Abbfabb Academy of Dog Grooming Training is proud to present our forthcoming seminar on Scissoring and Shaping in conjunction with Abbfabb Grooming Scissors.
Our professional and experienced demonstrators will be offering you:
- A step by step guide as each trim unfolds
- Explaining each shaping and styling method used.
- The grooming tools which are being used and why.
- How the grooming products can help enhance grooming and styling.
First Demonstrator:
Sharon Walton will be our Bichon Frise demonstrator. She will be trimming a pet trim and a show trim on two of her beautiful dogs:
“Hi I’m Sharon Walton and started showing Newfoundland’s in 2005, enjoying the grooming side I enrolled in a Grooming Course at AbbFabb with Eve in 2007.
After only 29 days of the course Eve had entered me in Oyster Career Start Grooming Competition with a Scottish Terrier called Ellie which I went on to win.
Then in the Intermediate Class scissoring a Bichon Frise x Jack Russell called Pepsi and of course Ellie I was placed. Then with the same dogs in 2008 in the Advanced Class
I fell in love with the Bichon Frise and the joy of sculpture scissoring when grooming Pepsi , so brought my first Bichon , I now have six with multiple Stud Book numbers and two Champions with one gaining the ultimate award Best of breed at Crufts 2023.
I handcraft and market my own Pet Shampoo and Conditioner range called Nevek, these will be on sale at the seminar
Looking forward to seeing you all Sharon “
Second demonstrator:
Anne Crocker who will be bringing two Standard Poodles. She will put one into a German Trim and the other into a show trim and hopefully she will show how to do a sprayed-up top knot.
Anne’s information is below.......
“My first experience with a Standard Poodle was at aged 5 when we boarded a bus on holiday in Devon. This huge, gentle Standard climbed up onto the long seat of the bus next to me and happily sat with me for the whole journey. Such a vivid memory of that coat texture and his general personality stayed with me.
Fast forward to me aged 30....I generally love all dogs and after having many rescued Greyhounds and Lurchers and working for rehoming as a volunteer, I found myself in a position to finally have a Standard Poodle Puppy. Never having any intention of showing, I was disappointed and shocked at the local grooming salons and how the dogs were handled and restrained.
I elected to learn myself and spent a week at “Clip Better” in Melksham where I was given basic information and support to achieve a reasonable level of presenting my dog. I have attended other seminars and support sessions across the years and believe grooming is a constant journey where we grow, learn and develop skills.
As a practicing Senior Nurse and Professional Practice Educator working in Specialist Palliative Care, my dogs provide essential outside interests and “down time”. During the COVID Pandemic being able to walk/interact and groom my dogs provided the escape and resilience from such a challenging workload.
We have also attended Obedience, Scent work and Hoopers as well as Open and Championship shows and done reasonably well over the years. Showing is a hobby for me, my demanding job has always restricted how many shows I can attend and how far I can travel. I have had my fair share of grooming disasters, but I always try to do my girls justice and present them to my best ability. I believe in presenting the dog in the best physical and mental condition as well as “decoratively”. We also enjoy walking, swimming (yes in the sea) and exercise which makes the dog fit for function and healthy and happy.
I have had the privilege of advice from many really talented groomers over the years. I have also used the book “ Poodle Clipping and Grooming, an International Reference” by Shirlee Kalstone as my go to text. I always advise those starting out to find a picture of a specific groom/shape they admire and aim to replicate it through practice and perseverance.
I have kept varied numbers of dogs across the years the maximum being 6. I now have 2, Mother and Daughter “
Third Demonstrater:
Kirstan Powell will be joining us and will be demonstrating a full hand scissoring of a Cavachon.
Kirstan says;
I’d spent many years in retail before opening my own coffee shop which was very successful. I sold that and moved on to do something I'd always wanted to do which was to open my own pet shop.
This again was and still is very successful but I wanted to do more with dogs, having had short haired GSD’s all my life I didn't really have a clue about where to start grooming dogs. So off to Abbfabb Academy I went.
I started my grooming training with Eve back in 2013, completing my Level 3 and Diploma and she's been stuck with me ever since.
I have tutored at Abbfabb 1 day a week for 10 years now becoming a hopefully much loved part of the furniture alongside the day to day running of my own busy little grooming salon above my pet shop which my partner runs, and we're both very proud of the fact that in these challenging times we're still a thriving independent business “
Our host Eve Somers:
I have been grooming for more years than I care to remember and I hold all recognised grooming qualifications and have been a member of the Guild of Master Groomers. I have been a City and Guilds Level 3 examiner for over 15 years and a senior examiner for the Higher Diploma for 10 years. Abbfabb Academy was established in 1991.
I breed and successfully show Kerry Blue Terriers and I am a show judge.
I will be trimming my male Kerry Blue Oz into a show trim...ready for Crufts !!!!
Our guest demonstrator Sian Somers of Abbfabb Grooming Scissors will be giving a talk on scissor problems. There will be a in depth discussion focusing on locking teeth on fluffers, chunkers and blender, checking adjust scissor tension and how to prevent similar problems from occurring.
Our guest Scissor Sharpener Andrew of the Gay Blade Professional Sharpening Services, will be available to sharpen your grooming scissors and blades on the day, but be quick because he gets very busy.
Trade Stands include:
- Sian Somers from Abbfabb Grooming Scissors
- Trudi Baird with her fantastic Diggory range of hand made collards, leads and canine accessories.
- Olivia George will have a great range of dried dog treats on her stand.
- Sharon she will be bringing her Nevek shampoo and conditioner range on sale.
Ticket price is £80 so to save your spot, send your email address to evesgrooming@icloud.com and following the instructions provided.