightens the hair and in this process will remove any missed tangles missed during the pre-bath brush out.
- Re-clipping finishes the setting of the pattern and now is the time to smooth out lines and to make sure your pattern is correct.
- Finish work is the last step which includes scissoring, blending, Thinning and any final procedure that’s needed to complete the grooming process.
Specific to this group:
- Prep Work-Clean lines, Correct Product used
- Overall Appearance- Prep, Bred Profile, Balance
- Head-English and Springer: Clipper Work, Parallel Plains, Ears
- Head- American Cocker: Crown, Clipper Work, Ears
- Body Work-English and Springers: Clippered Pattern, Natural Back Pattern, Tools, Technique
- Body Work-American Cocker: Clippered and Blending, Natural Back, Carding Technique
- Feet- English and Springer Spaniel: Technique, Cat feet Knuckled
- Feet American Cocker: Bevels, Symmetry
- Rear- Proper Angulations
- Front- Proper Angulations
Text Book: “Notes from the Grooming Table” Table Pages 78-140
Text Book: “The Complete Dog Book Official Publication by the AKC” Pages 73-167
All books are available in the school library. Supplemental instructional materials are available in the front office.
Short Legged (West Highland White Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Carin Terriers, Sealyham Terrier
Long-Legged (Schnauzer, Kerry Blue Terrier, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier)
Specific to this Group:
- Prep work- Clean Lines, Correct product usage,
- Overall appearance- Breed profile, Balance
- Body Clippered-Correct blade or snap on used for proper length of coat, Scissoring Technique
- Body Hand Stripped- Tools used, length and texture left correctly
- Legs and feet scissored- Proper size and balance, Technique
- Legs and Feet Stripped- Size, Technique
- Front and Rear Assembly- proper angulation
- Head- correct to breed profile
Text Book: “Notes from the Grooming Table” Table Pages 240-336
Text Book: “The Complete Dog Book Official Publication by the AKC” Pages 353-437
All books are available in the school library. Supplemental instructional materials are available in the front office.
Poodles, placed in a lamb cut, Bichon Frise
Specific to this Group:
- Prep- Fluff, cleanliness, condition of coat
- Overall Appearance- breed profile, balance
- Technique- correct snap-on comb used for the correct length of coat (size and blade), scissoring technique
- Front Assembly- proper angulation
- Rear Assembly-proper angulation
- Feet- Bichon size, shape
- Head and Neck-Bichon Shape, balance, blending
- Top Knot and Neck-Poodle size, shape, blending, and placement
Text Book: “Notes from the Grooming Table” Table Pages 390-426
Text Book: “The Complete Dog Book Official Publication by the AKC” Pages 523-571
All books are available in the school library. Supplemental instructional materials are available in the front office.
Mixed breed or drop coats such as Lhasa Apso, or Shih Tzu put into a Teddy Bear or a Panda Clip, Maltese,Yorkshire Terriers, Affenpinschers, Brussels Griffons, etc.
Specific to this Group:
- Prep- Fluff, Cleanliness, Condition of coat, Dematting
- Overall appearance- Breed profile, balance
- Technique-Right snap-on used for correct length of coat, scissoring technique
- Front assembly-Proper angulation
- Rear assembly-Proper angulation
- Feet-Size, shape
- Head and Neck-Shape, balance, blending
Text Book: “Notes from the Grooming Table” Table Pages 482-490
Text Book: “The Complete Dog Book Official Publication by the AKC” Pages 103,113,122, 470,513,516,519,552,604,610,645
All books are available in the school library. Supplemental instructional materials are available in the front office.
Student Grades
| Hands on Learning, evaluated by instructor: | 80% of Grade |
| Attendance | 20% of Grade |
| Grading Scale | Grade Point Value |
| A 93-100 | 4 |
| B 84-92 | 3 |
| C 74-83 | 2 |
| D 70-73 | 1 |
| F 69-BELOW | 0 |
In addition, we instruct our students about cat grooming and this is a minor area of study because cat grooming is not as popular as dog grooming. However, we don’t want to leave out this area because if a pet owner has dogs and long haired cats we want to ensure that our graduates can accomplish any task at hand.
