Kendra Otto, The UpScale Tail, Pet Grooming Salon

Kendra Otto, co-owner of The UpScale Tail, Pet Grooming Salon, Naperville 630-632-TAIL (8245) www.theupscaletail.com

Kendra Otto graduated from The Great Lakes Academy of Professional Pet Styling in 1997.She ranked in the top 10 in the country for 4 consecutive years as well as the Number 1 pet stylist in the state of IL for those 4 years. She has placed at every major grooming competition around the country and won multiple Best in Show/Best All Around Groomer awards; her other awards consist of: multiple Creative Styling awards, Artistic Innovation award, she was invited to participate in the Superzoo Jackpot Contest in Las Vegas where she placed 6th out of 20 in a class of 50. She was the recipient of the prestigious Liz Paul Scissoring Award, the Will Stone Memorial Award for kindness to animals.

Kendra was also the first recipient of the Groomie Spirit Award, a nominee for 2009 Cardinal Crystal American Groomer of the Year; the 2011 and 2012 Cardinal Crystal Congeniality Award. She has placed in multiple Rescue Rodeos in Las Vegas and Atlanta and assists Woburn Scottish Terriers in exhibiting their dogs at American Kennel Club conformation shows, as well as styles other breeds to be shown in AKC shows. She also enjoys styling rare breeds and was the first competitor to bring the Hungarian Pumi in the grooming contest ring.

She specializes in working with fearful dogs on the grooming table and enjoys building their trust and seeing the transformation of their behavior. This part of her job she finds more rewarding than any award she’s ever received.

Kendra is an International Pet Styling Consultant for the Andis Company teaching seminars and blogging tips for pet stylists. She is also a published author in Grooming Industry Magazines, she teaches seminars worldwide, she is also published via video through the learn2groomdogs.com website and Andis home grooming tools YouTube videos. She is an International Judges Association certified judge and a United Show Managers Alliance certified judge, She is a certified pet stylist through National Dog Groomers Association of America, the International Professional Groomers Association and will continue on to become a master and certifier for them. She served as the secretary and is currently a board member for GroomTeam USA. She has appeared several times as a guest on the radio show called “Ask the Pet Vet” for WTMJ in Milwaukee, WI. She is also a host for Barkleigh Productions’ Groomertv.com , a live Ustream of grooming competitions throughout the USA. She is currently self employed.