The Grooming Pad

My Name is Ann Collins (Mc Keon) I originally trained in The London Academy of Canine Beauticians, in London way back in 1982, When I spent three months, learning to wash, dry, trim, style, clip, hand-strip, clip nails, clean ears, express glands and much more for all breeds of dogs, under the watchful eye of Gill East who is a member of the Guild of Master Groomers and a City & Guilds examiner.  In 2007 I successfully obtained my advanced City and Guilds Certification and I have since completed and passed my Airedale Terrier and Bichon Frise in the Higher Diploma in Dogs grooming. I have recently obtained my LCGI.

In 1982 I opened my original shop Dogsbody in Donnybrook after my training, But in 1991 I then got married to a wonderful man and had 4 lovely children, I subsequently left Dogsbody after I trained the present owner Suzanne O'Sullivan Who has gone on to complete her training by obtaining her Higher Diploma in Dog Grooming.

I returned to the grooming industry to a business I loved from the very bark, now that my children are in full time education, living locally in Blackrock, I own one lovely black Lab, and yes I do bring her down to the shop occasionally for a wash and dry.  In the past I have shown such dogs as Afghan hounds, Retrievors, German shepherds and Dobermans Having grown up around horses and dogs, dog grooming was the next obvious step for me. I not only groom dogs for a living, but because I love it and working with an untidy dog, helping it to looks and feel its best is a great feeling. Remember a happy customer is the best recommendation you could ask for.

'BIG AND SMALL, I GROOM THEM ALL'

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

2006 Pre city & guilds intensive instruction by Heidi Anderson of Absolutely Animals in London, England. Winner of The Groomer of the Year 2004 and member of the Guild of Master Groomers

2007 Prior to my Advanced exams, I furthered my grooming education, with Gill East, Canine Comforts Master groomer and member of the guild of master groomers in America and also a City & Guilds examiner.

2008 Recently I have completed a course with Zoe Duffy who specialises in Styling Bichons, Zoe is now the European Groomer of the year 2008 and winner of two classes with the Irish professional dog groomers championship in 1999, Zoe has been Junior and overall Groomer of the Year once, and runner up Groomer of the Year 3 times. She achieved
the gold medal at Intergroom USA and got placed first at Progroom, Eurogroom and the Ireland Championships. Zoe
has twice won Best All Round Groomer at Professional Groomers in 2003 and again at the end of 2006, and in 2004 &
2005 she won for Best Bichon

Joanne Angus has been grooming for 27 years and teaching for 15 years. She is City & Guilds qualified, Joanne also has her City
& Guilds 730 Teaching Certificate and is a founder member of the Guild of Advanced Groomers, is also a Eurogroom Champion and Groomer of the Year 1991 and 2001. having achieved the Gold Medal at Intergroom USA and has been placed first at Progroom, Eurogroom and Professional
Groomers competitions.