How Did I Even Get Here?! Part 6

   Going into business for myself has been whirlwind #2 in this "Unleashed Life" of mine thus far. From the time I first "saw the sign" and my Mom said those fateful words, to the point The Unleashed Boutique was real and official, only 9 months had passed. I suppose it is fitting as it really was the start of a new life; something beautiful and exciting and scary.

   After I finished school my parents welcomed me home and let me set up shop in their garage. It was a garage like any other, full of gardening stuff, quads, paint, tools etc. It was a mess. I remember feeling a little unsure about the prospect of running a salon in the garage. I think at first I felt a bit like my parents weren't taking me seriously. Like I had just gone to school for a really expensive hobby that I would do on the weekends. In the early days after graduating grooming school (and honestly, even a little now) I struggled with feeling like people judged me for my choice in career. I know some did. I know that some people looked at me and saw someone who was just too dumb for university that she had to go into the dreaded "trade", and not even an important trade. My parents, however, were not these people. My Mom and Dad went so far beyond what I ever imagined they would do for me.

    By the time The Unleashed Boutique's one year anniversary came around, my Dad had completely refinished the garage / salon with a new floor, new walls, a raised tub for grooming and two new grooming tables. Almost all the usual garage stuff had been relocated and what was left was hidden inside some fancy new cabinets. People are always asking my dad what it's like to have been kicked out of his own garage. Dad just chuckles and smiles and I know every time I work on those tables he built me, and every time I use the tub he raised perfectly to my height, that my Daddy loves me and that I love him. 

                 

 Though my Dad did have the difficult job of turning the garage into a working salon, my Mom perhaps had the more daunting task of teaching me book keeping.  Not easy to do when your student is a grumpy dyslexic who has no idea of all the crap that goes on behind the scenes when running a business. She and I have this on going joke of how the devil comes upon me every time I do book keeping. It's not that its particularly hard, I just hate it. Thinking in numbers doesn't come naturally to me. Thanks to Mom's efforts though, I now have a pretty good handle on Simply Accounting and all the annoying things that must be done to run a business well. 

   At the end of year one I was doing 4 dogs a day and had almost 100 clients. By spring of year two I had over 100 clients, was servicing almost 200 dogs, and had to stop taking on new clients because my schedule was full. Year three came around and I hired a good friend of mine to come and be my grooming assistant so I could take on more dogs. We are now half way through year four and things are busy and crazy and great. 

   Honestly, I can't believe that it has only been four years since I started up. It feels like this is what I have done all my life. I set out on this journey looking for a career. What I picked up along the way was passion. Passion for nature. Passion for nurturing. Passion for dogs. Learning for learning sake never made sense to me until I went to grooming school. Suddenly now I want to learn everything I can about dogs just because I can. I learn about how their bodies work, how their brains work, about their body language, about their behaviour, their origins. Anything, everything, I want to know it all. I realize it is a strange thing to be passionate about, but I've found out that there are a lot of us out there. There is a whole community of people who see the unique beauty of these creatures and are equally as serious about learning about them, nurturing them, and protecting them.  

   I could never have guessed that this is the path God would have taken me on, but even now looking back I can see that point A led to point B which led to point C. This is where I am supposed to be, and along the way He has taught me many things. Just like my Dad working hard to turn the garage into a salon, God does not set me up for failure. He wants me to succeed just like my Dad does, and he provides me with what I need to be successful. Just like my Mom's endless patience, God is patient with me, teaching me through my mistakes. Just like I am with the dogs I groom, he never gives me more than I can handle. He will never stress me too the breaking point, and just like some parts of the groom are unpleasant, when I come out the other side I will be happier and healthier for it. God has shown me much much more then this and I hope to share it all with you, but for now,  you ask me how I got here? I suppose I will have to answer in overly dramatic fashion that it was written in the stars; it was meant to be and so it was. Some people may find the idea that there is a design to our lives disturbing. I find it incredibly exciting. Knowing that the only person I can ever truly trust, the only person who will ever love me truly and deeply has everything under control. "'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'''  Jeremiah 29:11. I'm sure these are the first of many whirlwinds I will have to weather during my lifetime, but I look forward to the surprises and unexpected possibilities. C. S. Lewis said "There are far greater things ahead then any we leave behind." I would have to agree!

How Did I Even Get Here?! Part 5

   So off to school I was. Mom and I made the 12 hour drive in my teensy tiny car. It was an uneventful drive, with the exception of one minor incident in which my mother panicked about the oncoming ambulance two blocks away and pulled some sort of action movie sequence which resulted in my car getting the sense knocked out of it by the curb. Thankfully my car had just been concussed and wasn't actually broken, so we arrived safely at my biggest brothers house.

   The next day was my first day of class and I was so incredibly excited! Unfortunately I was also so incredibly sick. Somewhere between home and school I had picked up a nasty bug. Driving to my first day of class was…interesting, and I remember praying that I wouldn't pass out. As I walked in I was greeted by Tera, the instructor I had talked to on the phone. I was told to choose a station which consisted of a grooming table, and stool, and a tall plastic organizer.

   After everyone was seated, Tera welcomed us all to Western Dog Grooming School, and proceeded to tell us her life story. And what a life she had had! I was shocked that she would tell us, complete strangers, such privet detail about herself. I soon found out that this lady was just an amazing person. She is a lady with a big heart that accepts everyone for who they are with out judgment and expects others to do the same. I was very privileged to have had her for an instructor. We then introduced ourselves, though not to the extent that Tera had, and our equipment was passed out to us. After all kinds of "house keeping", she brought in a Yellow Lab and began to demonstrate how to properly and safely give a bath, as well as how the shampoos and conditioners work.

   This whole time, though I was very interested, I was feeling steadily worse. As soon and the bathing demo was done, I ran to the bathroom and threw up. When I came out Tera looked at me and said "You don't look very good." Somehow I drove myself home, crawled into bed and slept straight until the next morning. I survived off grapes and carrots for the first month of school because for some reason, that is all my stomach would let me eat!

   So this is how my school worked. Western Dog Grooming School is situated in an actual working grooming salon, meaning that we got to work on dogs from the get go. We had two instructors as well as a helper of sorts. Tera was the main instructor, but twice a week Kat came in to teach us the show grooming side of dog grooming, usually bringing a dog to demo.

 Monday to Thursday were practical days in which we would groom dogs up to the level we had been taught, and then the instructors would finish the dogs off and the owners would pay half price for the groom.

                                    


 Friday was theory day on which we learned grooming techniques, patterns, how to read dogs, as well as memorizing every dog and their characteristics in the Canadian Kennel Clubs Terrier, Non-Sporting, Sporting, Working Dog, and Toy groups. This means that Tera would say "What terrier is 12-14" in size, can have cropped ears or un-cropped ears, and comes in salt and pepper, black and silver, or solid black.?" And we would answer, "Miniature Schnauzer". We also learned about K9 health including vaccinations, disease, allergies, oral health, parasites, first aid ect. In addition to everything we had to learn for school, some of us chose to learn extra so that we could take the tests to get certified through what was called then the Canadian Professional Groomers and is now called the Canadian Professional Pet Stylists. As you can imagine school is a blur for me. I made some friends and had a lot of fun, and by the end of three months (yes, THREE MONTHS!) I was a professional groomer, a certified Professional Pet Stylist and was heading home to start up my own business, The Unleashed Boutique!

This is almost the end of the story, but not quite. Check back for "How Did I Even Get Here?! Part 6"

 

How Did I Even Get Here?! Part 4

   The weeks turned into months and the hours of "grooming experience" were adding up. I printed off another application and as I read through the questions for the second time, I suddenly saw myself the way Scary Dane Lady saw me. Why in the world would she think I would make a good groomer? There was nothing about me, past or present, that could prove that I was serious about this. The first question on the application was "Why do you want to become a groomer?". How was I supposed to answer that in a way that exuded confidence? "I don't really know why, it just feels right  :) " Scary Dane Lady was not going to approve me for her school, no matter how many volunteer hours I had, she just didn't want me. Truthfully, I didn't really want to be her student. Something told me that her and I were not very compatible. She probably would have crushed me under her hulking personality.

   There was nothing for it but to search for a different school. Google search did not disappoint and we found another grooming school located 10 minutes away from my other brothers place. I got in touch with the instructor via e-mail and she sent me all the school info. When I read that she also required a personal interview, I decided it would be easier to explain to her by phone rather then e-mail why flying down again for another interview probably wouldn't work. I picked up the phone and dialled the number, silently praying that I wouldn't make a fool out of myself. After about 30 seconds of talking I was pleasantly surprised to find that she was a normal person! She wasn't self important or condescending. When I explained to her that I had just flown down for an interview a few months earlier and didn't think I was going to be able to make the trip again so soon, she surprised me by saying "Oh that's fine, I can just give you the interview over the phone!"As she asked me questions, I found that I could answer them with ease and confidence, and when we came to the end of the interview she said "Well great! I'm looking forward to meeting in the fall and if you have any more questions feel free to call or e-mail." WHAT?! That's it?! After all that fretting and after all that work, a few emails and a phone call and I'm in?

   Mom was a little scepticle too. She went off and called up past students too get the low down. Every single person she called raved about the school and about the instructors. So, I sent the cheque off in the mail, bought the text books, put in my notice at work and made arrangements to stay with my big brother and his family. I was off to Western Dog Grooming School!

This is not the end of the story, but it's a long story. Check back for How Did I Even Get Here?! Part 5
If you missed it here is Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

How Did I Even Get Here?! Part 3

   I must admit, being rejected from a grooming school because I "didn't have enough grooming experience" was disheartening. I was frustrated. How was I supposed to get grooming experience without being taught how to groom?

   Back at home, I took my resume into the only grooming salon I knew of and applied for the bather/brusher position. Whoever it was at the front desk (possibly the owner) read my resume, looked me in the eye…. and scoffed. I can't remember exactly what was said but it was condescending and just plain rude. I could feel my face grow hot and my pulse race as I watched her raise her eyebrows and smirk at my hopes and dreams. I left outraged. What is wrong with these people? Is everyone in the grooming world arrogant, rude, and completely self involved?! Luckily, my ever wise mother suggested the completely obvious solution of volunteering at our local SPCA. Of course! Why didn't I think of that? Probably because I was too busy being pissed off at all the injustice keeping me from my goals that it didn't even cross my mind to volunteer my time to help others. Oh dear, maybe I fit into the dog grooming world better then I thought.

   The SPCA welcomed me with open arms and I started volunteering a few hours a week to brush and bathe some of the dogs. From the first day I could tell that this was going to be quite the experience. There were no tubs, no tables, and nowhere to tether a dog. I was directed to a kennel and given towels, soap, a hose, and a Husky. After a failed attempt to make friends with the Husky, I decided to just get it over with. Mr. Husky took to the water like oil, and the next hour was spent chasing him around the kennel, hose in hand while I pleaded desperately for him to just hold still so we could be done. By the end of it we were both exhausted, soaked, and relieved to be out of each others company.

   +10 experience points.

   Despite the fact that volunteering to do the bathing and brushing at the shelter was, at the very least, inefficient and tremendously uncomfortable, I did learn a lot. I learned that Huskies will scream bloody murder if you try to get them wet. I learned that a Yorkie can, and will, climb all the way up your chest and down your back to escape a bath. I learned that a lonely dog doesn't care if you have a brush in hand if you would only allow them to curl up in your lap. I learned that understanding, patience, and preparedness are essential when working with dogs. Mostly though, I gained a greater respect for the people who work at our rescue organizations. There is no doubt about it, they are super heroes. It is not by any means a glamorous job, but all the hours of training, caring, cleaning and dealing with crazy people who want to give up their dog because it didn't come potty trained, after all of it, at the end of the day they've helped a heart find it's home.

  Several of the staff and volunteers are now my clients. I still volunteer my services to our SPCA and give monthly donations. I find myself surprisingly, but not regretfully, thankful to Scary Dane Lady for sending me away to meet those wonderful people and precious animals.
 
This is not the end, but it's a long story. This is just intermission. Check back for "How Did I Even Get Here?! Part 4". Here is Part 1, and Part 2.

How Did I Even Get Here?! Part 2

   Here enters the most intimidating woman I have ever met in my years. She will henceforth be referred to as "Scary Dane Lady". Why is she the most intimidating woman I have ever met? Because she is 10 feet tall, built like a lumberjack and is flanked by two Great Danes.

   I arrive at the grooming school with my posse ( Mom, Dad, Sister-in-law) and there is nobody in sight. Noise is coming from behind a dutch door beside the reception desk, so I walk over and give it a timid knock. The top half opens to reveal Scary Dane Lady, an obviously active grooming salon and two very large Great Danes. Maybe I was naive to think that this would be a formal interview; that my posse would greet Scary Dane Lady and then she would ask me to step into a quieter, more privet area to conduct the interview. After all, I had made a special plane trip specifically for this interview at this woman's request. Instead she greeted me and then immediately sat back down at her grooming table where she was working on a dog. Shocked, I just stood there. I had no idea what she wanted me to do. Was I supposed to wait until she was done the dog? Did she want me to come in? But she hadn't asked me to come in! Finally she said something to the lines of "Well come on in then!" and, "Don't worry, they're friendly. Getting past the Dane's is the first test! HaHAAH!". Scary Dane Lady obviously thought that I was nervous of her dogs and that's why I hadn't come in. I wasn't scared of the Danes, I just hadn't understood that her "Hello! I'm Scary Dane Lady, nice to meet you" followed by a hasty retreat was apparently her way of inviting me to come in and make myself at home.

   So, there I was, standing awkwardly in the middle of the salon while Scary Dane Lady whittled away on the dog and her assistant dried another with a very loud drier. This is where she proceeded to tell me all about how hard grooming is.
   SDL- "Grooming is not for everyone. It's very physically hard work. Sometimes I make my students run around the block. Do you work out? Are you in a sport or something?"
    Me-"No I don't, I was in sports in school but that's about it."
 
   Awkward silence.
 
   SDL- "Grooming means that you will be handling dogs all day long. You have to know what you're doing, and you will probably get bit, scratched, peed on and pooped on." *Waits for response*
   Me- "….o..ok"

    Awkward silence.

    SDL-"Do you have any experience handling dogs?"
   Me-"Well I grew up with dogs and the dog I have now, I trained her myself, and I had never trained a dog before. I'm very comfortable around dogs."
   SDL-"So you don't have any grooming experience?"
   Me-"….no."
 
   The entire interview went on like this while Scary Dane Lady continued to groom, her assistant continued to dry with the loud drier, and the Danes wondered around like giant shadowy spectres . After a confusing 15 minutes of hearing all the cons of grooming and answering questions only to be given an "Are you serious?" look,  Scary Dane Lady said goodbye and that she'd let me know by the end of the day if she thought I was right for her school. Then she continued on with her groom and we let ourselves out.

   Everything Scary Dane Lady had said was totally correct, but the whole thing had just been so bazzar and not anything like what I had imagined. Needless to say I wasn't very surprised when I got the call letting me know that I had not been accepted into the school and that I was to get more experience and then try again.

This is not the end of the story, but it's a long story. This is just intermission. Check back for "How Did I Even Get Here?! Part 3". If you missed Part 1 you'll find it here.

How Did I Even Get Here?! Part 1

  When I first started up, people would ask what made me decide to become a groomer. Truth is, I have no clue. There was no growing love of all things grooming, no Ah-Ha! moment, not even a stray thought remotely close to it. I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life. All I knew is that I hated school and did not want to go from high school right into college or university.

  Graduating was the most exciting and terrifying thing I've done thus far. Graduating felt so final. Like the end of the world as I knew it; and I was completely ill-prepared for the new world I was being released into. Was I supposed to be independent now? Was I supposed to move out and get a job? Was I supposed to go to college? Wasn't I supposed to have everything together by now?! I remember crying when I turned 18 a few months after graduation, because at least I had been 17. Adulthood was coming on fast and the pressure was crushing me.
 
   It took some time, but I finally started to acclimate. I lived at home and got a job in retail while all the geniuses I had graduated with went on to change the world through academia. One day, in the spring of 2010, I was given a sign.  My Mom and I were running errands. As we drove by the local pet store, a large sign was positioned so driver's could easily read it. "Experienced groomer wanted". My Mother turned to me and said the 5 words that changed my life and filled me with the one thing I craved most…direction. "You'd be good at that." That's all she said, and thank God she did!  I don't remember thinking "Perfect! I will be a groomer!" I just couldn't get what my Mom had said to stop resounding inside my head. When we got home I immediately got on the computer to do some research. This completely random career was acctually something that I could envision myself doing and even enjoying!

    After doing some research I found that there were a lot of online courses, a lot of correspondence courses, but only a few schools. I'm sure there are people out there who can learn dog grooming online and stay motivated to do their work under their own steam; that person is not me. Plus, it just made sense to me to learn a hands on skill in a hands on way. There was nothing keeping me from going to school; nothing to tie me down. I found a school in the BC lower mainland that just happened to be a 5 minute drive from my brothers place. I mailed off my application and in a week or so I was asked to come in for a face to face interview. Now, I live 12 hours away by car and 2 hours away by plane from this school; but sure! I'll just pop over for an interview! However my exceptionally supportive parents decided it was a good excuse to visit my brothers and their families. So we booked the interview and hopped on the plane.

   This is not where the story ends, but it's a long story. So this is intermission. Check back for How Did I Even Get Here ?! Part 2.

Welcome to The Unleashed Life!

   Hello, and welcome to my ramblings, rants, and observations on life, dogs, life with dogs, and anything in-between! 

   My name is Amy. I am a professional dog groomer, certified dog trainer, a small business owner, and, really just an over-all dog enthusiast. "Crazy dog lady" if you will. I'm hoping to use this blog to write about my adventures as a groomer who is still learning new things everyday, and maybe  give some insight to fellow K9 lovers through my bumbling efforts. 

   I am also a Christian. Since I've started up my grooming business I've been thinking about how my efforts can also be used to reach people; not to "evangelize", but just to love people the way I know my God loves me. Still haven't completely figured that one out. I'm hoping that while sharing my struggle with you the reader, I might be able to better understand things myself. 

   So, it should be fun! I can't wait to get started and I hope you enjoy reading about my Unleashed Life!