Master Groomer Behavior Specialist™

$3,000.00

Become the Groomer Dogs Trust When Others Give Up

An advanced, DOE-approved diploma for professional groomers ready to work confidently with fear, stress, and complex behavior, without force, gimmicks, or compromising humane handling. This program teaches professionals how to earn cooperation, not overpower it.

  • Read dogs before they escalate

  • Replace fear-driven responses with calm, repeatable handling

  • Work safely with dogs others turn away

You already know how to groom.
This program is for when grooming isn’t the hard part, behavior is.

The Master Groomer Behavior Specialist™ program is an 8-month advanced diploma for professionals who want to understand dogs deeply, prevent escalation, and create safer outcomes for pets, clients, and themselves.

This isn’t about fixing dogs.
It’s about becoming the professional that dogs feel safe with.

By the end of the program, you’ll be able to:

  • Confidently groom dogs with fear, stress, and handling challenges

  • Read subtle signals before behavior escalates

  • Prevent blowups instead of reacting to them

  • Communicate clearly with clients about behavior and safety

  • Create handling plans that work for the pet, the owner and you

  • Be the groomer people trust with their most difficult dogs

This isn’t just a diploma. It’s a calling.

If you’ve ever said, “I wish I could do more for these dogs,” this is your next step.

Program Start Dates and Times (EST) 2026

March start date Mon, 9th at 12 pm

May start date Mon, 4th at 4 pm

July start date Mon, 6th at 7 pm

How Enrollment Works:

  1. Pick Your Start Date

  2. Secure your seat with enrollment

  3. Begin your training with guided support from day one

Enroll Now

Become the Groomer Dogs Trust When Others Give Up

An advanced, DOE-approved diploma for professional groomers ready to work confidently with fear, stress, and complex behavior, without force, gimmicks, or compromising humane handling. This program teaches professionals how to earn cooperation, not overpower it.

  • Read dogs before they escalate

  • Replace fear-driven responses with calm, repeatable handling

  • Work safely with dogs others turn away

You already know how to groom.
This program is for when grooming isn’t the hard part, behavior is.

The Master Groomer Behavior Specialist™ program is an 8-month advanced diploma for professionals who want to understand dogs deeply, prevent escalation, and create safer outcomes for pets, clients, and themselves.

This isn’t about fixing dogs.
It’s about becoming the professional that dogs feel safe with.

By the end of the program, you’ll be able to:

  • Confidently groom dogs with fear, stress, and handling challenges

  • Read subtle signals before behavior escalates

  • Prevent blowups instead of reacting to them

  • Communicate clearly with clients about behavior and safety

  • Create handling plans that work for the pet, the owner and you

  • Be the groomer people trust with their most difficult dogs

This isn’t just a diploma. It’s a calling.

If you’ve ever said, “I wish I could do more for these dogs,” this is your next step.

Program Start Dates and Times (EST) 2026

March start date Mon, 9th at 12 pm

May start date Mon, 4th at 4 pm

July start date Mon, 6th at 7 pm

How Enrollment Works:

  1. Pick Your Start Date

  2. Secure your seat with enrollment

  3. Begin your training with guided support from day one

Enroll Now

“For anyone who’s interested in learning more about dog behavior on the grooming table, The “Master Groomer Behavior Specialist” course taught by Chrissy Neumyer Smith is a must do. It is an in-depth and comprehensive training and handling course for the grooming environment. Chrissy is an expert in the field, and she has a lovely, enjoyable teaching style. This is not your weekend seminar class! It provides skills that you will use every single day in your salon, mobile, or house call business. I recommend it for anyone who has any interest in behavior and especially for those who wish to specialize in this area. If you complete the course, you will be a “Master Groomer Behavior Specialist.” I cannot recommend it enough.”
— Susy the Groomer, The GroomPod, Master Groomer Behavior Specialist

Step Into Advanced Behavior Work
Enrollment is now open for groomers ready to deepen their impact and confidence.

View DESCRIPTIONS of courses here

Courses needed to graduate: 32 weeks to complete

  • Behavior And How It Relates to Grooming  $750.00

  • Basic Handling Skills $750.00

  • Adding Training to The Grooming Experience $750.00   

  • Advanced Training Techniques $750.00

View Syllabus Here

Course Instructors

Featured
Chrissy Neumyer Smith MGBS, MCS, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, CPG, FFCP
Chrissy Neumyer Smith MGBS, MCS, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, CPG, FFCP

Grooming became a passion quickly in 1986 when I was just starting in the pet industry. I was able to jump into the grooming industry through an apprenticeship in 1992 with Lori Charette at Aintree Kennels in Boxford Massachusetts. Due to not being able to find a suitable grooming position, I stayed on as a veterinarian technician till 1995 gaining many years of veterinarian skills that have been a tremendous help in both dog training and grooming. I had the joy of working with Lynn Travers, a well known Standard Poodle breeder in the New England region, where I learned all styles of poodle grooming for pets and shows.

I was one of the first housecall groomers and opened Happy Critters in 2000. I love grooming small, as I like to call them “my little behavior cases” and thrive when working them through fears, stress and anxiety. In October 2018, I started my podcast Creating Great Grooming Dogs that is hosted weekly on Tuesdays about where grooming and dog training meet. My show allowed me the opportunity to get noticed as an educator and opened doors to speaking for Barkleigh at grooming expos. I love teaching and look at dog training as logic puzzles and grooming is the art. As much as I love teaching, I love learning and geeking out with other dog professionals. The more knowledge I possess, the more I can give back to those I educate. One of my current hobbies is strong passion for Flyball with my current Border Collies Brok and Po. Flyball started for me with Isa in 2005 and over the years have been awarded numerous titles with my other dogs.