About
The Irish Professional Dog Groomers Association
The association was founded in 1995 .
Our aims were and are to promote better communication between professional groomer’s,
to encourage our members to improve their skills and to establish better public relations.
In the few years we have been established we certainly have achieved one goal, now we have groomers talking to each other
It can be a lonely profession and to just know there is some one at the end of the phone who knows your frustrations, may have tips on dealing with that problem or can cover your clients if you need to take time off is indeed a comfort.
Very few have walked away from a seminar we have held with out learning some little tip or a different way to approach something. In our profession styles and methods are always changing subtly and our seminars help to keep the members up to date with the trends.
Being an All-Ireland organisation there is a good chance that if your dog requires a groomer and are unable to make it to your usual salon, or are new to the scene, we can supply you with the telephone number of a member near you.
We have so far been unable to establish a recognised Grooming Qualification in Ireland, up to 2003, any-one interested in achieving a qualification in grooming needed travel to training centres in England.
2003 changed all that. With a lot of hard work and effort put in by both committee members and candidates we managed to hold the first City and Guilds 7750 Dog Grooming exam here. This was very successful with the candidates and their dogs receiving an acknowledgement by the examiners for achieving the highest pass rate in a group. Not everyone passed all their dogs first go, it is a very tough exam but no one was too disappointed. We now have several members who hold the City & Guild 7750 qualification and one who has gone further and now holds the Advanced Grooming Diploma, a more detailed and technical set of exams. A number of Irish groomers are currently working towards this qualification also.
For those not driven towards exams, yet, we try to hold seminars about four times a year. These are filled with grooming demonstrations, where we invite top British groomers over to demonstrate for us or use our own excellent home grown talent, a variety of breeds and cross breeds are used some in traditional trims, sometimes a little more creative styling is designed. We also include informative talks and information on any new equipment or products or services that may have become available on the Irish market and usually have some trade stands. Delegates are often encouraged to attend our “coaching” sessions with their own {or client’s} dogs to gain valuable hands-on experience from visiting groomers
In October we culminate our year by holding the Irish Dog Grooming Championships this is a grooming competition where the competitors are allotted a time-span in which to complete their dogs.
We have three basic disciplines in dog grooming, scissoring, clipping and hand stripping, to be eligible for the title of Irish Groomer Of The Year a competitor must compete in two of the three disciplines.
You don’t have to have two dogs to compete, a single / individual class is also available.
There is also a separate class for newcomers to competition, this class only requires one dog to be completed in whichever discipline preferred.
Why Get your Dog Groomed?
Regular grooming promotes healthier skin and coat as well as contributing to their general well being. Regular grooming also can keep parasites at bay or at best eliminate them totally, as early detection will be a lot easier to deal with rather than a major infestation
A competent Professional Groomer will, hopefully, pick-up on any lumps or bumps that may need veterinary attention at some stage.
As your groomer gets to know your dog through the years she/ he will notice if your dog is off form or any general changes in character and can help in liaisons with your vet if needed.
Regular grooming also leaves you with an attractive clean, happy dog, which loves being handled and groomed.
Thinking of a career in Dog Grooming ?
When souring a training centre, enquire about the qualifications your tutor holds. The ONLY qualifications available to dog groomers are :
- City & Guilds Dog Grooming 7750
- Advanced Dog Grooming Diploma
It is in your interest to train with some one who has one or both of the above qualifications, to ensure the content of your training is of the highest standard.
Are you looking for a dog groomer for your pet ?
All groomers should include as part of their service:
- Full dematting {detangling} and de-shedding of long and semi-long haired dogs
- Bathing and drying
- General health check i.e.: skin conditions, evidence of ear & eye problems, evidence of parasites e.g. fleas, ticks& lice, lumps or tumours needing veterinary attention
- Clean/ trim genital areas
- Nail care
- Ear care {cleaning and plucking as necessary}
- Clipping & trimming
Ask your groomer if he or she offers extra services such as :
- Hand stripping of suitable coats
- Flea / tick treatments
- Empting of anal glands
- Show trimming and preparation