Somebody in your shop asks one of your groomers about something they did, maybe a newer person, still new enough to question things. And the groomer looks at them surprised: "that's how I do it." Not defensive, just genuinely caught off guard, like why would you question this? In this episode, Jennifer Oppel (founder of Growing Groomers and creator of the first Missouri pet grooming apprenticeship program and related curriculum) breaks down why salon owners inherit cultures they never questioned, the two owners who can't see what's in front of them (the one who stepped into a business already running, and the dreamer building on excitement), and how to take back the standard without blowing up your team. If you've never stopped to ask whether this is actually how grooming works, this one's for you.

Bather Brusher Course (set the safety standard, stop line & guardrails — the worksheet makes you define them): Bather Brusher Course

Introduction to the Salon https://www.growinggroomers.com/offers/qPF5DrfV

Hiring and Onboarding Masterclass

With 25% off Hiring and Onboarding Masterclass

Whole Pet Grooming Academy https://wholepetnh.com/

Schedule a call: https://calendly.com/growing-groomers/better-training-in-salons

Growing GroomersWebsite https://www.growinggroomers.com/

Apprenticeship Website https://petgroomingapprenticeship.com/

After The Last Dog Website https://www.afterthelastdog.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/growinggroomers/

Why do I keep giving chances when I know better?

Being understanding is part of being a good leader. But what happens when the grace you keep giving one employee quietly becomes extra work for everyone else?

In this episode of After the Last Dog, we’re talking honestly about the employee you care about, worry about, and may be afraid to lose, even though her lateness, personal struggles, or workplace conflict are beginning to shape the entire day.

This is not about becoming cold or expecting people to leave their lives at the door. It is about noticing when your dependable employees are skipping lunch, taking extra dogs, staying late, and carrying problems leadership has been postponing.

If there is a conversation that keeps following you home, this episode is for you.

The question is not whether you should care. It is: Who is paying for the understanding you keep giving?

The Business We Inherited

Legacy or Liability?

Every grooming business has an official operating manual and an unofficial one. The unofficial version is revealed through what gets rewarded, tolerated, questioned, or ignored.

In this episode of After the Last Dog, Dara examines what business owners inherit from former employers, mentors, industry traditions, early survival decisions, and even earlier versions of themselves. From booking and training to equipment and communication, familiar practices can quietly become liabilities as a business grows.

Follow one dog through an ordinary workday and ask: What did this appointment require that the way we currently work did not make room for?