SIDNEY – Sidney now has its own pet grooming school with the new addition to 4 Paws Grooming Spa & grooming academy located at 428 Main Street.
Owner Vonda Coverstone recently celebrated 4 Paws Grooming Spa’s 10 year anniversary in April while simultaneously opening the new academy. In 2005, she was certified from the Dayton Academy of Grooming, and then furthered her education by becoming a certified course instructor this year through the State Board of Career Colleges, in Columbus.
Coverstone said 4 Paws Grooming Spa is the only grooming academy in the area; others in Dayton and Lima have closed.
“There is a great need for this and certified groomers. All of the people would have gone to Dayton, but now the closest is two hours away in Toledo,” she said.
Coverstone says that she loves to work with animals and becoming friends with their “parents” has made it such a “rewarding career.”
“I have met a lot of the families and we have become very close. The animals are kind of like grand-kids. They come here and I get to spend time with them and the breeds I can’t have and then send them home,” said Coverstone of fulfilling her desire to have more or other animals she cannot have.
The course was modeled after her existing teaching methods for new groomers, and now Coverstone has the ability to bestow certificates of grooming training upon completion of the three month course.
“Students will learn basic grooming with high quality hands on instruction,” Coverstone states in her schooling brochure. “The ultimate goal for the student is successful completion of the program and have skill based experience that will support the student’s goals for the future.”
The class schedule is flexible for suiting a full-time or part-time student to complete the required 400 hours of classes.
Full-time classes are 30 hours per week, Tuesday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Part-time classes are 2o hours per week, Tuesday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m or 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students who successfully complete all 400 hours will receive the certificate of completion.
In the course curriculum of basic grooming, students will learn canine anatomy, safety and sanitation, pet handling, bathing and drying skills, brushing and combing skills, structure of a mate, first aid; and under the advanced grooming they will learn about the equipment, creating the foot, nail, ears, breed type, clipper/scissor skills, and finishing techniques – all of which are taught via text book and hands on.
Coverstone said she looks forward to teaching new groomers and loves creating new looks for “my furry friends.”
“I am very grateful for 10 years later to still have all the customers I have,” she said.
For information about the academy call 937-497-7297 or visit www.4pawsgroomingspa.com.
