Fear Free Groomer Certification Program Overview

Fear Free Groomer Certification Program

How many times have you seen an animal shy away from the blow dryer or the nail clippers? How about trembling in the bathtub? Many animals don’t necessarily enjoy having their feet handled, getting a haircut, or taking a bath. But there’s a lot that groomers can do to make those things more comfortable (and even fun!) for them.

The Fear Free Groomer Certification Program teaches you how to use Fear Free concepts to ensure that the grooming experience is as enjoyable as possible for every pet, every time. Step-by-step video clips and slides show you how to teach animals to love the grooming table, clippers, the bathtub, the blow dryer, grooming shears, the groomer’s loop, and more.

Whether it is the animal’s very first visit to the salon or they have already developed a fear, you can help them. You’ll learn how to recognize even the most subtle signs of stress, and you’ll be well equipped on how exactly you can help a pet who is feeling stressed.

You’ll learn how to set the salon environment up to help ensure Fear Free grooms, from the moment a pet enters the salon, throughout the groom, and until the moment they leave. This includes shop layout, sights, sounds, smells, entrances and exits, and more.

All this translates into happier pets, more frequent visits, and satisfied pet owners spreading the word about how much fun their dog or cat had at your salon. Decrease stress on you and the animals, and increase your revenue!

The purchase of the Fear Free Groomer Certification Program provides you with an annual membership for the program, which requires an annual renewal fee and completion of additional annual CE to maintain your membership.

This course has been approved by the PACCC for 5 CEU

To successfully complete the program and attain certification as a Fear Free groomer, all qualified registrants must:

  • Pass each online module with a score of 80 percent or higher.
  • Sign the Fear Free Pledge, a commitment to uphold a humane, emotionally protective code of conduct and ethical standard for pet care, grooming, and professionalism.

This certification program requires an annual membership renewal fee of $59. In order to keep your certification and membership active, 2 hours of Fear Free-specific Continuing Education (CE) needs to be completed annually. CE can be easily recorded in our convenient CE Tracker within your account.

With every annual renewal, you will have access to a number of complimentary courses available for Fear Free Certified Groomers to facilitate the CE requirement.

Maintaining Fear Free Certification also requires remaining in good standing with the Fear Free organization by upholding ethical standards and codes of conduct.

Registering for and renewing your Groomer Certification Program & Membership is simple:

Registration

Valid for individuals with an active Fear Free membership purchasing an additional membership for themselves.

INDIVIDUAL PRICING

$119 for existing Fear Free members
$229 for new members

GROUP PRICING

2-9 people: $219/person
10-29 people: $209/person
30+ people: Email us at Certifyme@fearfreepets.com to discuss special pricing.

Renewal

$59/person/year

2 hours of Fear Free CE completed annually

Questions? We Have Answers!

Who should take the Fear Free Groomer Certification Program?

The Fear Free Groomer Certification Program is written for experienced groomers. Groomers who complete this program will learn how to use Fear Free concepts to ensure that the grooming experience is as enjoyable as possible for every pet every time.

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Overview

Four modules, each with three to four lessons, comprise the Fear Free Groomer Certification course. Online training includes audio narration of information, videos, and course information in writing.
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Module 1

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Core Concepts

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • identify the core concepts of Fear Free grooming
  • analyze and evaluate behavioral documentation
  • design improved communication avenues
  • and summarize the FAS scale and interpret how it relates to the grooming salon

Lesson 2: Conditioned Emotional Response (CER)

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • define the term “CER”
  • identify examples of a positive CER
  • categorize examples of a negative CER
  • and formulate a plan for creating a positive CER to the groomer, grooming tools, and the grooming salon

Lesson 3: Collaboration vs. Coercion

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • formulate strategies for relationship building with clients and colleagues
  • propose a plan for desensitization (DS) to groomer, tools, and shop
  • develop a classical conditioning or counter-conditioning (CC) protocol, and
  • identify alternatives, such as choice and space, as reinforcers

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Module 2

Lesson 1: Body Language: Key Concepts

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Evaluate head-to-tail body language appropriately
  • Interpret the subtleties of interactions and conclude levels of stress or relaxation
  • Interpret animals’ body language and respond effectively

Lesson 2: Introducing Fear Free and Communication

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Determine and adjust criteria for grooming procedures based on the animal’s response
  • Evaluate and recognize appropriate responses to determine when to adjust criteria
  • List problems associated with using aversive methods

Lesson 3: Reducing FAS at the Groomer

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Identify the characteristics of fear, anxiety and stress
  • Understand how to respond to each one
  • List possible triggers for FAS in a grooming context
  • Reduce FAS in grooming-specific situations

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Module 3

Lesson 1: Cooperation and Choice

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Recognize important tips for cooperative care in the grooming salon
  • Identify specific contexts for teaching animals to love grooming
  • Understand the value of choice as a tool

Lesson 2: Meet and Treat

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Integrate the Meet and Treat protocol into initial interactions
  • Determine the most effective spot to begin the process
  • Plan the progression to the grooming salon
  • Understand the basics of DS-CC to equipment, groomer, tools, salon, etc.

Lesson 3: Arranging a Fear Free Shop

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Identify ways to alleviate FAS in animals by modifying the grooming environment
  • Formulate plans to integrate appropriate scheduling to reduce FAS
  • Propose effective staff involvement and collaboration

Lesson 4: Experiences Affect Future Behavior

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Define what consequences are
  • Recognize the difference between working toward or working to avoid a consequence
  • Understand and advocate for appropriate consequences and discuss how to seek and select them

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Module 4

Lesson 1: Verbal Communication

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Use techniques to “buy you time” as you are practicing becoming fluent at Fear Free techniques
  • Enhance client and colleague verbal communication
  • Demonstrate strategies for creating compliance among clients and colleagues
  • Help clients collaborate by integrating Fear Free grooming techniques in their homes

Lesson 2: Written Communication and Record Keeping

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Design templates for behavioral checklists that encourage consistency and improve communication
  • Maximize effective behavior record keeping

Lesson 3: Educating Caregivers

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Facilitate collaboration from home to salon
  • Explain the ABCs of grooming and behavior to caregivers
  • Identify revenue opportunities arising from Fear Free practices
  • Illustrate retention rate opportunities from Fear Free interactions

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