Have you ever thought about competing in a dog grooming competition? Caroline Zambrano learns what it takes to style fur for a prize.
Competing in a room full of professional dog groomers and onlookers can be daunting for anyone, regardless of the level of grooming and competition experience they have. It can also be stressful, even at the best of times. But putting aside the pressures involved, competing in grooming competitions allows you to showcase your skills and assess your work, which makes you a better groomer at the end of the day, according to international award-winning grooming expert and competition judge Sharon Hall.
“Grooming competitions are certainly not for everyone because they are stressful at the best of times. However anyone can compete and this
provides an opportunity to grow as a groomer and become a successful competitor,” she says. Sharon is an International-Certified Master Groomer from NSW and enjoys sharing her 20-plus years’ grooming and competition experience and knowledge, as well as helping groomers excel in their field.
“For many years, groomers have gone about their jobs on a day-to-day basis, making their customers happy with their service, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, many groomers have had very little training and perhaps have learnt on the job or are self-taught through books or videos. Entering a competition allows you to showcase your skills and get a gauge on how you are going with your work,” she says. However, competitions are also physically demanding and can be stressful, especially when travelling across the country tugging along
animals and grooming equipment.
Grooming for beginners Caitlin Howship, a 20-year-old dog groomer from Canberra, competed in her first dog grooming competition after working as a professional groomer for just five months. Not only that, she took home first prize.
Caitlin began her grooming career as a bather in a grooming salon and moved up quickly to become a full-time groomer, enjoying every second of it. “I love learning about different styles and learning the skills to transform dogs into even more gorgeous bundles of fluff ,” she says. “I like to compete in order to gain grooming experience, as well as showcase my skills to people who are keen to watch. The idea that I get to show people what I love to do is so exciting!”
Many groomers in the industry who have been competing for years love to mentor others, Caitlin says. “So if you are shy and unsure where to start in competing, contact groomers via email or Facebook and ask if there is anyone interested in helping you get started.”
Caitlin has also made wonderful life-long friends by competing in dog grooming competitions. “We help each other with prepping, keeping each other calm before a competition, and even helping to supply dogs to one another to compete with,” she says. Caitlin’s advice to novice dog groomers who are interested in competing is to “just get out there and give it a go”!
The original article was published in PETS issue 63. Click here to subscribe to our magazine.
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