The Pet Groomer Community Podcast

In this episode of the Pet Groomers Community Podcast, Jo Wallace is joined by Lucy Hoile, feline behaviourist, for a fascinating conversation about the link between cat grooming, stress and behaviour.

http://www.lucyhoile.co.uk/

Together, they explore why some cats become fearful or aggressive during grooming, how negative experiences with brushes, clippers or restraint can affect behaviour, and why patience, choice and gentle handling matter so much. Jo and Lucy also discuss the challenges of grooming long-haired breeds, senior cats, overweight cats and rehomed cats, as well as the importance of educating owners before matting becomes a serious welfare issue.

The conversation also covers practical advice for groomers and cat owners, including how to introduce brushing and clippers positively, how to recognise signs of stress, and how to create a more cat-friendly grooming experience. Lucy also shares helpful tips on introducing cats into homes with dogs or other cats, making this a really valuable episode for both professionals and pet owners alike.

A thoughtful and informative episode packed with insight into feline behaviour, cooperative grooming and building trust with cats.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please make sure you subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review to help others find our podcast.

As always, we are grateful to our show sponsor, Pet Passion To Profit. A business coaching company for pet groomers. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.petpassiontoprofit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this heartfelt episode of the Pet Groomer Community Podcast, Lexi is joined by fellow groomer Penny Burley for an honest conversation about burnout, bravery, and building a new life through dog grooming. Penny shares how she left a long career in emotionally demanding public sector roles after reaching rock bottom, and how retraining as a dog groomer gave her the fresh start she desperately needed.

Together, Lexi and Penny talk about what it really feels like to change careers later in life, open a salon from scratch, and step away from the safety of a regular salary. Penny opens up about the fears, financial pressure, and mindset challenges she faced in those early months, as well as how mentoring, coaching, and community support helped her grow both personally and professionally.

This episode goes far beyond business. Lexi and Penny dive into self-worth, people-pleasing, money shame, journaling, burnout prevention, and learning to create a business that works for your life, not the other way round. They also share some of the books, tools and mindset shifts that have helped them feel more confident, more in control, and more deserving of success.

It’s an inspiring listen for any groomer who has ever doubted themselves, struggled with pricing, felt trapped in the wrong career, or wondered whether a better way of living and working is really possible.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please make sure you subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review to help others find our podcast.

As always, we are grateful to our show sponsor, Pet Passion To Profit. A business coaching company for pet groomers. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.petpassiontoprofit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Lexi and Jo are back with a big life and business catch-up in this episode of the Pet Groomer Community Podcast. Lexi shares the exciting news that she’s taking the leap from home grooming into a new salon space, opening up fresh opportunities for table renters, training, and future business growth.

Jo talks through the realities of running and expanding a salon, building a supportive team, and creating opportunities for other groomers — while also sharing the exciting news of her Business Leader award nomination.

There’s plenty of honest chat about growth, confidence, business decisions, pricing, training, and what it really looks like to build a grooming career that works for your life. Plus, there’s a lovely surprise appearance from Bex, making this a special catch-up episode full of encouragement and exciting next steps.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please make sure you subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review to help others find our podcast.

As always, we are grateful to our show sponsor, Pet Passion To Profit. A business coaching company for pet groomers. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.petpassiontoprofit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of The Pet Groomers Community Podcast, Jo Wallace sits down with award-winning groomers Jordan Fletcher of Diamonds in the Rough Pet Spa and Jo Tofts of Happy Hounds Dog Spa to talk all things grooming competitions.

If you’ve ever considered entering a competition but felt intimidated, this conversation offers an honest and refreshing look at what it’s really like. The girls share how they got started, what the different classes actually mean, and how the journey from beginner to Open level really feels. They talk openly about the nerves, the pressure, the mistakes, and the moments where things don’t go to plan, including everything from forgotten tails to competition-day disasters.

They also explore the difference between show ring grooming and competition grooming, explaining why precision, finish and presentation matter so much in the competition ring, and how learning structure and conformation can completely change the way you approach a groom. For those wondering whether you need your own dog to compete, they share practical insight into coat maintenance, prep work and the realities of balancing pet clients with competition ambitions.

Beyond the rosettes, this episode highlights something even more important: community. Both Jordan and Jo speak passionately about how competing helped them build friendships, develop confidence, and grow not just as groomers but as professionals. The message throughout is clear: competing isn’t just about winning. It’s about learning, pushing yourself, finding your style, and surrounding yourself with people who raise your standards.

There’s also plenty of laughter along the way, touching on pricing, salon life, show schedules, exotic animals, and a few stories that perfectly capture the chaos and camaraderie of the grooming world.

If you’re thinking about stepping into the competition ring, their advice is simple: just go for it.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please make sure you subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review to help others find our podcast.

As always, we are grateful to our show sponsor, Pet Passion To Profit. A business coaching company for pet groomers. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.petpassiontoprofit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week on The Pet Groomer Community Podcast, Lexi is joined by Emma Betts who is a former veterinary nurse, long-time salon owner, and now coach inside Bill Betts’ Pet Groomer Business Programme.
Emma shares how her veterinary background shapes her approach to grooming, from understanding oral health and skin conditions to knowing when something needs monitoring versus a vet referral. They chat about teeth cleaning, practical product knowledge, retail opportunities, and how groomers can confidently support clients without overstepping professional boundaries.
The conversation also dives into the realities of running a salon, including employment, HR responsibilities, contracts, and the importance of having the right support in place. Emma speaks honestly about the physical toll of grooming, the challenges of employing staff, and why being a professional business owner means knowing when to delegate.
There’s plenty of reassurance for solo groomers too, from overcoming perfectionism to building confidence in your work. Plus a refreshing reminder that we don’t have to figure everything out alone.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please make sure you subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review to help others find our podcast.

As always, we are grateful to our show sponsor, Pet Passion To Profit. A business coaching company for pet groomers. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.petpassiontoprofit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠