At one time most people mowed their own lawns, cut their hair at home andcleaned their own windows but as people now live more complicated andbusier lives the demand for specialist help increases and the demand for

grooming services for dogs is no exception. There will always be the specialist whoshows their own dogs and would not let another touch a hair, but for most dogowners, grooming is a chore and so there are not just more groomers but morecompanies supplying and increasing range and quality of tools and grooming supplies.

www.ourdogs.co.uk OUR DOGS April 24 2009 17

PREMIER GROOM 09Presented by Groom Team England and Redcape, the 2nd Premier Groom

grooming competition takes place on Sunday 2nd August at The KC Build-ings, Stoneleigh. and will be bigger and better.

The first Premier Groom had probably the largest cash and prize fund ever offered in UK competition grooming and thisyears event will present even more opportunities.The competition is open to all, not just professional groomers, but anyoneinvolved in canine presentation. For last years winner, Mich Dale (Lynnsto Terriers), this was her first ever grooming competi-tion, which shows everyone has a chance.

Grooming seminars, advice workshops, demonstrations, raffle, auction, special sponsors product promotions and many otheractivities make this event a must for all groomers and dog show enthusiasts who want to further their education, pick up tipsand simply enjoy a great day out.

We pride ourselves on presenting a professional and relaxed event. All those who attended last year commented on howenjoyable the fun and relaxed atmosphere was.

Same day blade & scissor sharpening will also be available on the day.For details and entry forms contact:Look North Grooming & Training Centre 01535 661776 enquiries@looknorth.netRedcape 01937 584447 enquiries@redcape.co.uk www.groomteamengland.com

petcetera etc** NEW 2009 CATALOGUE OUT NOW **

Grooming ProductsPetcetera etc carries a full Range of Grooming products fordogs and cats.Ranges carried include:All Systems,Andis, Bac To Nature, Bio-Groom, Cherry Knoll,Chris Christensen, Cindra, Coat Handler, Cowboy Magic,Crown Royale (SOLE UK DISTRIBUTOR), Denman, Doggy-man, Double K, Duplex, Furminator, Greyhound, Hindes, Isi-nis, Lawrence, Leo, Logic, Macknyfe, Magnet, Mars, MasonPearson, McLellan, Mr Groom, Oscar Frank, Oster, Metro,Mikki, Petrodex, Pro-Line, Quistel, Resco, Ring 5, Shaws,Sherleys, Spratts, Summerwinds, Solo Comb,Thornit,Wahl

Plus Osmonds, Snooze N Snack and VetHealth ProductRangesWe now carry a range ofWound Creams, Ointments andPowders.Also by popular request, we now sell Hibi Scrub.SEE CATALOGUE FOR MORE DETAILS

Double K DistributorshipAs the original UK distributor for Double K products, we canoffer a 2 year warranty on all Double K Dryers and Clippers purchased from our-selves.We can also offer a repair and parts service for out of warranty items.For more information on Double K products, including shampoos, please contact us.

Championship Dog ShowsLook out for theYellow petcetera etc Marquee outside at the following shows –WELKS, BIRMINGHAM NATIONAL and BORDER UNION where a full range of products are avail-able.

Bradeley Green NewsThe shop and showroom now carry a full range of petcetera etc, Snooze N Snack, Osmonds andVethealth products. Opening hours are 8.30am till 5pm weekdays. Product demonstrations are avail-able by prior arrangement.

Mail OrderCannot get to Championship Shows? Not yet on-line? For product information, catalogue requests, orto place an order, please telephone +44 (0) 1948 668100, by fax +44 (0) 1948 668101 or email:info@petcetera.co.uk.Overseas orders are also welcome.

petcetera etcBradeley Green, Tarporley Road, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 4HDPS The FREE 2009 Colour Catalogue is out now!www.petcetera.co.uk

Our feature this week clearly demon-strates how much things have changed injust a few years. No so very long agogroomers learned by getting a job in agrooming room or shop and working withan experienced groomer who had, herself(usually female at that time although this isof course, no longer the case), been taughtby an experienced groomer. This opportu-nity remains but the sector has becomemuch more professional in recent years.There are now many private groomingschools, there are grooming courses atcolleges of further education and examina-tions for students in both theory and prac-tical skills which are now increasinglydemanded by grooming room owners andtheir clients.

Some professionals groomers can workfrom their own homes, they can be‘mobile’ travelling to the homes of theirclients, but most are self employed withtheir own specialist grooming rooms butsome work in pet-shops, boarding or show

kennels or in veterinary practices.But wherever they work their equip-

ment is now very sophisticated with a topquality pair of scissors costing hundreds ofpounds, grooming tables that would notlook out of place in an NHS operatingtheatre and drying cabinets which can drya think coated dog in just a few minutes –and before you ask – most dogs love them.

The role of the groomer is to makedogs look their best by bathing and, often,de-matting their coats and clipping andtrimming them, cleaning their teeth andclipping nails. Most groomers spend theirworking lives keeping dogs clean and tidybut there is an international dimension forthose whose expertise in preparing showdogs for the ring and there are nationaland international competitions wheregroomers can show of their skills.

Eurogroom 2009 is being held on May4th at Bracknell Sports Centre and theBritish Grooming Championships organ-ised by the Pet Care Trust and the British

Association of Dogs Groomers will takeplace on Sunday 18 October at the newKennel Club Building at Stoneleigh Park inWarwickshire.

An important consideration ingrooming is that those with talent and whoare prepared to take the time to learn theskills can become independent and set uptheir own business relatively easily. Ouradvertisers all have a great deal of experi-enced and will be pleased to help whetheryou are a beginner, improver or alreadyworking in the sector. Please do not hesi-tate to contact them and also mention thisfeature when you get in touch.Also bear inmind that OUR DOGS has a range ofgrooming DVD’s, videos, and books to helpgroomers of all levels perfect their skills.

Please read the feature carefully andtake on board the range of products andshampoos now available.....then get outthere and meet the dogs and their ownersand get grooming!

www.ourdogs.co.uk18 OUR DOGS April 24 2009

You love your dog and it shows- dog hair on your clothes, onyour furniture and in your

bed. Daily grooming is a headacheas no matter how much you groomor how many times you visit thegrooming parlour the hair justkeeps falling.So what is the house-proud dog owner supposed to

do? Fortunately, the UK’s foremost experts on prod-ucts for pets and their people,The Company ofAnimals,has come to the rescue by introducing FURminator® –new and unique patented dog grooming tool.The Furminator® has been

thoughtfully designed with aunique edge that removes theundercoat and loose hair whilenot damaging the topcoat. Bygently removing the undercoatand loose hair from the dogbefore it’s shed, it reduces theamount of hair shed by up to90%. It generally only needs tobe used once a week for 10 –20 minutes to see theseresults, depending upon thebreed and size of animal. Petowners report they are aston-ished by the amount of hairremoved in one session andtheir animals prefer the FUR-minator® deShedding Toolto other grooming tools.Over a dog’s lifetime,

some dog owners will havespent thousands of pounds inprofessional grooming parloursseeking help to control their dog’s moult-ing. With the FURminator® you’ll be ableto spend more money on having fun withyour dog and less money at the groomingparlour. Not only that, but you’ll have a bet-ter relationship with your dog and no embar-rassing dog hairs on your clothes.

Reduce shedding by up to 90%

Lucy, a 5 year oldWestHighlandWhite Terrier had sufferedwithsevere itching and soreness for three years. After a recommen-dation Mr. Amblin, Lucy’s owner bought Lucy to see Groomers.

In conjunction with a dietary change, includingGroomers Evening Primrose oil Food Supplement,she was regularly bathed in Groomers Vet gradeEvening Primrose oil Shampoo,and sprayed betweenbaths with the Evening Primrose oil CoatConditioning Spray.Lucy was bathed twice a week in the shampoo to

help soothe the irritation.A 10ml application of foodsupplement was applied to her dinner daily, andbetween the baths the spray was used to help easethe scratching and combat the odour that she hadsuffered with for so long.Within 5 weeks Lucy had achieved a significant

change. The scratching had stopped, the smell hadgone and her life had greatly improved.Within thir-teen weeks Lucy was looking just like a Westieshould.Groomers have developed a range of shampoos,

conditioners, sprays and food additives containingpure cold pressed Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) withessential oils which are renowned for improvementof coat, skin and general well-being.The grooming shampoo is designed to cleanse,

soothe and maintain scurfy and inflamed skin.Groomers Professional Regular Grade contains 1%EPO for professional dog groomers and dogexhibitors and is also available with Blue Pearl, Ebonyor Copper Coat colour Enhancers. GroomersProfessionalVet Grade contains 3% EPO and is suit-able for animals with a very dry and inflamed skin.The conditioner leaves the coat feeling silky soft

with all round condition and a lasting fragrancewhilst the coat conditioning spray soothes irritableskin and gently lifts and controls pet odours.Groomers food supplement with Evening

Primrose Oil is rich in Omega 6 and Omega 3 fattyacids and is renowned for soothing and promotinghealthy skin and coat.

To order Groomersunique range ofshampoos, condi-tioners, sprays & foodsupplements withEvening Primrose Oilor to request a copyof their NEW 100page catalogueplease visitwww.groomers-onlineor call 0845 230 7997

Groomers EveningPrimrose Oil

Treatment ShampooCase Study

Asrecommendedby top breeders

& exhibitors

www.ourdogs.co.uk OUR DOGS April 24 2009 19

The next "Grooming For A Liv-ing" roadshow will be held atWis-bech in Cambridgeshire in May ofthis year. A compilation of handchosen top groomers has beencarefully selected to demonstratetheir skills to encourage andassist others to achieve theirobjectives. The aim of this is tohelp groomers at all levels toimprove with tips and techniquesthat may not have been generallytaught or available through everyday tuition. You will discover real"tricks of the trade" and highlyprized secrets that result in out-standing presentation. Airedaleswill be featured by Rodney Eastallwho is famed for the AMPAiredale Video and DVD. Rodneywill be bathing, drying, groomingand hand-stripping a few of thesemajestic terriers to demonstratethe many skills required to coverall aspects of the breed. Rodney isa professional groomer as well asa successful breeder andexhibitor, therefore he has aunique insight into the complete

picture.Eve Somers a professional

groomer, accomplished tutor andKerry Blue expert who has alsocompeted successfully in groom-ing competitions, and she will beshowing her expertise on theKerry Blue Terrier. Eve hasrecently launched her own DVDon this elegant and glamorous ter-rier, and is the principal tutor atABBFABB grooming school in thesouth of England. During thedemonstrations Eve and companywill be promoting her groomingcourses and answering questionson training to be a professionalgroomer. American CockerSpaniels will be demonstrated bythe young but very experiencedFiona Brook from Norfolk. Fionahas been born into grooming andhas learnt from an early age theimportance of good presentation.As a junior groomer, Fiona isprobably the most experiencedjunior competitor in the doggrooming world. Fiona has a very

supportive professional groomingmother who has ensured distancehas not hampered her attainingher goals. If any young hopefulsneed tips on how to compete atthis level, Fiona will be more thanhappy to point any youngster inthe right direction.Angela Caley, aformer groomer of the year, hasmany international and nationaltitles to her name. She will beshowing the English CockerSpaniel pet clip. Angela is a veryaccomplished and experienceddemonstrator who alwaysinspires delegates and returns tothe show by popular demand.Another extremely populargroomer Roy Stott will onceagain demonstrate hand-strippingthe Wire Haired Fox Terrier. Royis a joy to watch and always enter-tains his audience at the show.Roy is an experienced demon-strator, groomer and exhibitorwho excel in many facets ofgrooming so his tips are alwaysvalued by those who attend.We are privileged to add to

our program Debbie Knight, whowill be demonstrating her workon Black Russian Terriers. Alsovery popular is the cat groomingdemonstration provided by thevery capable Steve Koczka. Stevetakes experienced groomers onspecialised cat grooming courses.The Show Standard Poodle willbe in the capable and very artistichands of Sue Eldweaver, a mem-ber of Groom Team England. Sueis naturally talented as she is alsoan artist in every sense of theword. Sue has also developed areal talent for the ëModel Dogíand will also have on show anarray of her fluffy toy dogs thatwill amaze and enthral. In Sueíslist of talents is glass engraving,and some of the pieces are trulybreathtaking. Wendy Scorah,another talented professional, willdemonstrate with her wonderfulteam of Bedlington Terriers.Wendy can now list Best of Breedat Crufts 2009 to her manyachievements. Wendy is wellreceived as she has a very handson approach to her demonstra-tions that is not only inspirationalto delegates but also very excit-ing. A mock City & Guilds featurewill be headed by Diana Northwho is dedicated to training, qual-ifications and professionalism indog grooming. She will be assistedby brave real life students fromGrimsby College who will havenever demonstrated in publicbefore.They will be watched fromthe sidelines and encouraged bytheir committed tutor Lee Lister.To help complete the picture forthose wishing to start in theindustry, we will have informationon how to start a business byCathy Chambers from CK9 inKings Lynn.This promises to be afabulous programme with morethan this article can include, and isnot to be missed as a limitednumber of tickets are availableonly from DeZynaDog Ltd at agreat price of £10.DeZynaDog are attending a

few hand chosen shows in the UKwith their dedicated unit andenthusiastic team these showswill include Windsor Champi-onship Show 2-5th July, Just DogsLive 10-12th July, Leeds Champi-onship Show 24-26th July, Paign-ton Championship Show 3-5thAugust, Bournemouth Champi-onship Show 8-10th August, TheAll New Northern Super PupContest 31st October and LKAChampionship Show 12-13thDecember. For more informationon these visit their websitewww.dezynadog.co.uk.

DeZynaDog, Leading TheWay In Progress WithinThe Grooming Industry

This indeed is a big statement to makebut the family behind the nameDeZynaDog have been in the grooming

industry for over 50 years, so this statementis justified and well earned as they have beeninvolved in many facets of grooming to suchan extent that their work has become a lifestyle choice. The equipment and productspioneered and developed by DeZynaDog,such as the Automatic Dog Drying Machine,The GiZmo and The Biggles Express, areprized pieces owned by groomers worldwide.Their own brand shampoos, conditioners andcoat care preparations are used by groomersand exhibitors with dramatic results, aidingthem to achieve accolade and success. Thislong standing family business has a team ofhighly skilled, dedicated and knowledgeablestaff on hand to help and advise on all mat-ters to do with grooming. This serviceensures that clients of DeZynaDog have agreater understanding of the products andequipment so that they actually achievemore in their businesses or with their goalsin the show world.

www.ourdogs.co.uk20 OUR DOGS April 24 2009

Celebrate NationalGrooming Week instyle with the

‘3 Mikki Must Haves!’National Grooming Week,

sponsored by Mikki takes place onthe 25th April – 2nd May 2009

With National Grooming Week focusingon the importance of grooming andthe benefits it can provide for people

who suffer from animal related allergies, Mikki,sponsors of National Grooming Week havedecided to take action and are offering thechance to win your very own Mikki PamperHamper!Mikki recog-

nise that animalhair is a commontrigger for condi-tions such aseczema andasthma. Designedfor the everydaypet owner, Mikkihave developed arange ofgrooming prod-ucts enablingpeople who sufferwith animalrelated allergiesto continue tointeract withtheir belovedpets.Use the ‘3

Mikki Must Haves’ to help alleviate any unwanted animal hair before it playshavoc with either your skin or breathing. Begin your grooming regime withthe Easy Clean Slicker brush used to combat any big knots or tangles yourpets coat may have. Continue your routine with the Anti-Tangle Comb toensure the coat is knot and tangle free and any excess dead hair is removedbefore completing your quick and easy grooming process with the brandnew Mikki Moult Master.Endorsed by Groomer of theYear championAlison Rogers, use the Mikki

Moult Master to remove the loose dead undercoat to ensure a polishedfinish before it gets the chance to get tangled, making the whole exercise aless enduring task next time.Mikki are the proud sponsors of National GroomingWeek, 25th April –

2nd May 2009.Mikki products are available from Pets At Home and all good pet stores.

For more information please visit www.mikkigrooming.comEasy Clean Slicker medium size £8.09, Anti Tangle Comb £5.89, Mikki

Moult Master £24.99For more information please contact Lynette Matthews

on 0207 9399902Email: lynette@rumblecommunications.co.uk

Joanne Angus/Zoe Duffy

2 Henry Street,Keighley

West Yorkshire,BD21 3DR

Tel: 01535 661776

Whether your aim is to trim your own dogor to start your own business,

Look North Grooming & Training canprovide what you need.

Professional tuition by 2 professionalgroomers at an award-winning salon.

Contact us today for more details.

E-Mail: enquiries@looknorth.netwww.looknorth.net

Groom Team EnglandCommittee members.

Canine Design

Academy of Groomingin association with The Animal Care College* Pet Care Trust Accredited Training Centreoffering City & Guilds 7750/02 qualication

* High quality tuition tailored to suit your requirements

* City & Guilds Level 3 and 4 (LCGI) qualified tutorsholding teaching qualifications to Level 3

* Trainers of Crufts winning groomers

* Spacious premises with excellent facilities

CANINE DESIGN ACADEMY OF GROOMING,THE GREEN WILLOW, VICTORIA SQUARE, EVERCREECH,

SOMERSET. BA4 6JP. TEL. (01749) 830723WEB: WWW.CANINEDESIGN.CO.UK

EMAIL - ENQUIRIES@CANINEDESIGN.CO.UK

The company was formed in 1964 and hasbeen looking after pets ever since. Overthe years a more diverse range of products

to suit many animals has been developed. Toname just a few Grooming Products:•Grooming SlingThe underbody support is made from

strong lightweight knitted polyester,which is fully washable. There is a frontretaining strap to prevent the dog step-ping out of the sling.The webbing straps cross under the

body, supporting the whole bodyweightrather than putting pressure on the chestor genital areas.There is a plastic ‘D’ ringwith a snaphook at the end of each strap for attachment to the chains.Each quadrant of the dog can be exposed for grooming by undoing the

snaphook from either the right or the left ‘D’ ring in turn.This will ensure the

dog is still restrained by the rest of the sling.Whilst the Grooming Sling is not intended for use as a lifting aid, it will help

by supporting the dog’s weight and allowing the groomer to retain more con-trol.•ShampoosOur range of ByoFresh shampoos wash and disinfect as against conven-

tional shampoos which leave microscopic traces of odour-producing bacte-ria.These will multiply and the smell will return. The active ingredient isByotrol which will ensure that this does not happen and is particularly effec-tive on fox poop or anything else that your pet may have rolled in!The sham-poos come in 3 different fragrances:Aloe Vera is a traditional skin balm and will protect and nourish the

dog’s skin as well as leaving a lovely fresh smell.Evening Primrose Oil has long been recognised as a soothing essence

so will relax your pet as well as delivering an outstanding wash and shiny coat.Puppy Shampoo has a special gentle formulation for young coats and

scented with a baby powder smell.•SpraysBioFresh sprays are an easy and economic way of keeping your dog

smelling fresh in between washes, simply spray and brush into the coat.Theycome in the same fresh fragrances as the shampoos.•Grooming/Deodorising WipesEach pack contains ten 65 gram wipes and are generously sized and nice-

ly scented.They can be used to remove stinky stuff or just for a general clean-up in between shampoos.

Diverse range from Catac

Look North Grooming &Training Centre Ltd

Look North Grooming & Training is the placeto come for exclusive tuition by two of thecountries top groomers.

JoanneAngus has been grooming for 27years and teaching for 20 years. She is City& Guilds qualified, has her City & Guilds730 Teaching Certificate and is a memberof the Guild of Master Groomers. Joannehas won many competitions includingGroomer of theYear 1991 and 2001.Zoe Duffy has been grooming for 19

years and has 15 years teaching experi-ence. She is City & Guilds qualified, hasher City & Guilds 730Teaching Certificateand is a member of the Guild of MasterGroomers. Zoe has won many groomingcompetitions including Groomer of theYear 1994 and 2005 and Oster EuropeGrand Champion 2009.Look North Grooming &Training Cen-

tre is one of the countries most consis-tent winning salons where all staff are trained by Joanne and have many yearsexperience.The training takes place in a salon within a salon to enable you toexperience both a quiet area to concentrate on your training and the busyhustle and bustle of commercial grooming.Training is restricted to 3 to 4 students, with staff members giving input

where required.This ensures hands on practical experience from day one.Alltraining given depends on your requirements, from one day grooming yourpet or show dog, to four weeks introductory to start your own business.Specialising in style and shape we cover a variety of breeds to enable you

to understand the demands of a commercial salon. Clients have been suc-cessful from both across the country and across the sea, now operating theirown successful businesses.Let Look North guide you in the art of grooming to achieve

the style you want!

Zoe Duffy, OsterEuropean Champion ‘09

Professional TrainingCanine Design Academy of Grooming is a fam-

ily run, friendly establishment offering highquality dog grooming training in the heart of

beautiful Somerset, is a Pet Care Trust accreditedtraining centre and City & Guilds examination cen-tre.The training at Canine Design is to City & Guilds standard and trainees have

the opportunity of achieving their City & Guilds 7750/02 during their course.The proprietor of Canine Design, Lesley Garratt, holds units of her HigherDiploma and is Level 4 qualified (LCGI), holds her City & Guilds Advanced7750/03 and holds her NVQ Level 3 inTeaching andAdult Education. The otherstaff members at Canine Design who assist with the teaching, are all City &Guilds Advanced 7750/03 qualified and hold teaching qualifications.Canine Design has now linked up with the Animal Care College where stu-

dents are able to follow an accredited theory course to help them worktowards the theory element of the City & Guilds 7750/03 qualification if theywish.

Canine Designhas a policy ofattending semi-nars, competi-tions and showsin order to keepup to date withchanging trends inboth dog groom-ing and showingand also holdtheir own groom-ing seminars on aregular basis,hosted by a vari-ety of breed specialists. Canine Design has produced Crufts winning doggroomers, having trained the YKC Groomer of the Year in 2006 and 2009and Runner Up YKC Groomer of the Year in 2007 (this was Millie, Lesley'sdaughter who achieved this accolade at only 11 years of age). Lesley's otherdaughter, Lottie, has also been placed at Crufts atYKC Groomer of theYear forthe last 3 years, this year coming 1st in the Under 12s category.Canine Design believes that all dogs entering the grooming salon should be

treated with kindness and respect and actively instils this belief in all their stu-dents. Handling is one of the most important aspects of being a dog groomerand students at Canine Design will receive expert guidance in handling and con-trol of the dogs in their care.

www.ourdogs.co.uk OUR DOGS April 24 2009 21

www.ourdogs.co.uk22 OUR DOGS April 24 2009

Innovative Productsfrom Redcape

Redcape are distributors and suppliers of premium quality productsfor professional groomers, handlers and dog show enthusiasts. Therange of products we offer are of the highest quality and are

renowned for their reliability, durability and performance. We searchtirelessly for new and innovative products, which are then tested in themarket place to ensure they reach only the highest standards. We willnever compromise the quality of our products for price purposes.

Many factors influence the condition ofa dog’s coat; fundamentally health,then diet, followed by lifestyle &

finally grooming products. Have you consid-ered that your shampoo could be causing thescurf, itchiness or coat thinning? It may givea high gloss, feel & smell lovely, but it may becreating irritation & discomfort.

The most commonly used detergent / foaming agent in shampoos isSodium Laurel Sulfate, or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) which canincrease skin thickness, cause irritation, inflammation, dryness, rough-ness, flaking of the skin & thinning of the coat. It dries the skin by strip-ping the protective lipids from the surface rendering it ineffective atregulating moisture, vital for a good coat. Neem 40 shampoos fromMekuti use soap nut (nature’s detergent) which leaves no residue,removes dirt, bacteria & odours effectively, conditioning the coat so no

additional products are neededleaving the coat & skin soft,smooth & shiny. Both soap nut &neem are anti-bacterial, anti-fun-gal & act as a safe insecticide.Which would you prefer to use?

Professional dog groomer,Sharon Clarke from Grooming-tayles in Cambridgeshire usedNeem Shampoo from Mekuti on aMastiff whose skin & coat was in abad way being flaky, red &inflamed, even though his ownershad taken great care of him. Asmites were suspected Neem MiteShampoo was used every otherweek (along with applications ofneem oil). Sharon says, “Within 2months his skin & coat were fan-tastic & he smells lovely! I’ve alsonoticed that my hands are nolonger sore & dry from shampoo-ing dogs every day.”

Glasgow University trialsshowed neem extract dealingwith 90% of lice & nits within 22hours. Neem Mite Shampoo is asafe effective way to clear fleas,ticks & mites repelling thembetween washes, treating skinconditions & keeping the skin &coat in premium condition. NeemPet Shampoo has been developedas an effective coat & skin cleaner& conditioner. Both shampoos arepleasant smelling & come with afull 30 day money back guarantee.

To order go towww.mekuti.co.uk orphone 01938 811777 (tradeenquiries welcome).

Neem 40 Shampoo – More than clean dogs!

We strongly believe that all cus-tomers are entitled to the higheststandard of service, support andafter sales consideration and atRedcape we strive to provide thiswithout question and we areproud of our reputation.

Redcape are one of the largestspecialist suppliers of Hydrobathsin the UK.This year we have intro-duced the new Hydrobath Pro,which has been built to our exactspecification and incorporatesmany important new design fea-tures.

We are also proud sponsors and

GroomersWorld Online

Forum

Technogroom Limited is pleased to announce the launch of theirnew dedicated animal grooming online community, GroomersWorld Forums. Whether you are a professional groomer, show

preparation groomer or groom your own Dog, Horse, Cat, Rabbit, Cowor Alpaca etc Groomers World Forum is the place to chat with likeminded people.

Why not share your grooming experiences, get some valuable tips, find a grooming job or just browse themany existing topics.With resident championship show judge, former International Groomer of the Year andworld renown grooming tutor,Agnes Murphy is on hand to answer all of you grooming questions. Find out firstwhat new and exciting grooming tools are available from Technogroom. Get product advice and reviews fromthe people who actually use them as well as equipment maintenance advice from the experts.

Each month, one lucky forum member is selected for their contribution and receives 10% off of their nextonline order fromTechnogroom Limited.The winner is the person who starts the most interesting, quality andrelevant thread in the previous month, and the winner is announced on or shortly after the 20th of each month.

We have dedicated administrators and moderators on Groomers World to ensure that forums remainfriendly and relative to the topic, which has been the downfall of many forums in the past.With almost 300worldwide members already, Groomers World is the place to be.We can be found by clicking the Forum linkat the top of the Technogroom homepage, www.technogroom.co.uk. See back cover of this issue.

MAJOR SKIN CAREBREAKTHROUGH FOR

CRACKED HANDS & FEET!If you’ve ever suffered from cracked hands or feet you’ll know just

how painful it can be. Not only that but stained, cracked hands areunsightly too!

Starkie’s Beeswax Barrier Hand & Foot Creamclaims to heal cracked hands and feet in as little asten days and they’re so confident of its success thatthey give a you 100% No Risk Money Back Guar-antee!

Not only is Starkie’s cream water, chemical anddirt resistant but it’s also non greasy so you don’teven know it’s there protecting your skin and heal-ing those painful cracks at the same time.

This doesn’t mean you can go without gloves forjobs that obviously call for them, but when it’s notpossible to wear them at least you have some pro-tection.

This amazing cream comes in two sizes, the 2ozTravel Tub and the big 8oz Tub which literally hasseveral months worth of cream, making it veryeconomical.

As an introductory offer, Starkie’s are givingaway the 2oz Travel Tub when you buy the 8oz Tubwhich is £22.95.The Travel Tub is £7.95 and postage and packing is £3.95 making the total £26.90 and £11.90respectively.

We are assured that there has been no animal testing and there are no animal ingredients.You can buy online as www.StarkiesBeeswaxCreams.com or by FREE PHONE 0800

0588 911 (Hours 24/7) or by sending your cheque to:Richard Starkie Associates, Timber Cottage, Wistow, Leicester LE8 0QF.Email:sales@starkies.com. Tel/Fax 0116 259 2022.

supporters of Groom Team Eng-land and we are working withthem to stage the second Premier-Groom 09, a prestigious groomingcompetition taking place on 2ndAugust.

Having recently been appointedauthorised distributors for Aescu-lap, these quality products accom-pany existing premium brands suchas Les Poochs, ReQual, DoubleK,Shogun, Fidos and many others.

A comprehensive range ofgrooming salon equipment andsupplies are all readily available toview in our showroom. We invite

you to come, have a coffee in arelaxed, no obligation environmentto simply browse or try out equip-ment etc.

See us at SKC’s, Blackpool,Leeds, Darlington, Bournemouth,LKA, Premier Groom, Please checkthe events calendar on our websitefor up to date information as moreevents will be added throughoutthe year.

Our new mail order cata-logue is also now available

T: 01937 584447E: enquiries@redcape.co.ukwww.redcape.co.uk

www.ourdogs.co.uk OUR DOGS April 24 2009 23

See us at SKC, Blackpool, Leeds, Bournemouth & Darlington

www.ourdogs.co.uk24 OUR DOGS April 24 2009

other problem is of course whenyou purchase your lilac and honeyor passion flower and lotus blossomshampoo what do they actually con-tain. Again my thought turns back tothe kids when they ask me how thecrisp people catch the squirrels thatgo into their crisps! Do productscontain what they say or are theyjust artificially created? It is a ques-tion we should ask.There are largenumbers of truly natural productsespecially some of the oils that canbe incorporated into shampoo tobestow fragrance -things likecoconut, almond and of course aloe.

I do think that when shampoosare formulated they should containingredients that have positive bene-fits on the coat.As a veterinary der-matologist I don’t particularly wanta shampoo that is strongly fra-granced or heavily coloured. At therisk of stirring up a hornet’s nest Ican see no justification for the useof shampoos for black coats, browncoats or white coats unless by usingsuch products, our aim is to dye orbleach the hair to make it blacker,browner or whiter accordingly.When middle aged vanity drives usladies to spend a fortune disguisingour grey hair, we realise in the longterm our hair suffers. But do wecare. In the same way artificialcolourants can really be of no longterm benefit to a dog. In which casewe should care. Similarly there are

Shampoo therapy can be under-taken in my opinion for two reasons.The first is purely for grooming, tocleanse and condition the skin andcoat. The second is for therapeuticpurposes and shampoos designedfor this function are those generallyprescribed by veterinary surgeonsand to a growing degree by groom-ing salons. On my annual visit toCrufts this year I spent some timegoing round the stands and alsochatting to groomers. It never ceas-es to amaze me the range of prod-ucts that are available.Of course myspecial interest is in skin care andthe types of merchandise on offer atCrufts ranged from the “pile it highand sell it cheap merchants” to themore specialised shampoos at pre-mium prices.What I find really inter-esting is the need to colour every-thing in a uniform fashion and alsothe necessity to offer numerous dif-ferent fragrances. Choosing sham-poo in some circumstances seemedto be more like a trip with the kidsto the ice cream parlour,where theyspend hours squabbling over theminutia of flavour selection. If therehad only been a raspberry rippleand chocolate chip they would havebeen more than happy. Instead theyfight over who will have the maple,mocha and macaroon and who willhave the cranberry, cornflake andcrème de menthe. One hardly daresask them if they want sprinkles! The

reports in the literature of stronglycoloured shampoos causing irritantskin reactions; there is no need fora shampoo to be canary yellow orsky blue. But perhaps it wouldn’t sellas well if it was pale fawn. Manyyears ago when I was a training tobecome a vet I spent time with awily old Irish pig vet in Devon.Almost all of the infectious prob-lems he came across in those dayscould be dealt with by administeringa course of antibiotic injections ofpenicillin and streptomycin, whichcame in big bottles containing whiteliquid. He would start the pig offwith an injection and then leave thefarmer with the rest of the bottle tocomplete the therapy. However thiswas in the days when there was stilla certain amount of mystery sur-rounding “the vitnary” and Georgedidn’t like the farmers to think heprescribed the same injection everytime. So he would examine the ani-mal then disappear off to his car toget a bottle of antibiotic. He wouldthen check his booking sheets tosee what he had left at the farm onhis last visit and then reach into hismedicine case and pull out a bottleof food colouring. He had yellow,green, blue and red. He would theninjection a cc of the chosen foodcolouring into the bottle of whiteliquid give it a shake, then set off tothe pig. George’s treatments alwaysworked better than any of his assis-tants even though they all used thesame antibiotics, George had“Secret Ingredient X”. It taught mea huge lesson that presentation iseverything providing though it is nota facade for an inferior product,which in George’s case it of coursewas not. As intelligent pet owners,show people and groomers, we

should perhaps look more criticallyat products to decide what theirvalue is for coat condition when wetake away the fragrance and thecolour.

Selection of human shampoos ismuch more orientated towards haircondition than pet shampoos are. Itwould be much more useful if theretailers of pet shampoo sold themfor example for dry scaly hair coator greasy hair coat rather than forblack or white hair. Of course inorder to select a shampoo usingthese criteria, someone needs to beable to gauge the coat condition ofthe dog. Vets in my experience arepoor at assessing coat conditionand groomers are usually much bet-ter. It isn’t rocket science. Just run-ning your hands through the hair ofa dog will allow you to appreciate ifit is greasy or dry.You can feel theresidue of grease on your fingers ifthe dog has a coat that contains toomuch oil. Commonly a dog will berecommended to come to see meby an astute groomer who hasnoticed the quality of the dog’s coatand skin.The client may already havebeen to their own vet who hasdished out the good old Malaseb,which of course has its role to playin treating dogs, but does not sortthem all out. Veterinary surgeonswill generally carry only two sham-poos. One is usually antibacterialand the other is a general purposecleanser. Veterinary dermatologistsand often grooming salons usuallycarry a far bigger range so that theyhave the ability to prescribe anappropriate product dependent onthe dog’s needs. Antibacterial andantiyeast shampoos are ideally forpets with recurrent infections.Products that contain acetic acid,

benzoyl peroxide,chlorhexidine andethyl lactate all haveexcellent ability tokill superficial bacte-rial infection. Boricacid, ketoconazoleand miconazole havethe ability to killringworm and yeast.Where the animal isitchy, then colloidaloatmeal or tar canbe used to hugebenefit as they bothhave local anaesthet-ic effects on the skin.Where the coat isdry and scaly thensulphur or salicylicacid based sham-poos are good andconversely wherethe coat is verygreasy benzoyl per-oxide, boric acid,selenium sulphideand tar can be usedto remove excessiveoil.

Choosing a sham-poo then is key totaking the best careof a dog’s coat, in avery similar way tohow we humansmake the choice forour own glowinglocks !

To shampoo or not to shampoo . . . . that is the question?

One of the most common questions I amasked during a normal consultation iswhether owners should shampoo their

dog or not. There is of course no one wordanswer because it very much depends on thereason why an owner wants to shampoo theirdog.

(above) Shampoo therapy plays animportant part in the management of allcanine skin disease.

(below) In dogs such as the Basset whereyeast infections are common selection ofappropriate shampoo therapy is essen-tial.

www.ourdogs.co.uk OUR DOGS April 24 2009 25

Clipper bladesharpening & repairs

Credit crunch – ouch! we are hearing this all the time. So althoughwe sell new machines and blades and are happy to continue doingso, we do like to help our customers through difficult times, and

getting the best performance out of clippers and blades is top of our list.Clippersharp was established in 1994, originating by sharpening and repairing all types of clipper blades and

machines, but over the years the business has expanded, and now we sell a comprehensive range of products, cater-ing for professionals and home users within the dog, horse, veterinary, and agricultural worlds.

Our business has expanded mainly due to recommendation, particularly with the prompt service that our cus-tomers receive. All blade sharpening and machine repairs are done in-house – nothing is sent away!We have dif-ferent machines for sharpening different types of blades. Blade sharpening is an art, and it is very easy to ruin a setof blades if they are sharpened incorrectly and not reassembled correctly which will affect their cutting perform-ance.

The two major problems we see with pet blades, comes from:• Lack of frequent oiling• Build up of fatty deposits due to non cleaningThese problems are easily and cheaply rectified by using good quality clipper oil (around £4.00) and notWD40,

and the use of a blade wash (around £3.50).By using these two products regularly, it will not only prolong the life of your blades and keep them in tip top

condition, but will also ensure that the cutting edge will remain sharper for a longer period.The other problems we often encounter with dog clippers, particularly the A5 machines are:• Blade damage caused by the user trying to fit the blade on without the machine running.• Blade damage caused by the user trying to remove blade without depressing the blade release latch.• Machines heating up excessively due to debris blocking the air vents.We would recommend reading the manufacturer’s instructions before attaching blade. Most advise attaching the

blade with the machine running, which will allow the drive lever to engage in the correct place immediately.In order for your machine to work at its optimum, we suggest that the machine is serviced at least once a year,

in order to clear the machine internally of any compacted hair and replace any worn drive parts. This is generallynot an expensive exercise and can save you a lot of frustration.For further details of our services, please either give us a call: Tel: 01823 681076 or check

out our website – www.clippersharp.com.

About the Animal Health Co.

The Animal Health Company ltd. was formed in 1990 from theoriginal management of VetHealth Ltd. and Vet-tek Ltd. TheCompany has since acquired VetHealth Ltd., and SP Equine;

which was merged with our Equine Company to make SP EquineHealth and Herbal.

The expertise and knowledge of Animal Healthrequirements, disease control shampoo’s andherbal treatments invested in The Animal HealthGroup are, we believe, second to none. Our motto,"committed to animal care", is something westrongly believe in - the animals and their healthand happiness come first. The Animal HealthCompany is acknowledged by many as leaders intheir field; new products and concepts areconstantly being researched and evaluated. Wehave been chosen by Championship Dog Shows,boarding kennels, RSPCA, Dog Wardens etcbecause of the exceptional removal of malodoursoffered by ODORKILL and the superior diseasekilling PARVO-VIRUCIDE.

The Animal Health Company invented theunique THERMINFUSEX process for producingliquid herbal extracts, the method by which all ourherbal liquids are made in our own factory;including NOBUTE which was the first liquidherbal alternative to Phenylbutazone.

We have appeared on national television manytimes, and our products are insisted upon by topbreeders and exhibitors.

All of our products are available online.www.animal-health.co.uk01787 476400See our advert on page 5

Get fully Qualified through the Animal CareCollege & Canine Design School of Grooming

www.ourdogs.co.uk26 OUR DOGS April 24 2009

Calling allGroomers!

CHANCE TO LEARN....Tellington Touch with Toni Shelbourne

Poodle Topknots and shaping of Show Poodles - Lesley HowardCanine Massage Therapy - Tracy Gwillim

Accupuncture and Laser Therapy with Annette RandallGrooming Demonstrations - Various Breeds

CHANCE TO WIN...£000s prizes - Oster Career StartTen Grooming Competition Classes

LOOK! New additions to the rules for Junior Class

CHANCE TO TREAT YOURSELF...to new products and tools from the leading manufacturers and distributors

Bank Holiday Monday4th May 2009

Organised by Anita Bax & Peter YoungBracknell Sports and Leisure Centre

Bagshot Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 9SE

Prices Held Yet Again! Delegate / SpectatorFee: £20.00 Pre-booked £25.00 on the door

Students rates available: £15.00

For further information, entry forms and programmeof seminars please contact: Fax 01932 400190

Tel:01276 488003, 01932 354591or 0207 602 1357

Email:a.gale@ntlworld.com£5

OFF

The £25

Entrance

fee

ONLY£20

paidon

thedooron

presen

tation

of

this coupon

BankHolidayMonday4th

May 2009

EurogroomSeminar

Grooming Demonstration(throughout the day)By leading groomers and breed expertson various breeds

10:00 - 11:00 T e l l i n g t o nTouchDealing with nervous and difficult dogstheTellingtonTouch way.The soft and gen-tle approach for groomers and kennelowners with Toni Shelbourne

11:00 - 12:00 Poodle Topknots and Shaping of Show PoodlesThis top presenter of show Poodles will take you through her uniqueapproach to top knots and the shaping of show Poodles,Teaching you howto get that perfect Poodle profile with Lesley Howard (Grayco Poodles).

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch

1:00 - 2:00 Canine Massage TherapyTeach your dog to relax and help keep muscles toned in old and injuredlimbs withTracy Gwillim - Canine MassageTerapist, JC Biology - Diploma inAnimal Behaviour

2:00 - 3:00 Accupuncture and Laser TherapyThe benefits of laser therapy and accupuncture for small animals withAnnette Randall - BVet Med DMS MRCVS, owner of Mobile Vet Services

from 3:00pmDemonstrations of City & Guild Dogs

4:00 - 5:00Presentation of Awards.

Map and Directions:

Now the Animal Care Collegehas linked up with the CanineDesign School of Grooming in Som-erset - a Pet CareTrust and City andGuilds Approved Centre forGrooming training - to provide acomplete training service. Thisassociation will enable students andapprentices to achieve their City &Guilds Intermediate Grooming Cer-tificate and experienced groomersaccess to the City & GuildsAdvanced Examination and HigherDiploma.

The Animal Care College wasestablished in 1980 and the CanineDesign School in 1992 so bothorganisations have immense andunrivalled experience in teachingsuccessfully within the animal caresector. Whether you are just begin-ning your career in animal care or

are an experienced professionalwant to upgrade and hone yourskills both the Animal Care Collegeand the Canine Design School offera dedicated, friendly, professionaland effective training schemes whichhave resulted in recognised andaccepted qualifications throughoutthe animal care sector.

Full details of all the courseoffered by these two outstandingeducational providers can beaccessed from www.animal-carecollege.co.uk (email:mail@animalcarecollege.co.uk or telephone: 01334 636436) andwww.caninedesign.co.uk(email: enquiries@ caninedesign.co.uk or telephone01749 830 723).

The Animal Care College has been provid-ing a distance learning grooming Theorycourse for those intending to become full

time professional groomers for many years.The course is fully accredited by the NationalOpen College Network (Ref 99874) and accrues36 nationally recognised Credits at Level 3. Thecourse is designed for those involved in practicalgrooming training and provides all the knowl-edge needed to take and pass the City & Guilds7750/2 dog grooming written examination. It isalso useful in fulfilling the knowledge evidencerequirements of NVQ courses in animal care.

With National Grooming Week focusing on the importanceof grooming your pet and the benefits it can provide forpeople who suffer from animal related allergies, Mikki,sponsors of National Grooming Week have decided to takeaction and are offering the chance to win a luxury pamperhamper for yourself, a Mikki grooming set for your petPLUS £145 worth of Venture portrait vouchers to capturethe moment!

Finding the time to spoil yourselfcan be challenging at the best oftimes, especially when most of yourtime is spent looking after both thefamily and pets.

Mikki are offering the chance topamper yourself in style with a luxu-rious gift set designed to help yourelax and unwind from the stress ofeveryday life. Simply take out thewaffle flannel and head wrap andlight the essential oil candle beforeapplying the rich moisturising creamand silky soft face mask, all elegantlypresented in a wooden box withfrosted lid.

Once you’ve completed yourpampering session why not turnyour attention to your pet using the‘3 Mikki Must Haves’. Mikki recog-nise that animal hair is a commontrigger for conditions such aseczema and asthma. Designed for

the everyday pet owner, Mikki havedeveloped a range of groomingproducts enabling people who sufferwith animal related allergies tocontinue to interact with theirbeloved pets.

Use the ‘3 Mikki Must Haves’ tohelp alleviate any unwanted animalhair before it plays havoc with eitheryour skin or breathing. Begin yourgrooming regime with the EasyClean Slicker brush used to combatany big knots or tangles your petscoat may have. Continue yourroutine with the Anti-Tangle Combto ensure the coat is knot andtangle free and any excess dead hairis removed before completing yourquick and easy grooming processwith the brand new Mikki MoultMaster.

Endorsed by Groomer of theYear champion Alison Rogers, usethe Mikki Moult Master to removethe loose dead undercoat to ensurea polished finish before it gets thechance to get tangled, making thewhole exercise a less enduring tasknext time.

Once both owner and pet’spampering sessions are completewhy not make your way to yournearest Venture studio.

Your £145 Venture ExperiencePack entitles you to enjoy an hourof fun in one of Venture’s state-of-the art photography studios, yourexpert Venture photographer willcapture stunning images of you, yourfamily and your pet(s). Then therewill be a private preview where thebest images from your studiosession will be presented to you andyou can either select your favouriteimage to go in your complimentary7” x 5” framed gift image or chooseto use the equivalent value £95 tospend towards a wall portrait!

For more information visitwww.thisisventure.co.uk where theexperience comes to life! Thewhole experience really will be atruly unforgettable one for you,your family and your pets.

Mikki are the proud sponsors ofNational Grooming Week, 25thApril – 2nd May 2009.

Mikki products are available fromPets At Home and all good petstores, for more information pleasevisit www.mikkigrooming.comFor more information

please contact LynetteMatthews on 0207 9399902Email:lynette@rumblecommuni-

cations.co.ukN.b The above prize value

equates to approximately £225.00

COMPETITION! COMPETITION!Celebrate National Grooming Week in

style with the chance to win the ultimatepamper hampers for both you and your pet!

National Grooming Week,sponsored by Mikki takes place

on the 25th April – 2nd May 2009

SAVE £5on the

entrance fee -cut out the

coupon(see advert left)