Wizard of Dogs Cookstown

🎉✨ A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS, CONAL! ✨🎉

Today we’re celebrating a fantastic achievement as our Head Tutor, Thomas, visited Conal at A Tail of Wags to proudly present him with his official certificate after successfully completing his OCN NI Level 3 Diploma in Commercial Dog Grooming, Animal Welfare & Salon Management.

Conal is now a FULLY QUALIFIED DOG GROOMER, trained to the exceptionally high standards we are proud to uphold here at Wizard of Dogs Training School.

Real skills. Real achievement. Real professionalism.

At Wizard of Dogs, our mission is to educate and inspire the next generation of professional dog groomers developing individuals who are confident, capable, knowledgeable and committed to delivering outstanding standards within the grooming industry.

Our motto:
✨ Your future starts here! ✨

Our promise:
We want you to be respected and admired for your work, so your customers return to you time and time again.

A huge well done to you, Conal! We are incredibly proud of everything you have achieved and wish you every success as you continue to grow your career and business at A Tail of Wags.

We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you! 🐾✂️

A Future Dog Groomer in the Making! 🐶✂️

Today we welcomed Lauren to Wizard of Dogs for a FREE hands-on taster session, giving her the opportunity to experience what life as a professional dog groomer is really like.

Working alongside our expert tutors, Lauren gained practical experience in some of the key skills our students learn from day one, including:

✔️ Carrying out health checks and pre-grooming assessments
✔️ Understanding canine welfare and suitability for grooming
✔️ Professional bathing techniques
✔️ Correct shampoo dilution and product preparation
✔️ Safe and effective use of the blaster dryer and stand dryer

It was a fantastic introduction to the world of professional dog grooming and the perfect first step towards what could be an exciting new career.

Well done, Lauren! It was a pleasure having you with us , and we hope to see you back again soon.

✨ Thinking about a career in dog grooming? Why not book a FREE hands-on taster session and discover if it’s the right path for you?



This version is slightly more polished and reads naturally for both Facebook and Instagram while maintaining a professional tone.

Absolutely Delighted and Truly Honoured!

I’m still in shock to say that I have been nominated for Northern Ireland Stylist of the Year at the International Grooming Conference Liz Paul Awards 2026!

To be recognised alongside such incredibly talented and respected groomers is a real honour. So much hard work goes on behind the scenes from long days in the salon and countless hours of training, to continually striving to improve both myself and the students at Wizard of Dogs. Having that dedication recognised means more than I can put into words.

A huge congratulations to all of the other nominees. Every one of you deserves this recognition, and I’m proud to be nominated alongside such outstanding professionals.

A massive thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate me. Your support, encouragement and belief in what I do means the world.

And a special thank you to Colin Taylor and Kara Boyd for everything you do for our industry and for creating opportunities that celebrate the people behind the scissors. It is hugely appreciated.

Whatever happens next, I already feel like a winner just to have been nominated.
If you could take one minute to vote for me, i would really appreciate this just follow the link below

https://totalgroomingmagazine.co.uk/liz-paul-awards-finalists-2026/?fbclid=IwdGRjcASfNrBjbGNrBJ82mmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHpFg7BNLvHT1SexvK622xVKYuBeBMYOgFTNFim6xkQlS86HspCVHUv_u7RPe_aem_50eOwOTszgnCFVGLOqNKQw

Thank you all! 🐾

Could Lucy Be Our Next Professional Dog Groomer? 🐶✂️

This week, we welcomed Lucy to Wizard of Dogs for one of our FREE hands-on taster sessions, giving her the opportunity to experience what life as a professional dog groomer is really like.

Lucy spent Wednesday afternoon with our experienced tutors, Lucy got involved in practical training from the very beginning, including:

✔️ Carrying out pre-groom health checks
✔️ Assessing a dog’s wellbeing and suitability for grooming
✔️ Professional bathing techniques
✔️ Learning the correct shampoo dilution rates
✔️ Safe and effective use of the blaster and stand dryer

It was a fantastic introduction to the industry, giving Lucy a real insight into the skills and knowledge required to become a professional dog groomer.

Well done, Lucy! It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to see you again soon.

✨ If you’ve ever thought about becoming a dog groomer, why not book one of our FREE taster sessions and experience it for yourself?

A Massive Congratulations to Kerry! 🎉

Today we’re celebrating a fantastic achievement as our Head Tutor, Thomas, presented Kerry from kerrysklipsdoggrooming with her official OCN NI Level 3 Diploma in Commercial Dog Grooming, Animal Welfare & Salon Management.

Kerry is a fully qualified professional dog groomer, having trained to the exceptionally high standards we uphold here at Wizard of Dogs Training School.

Real skills. Real achievement. Real professionalism.

At Wizard of Dogs, our mission is to educate the next generation of professional dog groomers developing individuals who are confident, capable, and committed to delivering outstanding results for both dogs and their owners.

Our motto:
✨ Your future starts here!

Our promise:
We want every student to leave us with the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to build a successful career earning the respect of their clients and creating a loyal customer base that returns time and time again.

Kerry, we are incredibly proud of everything you have achieved. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment have been outstanding, and we can’t wait to see your grooming career continue to grow next up is grooming competitions

Congratulations once again, and welcome to the next chapter of your professional journey!

✂️🐾 2 DAY PROFESSIONAL GROOMING SEMINAR 🐾✂️

With International Grooming Expert Julie Harris Art & Science of Dog Grooming

Join us at Wizard of Dogs Training School for an exclusive 2-day hands-on grooming seminar designed to elevate your skills, knowledge, and confidence in the salon ✨

Day 1 – Saturday 29th August

A deep dive into the science behind grooming:

✔️ Understanding different coat types & how they grow
✔️ How products & temperature affect coat condition
✔️ The groomer’s role in maintaining healthy skin
✔️ What’s really behind itching & skin issues
✔️ Angulation explained – understanding structure & balance

📅 Day 2 – Sunday 30th August

Putting knowledge into real salon results:

✔️ Salon favourites – Cocker Spaniel & Cockapoo styling
✔️ Hand stripping techniques
Mini Schnauzer focus , fox terriers
✔️ Creating correct angulation in your trims
✔️ Understanding canine anatomy & structure
✔️ Techniques for different coat types (including long coats)
✔️ Learn about banded hair & advanced finish work

💥 Why Attend?

✨ Learn from one of the best in the industry
✨ Improve your prep, finish & styling techniques
✨ Build confidence with real, practical knowledge
✨ Take your grooming to a professional next level

📍 Location: Wizard of Dogs Training School, Cookstown

📩 Limited spaces available – DM to secure your spot £200 for the weekend

AUGUST INTAKE OPEN✨

Your Future Starts Here ✂️🐾

OCN NI Level 3 Professional Dog Grooming Qualifications

Nationally Recognised • Hands-On Training • Career-Focused

Train with confidence at Wizard of Dogs Training School and gain the practical skills, knowledge, and recognised qualifications needed to build a successful career in dog grooming.

Level 3 Diploma

Commercial Dog Grooming, Animal Welfare & Salon Management
• 45 Credits
• 30 Days Practical Training

✔ Animal welfare, legislation & safe handling
✔ Grooming consultations, assessments & planning
✔ Bathing, drying & coat preparation
✔ Finish styling, hand stripping & breed work
✔ Running and managing a grooming salon
✔ First aid for pet care professionals

Level 3 Certificate

Commercial Dog Grooming & Salon Management
• 18 Credits
• 15 Days Practical Training

✔ Dog styling & finish grooming
✔ Coat preparation and finishing techniques
✔ Maintaining dog health & wellbeing throughout the grooming process

📧 [email protected]

Real skills. Real achievement. Real professionalism.

Build confidence. Gain competence. Create a career.
Invest in yourself and add real value to your future business.

The perfect dog dad gift. Cathy Secret Gallery is a fantastic artist with an incredible eye for detail. If you’re thinking of getting a pet portrait created we highly recommend.

Fantastic Weekend in Cork! 🇮🇪

Kara and I had a fantastic weekend in Cork competing at the Rebel Groom-Off.

We were delighted with the experience and received some valuable feedback that we can take away, learn from, and use to continue to improve

Competitions are all about learning, growing, and striving to be better each time, and we’re already looking forward to the next one!

A huge thank you to the organisers, judges, sponsors, and everyone involved in making it such a great event.

On to the next one! ✂️🐶

🐾🇮🇪