Four World-Class Groomers, One Unforgettable Day

On 1 May 2026, something really special happened at PDGA. Four of the most respected names in the international dog grooming world came together for a live seminar, and the response from the grooming community was absolutely incredible.

Whether you attended in person, watched from afar, or are just hearing about it now, this post covers everything that went down. Four live demonstrations, four different disciplines, and more than enough inspiration to keep any groomer going for months. Grab a coffee and let us walk you through it.

Meet the Groomers Who Made It Happen

This was not your average seminar. Putting together four internationally certified master groomers (each at the absolute top of their field) in a single event is no small feat. Here is who took the stage and why each of them is such a big deal in the grooming world.

Lisa Hart: Asian Fusion Pioneer 

If you have been around the grooming world for any length of time, you already know Lisa Hart. She is widely credited as one of the pioneers who helped bring Asian Fusion grooming to an international audience, a creative, highly expressive grooming style that originated in Asia and has completely transformed the look of modern grooming salons and competitions worldwide.

Lisa has won multiple competitions, judged events across the globe, and set trends that are still shaping the industry today. Her passion for the craft is contagious, and her session at the seminar was exactly what you would expect from someone of her caliber, informative, exciting, and packed with practical takeaways.

Follow Lisa: lisahartgrooming.co.uk  |  Instagram: @lisahartgrooming | Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/lisahartgrooming

Prue Hammond: 40 Years of Grooming Excellence 

With over 40 years in the industry, Prue Hammond is a second-generation, internationally certified Master Groomer, a respected educator, and a Best in Show winner and fans of Pooch Perfect Australia will recognize her instantly. Prue's legacy in grooming is built on passion, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to doing things properly.

When Prue talks about grooming, you listen. Watching her work is like watching someone who has completely mastered every detail of their craft: every movement is deliberate, every decision has a reason behind it.

Follow Prue: @styledwithprue on Instagram | Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/CreativePetStylist/followers

Helen Forester: The Queen of Hand Stripping

Hand stripping is one of those grooming disciplines that many people admire from a distance but very few truly master. Helen Forester is the exception to that rule. An Australian-recognized Pet Stylist and International Master Groomer with over 20 years of hands-on experience, Helen is simply the queen of hand stripping. She brings a deep passion for the craft and the kind of insider knowledge that only comes from years at the table.

Follow Helen: k9style.com.au  |  Instagram: @k9styledoggrooming | Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/K9style

Yvette Miles: Creative Grooming at Its Finest 

Closing out the lineup was Yvette Miles, an internationally certified Master Groomer, award-winning pet stylist, and dedicated educator who is known for her bold, creative approach to grooming. Yvette has a special passion for Asian Fusion styling and beautifully refined aesthetic finishes, and her energy in the grooming space is infectious.

Follow Yvette: @yvettes.barkbowtique.spa on Instagram | Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/yvettes.barkbowtique.spa

What Was Covered: The Four Live Demonstrations

Each groomer brought a completely different skill set to the table, which made for a seminar that covered serious ground. Here is a breakdown of each live session and the key things to take away from it.

1. Asian Fusion Grooming with Lisa Hart

Asian Fusion grooming is built around soft, rounded shapes, voluminous leg furnishings, and a deeply artistic approach to styling. It is a technique that rewards patience, scissor precision, and a good eye for balance, and Lisa has all three in spades.

Her demonstration walked attendees through:

•  The foundational principles that define Asian Fusion and separate it from traditional styling
•  How to achieve those signature rounded, fluffy silhouettes that the style is known for
•  Common mistakes groomers make when first attempting Asian Fusion and how to fix them
•  Adapting the style for different breeds and coat types

2. The Perfect Poodle Trim with Prue Hammond

The poodle trim is the ultimate test of a groomer's technical ability. It demands precision, an understanding of the dog's structure, and the kind of scissor control that only comes with dedicated practice. Prue made it look effortless. After 40 years, it probably is.

Key takeaways from Prue's session included:

•  How to read a poodle's body structure and use it to guide grooming decisions
•  Step-by-step scissoring for a balanced, show-quality trim
•  Blending techniques to create seamless transitions between sections
•  Finishing touches that take a poodle groom from good to exceptional

3. Hand Stripping with Helen Forester

Hand stripping is a dying art in many parts of the world, which is exactly why events like this matter so much. Helen's session was a masterclass in a technique that, when done correctly, preserves the natural texture and colour of a wire-coated dog's coat in a way that clipping simply cannot.

Helen covered:

•  What hand stripping is, which breeds benefit from it, and why it matters
•  The difference between hand stripping, carding, and rolling the coat
•  Tools of the trade: stripping knives, chalk, and how to use them properly
•  How to read a coat and work with the natural direction of growth
•  Insider tips from over 20 years of professional hand stripping

4. Taming the Drop Coat with Yvette Miles

Drop coats: think Maltese, Afghan Hounds, Shih Tzus, and Yorkies are notoriously challenging to work with. They mat easily, they tangle quickly, and getting a truly polished finish requires both technical skill and an artistic eye. Yvette's session showed attendees how to work with the coat rather than against it, with some seriously beautiful results.

Her demonstration covered:

•  Understanding how drop coat structure differs from other coat types
•  Prep work and detangling: the foundation of every great drop coat groom
•  How to add creative flair while keeping the coat healthy and intact
•  Scissoring and blending techniques specific to long, flowing coats
•  Product recommendations for maintaining drop coats between grooms

Why Events Like This Matter

Professional development is something every serious groomer should be thinking about, not just when starting out, but throughout an entire career. The grooming world moves quickly. New techniques, trends, and tools emerge all the time, and staying current is what separates a good groomer from a truly great one.

Events like the PDGA International Grooming Seminar give groomers the chance to learn directly from the best, ask questions in real time, and walk away with skills and inspiration they can apply immediately. There is no substitute for watching a true expert at work.

At PDGA, continued education has always been at the heart of what we do. That is why our internationally accredited grooming courses are built to go beyond the basics, covering everything from canine health and behavior to advanced scissoring, styling, and breed-specific grooming techniques. And it is why bringing four of the world's top groomers together felt like such a natural next step for us.

What This Means for Your Grooming Career

The four techniques showcased at the seminar (Asian Fusion, poodle trimming, hand stripping, and drop coat grooming) are among the most in-demand skills in the professional grooming world right now. Groomers who can offer these services confidently attract a more loyal clientele and are able to charge accordingly.

The best groomers are always the ones who stay hungry to learn.

Whether you are just starting out and looking for the right place to begin, or you are already grooming and ready to level up your skills, PDGA has a course for where you are right now. Take a look at the Dog Groomer Assistant Course if you are building your foundation, or explore the Professional Dog Grooming Course if you are ready to groom according to breed standards and earn your internationally recognized certification.

A Word About PDGA's Accreditation

We know there are a lot of online grooming courses out there. What sets PDGA apart is not just the quality of the content or the warmth of the community and it is the fact that our flagship courses are internationally accredited by ICOES and that we are a proud member of the Pet Professional Guild.

That means when you complete a PDGA course, your certificate carries genuine weight. You can read more about what our accreditation means and why it matters on our Accreditation & Membership page.

Ready to Start Your Grooming Journey?

If the PDGA International Grooming Seminar has inspired you, even just reading about it, imagine what a full PDGA course could do for your career. We have built our courses to give you the same level of expert knowledge and professional confidence that events like this provide, but from the comfort of your own home and at your own pace.

Browse all our courses at pdga.online/courses and find the one that is right for you. And if you are not quite ready to commit to a full course, our mini-courses and grooming toolkits are a great place to dip your paws in.

We cannot wait to see what you create. The PDGA pack is always growing and there is always a spot for one more dog lover.