Dog Trainers Shannon Morrow and Jennifer Collins Team Up for Comprehensive Grooming and Training Services

Sit. Stay. Succeed.

That’s what two local professional dog trainers hope to do, as they join forces to provide grooming and training services to Burke County. Both trainers are committed to helping pet owners bring out the best in their furry friends. 

Shannon Morrow and Jennifer Collins own individual pet care businesses, but when they met through social media, both women recognized the value of collaboration over competition. They formed an alliance, providing consultative support for each other and seeking to enrich their dog training enterprises.

Collins owns All The Dogs Grooming & Training, which caters to the  comprehensive needs of dogs. She offers puppy preschool/kindergarten and adult day training.

Customers can choose from group classes or private lessons, depending on what best suits their individual dogs. She also offers one on one, all-inclusive grooming, ranging from baths and haircuts to Fear-Free Grooming Programs, which help dogs overcome their fears of the grooming process or nail trims. 

Morrow’s business is Beautiful Day Dogs Training and Behavior. She offers positive, rewards-based techniques to teach dogs new behaviors and life skills.

Morrow said she believes training should be enjoyable for dogs and their owners, and says her methods reflect this belief.

A shared love for dogs

The ladies became friends after recognizing their shared passion for dog training. Both are certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) and carry the respected CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed) credential. 

According to CCPDT, the certification recognizes the knowledge and experience of professional dog trainers. Candidates for certification must provide references that attest to their work and pass a rigorous written exam that focuses on the science behind dog behavior and the application of training techniques.

Morrow and Collins say the holiday season is the perfect time to call on a trainer for help. 

“We know that many people give puppies for Christmas,” Morrow said. “New pet parents will be excited to learn that there are (local) quality training options for their new pups.

“Training, pre-holidays, may ease holiday stress, as dogs learn appropriate behaviors around guests, and dog owners learn how to ease the stress that holiday bustle may impose on their dogs,” she added. 

“Jennifer offers grooming to spruce the pups up for the holidays, and I offer lovely custom dog portrait commissions to honor the love dog owners have for their furry best friends,” she stated.

Collins, a native of Maine, uses a building beside her home as a grooming and training facility. Morrow has almost completed the renovation of her training space, but currently offers services at clients’ homes or via online meetings.

Providing comprehensive training

Morrow says her approach goes beyond typical dog training. She works with pups on issues such as household manners and managing and modifying fearful, anxious, and reactive behaviors.

Her Paws to Ground Calm Class is a meditation class to help dog owners create a calming routine that reduces stress for humans and their dogs. She also accepts commissions for one-of-a-kind pet portraits. Examples of her work can be found on her website. (see below)

Both Morrow and Collins stress the importance of homework for dogs undergoing training. “I can work with a dog and he will be doing everything just right for me, but if owners don’t follow up at home, if they reinforce those previous (undesirable) behaviors, the training won’t work,” Collins said. 

Hearts for giving

Both Collins and Morrow have a heart for local shelters and animal service organizations. Morrow is a former Burke County Animal Services employee and Collins helps the shelter and dog rescue organizations by providing free trims for matted pups.

Collins also offers special nail trim events, with the proceeds going to local and regional animal rescues and shelters. Today, (Dec. 9) from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., All the Dogs Grooming and Training is hosting a half-off nail trim at the shop, located at 4779 Dysartsville Road, just a mile off of I-40. Collins will donate 100 % of money collected at this event to Burke County Animal Services. A nail trim is $10.

For more information about Collins’ services or to schedule an appointment, visit www.groomallthedogs.com. She can be reached at 828-409-4664.  

Morrow can be found on the web at www.beautifuldaydogs.com. Her phone number is 910-431-5680.

Sandra Wilkerson Queen is the education and business reporter for The Paper. She may be reached at 828-445-8595, Ext. 2002, or via email at sandra@thepaper.media.