Table of Contents
Introduction
In an industry as passionate and personal as pet care, where methods and philosophies can spark heated debates, leaders can often find themselves at a crossroads. Picture this: A respected educator shares their views about certain traditional animal care practices, only to face immediate pushback from long-standing industry professionals. Sound familiar?
In our closely-knit pet care community, how do we balance staying true to our beliefs while maintaining professional relationships?
Does being at the forefront of a professional organisation mean we must temper our ethical convictions?
Should we, as some have suggested, participate in practices and events we question with the intent to "plant seeds of change," or does this merely perpetuate the very issues we seek to address?
Let's think on this some more...
Animal Welfare Standards: The Modern Leadership Challenge
Consider the transformation we've witnessed: If we look at the grooming sector specifically, expressing concern about chemical-heavy flea treatments or questioning cabinet drying processes would have been considered radical twenty years ago. Today, these conversations are becoming more common.
Traditional practices that once went unquestioned are now under scrutiny as our understanding of animal behaviour, welfare, and emotional needs evolves. This shift isn't just about changing methods - it's about fundamentally reconsidering our relationship with animals within home and professional settings.
Yet this has still amassed feelings of discomfort within certain professional circles...
Take the current industry-wide discussion that we're seeing involving 'force-free' handling techniques as another popular example. While some traditional animal professionals argue "that's how it's always been done," more forward-thinking pet professionals are showing that stress free/force free methods not only improve animal welfare but also lead to better business outcomes as well.
Through my observations within the grooming community particularly, I've noticed a trend in "difficult" dog complaints within many conventional grooming forums in contrast to behaviour-focussed grooming groups like Holistic Groomers Worldwide, where the general atmosphere seems to be a lot more positive and encouraging.
My personal (and professional) opinion is that synchronising animal care across the board is the key to better animal welfare processes. I actively express that the role of the professional groomer is not just about styling dogs - and I strongly emphasise the need to consider the entire context.
In my Holistic Grooming and Behaviour Diploma, I encourage groomers to combine technical skills with compassionate handling and mutual cooperation while pushing them to invest in their personal growth and development.
But here's the challenge:
How do we promote this holistic vision while acknowledging that change can be intimidating for already established professionals?
How do we encourage and persuade without appearing to discredit and/or disrespect another's point of view?
Holistic Pet Care: The Impact of Traditional vs Modern Approaches
The real-world impact of remaining neutral is stark.
For example, 97% of students who enrolled on The Holistic Grooming and Behaviour Diploma between 2020 and 2024 expressed experiencing physical and emotional burnout from traditional practices that prioritise speed and volume over wellbeing. Fast forward a few months, and the students who embraced our recommended methods reported not just improved outcomes, but also increased job satisfaction and client loyalty.
The toll of maintaining silence about challenging industry practices affects not just the professionals out there who are unaware of an alternative approach, but also how certain methods and approach are received by the animals we're entrusted to care for. Additionally, it also slows potential advancement in the industry as well...
For instance, when one of our graduates, Woody's Holistic Grooming, implemented holistic methods into her facility, she initially faced skepticism from both dog carers and local groomers in her area. Yet, by publicly showcasing behind the scenes the amazing progress she was making with the dogs in her care she not only won over her critics but has gone on to achieve various awards and gain local publicity for her inspiring approach to grooming processes, proving that the demand for this approach is well and truly there.
When industry leaders hesitate to advocate for change, we risk perpetuating challenges that many pet professionals face daily - irresponsible breeding, the wrongful glamourising of unhealthy breeds, unrealistic expectations of what defines a "good dog" and so on. We then also increase the risk of burnout, dog bites and dog euthanasia - and I'm not even tapping into the consequences this all has in the running of our businesses.
What I've always tried to keep in mind is that ultimately it is my core values and vision that sparked my organisation into fruition in the first place and therefore, my personal opinion is naturally entwined with The Holistic Grooming Academy's code of conduct and professional standpoint - we are one in the same whether I verbally speak out or not. And surely, it's our core values that keeps our organisations on track?
While I don't doubt that all pet professionals are striving to safeguard the ethical treatment of animals, I suspect that far too many are afraid of truly stepping into their vulnerability for reasons known to them.
Animal Welfare Business Development: Balancing Ethics and Industry Practices
The question often arises: "Can we maintain profitable businesses while prioritising animal welfare?".
My experience shows not only that we can, but that ethical practices often lead to business growth. When professionals commit to welfare-first approaches, they typically:
Attract more conscientious dog carers
Build stronger customer loyalty
Command premium pricing for their animal-centred approach
Experience greater job satisfaction
Reduce workplace stress and dog-bite-related incidents
The solution therefore, isn't choosing between being an outspoken revolutionary or a silent observer - it's about thoughtful advocacy:
Choosing discussions that truly matter to animal welfare and pet professional wellbeing.
Framing new approaches as additions to, rather than replacements for, existing knowledge (which by the way, is why I've alway said my course is an enhancer to existing grooming qualifications).
Backing your position with solid research and documented results and then constantly reviewing the data to ensure it remains up-to-date.
Acknowledging the validity of others' experiences while bringing reasonable and justified alternatives to the table.
Focusing on the unified goal: better care for animals and better outcomes for all.
Pet Industry Education: Creating Positive Change Through Animal Welfare Protocol
Leadership in the pet care industry, particularly in any educational field, isn't about winning popularity contests - it's about improving the service of care we provide while maintaining professional integrity.
The path to industry transformation lies in education and open dialogue.
Sometimes this might mean gently challenging established norms and/or believing that a person's idea of effectively "planting seeds" is not entirely reflective of the cause. Other times, it means creating safe spaces for others to learn and grow at their own pace and having faith that they'll find the right people to help guide them on a more ethically-sound path.
As a tutor at The Holistic Grooming Academy, I've seen how providing professional groomers with both the knowledge and practical tools to implement welfare-focused approaches creates lasting change. This isn't just about learning new techniques - it's about understanding the 'why' behind every interaction with animals in our care.
On that note then, ask yourself this question:
Could our fear of disrupting industry norms and/or hurting a person's feelings actually be holding back progress in pet care?
After all, every major advancement in our field came from someone brave enough to question the status quo.
Ethical Pet Care: Building a Sustainable Future for All Pet Professionals
The future of the pet care industry depends on our ability to align professional practices with evolving understanding of animal welfare.
This pretty much means:
Questioning traditional practices - both mentally and verbally.
Implementing evidence-based approaches in practice and at home.
Prioritising emotional wellbeing alongside physical care.
Creating safe environments that reduce stress for both animals and pet professionals.
Building businesses that thrive through ethical practices rather than money-making schemes.
Leading The Way To A More Holistic Approach To Pet Care
As you navigate your own professional journey, ask yourself:
Are your practices aligned with current animal welfare science?
Are you making decisions based on tradition or evidence?
Are you leading with authentic conviction while remaining open to your own professional development and growth?
My views on issues like Crufts might not always be popular, but they are my beliefs nonetheless.
The question isn't when or even how change will come, but how we feel we can best contribute to facilitating it while staying true to our ethical views and core values. Remember, the goal isn't to be controversial, but to be genuine in our commitment to advancing animal care while respecting the beliefs and subsequently, journey of every other pet professional in the industry who are also doing their best.
What's your experience? Have you encountered situations where you felt torn between expressing your professional beliefs and maintaining industry harmony? Share your experiences in the comments below.
FREE WEBINAR: Get access to the 'Facing Professional Adversity with Integrity' Webinar that I presented on behalf of Women In Business Live Conference 2021 where I delve into how I have navigated personal and professional challenges in pursuit of evoking positive change.
FAQS
How can pet industry professionals maintain ethical standards while growing their business?
Address controversial practices by:
Focusing on evidence-based alternatives
Sharing documented outcomes of welfare-focused approaches
Maintaining professional dialogue
Offering practical, implementable solutions to common problems
Building support networks with like-minded professionals (or joining my amazing free community Holistic Groomers Worldwide).
How can new professionals develop confidence in advocating for better welfare standards?
Why should businesses prioritise animal welfare?
How do you handle clients who resist welfare-focused approaches?
What role does continuing education play in animal welfare advocacy?
Comentários