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My life path has been shaped by animals

Through daily work, experience, and responsibility. That’s how what I create today came to life. 

Janita Januškauskaitė-Plungė was the first — or among the first — to achieve many milestones in Lithuania. In 1987, she began her journey in grooming and became a professional in the field. Alongside her dog grooming salon, she opened a pet store — something that felt almost like a miracle for dog owners at the time. In 1992, she became President of the Lithuanian Poodle Club, and in 1994, at just 23 years old, she became an international-level judge — the youngest in the world at the time. In 1991, KIKA was founded, becoming one of the first companies of its kind in Lithuania. Over more than three decades, the family business has grown into the international company group KIKA GROUP.
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Janita founded “Kika” in 1991, inspired by her love for her poodle, Kika — the one who led her into the fascinating world of animal care and nutrition.

“Kika” was built from my student allowance, a strong desire, and a deep love for my dog. No one helped — there were no wealthy parents, no privatization opportunities, no investors. We simply believed in it and worked relentlessly. We lived through every economic crisis, and today we feel a deep sense of pride — no one will ever have that kind of experience again. And no one can truly understand that level of determination and belief, because back when it all began, we didn’t count the hours, the effort, or whether it would pay off.

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Drawing on scientific research, veterinary expertise, and her own in-depth analysis, Janita has developed brands that have become international and are now exported to 65 countries worldwide, with products awarded across multiple continents. She has actively led — and continues to lead — trainings and masterclasses for groomers across America, Asia, and Europe. At the same time, she is constantly learning herself and consulting pet owners from all over the world. When people have exhausted every option in trying to solve their pets’ coat and health issues, they find their way to Janita. Her system of care — combining nutrition, high-quality natural cosmetics, and professional grooming — becomes, for many, their only real solution.
It all began with Kika — a small silver poodle and the fulfillment of fifteen-year-old Janita’s greatest dream. Even then, she knew her dog deserved the very best care, including grooming. Kika became Janita’s first model. After learning from a professional just once, she groomed her dog so well that the moment they stepped outside, requests began pouring in from all sides. A perfectionist by nature, Janita became deeply driven to learn and improve. She traveled to Moscow, where she sought out the most renowned groomers in the former Soviet Union. She visited them many times — sometimes twice a month. She worked relentlessly, and her knowledge, skills, and understanding of grooming grew rapidly, along with her natural talent. I was studying at the time — my classes at the polytechnic usually ended around three or four in the afternoon. From there, I would go straight to Miško Street, where in a small grooming room I worked non-stop until ten in the evening. At first, I would groom six to eight dogs each evening, but as the number of clients quickly grew, that number rose to ten or even twelve. Appointment bookings stretched two to three months ahead. There were no formal trainings, courses, or certified schools back then, so the only measure of professionalism was performance in the show ring and the judges’ decisions. Judges recognized Janita’s grooming, and colleagues respected her work. People would come and ask, “Who groomed this dog?” — and that was the highest form of recognition, the only “diploma” that mattered. The greatest university was life itself — and today, nearly 40 years of practice, hundreds of thousands of dogs groomed, and countless complex cases solved.
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Janita graduated from the Juozas Gruodis Higher School of Music, Kaunas Polytechnic, the International Coaching School, and the School of Numerology, and further advanced her studies by completing two programs at the Academy of Systemic Solutions. Together with her husband Tauras, she raised five children. Among many other prestigious international awards and titles, one holds special personal significance — in 2025, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award as the best breeder in Lithuania.
The Art of Coat and Skin.

The Art of Coat and Skin.
My journey

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More than 400 pages filled with my journey through mistakes – sometimes painful ones – through trials, searches, endless research, and the most wonderful discoveries. Everything written and richly illustrated here is useful and tested by thousands of users.

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