New Program at Iowa Lakes Community College

By Kendra Hill

Iowa Lakes Community College added a new program over the summer. Iowa Lakes Professional Dog Grooming is now at the Emmetsburg Campus with Sierra Elbert as the instructor.

“The Iowa Lakes Professional Dog Grooming Program offers a 8 week intensive program to become a professional dog groomer,” said Sierra Elbert, “Our goal to teach each student all things dog grooming. From bathing, setting the coat, drying the coat, trimming dogs in breed profile trims. We go over dog anatomy and why the dog moves and how to complete the start to finish haircut on the dog. We teach students how to communicate with their owner of their client, to reserving appointments. Our goal is to teach each student a strong base of knowledge of dog grooming so they can become a dog groomer themselves.”

This program doesn’t have any requirements and students don’t have to graduate High School to be enrolled. Individuals interested could even be retired and take these classes.

“Class starts at 8am and ends at 4pm Monday through Friday. Each student will groom a dog a day, as they further their education they will groom multiple dogs a day. The students are the groomers at the salon “Laker Paws.”” said Elbert.

Elbert later on said, “Covid hasn’t stopped us yet! As maintaining a license through USDA we are inspected and help to high standards to make sure we are following protocol. So that means disinfecting every tool and equipment between each dog, included tubs and floors. Dog groomers are held to such high standards as parasites and diseases can live and transport between animals and objects. So when Covid came, our protocol didn’t change much as we already wear masks during the drying portion and disinfecting daily on the hour!”

Later on Elbert was asked why she wanted to become a professor at Iowa Lakes and what jobs she had before this.

“I wanted to help others learn a trade that they are passionate about!” said Elbert, “There is a huge need for dog groomers nationwide. I also noticed that some dog groomers are self taught and I’ve seen how dangerous that could be to both the groomer and the pet they are grooming. I wanted to set the bar high and have very high standards for my dog grooming program here at Iowa Lakes Community College, I want to keep everyone safe and sling shot every single student into the pet grooming industry with the right knowledge and tools so they can be safe and knowledgeable in this industry. I started Glamorous Paws in 2012, Glamorous Paws in a Groom and Board business. Now I still run the boarding part of the business but rent out booths to other local groomers.”-Elbert