www.theacademyofpetcareers.com | E-mail [email protected]For more information, or to schedule a tour, call 636.489.5356 2017 Course Catalog About Us The Academy of Pet Careers (APC) has been leading the education of pet professionals in the Midwest since 1993. The APC operates in unison with Petropolis Pet Resort, St. Louis’ premier pet care facility. Petropolis Pet Center has been recognized as the “Nation’s Best Large Pet Hotel” as awarded by Board and Groom magazine and has won numerous other awards for their grooming and training services. This quality of service is the basis for the education taught by APC and each student should expect to learn from the best. Our Philosophy The APC is a strong advocate of improving the human-pet bond. Pet Empowerment is all about understanding the psychology of fear and anxiety in pets so that we can better serve them as pet professionals. Our passion at the APC is in improving the quality and standard of care in the pet industry. Every day, pets are taken to their vet, to a groom salon, or a daycare for socialization, and they deal with fears and anxiety that most pet professionals don’t know how to recognize. In many cases these professionals recognize the discomfort but are there to do a job so their actions aren’t in the best interest of the pet…but they should be! Our teachings include theories in applied animal behavior and can help our future pet professionals change the industry with more modern, acceptable practices to make each pet’s visit as comfortable as possible. These practices not only improve the experience for the pets, but for the professionals as well with less struggles managing anxious pets, a lower risk for fear aggression, and a safer environment overall. Pet Empowerment practices are the next big topic in the pet industry and the students with these skills will be on the forefront of this new change. These skills can be used in any facet of the pet industry including grooming, training, vet care, lodging, daycare, pet sitting, etc. No employee in this industry should be without this knowledge and we hope you will allow us to teach it to you.
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www.theacademyofpetcareers.com | E-mail [email protected] For more information, or to schedule a tour, call 636.489.5356
2017 Course Catalog
About Us The Academy of Pet Careers (APC) has been leading the education of pet professionals in the Midwest since 1993. The APC operates in unison with Petropolis Pet Resort, St. Louis’ premier pet care
facility. Petropolis Pet Center has been recognized as the “Nation’s Best Large Pet Hotel” as awarded by Board and Groom magazine and has won numerous other awards for their grooming and training
services. This quality of service is the basis for the education taught by APC and each student should expect to learn from the best.
Our Philosophy The APC is a strong advocate of improving the human-pet bond. Pet Empowerment is all about understanding the psychology of fear and anxiety in pets so that we can better serve them as pet professionals. Our passion at the APC is in improving the quality and standard of care in the pet industry. Every day, pets are taken to their vet, to a groom salon, or a daycare for socialization, and they deal with fears and anxiety that most pet professionals don’t know how to recognize. In many cases these professionals recognize the discomfort but are there to do a job so their actions aren’t in the best interest of the pet…but they should be!
Our teachings include theories in applied animal behavior and can help our future pet professionals change the industry with more modern, acceptable practices to make each pet’s visit as comfortable as possible. These practices not only improve the experience for the pets, but for the professionals as well with less struggles managing anxious pets, a lower risk for fear aggression, and a safer environment overall.
Pet Empowerment practices are the next big topic in the pet industry and the students
with these skills will be on the forefront of this new change. These skills can be used in any facet of the pet industry including grooming, training, vet care, lodging, daycare, pet sitting, etc. No employee in this industry should be without this knowledge and we hope you will allow us to teach it to you.
www.theacademyofpetcareers.com | E-mail [email protected] For more information, or to schedule a tour, call 636.489.5356
The Pet Care Industry
“Changes abound in the pet care industry. Only a short time ago dogs were thought of as a source of enrichment for their owners. Today, the typical pet owner spends a significant amount of their time and money asking how they can enrich their pet. This change in attitude has resulted in growth in the pet care industry that surpasses the norm. Today, quality pet care is thought of as a necessity, not a luxury. It is my goal that the APC courses not only prepare you to be skilled in your profession but to expose you to the amazing personal and financial rewards that come from exceptional pet care.”
- Paul J Schifano, DVM
You may be interested in working with pets because you have heard that the pet care industry has grown through the best and worst of times. Here are industry sales numbers as released by the American Pet Products Association (http://www.americanpetproducts.org/press_industrytrends.asp).
Would you like to stay employed during good times and bad? As this chart reflects, pet owners have continued to spend more, even during times of recession. Yet this growth has attracted more competition so it is essential to stay abreast of current trends and those trends all seem to say “I want my pet to have the very best”. Therefore, the APC has decided to include animal behavior and pet empowerment training in all of our courses.
www.theacademyofpetcareers.com | E-mail [email protected] For more information, or to schedule a tour, call 636.489.5356
Reasons to Become a Pet Groomer Pet Contact There is no career in the pet care industry where you get to work hands on with pets as much as grooming. Unlike training, lodging, daycare and veterinary services, a pet groomer’s fundamental role is to touch the pets in their care. This is a unique benefit that attracts so many into the field.
Are You Artistic? Great dog groomers are creative and artistic. Once you learn the fundamentals of grooming you will then enter the area of artisan. Ultimately, skilled groomers are measured by what they can achieve using scissors. As you master your scissoring skills you will soon find your artistic skills exposed as you imagine each dog as a sculpture that you must chisel. Each pet you groom is a new canvas and your imagination is your only limitation.
Tips Most groomers develop quality relationships with their clients, and those clients will usually return for the lifetime of that pet. When they do, tipping is a typical expectation and tips can become a significant part of your income. Grooming is the only profession in the pet care industry where tips can generate a high financial reward.
Course Length Our grooming programs are designed to give students the tools they need to become a groomer in as little as 10 weeks. Our academy offers longer courses that can extend up to 39 weeks and are recommended for students that have the time and resources to master additional skills from higher level pet styling to pet handling/behavior skills, to professional training skills.
Business Ownership & Employment Opportunities Look around your community and visit a few salons. You will soon discover that business ownership continues to be a valued opportunity for pet groomers. If you desire to be your own boss, being a groomer offers many opportunities to own their own businesses from mobile grooming to opening your own shop. Alternatively, ask around to your area salons. It is likely that they have interest in hiring a qualified groomer. The demand for our graduates has been amazingly high since our school opened in 1993.
Reasons to Become a Dog Trainer Dr. Doolittle Have you been to a foreign land walking amongst strangers not understanding a word? If you have, you appreciate the helplessness and challenges attempting even simple tasks like ordering a glass of water. You begin to understand what it is like being a pet owner and more importantly, what it is like to be a confused pet.
“The biggest failure humans repeat as pet guardians is the failure to learn how animals communicate. If humans took the time to understand animal communication, they would open doors to relationships that are priceless. People would learn that their actions have unintended consequences that often cause the opposite of what they hoped. Most importantly, when people are uneducated about animal communication,
www.theacademyofpetcareers.com | E-mail [email protected] For more information, or to schedule a tour, call 636.489.5356
the resulting helplessness causes serious frustration for both the person and the pet. The consequences can be devastating and result in animal shelters being full of pets that will never find happiness. If you take the time to learn to truly listen and talk to animals, they will tell you things that will surprise you. They will tell you when they are sad and they will tell you when they are happy. Nothing can replace the joy you will feel as a pet trainer when you can communicate properly”
- Dr. Paul Schifano
Course Length Our training programs are designed to give students the tools they need to become a trainer in as little as 12 weeks. Our academy offers longer courses that can extend up to 39 weeks and are recommended for students that have the time and resources to master additional skills such as specialized training, applied animal behavior and professional grooming.
Business Ownership & Employment Opportunities While training positions do exist, graduates will find that pet lodging facilities, doggie daycares, and rescue organizations are also seeking their skills.
If you desire to be your own boss, dog training may be the very best way to enter the pet care arena. With very little up front capital and financial risk, dog trainers have what seem to be endless options to utilize their profession earning income. Dog trainers can earn income as traditional pet trainers, training service dogs, training protection dogs, training narcotic dogs or dogs for other forms of scent detection like bed bugs. In addition, dog trainers can use their skilled canine companions in the field, providing valuable services such as search and rescue, drug searches for area business or schools, visiting area hotels search for bed bugs, and endless others.
In addition, dog training is an essential skill that can lead into expanded business opportunities. That is why dog training is commonly integrated into many daycare and lodging services.
Pet Grooming Courses All our grooming courses, except for some part-time programs, include our new Pet Empowerment Program (PEP) and skills in applied animal behavior. Our belief is that these skills are now necessary to be considered a great groomer, and they will give you skills to do what most groomers struggle with every day, dealing with difficult pets.
All grooming courses can be taken full-time or part-time. Depending on your unique schedule, some part-time students will might miss out on Pet Empowerment training. The full-time class schedule is Tuesday through Saturday, with Pet Empowerment training on Thursdays.
www.theacademyofpetcareers.com | E-mail [email protected] For more information, or to schedule a tour, call 636.489.5356
Basic Groomer Program (50 Days) Graduates from our Basic Groomer Program will learn the fundamental skills of bathing, brushing, trimming, and scissoring necessary to step into a grooming salon earning income as a Pet Groomer. The following topics will be covered:
• Grooming Equipment Overview • Pet First Aid and CPR • Safety & Handling • Ergonomics & Body Position • Anatomy of Dogs • Grooming Systems • Topical Conditioning • Bathing & Brushing Techniques • Nail Care • Scent Glands • Tooth Brushing • Ear Cleaning
Behavior Skills • Canine Communication Skills • Fundamentals of Applied Animal
Behavior • Assessing Fear Skills • Fear-Based Behavioral Modification
Skills
Professional Groomer Program (75 Days) Students interested in a fast track to higher income potential will attend our 75-day program. In addition to the skills learned in the Basic Groomer Program you will learn the following:
• Carding / Hand-stripping • Geometrics / Angles • Fine Tuning • Speed Building • Time Management
Additional Grooming Courses
Bather / Brusher Program (25 Days) Designed for entry-level employees looking to get their foot in the door, this program teaches the basics of bathing and brushing, as well as rudimentary scissoring skills to get you started in the fun world of pet grooming.
Basic Skills Program (30 Days) This program is only available to individuals who have bathing experience. After passing a practical test for eligibility, the students in our Basic Skills Program with learn the core skills in our Basic Groomer Program as well as a theory review from the Bather / Brusher Program. This is a great transition course for current bathers who would like to advance into basic trimming.
Advanced Skills Program (35 Days) This program is only available to individuals with grooming experience who must pass a practical test to become eligible. The course is designed to expand an experienced groomer’s education by helping them build confidence and fine tuning their skills. The course is customized to focus on assessed student’s weaknesses along with identified student interests to improve the student’s overall grooming skill.
www.theacademyofpetcareers.com | E-mail [email protected] For more information, or to schedule a tour, call 636.489.5356
The course will briefly cover basic theories taught in the Bather/ Brusher and Basic Groomer Programs, and will go into more detail into advanced methods. The core skills learned here are what make up the Professional Groomer Program.
Dog Training Courses All our training courses, except for some part-time programs, include our new Pet Empowerment Program (PEP) and skills in applied animal behavior. We believe that training is no longer just about obedience and getting a dog to do what it is commanded. Modern trainers are learning to empower pets and train them in ways that keep them emotionally and socially enriched. An unenriched pet can lead to unwanted and disobedient behaviors later in life. Pet Empowerment is the key to a long-lasting healthy relationship with our pets.
All training courses can be taken full-time or part-time. Depending on your unique schedule, some part-time student might be excluded from Pet Empowerment training. The full-time class schedule is Tuesday through Saturday, with Pet Empowerment training on Thursdays.
Professional Trainer Program (75 Days) Our Professional Trainer Program will teach you the fundamental skills to be a professional dog trainer. In this course, you will learn the following:
• Understanding a Trainer’s Toolbox • Learning Theory • Pet Safety & Handling • Marker Training Methods • Traditional Training Methods • Formal Obedience Skills • Group Class Instructing • Obedience Evaluation Skills • Private Lessons • Commanded Retrieve • Client Interaction • Teaching Experience • Pet First Aid & CPR
Behavior Skills • Canine Communication Skills • Fundamentals of Applied Animal Behavior • Assessing Fear Skills • Fear-Based Behavioral Modification Skills
Specialized Trainer Program (100 Days) This program builds off our Professional Trainer Course and allows students an additional 24 days to refine their skills in competitive obedience. In addition, students will learn specialty training skills in service dog training and scent detection work. These unique skills will make you an expert in your field and will create financial opportunities that only a few can compete. In addition to the Professional Trainer skills you will learn:
www.theacademyofpetcareers.com | E-mail [email protected] For more information, or to schedule a tour, call 636.489.5356
Service Dog Skills • Mobility Service Work • Advanced Retrieves • Emotional Support Work • Public Access Testing
Basic Trainer Program (50 Days) A shortened version of our Professional Trainer Program, you will choose between the two methods of training, marker and traditional. You will attend school with one dog instead of two and focus all your energies into learning that one method. You will learn everything included in the Professional Trainer Program unique to the method chosen. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to become a trainer but does not wish to learn all methods or has limited time and resources to get started.
www.theacademyofpetcareers.com | E-mail [email protected] For more information, or to schedule a tour, call 636.489.5356
Leadership Programs (Dual-Certification)
The objective of our Leadership Program is to give students a comprehensive education that combines both our grooming and training programs.
Students interested in starting their own business or who just want to learn both grooming and training skills should be interested in obtaining one of these dual-certificates.
In addition to the skills learned in each program, all our leadership courses come with free business consulting sessions. These sessions are provided by the leaders of St. Louis’ most awarded pet care facility, Petropolis Pet Resort.
All our leadership courses can be taken full-time or part-time. Depending on your unique schedule, some part-time student might be excluded from Pet Empowerment training.
Basic Leadership Program - (125 Days) Our Basic Leadership Course combines our Basic Groomer and Professional Trainer Programs. It is designed to give our students enough skills in each of the grooming and training fields to be desired by any employer. Having a basic knowledge of both sought out skill sets gives you the freedom to choose your career path without the fear of becoming stuck. Combining the stability of the grooming market and the behavioral expertise of a trainer, you will always be able to find work in this growing industry.
Specialized Leadership Program - (150 Days) Designed for students who understand the benefit of a dual-certification but would like to specialize in a niche field. This program allows students to learn the basic skills in both grooming and training while advancing their skills further in one of them. For those more interested in grooming, we will combine our Professional Groomer Program with our Professional Trainer Program. For those more interested in training, we will combine our Specialized Trainer Program with our Basic Groomer Program.
Master Leadership Program - (175 Days) This program is suited for the individual that is interested in Management as well as those planning to own and operate their own pet care business. At graduation of this program you will receive our most advanced certification for dog training and dog grooming, combining our Professional Groomer and Specialized Trainer Programs. Whether you plan to open your own business, or go to work for an already existing business, there is no better course than the Master Leadership Program to give you the diversified skills you will need to be successful.
www.theacademyofpetcareers.com | E-mail [email protected] For more information, or to schedule a tour, call 636.489.5356
Animal Behavior Programs Pet Empowerment Program PEP (16 Days) With the pet industry trending towards the concept of enriching services, our newest course is designed to educate both groomers and trainers on the psychological struggles we as pet professionals deal with every day. You will learn about applied animal behavior and how it can be used to diagnose fear and anxiety as well as ways to modify those behaviors to create a happier and healthier environment for all pets. This trend towards an enriching environment is the next big niche in the pet industry and the students with these skills in their bag will be on the forefront of this booming change. These skills can also be used in any facet of the pet industry from grooming to training, vet care, lodging, daycare, pet sitting, etc. It is our belief that no employee in this industry should be without this knowledge.
This new course includes the following modules:
• Canine Communication Skills • Fundamentals of Applied Animal Behavior • Assessing Fear Skills • Fear-Based Behavioral Modification Skills
www.theacademyofpetcareers.com | E-mail [email protected] For more information, or to schedule a tour, call 636.489.5356
Grooming Courses COURSE DESCRIPTION Bather /
Brusher Basic
Groomer Professional
Groomer Advanced
Skills Basic Skills
Course Length (Days) 25 50 75 40 30
GROOMING SKILLS
Safety & Handling X X X X X
Topical Conditioning X X X X X
Pet First Aid & CPR X X X X X
Grooming System - Prep work X X X X X
Bathing & Drying X X X
Nail Care X X X
Tooth Brushing X X X
Scent Glands X X X
Ear Cleaning X X X
Rudimentary Scissoring X X X
"Natural Feet" Trim X X X
Outlines X X X
Hand Drying Techniques X X X
Tidy Trims X X X
Equipment & Handling X X X X
Basic Scissoring X X X X
Advanced Grooming System X X X X
Anatomy X X X X
Ergonomics & Body Position X X X X
Basic Head Trim X X X
"Lion Cut" Trim X X X
"Lamb" (New Yorker) Trims X X X
Common Breed Pattern 1 X X
Common Breed Pattern 2 X X
Common Breed Pattern 3 X X
Advanced Scissoring X X
Advanced Head Trims X X
Cats (Optional) X X
Carding / Hand Stripping X X
Geometrics / Angles X X
Fine Tuning X X
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SKILLS
Canine Communication Skills X X X X X
Applied Animal Behavior X X X X X
Assessing Fear Program X X X X X
Behavioral Modification Program X X X X X
www.theacademyofpetcareers.com | E-mail [email protected] For more information, or to schedule a tour, call 636.489.5356
Training Courses COURSE DESCRIPTION Basic Trainer Professional
Trainer Specialized
Trainer Course Length (Days) 50 75 100
Dogs Allowed in Course 1 2 2 TRAINING SKILLS
Understanding a Trainer's Toolbox X X X Learning Theory X X X
Pet Safety & Handling X X X Marker / Clicker Training Methods
Select Your Method X X
Traditional Training Methods X X Formal Obedience Skills X X X Group Class Instructing X X X
Obedience Evaluation Skills X X X Private Lessons X X X
Commanded Retrieve X X X Client Interaction X X X
Teaching Experience X X X Pet First Aid & CPR X X X
Service Dog Training
Mobility Service Work X Advanced Retrieves X
Emotional Support Work X Public Access Test X
Scent Detection
Narcotic Scent Detection X Formal Scent Discrimination X
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SKILLS
Advanced Canine Communication Skills X X X Fundamentals of Applied Animal
Behavior X X X
Assessing Fear Program X X X Fear Behavioral Modification Program X X X
www.theacademyofpetcareers.com | E-mail [email protected] For more information, or to schedule a tour, call 636.489.5356
