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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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, host Jo Wallace is joined by fellow Colin Taylor Brand Ambassadors Rebecca Duduid and Charlotte Pulling for an open, honest conversation about grooming competitions, teaching, and the power of community within the industry .

Rebecca and Charlotte share their personal journeys into competing, why they wish they’d started sooner, how competitions have helped build confidence, and what it’s really like stepping into the ring for the first time. The conversation also dives into tutoring and education, including their experiences teaching IPET qualifications, the benefits of one-to-one training, and preparing students for the realities of working in a busy salon environment .

Together, they discuss:

• Practical advice for groomers considering competitions

• Different competition classes and what to expect

• Managing nerves, imposter syndrome, and expectations

• The importance of feedback, experience, and enjoying the process

• How competitions, seminars, and workshops help combat isolation in a largely solo industry

  
  

  If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  
  

  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

Cat grooming has a reputation… and Lexie Goldsmith is here to set the record straight.

Jo Wallace is joined by Aussie cat groomer and educator Lexie Goldsmith to talk about what really makes cat grooming successful: understanding stress signals, adapting your approach to the individual cat, and building trust without over-handling. Lexie shares her journey from dog grooming into the cat world, why cats aren’t the “huge challenge” people assume, and how good training helps you spot problems before they become emergencies.

They dive into the big topics cat groomers need to know—when to refer to a vet, what to look out for in senior cats, how pain (especially arthritis) can show up as “spicy” behaviour, and why a gentle bath and blow-dry can sometimes be kinder than shaving. Plus: licky treats, LickiMats, Feliway, owner-assisted first grooms, and the truth about deshedding being one of the most satisfying parts of the job.

Lexie also introduces her new cat grooming education programme—created to raise standards, increase access to trained cat groomers, and reduce the need for sedated grooms at the vet.

Find Lexie's Courses here

Read Lexie's blog here.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 and Jo are joined by Caroline Donoghue aka the Love Mud Dog Lady for a behind-the-scenes chat about pet grooming, social media, and staying true to your lane.

Caroline is an award-winning, experienced dog groomer who runs Lovemud Dog Grooming in East Sussex. With 10 years’ experience, she’s proud to offer a unique 1:1 tailored grooming service that focuses on canine behaviour and welfare — prioritising happy, comfortable dogs over chasing “perfect” finishes.

Caroline also educates new groomers and dog owners through her social media platforms, where she has a 600k-strong following across channels. She’s known for streaming grooms live on TikTok 3–4 days per week, with viewers tuning in from all over the world to learn, laugh, and pick up practical grooming tips.

Find out More about Caroline ⁠here.⁠

In this episode, Caroline shares how she built her online community (including dealing with criticism and the dreaded “Sandras”), why she believes there’s room for everyone in the industry, and how she balances grooming with content creation and life behind the scenes. We also chat pricing, knowing your strengths, and why education should be welcoming — not shaming.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 is joined by Hayley, a groomer of nearly 16 years with a veterinary nursing background, to talk about building a salon that supports real life — fewer hours, fewer dogs, and better income. Hayley shares how she’s streamlined her workweek, improved pricing, and boosted turnover by introducing ultrasonic teeth cleaning as a popular add-on, while also educating owners on why oral health matters far beyond fresh breath.

The conversation also takes a heartfelt turn as they bond over resilience, single motherhood, and how tough life chapters can shape a stronger mindset and a more determined approach to business. Hayley reveals her exciting next step: launching “Confident Canine Oral Hygiene,” a business-in-a-box kit designed to help groomers add teeth cleaning properly, with training, marketing materials, and ongoing support. It’s a motivating episode about health-led grooming, smarter business choices, and creating freedom without burning out.

Join the waitlist here.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

It’s January, it’s freezing, and the cancellations are cancelling… so Jo and Lexi are jumping on for a quick New Year catch-up to reset the mindset and start the year strong.

They chat honestly about the January wobble (and how to stay positive when your diary suddenly empties), setting realistic goals, and turning unexpected gaps into something useful — from marketing and life admin to gym sessions and even cleaning the car. Lexi shares a big personal goal for the year, Jo talks business growth plans (including a “shop in the shop” and new packages), and together they revisit the iconic question: are you being a salmon… or an otter?

A cosy, motivational mini-episode to help you shake off the post-Christmas slump, refocus your energy, and glide into the new year with purpose.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 Groomer Community Podcast, Lexi is joined by Certified Money Coach (CMC)©️, cognitive hypnotherapist and money mindset specialist Fanny Snaith for an open and relatable conversation about money, habits, and self-belief.

They explore why so many business owners struggle financially despite earning well, and why money challenges are often rooted in mindset, childhood messages, and identity rather than numbers alone. Through honest reflection and real-life examples, the conversation covers debt cycles, spending habits, savings, pensions, and the emotional side of money that many people avoid talking about.

Fanny introduces the concept of the Money Types, helping listeners recognise what’s really driving their financial decisions and how to move towards more conscious, empowered choices. This episode is compassionate, practical, and reassuring — perfect for anyone who wants to feel more in control of their money without shame or overwhelm.

Find out more about Fanny Snaith here and take the Money Type Quiz to to discover the Money Archetypes that are currently your drivers.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 finally back together for a long-overdue catch-up, starting with a debrief of the Pet Pro Expo 2025 and why events like this are so important for pet professionals. They share their key takeaways on pricing, mindset, marketing, pensions, and running a sustainable business — not just surviving one.

The conversation quickly turns honest as they talk about rising costs, VAT pressure, constant price increases, and the reality of feeling financially stretched in the current climate. They discuss charging your worth, losing clients, and why putting prices up is no longer optional.

They also dive into December burnout, slipping boundaries, physical exhaustion, and the long-term impact grooming can have on your body and motivation. With humour and real talk, they explore burnout, diversification, and whether it’s okay to want something different after years in the industry.

A relatable, reassuring episode for any groomer or pet professional who’s feeling tired, stuck, or ready for change — and a reminder that you’re not alone.

If you have any comments, feedback or a funny story, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepetgroomercommunitypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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