Pet Product News - SuperZoo Show Daily Day 1 2018

Cambridge English Dictionary defines artistry as, “The special skills possessed by someone with the ability to make art.” Today’s dog grooming competitions are proof that artistic talent is not limited to canvas and paint.

Grooming competitions provide the opportunity for groomers to step outside of their comfort zone, said Christina Pawlosky, a national certified master groomer (NCMG), owner of The Pet Connection in Warren, Ohio, partner at The Grooming Professors and a 2018 SuperZoo judge.

However, the road to the ring isn’t always so easy.

“It takes courage to build up the nerve to walk
into that ring,” said Lisa Leady, NCMG, a 2018 Su-
perZoo judge and owner of Primp My Pooch Mobile
and Salon Grooming in Genoa, Ill. “Competing builds
confidence.”
Taking those first tentative steps will also open
the door to invaluable educational tools, according
to Pawlosky.

“Not only do contestants learn from the judging critiques, but they are seeing the work of other groomers from across the country and sometimes from around the world,” Pawlosky said.

Constructive assessments and observing other groomers’ work during competitions ultimately leads to higher standards within the grooming industry overall, Leady noted.

Beyond grooming, showing and breeding dogs, Michelle Breen, owner of Best In Show Grooming in Cincinnati, has been competing in grooming competitions since 2006.

“I try to hit 10 to 12 contests a year,” she said. “There seems to be constant growth within the category, and new contests are popping up every year.

“SuperZoo is one of the more important competitions—it’s definitely a priority for most competitors,” Breen added.

Breen noted that the knowledge and expertise gained from that participation is invaluable for her business.

“The bragging rights are always there, but it’s also
a great learning experience,” she said. “The judges
are some of the best in the world, and you get a lot of
really good, specific critiques.”
Further, information sharing and camaraderie
with other competitors are additional pluses.