Hi, I'm Stephanie Zikmann.
I created The Holistic Grooming Academy for dog lovers just like you...
Welcome to the academy and thank you so much for having an interest in our establishment.
Back in 2020, I decided to create a learning hub for professional groomers who were struggling with the demands of working with "difficult dogs".
After completing and obtaining certifications in safe handling, canine behaviour and psychology, I quickly realised there was much about the way groomers are initially taught that needed updated, including how we handle dogs to conduct basic grooming tasks.
I identified relatively quickly, that the majority of dogs who found grooming stressful didn't FEEL safe in the grooming environment.
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Dogs who didn't want to stand for prolonged periods of time and would constantly fight against restraining devices.
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Dogs who would constantly try to escape the bath or jump off of the grooming table despite the restraining devices they were attached to.
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Dogs who were known to growl, snap and even bite the groomer in an attempt to evade a specific grooming task.
Memberships & Awards
My Journey Thus Far
After completing my Level 3 OCN in Professional Grooming, I went on to obtain:
- Pet Ambassador Dog Training Instructor Certification
- Low-Stress Handling Silver Certification
- Level 5 in Canine Behaviour & Psychology and,
- Level 4 in Compassionate Handling with Toni Shelbourne
This gave me the insight to implement all I had learned into my approach to grooming dogs within a professional setting.
Over the next three years, I experimented with my approach while continuing to advance my skillset until I had built up enough experience and case studies to begin teaching others.
I have worked extremely hard to devise and create a very advanced course that fills the gaps of our industry and helps the professional groomer achieve more cooperation in their salons.
I've built up a positive reputation in this industry gradually but consistently, featuring in various media outlets as an "expert" in the field of 'Holistic Grooming' and behaviour and training within the context of grooming, specialising particularly in dogs with grooming-specific trauma.
Since beginning my career I have helped to rehabilitate over 300 dogs, and now work with clients from across the world in places like Canada, The Netherlands, Thailand and Australia!
For a while, I was the official grooming writer for Edition Dog Magazine while authoring three vocational books -
- The Magic of Holistic Grooming - a Number One Amazon Bestseller across seven different categories!
- I Can Be A Dog Detective! - a fun little Children's Picture Book all about safe dog interaction!
- A Teacher's Guide to Low-Stress Grooming - a visual reference manual that breaks down my approach for dog professionals!
I have won several awards via the Scottish Pet Industry Awards, LuxLife Awards, Animal Star Awards, Prestige Awards, Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Awards and Scotland's Business Awards.
I have been invited to attend BBC Studios to talk about therapy dogs and professional grooming as a guest in The Nine Show, and my advice continues to be published in many news publications, podcasts and events across the world.
My focus has always been that of welfare, and I am proud to be known less for my styling skills and more for my approach to working with animals in a way that they can feel safe.
As not only a professional groomer but an avid entrepreneur, I am passionate about education and it's really important to me that I continue to help and support each of my students through their studies in a way that reflects their own individual needs and goals.
The Holistic Grooming and Behaviour Diploma is not just an enhancer course for ambitious professional groomers, it is the foundation of a more animal-centred, welfare-based industry that considers grooming to be SO much more than simply, styling.
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