ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
Sarah Drouin, owner and head groomer of Plush is a National Certified Master Groomer through The National Dog Groomers Association of America. She is also Pet Tech CPR Certified and is an Award Winning Stylist that competes in grooming contests all around the world. With over 14 years of experience to offer, Sarah travels the world educating other groomers with the high standards and skills she has learned along her journey as a Master Stylist but also is continuously learning and refining her craft to ensure her clients get nothing but the best. Sarah’s background and expertise in dog behavior allows her to connect with clients and build a bond with them. This advances her ability to not only do her job effectively but more important, safely! It is essential to have a connection & provide a safe place for dogs to transform into Plush Puppies. Her high standards for safety, quality, and knowledge will always stand priority and is what sets Plush apart from the rest.
Not only is she an award-winning groomer, Sarah helps each individual dog work through trauma. Before grooming, Sarah had a background in dog training and also has trained under Cesar Milan to further her dog handling and psychology knowledge and skills. She has learned the subtle yet powerful physical and psychological language of canines and how to use it to build balanced relationships. Sarah focuses on addressing and resolving problem behaviors, achieving calm submission, and incorporating that into the salon with grooming. Her goal is to now share with other groomers how to have the same success for dogs in their salon. Understanding where the dog belongs in the pack helps having the knowledge of how to encourage healing. Grooming is essential to the well being of the dog, and through her understanding of dog behavior Sarah is able to incorporate methods to make grooming a positive and pleasant experience. Sarah respects and honors the dog, the end result is the dog’s trust, respect, and love.
Ramiel works alongside Sarah helping to bathe, prep, and groom dogs at Plush by Sarah Drouin. He has a very calming and relaxing way with animals allowing him to handle dogs that most cannot. His favorite part of what he does is seeing the transformation of the dogs he works with, mostly from within. He enjoys connecting with them so they can feel safe and have trust while in his care and has dubbed himself “The Pearler”. With over eight years of experience in the dog grooming industry, Ramiel has had the pleasure to learn from National Certified Master Groomers around the world, and has also traveled to grooming conventions to prep award-winning dogs. He has spent a great deal of his time working at a local humane society and has a great understanding of dogs from different backgrounds and situations. Not only was he an Animal CareTaker, he took the time to build a relationship with each dog and give them the time and exercise they needed individually. Ramiel has a passion to perfect his craft and constantly works to continue his education in dog grooming. Ramiel has completed Module 1 The Science Of Skin Series from Iv San Bernard which gives him a solid foundation of coat science including short, medium, and long coat types. Ramiel also has the ability to offer skin therapies and identify certain skin diseases.
lexa_gantt –
I really enjoyed this seminar! There are a hundred different ways to help difficult dogs through grooms, so it is always helpful to learn different techniques since all dogs and situations are difficult. I’m not sure I agree with the “alpha mentality” taught here, but I will always do my best to listen to and understand the mindset/teachings of those in the industry who have far more experience than me! I enjoyed what Sarah had to say about keeping a calm and confident energy, and she definitely practices what she preaches!
skye_rickey –
I have mixed feelings on this one. There were a lot of helpful techniques and advice on addressing certain problem behaviors. Still, the promotion of the “alpha” theory and Ceasar Millan makes it hard to really trust any other advice given, as others have also stated. There is a time and place for everything in dog grooming, but promoting ideologies that are outdated or disproven is hard to look past. To credit both Sarah and Ramiel, they were working with difficult dogs in a limited timeframe on camera, and they did an exceptional job, for the most part, of getting those pets calm and cooperative under the circumstances. As they said themselves, it is challenging to demo things like this, and I do think they did a really good job showing a variety of techniques on very different personalities, ages, and breeds.
Alexandra Jobin –
Honestly, amazing. None of this was harsh, but it is the harsh reality of grooming a wide spectrum of dogs. I am fear free certified however, fear free does not work in every single scenario. The child of that is a balanced approach with the knowledge to understand what is appropriate in the moment. It was wonderful to watch you individually and as a team.
malone.katella –
I feel like this has the potential to be a super helpful tool, but the promotion of Ceasar Milan’s training methods kind of ruined it for me. As a fear free certified groomer I have seen amazing results with applying the methods they teach. I have been able to get dogs who were very aggressive and turned away from other groomers to a point where I could do a full groom on them. I agree working up to being able to do things, but you shouldn’t be pushing a dog to the point that it shuts down to get a groom done. as pet professionals its our job to teach the dogs that they’re okay but also to work within the pets limits. On the other hand I think its good that we can all show what works for us. I just don’t vibe with Cesar Milan’s methods and have had much more success with a fear free approach. I also agree with the quote in another comment “by Maya Angelou that says “Do the best you can until you know better.”” I personally found the books On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming signals and Doggie Language: A dog Lover’s Guide to Understanding Your Best Friend.
spgguelph –
Really enjoyed this entire seminar – Sarah and Ramiel’s approach and techniques were so helpful to learn and to know that sometimes you can’t do it alone and thats ok. The calm confidence is A+++
Stephanie Lewis –
This course was very educational. I have begun using some techniques that they showed in this video and ot has helped make grooming difficult dogs so much more bearable! Highly recommend watching
deniz_koparan –
Great course! Unfortunately, this is not taught in schools. A dog is a living being, and during grooming, people often approach them without enough consideration. That’s why it’s important to know exactly what you’re doing and to treat the dog with respect and fairness. Every groomer should take a course on canine communication to better understand dogs – because it’s about much more than just grooming
Laurabeth Henderson –
I appreciated their energy around the dogs even though at times i think it was so low and so hesitant that the energy actually had the dogs more nervous. I understand every one has different views on “training” for grooming. I am just not sure how effective pushing and tapping a dog is when they are scared, I can not see any way that this would bring about trust in a dog, only a submission. I prefer a dog to trust me because they know I will not push them past their point that day and because I wont be poking and pushing them physically. It was hard to see an older dog that very likely had hip pain getting held in a position that it clearly communicated she was not comfortable in, and then to be pushing or “correcting” that communication. I have seen many examples of dogs that come in aggressive over something and just working with them slowly over a couple of appointments (maybe not getting everything done in each appointment) has shown great results in getting a dog to trust the grooming process and trust that we will not put them in so much stress that they are peeing and pooping on themselves.
I was very hopeful to watch this video and i took a few tricks from it, however i believe it is unfortunately a very outdated technique that teaches people to avoid reading a dog’s body language and force it to do what you want it to do because you are an “alpha.” I understand everyone has different ideas of how to do things, but i would hope that we can move forward with positive reinforcement training as it has been studied and shown to be the best strategy. When i was a teacher I learned a quote from Maya Angelou that says “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Scientifically we know that positive reinforcement creates a better outcome in training. If you have enough time to correct a dog you have enough time to have patience with a dog and positively reinforce. Overall i know that we all have the same outcome in mind that a dog can be comfortable with the grooming process and trust us, this however was not my preferred way of achieving that outcome.
Groom Haüs –
It can be hard to watch, but addressing canine behavior and psychology in the context of grooming requires a nuanced approach that differs significantly from everyday interactions with dogs. To help dogs understand that grooming is a non-threatening experience, they need patient guidance to understand it poses no harm.
Building trust and taking breaks and keeping them comfortable is essential, even with the limited teaching time during the grooming process. This is why there are relatively few specialized classes on this subject. A key principle of canine psychology is recognizing that dogs are instinctual beings which sometimes requires addressing behavioral challenges directly. It’s important to note that while using positive reinforcement when a desired behavior is achieved, you should not reinforce behaviors we wish to discourage.
These were also extreme cases that would have ended up at the vet being sedated for nail trims. The regular groomers for both of the nail trim dogs in this course have noted that they can now trim their toenails without any issues or fear from the dog, which speaks volumes to the effectiveness of the work done. Also just want to clarify that we were provided with comprehensive background information from both the groomers and the owners present and no dogs in the video exhibited any hip issues.
Our educators are committed to continuous growth and development, constantly enhancing their skills and knowledge through ongoing education. We appreciate your feedback and hope you can find additional courses that resonate with you as well.
Mia Vernetti –
I really personally enjoyed this, I thought that the trick laying the furry babies down could help and after watching used this trick on a little less difficult dog than this video but it immediately calmed him down ! Thank you!
Krisan Webb –
Wonderful! I purposely watched this course because we have a difficult dog coming in that is old and does not like anything. We will definitely be using this information! Thank you!
Kristina Robertson –
This was so informative. It makes such a difference seeing live feed verses just telling about the how to. Sarah and Reimel did such an amazing job with these scared dogs. I totally learned a boat load of new information that I can not wait to take back to my team. I think one of the most important lessons is TAKE THE TIME IT TAKES. Thank you
ron.foux –
Amazing!!! would love to see more from Sarah on this topic and truly recommend groomers to watch and learn.
Emily Ann Peddle –
As someone who has been around dogs for my entire life, I learned so much from this course. I’ve watched two webinars instructed by Sarah and I always learn so much from her! So grateful for these webinars as i start off in my grooming career. Thank you!
Emily Cameron –
I was really looking forward to this course but honestly it was very disappointing. I am very disappointed to see the promotion of Ceasar Milan and his flawed training techniques. I thought we as pet professionals had seen through his trash. I was hoping for tips and tricks to handle difficult dogs without pinning them down and shutting them down. The consistent use of alpha and dominance theory was also disappointing as that has been proven to be false. It is very dated training information and there are so many better ways to handle difficult dogs. I am not surprised to hear they did not recommend a fear free course as it would go directly against their way of doing things.
Groom Haüs –
There are many ways of handling difficult dogs, we are all entitled to our own way of doing things including not even accepting dogs like this. As long as we do no harm, there shouldn’t be an issue and it is just a matter of preference. These dogs were especially difficult, even one that would have needed to be sedated just for nails so required appropriate measures to complete the trim as quickly and safely as possible.
rashelavital –
Amazing and very handy course! Thank You for such great investment into groomers education ❤️
Alexandra Sylvestre –
Very interesting seminar & game a changing on a daily basis. Loved it!
Jessica Gray –
Great information being shared. Also reminds you, things/your grooming plans may change and it’s best to go with the changes rather than trying to stick with what you originally planned.
Heather Wolfe –
So helpful!
Hannah Horn –
MOST helpful course!!!
Becka –
I started using the techniques in this video the next day and has very positive experiences. I would highly recommend
Christie Chanthongthip –
As someone who works with a lot of the more “difficult” dogs I learned a lot and have actually seen a huge positive difference with the babies I work with. The hardest part is getting the parents to get them on a regular schedule.
Erica Demby –
This webinar was absolutely pawsome! I see some just can’t keep the peace in the reviews & that’s why doing what Sarah was able to do will never be a win for those negative responses. I learned some new techniques as well as a reminder of old one’s. I appreciate that there were two people able to complete this seminar because it shows that we as groomers can work together even in the most difficult situations. Thank you !!!
Amanda Peterson –
This webinar was very helpful and informative. More videos addressing these behavior issues would be awesome.
Gabbie –
I did not want to give a “bad” review because I respect and love all of the groomers apart of groom haus, but I did want to shine some light on something many animal care professionals / dog owners aren’t very knowledgeable of. During Chichi’s nail trim, she seems to be giving up which can be portrayed as a win, but in reality this is an example of “learned helplessness” meaning- “She has given up, giving the illusion of behaving, when in reality she is in a subdued state of stress and fear!” Hence the continuous of stress pooping / peeing / whale eyes / frozen. I hope to see another difficult dog seminar, but using positive approaches and acclimation. Try peanut butter or cheese maybe? TRAINING in grooming is very beneficial and can turn a fearful dog into a confident dog, vs. a dog who is forced through it. I understand the importance of getting her nails trimmed and the benefit or convenience of getting it all done at once, but in the long run if you take the time to change the dog’s fearfulness of it, you won’t have to use this more aggressive route which is a trauma in its own, unfortunately. Other than that, great techniques!!!
Groom Haüs –
While we understand it can be hard to watch a dog with this much anxiety over getting their nails done, Chichi’s owners were going to have to get her sedated to do her nails and would urinate when they tried to do her nails as well. This was the first time Chichi was able to get through it and since then they have been able to take her to a groomer who worked with her further on her nail trim anxiety. These dogs have to be taught that their behavior will not result in what they want (nail trimming to end). Treats are obviously a great way to train, but unfortunately does not work on extreme cases such as Chichi (it was tried many times). This is a form of training, as is positive reinforcement. Once Chichi realized she was not going to thrash and bite her way out of it, she allowed the nail trim and was calm after the fact. This is a special case as we did our best to showcase multiple levels of behavior in this webinar. Hopefully we can bring more handling and behavioral courses in the future to showcase more techniques!
Cecilia Favela –
One of the best classes I have attended to! It is so informative and it really gets deep into the issues. You can expect factual and science backed techniques. Please do more classes like this, it helps us a lot and I really enjoy them.
Koreen Nadon –
Amazing! Incredible! Can’t wait to see more! Thank you for sharing YOU with the Industry xoxoxoxo
Nicole Keen –
I have to say this was the best webinar i have ever watched i learned so much for me being the average everyday groomer i have already started using these techniques on some of my clients and already have seen much improvement! No one in our industry is doing what these two are accomplishing! Behavior is the main thing that mistakenly gets overlooked in grooming we are always so worried about the perfect haircut or making that extra dollar but we really need to focus on the dogs wellbeing! This is why i became a dog groomer because i love dogs! And these two love dogs as well! I recommend all their videos and then some! These dogs are blessed to have sarah and mel in their lives! They show there is much purpose in this industry!
Diana Galyen –
I LOVED this seminar. I learned so much about calm confident energy and how to help make the dogs I’m working with as calm as possible. Sarah was SO informative. And she covered one of the most important things- some dogs are just two people dogs for the safety & well-being of the pets in our care. LOVED THIS SEMINAR. 12/10 recommend.
Mary Ryan –
Did not actually show a wide variety of techniques to handle difficult dogs. Answered all questions during the seminar, hence took over three hours. Told me that it helps get the dogs used to the environment, and people would be mad for not answering all the questions? We don’t have the time to get dogs used to the salon like you had, AND you should answer the questions AFTER the seminar, not during. Showed one technique for trimming nails with two people which is stressful for the dog, and very dangerous. Someone asked resources on where to learn more about this topic, her best response was “this video”. For the last dog, they uploaded an half an hour video on luring the dog with treats. Learned nothing
super_admin –
Hi Mary – There were a lot of questions on this one and we do try to get to as many as possible during the live which is why most people love to attend. We try to stay on topic with the questions to limit them and are always working to improve the flow of questions to the instructor, but it is meant to be similar to a live seminar experience where questions are asked as the lesson is being taught. This is the format you can expect from any Groom Haüs live webinar. The recorded video we added to the already 3+ hour long webinar featuring 3 difficult dogs did have more than just luring the dog with a treat, but he was essentially was a “wild card” bonus dog as we did not know what to expect with that one. We would never want you to walk away from a Groom Haüs webinar feeling as if you “learned nothing” so I have processed a full refund for this webinar for you.
Sharon Jenkins –
As someone who is starting out, it was very informative and i can see myself watching it back on a regular basis..
Sarah Crawford –
Good techniques in this seminar even if you’ve been grooming a while. We all forget our purpose some times and need some reminders. Would like to see another based more toward someone working alone.
Vanessa Hornbuckle –
I used every technique that applied to my clients and they ALL WORKED! My favorite was the imprinting, I noticed that the submission when I kept physical contact with my hand. I used less words and afterwards gave them a reward. Thank you guys so much!
Luana Pierre –
Thoroughly enjoyed this webinar and I have implemented almost all the techniques shown and now grooming for me is less stressful.
Patricia Mattson –
I used one of your techniques today for a dog that is difficult for nails and it worked great ! Thank you for the effective tip on laying them on their side.
Tanya Carrasquillo –
Great seminar. Really helps you understand you can’t always do it on your own if you really wanna keep the pets well-being as a priority.
Kathy Awalt –
Every thing Sarah does is 5 star. I really liked her calm confidence and how she worked with the dogs. Practicing calm confidence every day it’s paying off