Dog & Cat Grooming
Diploma Course Outline

Module 1 – CANINE COAT CARE

• Sub Module A - Coat Types
  • Smooth Coats
  • Short Coats
  • Double Coats
  • Silky Coats
  • Harsh coats
  • Curly Coats
  • Corded Coats
• Sub Module B - Parts of a Dog, Physiology
  • Fibula, tibia, scapula – converting terminology to groomer jargon
• Sub Module C – Parasites, Zoonoses
  • fleas, ticks, worms
  • rabies, ringworm, heartworms, sporotichosis
• Sub Module D - Getting Started
  • Tools, Equipment, Supplies
  • First Groom - Step-by-Step
    • Smooth Coats
    • Short Coats
    • Double Coats
  • Introduction to Carding
     

Module 2 – TOOLS OF THE TRADE

• Sub Module A - Grooming Tools
  • Description, Usage, Maintenance
  • Professional Equipment and Suppliers Lists
• Sub Module B – Supplies, Equipment and Product Comparisons
  • dryers
  • tables and loops
  • fixed restraints
  • pet support and positioning systems
  • clipper vacuum systems
  • shop set up
• Sub Module C – Professional Clippers and Blades
  • clipper and blade maintenance
  • blade size and purpose
  • clipper usage
  • comb attachments
• Sub Module D – Grooming Products
  • shampoos
  • conditioners
  • colognes
  • ear powders and cleansers
  • styptic powders and gels
  • clipper oils and coolants
• Sub Module E – What is a Matt?
  • dematting, detangling
  • clipping down
  • speed and matt combing
• Sub Module F – Brushing, Combing, Nail Trimming Techniques
  • wire slicker and pin brush
  • combing
  • nail clipping
• Sub Module G – New Grooming Products
  • tables – hydraulic, electric
  • dryers – high velocity, stand up, cage, compartment
  • bath aids – steps, ramps, lifts
  • bathtub units
  • groomer apparel
• Sub Module H – Clipper Maintenance Detail
  • illustrated step by step procedures
• Sub Module I – All About Shears
  • sizes, shapes, function
  • scissor pliers
  • scissoring methods and holding techniques
  • practice and strengthening exercises
  • convex or bevel edge
  • shear ergonomics
     

Module 3 – PROFESSIONAL PROCEDURES & SAFETY

• Sub Module A – Before the Bath
  • lifting and control techniques, small and larger dogs
  • patterns and styles
  • toenails, clipping, grinding, nail caps
  • ears, plucking and cleansing
  • excess coat removal
  • dematting, brushing, combing
  • clipper burn
  • areas of special concern
    • eyes, teeth, wrinkles, elbows, hocks,
      pasterns, anal sacs
       
• Sub Module B – Procedural Steps to Bathing
  • wetting, lathering, scrubbing
  • rinsing, conditioning, towel drying
  • bathing equipment
     

• Sub Module C – Procedural Steps to Finishing
  • drying - high velocity, fluff, cage
  • clipping, brushing, combing
  • finishing touches
  • coat oils and colognes
     

• Sub Module D – Grooming the Double Coats
  • shorter double coats, longer double coats
  • undercoat removal - the brush out
  • hair removal, pads, toes, feet, hocks
  • tidying feathers, undercarriage, tail
     
• Sub Module E – Hematoma
  • causes, prevention, treatment
     
• Sub Module F – Controlling Problem Dogs
  • identifying difficult dogs
  • handling methods
  • the importance of table size
  • passive or submissive posture
  • control and restraint
     

• Sub Module G – Grooming Shortcuts
  • hair removal
  • wet HVing
  • wet clipping
  • electrical safety precautions
     

• Sub Module H – Best Management Practices
  • how clean is clean?
  • disinfecting
  • sterilizing
  • read the label
  • antibacterial soaps
  • procedures
  • selecting the ideal disinfectants
     
• Sub Module I – Personal Safety Equipment
  • ear protection
  • eye protection
  • lung protection
  • skin protection
     

Module 4 – CURLY COATS

• Sub Module A – Poodles
• common clipper patterns for standard, miniature and toy poodles
• grooming detail - step by step
• hair growth, directional changes
• clipper control
• scissor blending, tapering, beveling
• clipping poodle feet - step by step
• face clipping - step by step
  • clean face
  • mustaches
• tail and undercarriage detail
• clipper dexterity
• scissor finishing
• poms – topknot, tail, leg poms
• show clips
  • Show Puppy, Continental, English Saddle, Lion
• line grooming the show poodle
   
• Sub Module B – Mixed Breeds
  • Cockapoo, Teripoo, Maltipoo, Pomapoo, Labradoodle, Goldendoodle
  • Daisy, Teddy Bear, Pantaloon, Mohawk
  • face, body and tail options
     

• Sub Module C – Bichon Frise
  • complete grooming detail
  • head and body styles
     
• Sub Modules D, E, F, G – Other Curly Coats
  • Portuguese Water Dog – Retriever Trim, Lion Trim
  • Old English Sheepdog – Full Coat, Cruiser Trim, Giant Teddy Trim
  • Irish Water Spaniel
  • American Water Spaniel
     
• Sub Module H – Patterns for Correcting Faults
  • short body, long body, bow legs, French front, cow hocks, overweight
     

Module 5 – HARSH COATS

• Sub Module A - Terriers
  • coat types
  • short legged terrier patterns
  • long legged terrier patterns
  • head and tail detail
    • head chart
    • tail chart
       
• Sub Module B – Pet Terrier Trims
  • grooming instruction for twenty common terrier breeds
    • Scottie
    • Wire Fox
    • Irish
    • Schnauzers – Miniature, Standard, Giant
    • Welsh
    • Airedale
    • Lakeland
    • Kerry Blue
    • Sealyham
    • Australian
    • Bedlington
    • Cairn
    • Dandie Dinmont
    • Westie
    • Soft-coated Wheaten
    • Norfolk
    • Norwich
       
• Sub Module C - Hand Stripping
  • overview, methodology, advantages, disadvantages
  • blown coats, hand plucking, rotating the coat
  • illustrated start to finish instruction
     
• Sub Module D – Illustrated Pet Grooming Comparisons
  • terrier grooming comparisons
  • pattern similarities and differences
    • an aid to instant terrier breed recognition and grooming
       
• Sub Module E – Terrier Heads and Bodies Simplified
  • four basic geometric head shapes
  • coat removal – too little, too much, just right
     
• Sub Module F – Other Harsh Coat Patterns
  • Affenpinscher
  • Brussels Griffon
  • Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
     

Module 6 – SPANIELS, SETTERS & OTHER DROPCOATS

• Sub Module A – Common Spaniel Trims
  • Cocker Spaniel
    • maintaining the full coat
    • Suburban trim
    • Smoothie
  • English Cocker Spaniel
  • English Springer Spaniel
  • Welsh Springer Spaniel
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • English Toy Spaniel
     
• Sub Module B – Setter Trims
  • history of each breed, and their roles today
  • Irish Setter – correct head, body, feathers & feet
  • Red & White Setter – correct head, body, feathers & feet
  • English Setter  – correct head, body, feathers & feet
  • Gordon Setter  – correct head, body, feathers & feet
     
• Sub Module C – Other Dropcoats – Complete Grooming Detail
  • line brushing
  • Lhasa Apso – 3 grooming styles
  • Havanese  - pet grooming, step-by-step
  • Coton de Tulear – pet grooming, step-by-step
  • Shih Tzu – 3 grooming styles
  • Yorkie – 3 grooming styles
  • Pomeranian – 3 grooming styles
     
• Sub Module D – Puppy’s First Groom
  • scheduling
  • first consultation
  • getting the job done
  • follow up
     
• Sub Module E – Grooming the Older Pet
  • the special needs of the geriatric dog
  • gentle, methodical hands on approach
  • comfort and safety
     

Module 7 – FELINE COAT CARE

• Sub Module A – Cat Coat Types
  • Domestic Short Hair
  • Domestic Long Hair
  • Angora
  • Cornish Rex
  • Wire-hair
  • Persian
  • Maine Coon
  • Devon Rex
  • Hairless
• Sub Module B – Parts of A Cat - Physiology
• Sub Module C – Parasite Recognition
• Sub Module D – Zoonoses
   

Module 8 – CAT TOOLS OF THE TRADE

• Sub Module A – Cat Specific Grooming Tools
  • brushes
  • combs
  • crates
  • harnesses
  • grooming bags
  • air muzzle
     
• Sub Module B – Cat Grooming Products
  • shampoos
  • conditioners
  • colognes
     
• Sub Module C – Matting in Cats
  • definition and remedies
     

Module 9 – CAT PROCEDURES, FIRST AID, TIPS & TIDBITS

• Sub Module A – Body Language, Facial Expression
  • control and restraint
  • groomer protection and handling procedures
    • protective gear
    • crating, holding, lifting

• Sub Module B –  Pre Bath Procedures
  • ear care
  • tidying excess foot hair
  • trimming claws
  • nail caps
  • control and restraint – muzzles, Elizabethan collars
  • brushing, combing, dematting
  • sanitary clip and tummy trim
  • areas of special concern
    • stud tail
    • eyes
    • mouth and teeth
    • facial creases
       
• Sub Module C – Bath Procedures
  • respiratory cautions
  • wetting, lathering, rinsing, toweling
  • bath alternatives
     
• Sub Module D – After Bath Procedures
  • drying
  • brushing, combing
     
• Sub Module E – Clipping Down – Common Trims
  • Comfort
  • Tiger
  • Mohawk
  • Smoothie
  • Lion
     
• Sub Module F – First Aid for Cats
  • heatstroke – prevention, symptoms, first aid
  • cardio pulmonary resuscitation – ABC’s for cats
  • choking – prevention, symptoms, first aid
  • controlling bleeding – minor to severe wounds,
    pressure points, tourniquets
  • sprains or fractures – dressings, splints, aftercare
     
• Sub Module G – Hints, Tips and Trade Secrets
  • face cleaning
  • eye stain
  • tar, pitch, gum, burrs
  • safe cat clipping
  • nicks, cuts, clipper burn
  • towel roll
• Sub Module H – Disinfectants & Pesticides
  • safe or toxic to cats?
     
• Sub Module I – Home Based and Housecall Grooming
  • benefits to cat and groomer
  • marketing and pricing
  • what to bring – items for your tack bag
  • Be prepared – common questions from cat owners
     

Module 10: THE BUSINESS OF PROFESSIONAL GROOMING

• Sub Module A – First Aid
  • heatstroke – prevention, symptoms, first aid
  • cardio pulmonary resuscitation – ABC’s for small,
    large, giant breeds
  • choking – prevention, symptoms, first aid
  • controlling bleeding – minor to severe wounds,
    pressure points, tourniquets
  • sprains or fractures – dressings, splints, aftercare
  • First Aid Kit
    • necessary items list
    • first aid book
       
• Sub Module B – Hints, Tips, Trade Secrets
  • stains, teeth, breath, foreign substances
  • fleas, odors, epilepsy
  • nicks, cuts, clipper burn
  • nail clipping, ear cleansing
  • tooth brushes, finishing blades
  • clipper lines, carding
  • foot detail – rounding techniques, toes and pads
  • hock hair, ear flaps
  • free handing with clippers
  • topknot tying, single and double
  • bows, barrettes, bandanas
    • make your own – simple instructions
  • creative grooming, colouring, nail polish, manic panic,
    blow pens
  • tools of the trade
     
• Sub Module C – Disinfectants and Pesticides
  • understanding labels
  • dilutions
  • disinfectant detergents
  • cost ratio – use/dilution
  • pesticides – in buildings, on animals
  • OSHA (Occupation Safety & Health Administration)
  • MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets)
     
• Sub Module D – Groomer Health and Safety
  • warming up
  • safe lifting
  • personal safety equipment
  • accident prevention
  • clean air
     

• Sub Module E – Salon Design and Floor Plans
  • salon design examples
    • single groomer
    • single groomer with retail sales area
    • two groomer
    • two groomer with retail sales area
    • multi groomers
    • multi groomers with retail sales area
    • a properly equipped, safety oriented, ergonomic salon
    • mobile units
  • salon layout and floor plans
     
• Sub Module F – Business Start Up
  • best business category for you - overview
  • home based, storefront, mobile, house call
  • business viability
  • use our calculators to determine your success (You won’t find these anywhere else in the pet grooming industry!)
    • business viability calculator (Excel and PDF formats)
      • use our exclusive formula to accurately calculate the viability of your business
    • start up cost calculator (Excel and PDF formats)
      • calculate total costs to start your business
    • profit calculator (Excel and PDF formats)
      • calculate the number of pets required each day to meet your profit margin, another JKL exclusive!
    • the business plan
      • our pet specific business plan template is designed to simplify the process of researching your business in a systematic way.
  • start up checklist
  • professional insurance
    • business income and extra expense
    • business and product liability
    • customer’s pets
    • professional liability
  • client relations
  • show me the money – rates, pricing, profits
  • marketing tips
  • pre designed customizable templates (a pet industry FIRST, and ONLY available at JKL!)
    • flyers with phone tags
    • window flyers
    • door hangers
    • business cards
    • letterhead
    • promotional graphics
    • vet referral cards
    • client referral rewards
    • client reminder card
    • next appointment card
    • CPR Wall Poster
  • client handouts:
    • flea info brochure
    • canine flu brochure
    • poisonous to pets handout
    • at home grooming care brochure
    • client record cards with release
    • matted pet release
    • senior pet release
    • pet sympathy cards
    • pet birthday cards
    • gift tags and certificates

(all our templates are print ready, and allow you to personalize all your professional details. Then just print out as many or as few as you need, as often as you need, changing any personal details whenever required)