The Excitement Continues... GE 2012!

One day down... already? I swear, with a competition looming off in the distance, the days seem to fly by even faster. A Cocker Spaniel was the subject of my dreams last night. Black dogs seem to be an ongoing theme here... foreshadowing?

Anyway, the trip to Chocolate World was very enjoyable. Even though the Create Your Own Candy Bar attraction was closed for the day, the rest of Hershey's best didn't disappoint. You'd never know that they got flooded out horribly last year; it was the same chocolately experience from 2010! Plus I came back to my room with sweet treats in tow, and had the experience of dark chocolate BBQ chicken pizza - psychotically delicious!

Groom Expo officially kicked off with the Groom Fusion class. hosted by Chris Christensen. Everyone in attendance got a free mister. I can't wait to try mine out, especially with the new product techniques Carlos and Coleen shared with us!

After a quick dinner at Bear's Den (and meeting a new friend), there was a meeting for contestants hosted by judges Joey Villani, Dawn Omboy, Vivian Nash, and others. I still have absolutely no nervous feelings, but as I told Joey, I am now riding the high like never before! I've never been so amped for anything!  :D

Of course, what Thursday evening would be complete without Dawn Omboy's Internet Social? Turnout was fairly low this year, and they ran out of seats, but everyone had a good time, with Espree sample bags for all. I won a box of doggie Halloween bowties for Xavier. Tosha won a B3 gift pack - her first ever win at the Social! We sat by the "cool corner" and their luck rubbed off on us, haha!

One day down, three to go. Let's rock and roll!

Comin' Atcha from Hershey!

The time has finally come! Chilling out in my hotel room after another smooth travel through Pennsylvania, my anticipation levels are at an all-time high. Last night I dreamt that I was already competing with a black Pom. The little guy stood there with love and appreciation in his eyes as I carefully handscissored a lion trim onto him. The crowd began to cheer... then I realized it was my alarm clock, hehe  ;)

Xavier is secure on a vacation of his own with his friends at the kennel and I am sure to lose sleep tonight. The weekend is going to be jam-packed with seminars, parties, food, chocolate stouts, some possible misadventures... all of it beginning with a trip to Chocolate World tomorrow before everything kicks off. Until later, peace out from the sweetest place on Earth!

;D

A Post Overdue: My Weekend Fling at PetQuest 2012!

Wait, what's this? There was a show last month, I was there, and I DIDN'T do a little write-up for it? Really? Hey, gimmie a break, these last few months have been nutty!  ;)

I was toying with the idea of checking out Ohio's own PetQuest show over the last weekend of June, and I'm very glad I did. It's got an environment of its own--not electric like the larger shows, but rather laid back and comparatively mellow. About 50 vendors showcased their grooming goodies and competitors went head to head on stage. As with most shows, an ever-energetic Frankie Brown was there to greet us all!

Here come the Westies!

The weekend featured some fascinating breed demos, which included Koko Tamaka and Janice Fehn grooming two Westies side by side--a show trim and a pet trim at the same time! I hope that the speakers will continue to do this with other breeds; not only does this style seminar outline the similarities, but also clear-cuts (so to speak!) the differences between the two trims! It's not just "Here's the show style, now let's do the pet trim on the same dog." Watching the two in this fashion is extremely helpful for those of us that are highly reliant on visuals to really let the information soak in.

Panda Power!

Other seminars of note included an in-depth look at shampoo ingredients and an informative session on handling and caring for senior dogs.

Although a smaller show, PetQuest offered a fierce creative grooming competition. Amazing concepts came together from groomers ranging from novice to seasoned. In the end, Angela Kumpe took the win with her "Gone Fishin'" Poodle. Pictures did this design no justice; there were six shades of blue incorporated into the dyeing to create a gorgeous watery feel behind the vibrant fish. As for my personal favorite, I've got a soft spot for Poodle pandas, and Lori Craig rocked it out!

PetQuest, although not as crazy as the other shows I've attended so far, was the perfect little pick-me-up--a great opportunity to learn, watch, and meet some new friends and catch up with old ones. But it's time to strap in, next up is Hershey, baby! On top of "MY show" approaching fast, I'm also happy to announce that I will be competing in the Rescue Roundup, a new event there!

You bet I just can't wait!  XD
Peace out for now...

Blowing Off the Dust for Intergroom 2012

It happened late last Thursday night. That realization was suddenly slapped into my face like a sack full of batteries. No, it wasn't the fact that I haven't written anything here since September; but rather the realization that in less than 24 hours, I'd be on the road for New Jersey! Yes, the show season was upon me again, and even though I registered in March, that familiar yet electric feeling never hit me until the last minute!

Unlike departure weather from last year's Groom Expo, Pennsylvania's clear blue sky spanned out over the mountains, the sun beating down on Puppy Waggin' II. The drive always goes fast under those perfect April conditions. Shortly after checking in and collecting my registration info on Thursday, I ran into two familiar faces: Joey and Jen (aka Dirty Hairy from PetGroomer)! After saying hi, we all retired for the night; travel seemed to get to the best of all of us and the big excitement wasn't until tomorrow!

Saturday, the doors of the trade show revealed a groomer's candy store. Nearly 150 vendors were present to sell us new toys, and among them were Chuck (who gave a powerful presentation using my chewed Groomer's Helper), Gilly (who changed the name of his company), Jorge, my friends from Aesculap... y'know, it just might be easier to say who wasn't there!  :)

Handstripped Brussels, Frodo

Classes were offered by ISCC groomers Pam Lauritzen and Vero DaSylva, Rev. Sonny D., Melissa Verplank, and others. The Reverend spent time talking about how important nonverbal communication is in the salon, and taught us a breathing exercise to help clear our minds - exactly what I need, but I haven't gotten very good at it yet! ISCC's handstrip class gave me further insight into one of my grooming obsessions; it really IS an art form when done correctly! Now if only I can find someone with a dog that they want kept in show rotation! Melissa Verplank's class on time management also contained useful business tips - a few extra gems hidden in an already dynamic presentation. And what better way to close out the day than joining Jen and Melissa (Mylady of PG) for a hibachi dinner?  ;D

In the competition ring, Novi was standing out among the Rising Stars. While I was in ISCC product and Spaniel classes on Sunday, he snagged Best in Show of the Rising Star division with a Kerry Blue terrier. Congrats again Novi, your dog was absolutely stunning!

Groomer Party!!

Sunday night meant it was time for Chuck's big party. Before entering the big bash, another groomer introduced me to the liquor concoction known as the Black Russian. I grabbed a few more and shot the breeze with several groomers from Rome, Italy, until Chuck shooed us all into the room: "Can I ask you a question? What the hell are you doing out here? Go in and dance!" Haha!

Lights, disco balls, and glow sticks that were handed out by Chuck himself transformed the second floor of the Holiday Inn into a dance club for pet professionals. The cover band Phenomenon kept the energy alive with everything from Disco Inferno to Footloose. Sasha Riess jumped into the middle of dancing groomers and really got things going - he sure can shake it! As for me, I left the party a little early; after being introduced to one too many Black Russians, I just knew when enough was enough! o.O

Monday came and went way too fast. That last day of the trade show are always lightning-quick. They kind of sneak up on you... much like a couple of Black Russians... :)

Christine DeFilippo's Poodle

Anyway, after attending another insightful class by Melissa Verplank (all about economics) and a quirky but fun Poodle class from Pam and Vero, I decided to play hooky on the last session... and finally got a while to talk to none other than Judge Joey! He took a look at my 2012 portfolio and said I do "nice clean work". Talk about feeling accomplished! Then, my years-old question was finally answered: yes, the seventeen coat types are worth knowing; and for the same reasons I like them: thoroughness, style, technique, tool knowledge, professionalism. That means I need to get busy on making a giant poster displaying all the breeds and their coats. Whee, another great project coming up!! :)

After picking up a few more odds and ends, it was time to make my rounds and say goodbye to all my friends, many of whom will be in Hershey. Oddly enough, my GPS once again tried to take me to the sweetest place on earth; it was reading my mind because I can't wait! One of my favorite sayings really holds true: "It's never really goodbye, because there will always be another dog show!"  ;)

See y'all in September!

Sunday - a Good End to a Great Show!

I'm sitting here now in my hotel room, gazing at all the bags that litter the floor, thinking not only about the treasures that they hold, but also about how much fun I've had. Groom Expo doesn't disappoint, and this year was certainly no exception!

Tosha and I waited outside the trade show doors until Frankie let us in one minute early - thanks Frankie! :)
I picked up some last minute goodies, including moisture magnets, backup ear buds, flea spray, and some of Espree's Plum Perfect for my coat, hehe! At their booth, I saw Judge Joey walking by. Hoping I could set up something with him this afternoon, I asked him what he was doing. Turns out he too is involved with SuperZoo and was on his way out of town! I have a feeling that we'll be able to sit down and talk someday, but now he's really got some work out out for him - my portfolio is only going to get bigger from here! ;D

Somehow I managed to snag a front-row seat for the first class, Poodle to Portie. Michell Evans showed us all kinds of tricks to take an elegant little body and make it look blocky and powerful. Now if only I can find a Poodle to try this out on!

Sunday's luncheon was full of giggles. Mr. B hosted once again, this time bringing a green screen and several TVs with him. Volunteers put on green capes and their heads were projected onto a body of a professional dancer, all complete with animated backgrounds and music ranging from guilty-pleasure country tunes (Sparkly Barkleigh did Achy Breaky Heart with the hotel staff!) to Sir Mix-a-Lot! I was hoping there would be a bigger screen so I could get some pictures, but it provided a good laugh nonetheless. There's a certain element missing from the luncheons now that Judy Bremer Taxman is retired, but Mr. B definitely keeps the spirit alive!

While thoroughly enjoying a pecan-encrusted chicken with peach sauce (I'm starting to drool just thinking about it!), I spoke with columnist Kathy Hosler. She will be featuring several of our comments about the Expo in next month's Groomer to Groomer; look for my name when you open up that magazine!

A new friend was sitting at my table as well. We shared a table at the Cocker class on Friday night, and she said that she was inspired to come for the whole show next year, just by talking to me! I can't help but feel honored that I've helped someone to improve her confidence. It's one of the best feelings in the world! Speaking of helping others, I think I sent about five people to Gilly's booth; just like me at Intergroom, everyone has to have those awesome shear bracelets! Hope he has some cool new stuff for me in April! ;)

Off to the next class! I heard that Daryl Conner's 101 Practical Grooming Tips was a good one to take. All of the reviews were spot-on: the seminar itself moved at an aggressive pace, and although many of the tips were common sense, there were plenty of gems hidden in there. I've got some new techniques--including the "Vulcan death grip" and twisting drop ears to achieve an even scissor finish--to put into practice right away!

The Kenchii booth held a very special raffle today. Several months ago, Lisa's daughter was killed in a car accident, and the other family's medical expenses have been going through the roof. The Leady family decided to raise as much money for them as possible, and so Kenchii held a special drawing for a wine basket and two special brushes, each framed and containing colored dog hair - one from Lori Craig and one from Dawn Omboy. Guess who won Dawn's brush!

I'm glad to have something that needs to hang on my wall, but also very honored to help out Lisa's cause. She is one of the biggest sweethearts I know, and I'd always be ready to help her out however I could. Lisa, we love you! Don't start crying! ;)

I wanted to get Dawn to sign it, but she won the wine basket; we speculated that she ran off to her room to have a little private party, hehe! I'm coming for you with that awesome brush at Intergroom, Dawn!

The last class of the day - and the Expo - was already upon us. Tosha met up with me at Nancy Ward's class on being your own boss. Plenty of good business tips were shared, which is what I'll be needing someday. I can't say that I'm the most business savvy person out there, and since becoming that was one of the tips, this was perhaps the most useful seminar - the best for last!

Tosha is driving home as I continue to type. After saying our goodbyes, I felt a familiar lump in my throat: it was officially over. Through hell and high-water--literally--groomers from every corner of the country came to celebrate the profession, and were now heading back. Booths were being broken down, extra merchandise packed away, and Groom Expo 2011 is now nothing more than another blissful memory. Although I might sound like a broken record when I say this, there is so much truth behind these words: I am blessed to be in an industry where everyone can come together and have the time of our lives with people we've never met. One weekend makes all the difference in the world, and there's a new invigorated flame lit inside our hearts. Where else but Hershey can one get a feeling exactly like this one? I can only hope that other groomers share in the magic I feel, combined with the hope that the next year will be even better.

The end of Groom Expo is bittersweet. Although a great event has come to a close, it only means that I get to be reunited with Xavier tomorrow and take new knowledge (and toys!) home to the shop. A bright new year is just starting to poke over the horizon, and with the experiences I've shared here, I say, "Bring it on, baby!"

See y'all next year!!

Friday Night Fun, Saturday Spending and Showcasing!

Ah yes, where were we? The Friday night preparations were made, which involved me putting on my 2011 costume...

Originally I wanted to do an off-duty lifeguard Portuguese Water Dog. It was brought to my attention that it wouldn't be a tourist. Darn! My mind went back to all things tropical and landed on the hula skirt. What happens when a Schnauzer isn't groomed right? Put on a Hawaiian shirt and a lei and you have...

Tropical Schnauzer!

So how surprised was I when three other dogs came walking in? Don't get me wrong - the costumes were cute, but dog suits are my style! Guess that makes me a trendsetter. That was the group that won first place. My hat goes off to them, but just remember one thing: you guys may have gone wild, but to paraphrase one of the first songs of the night, baby I was born that way! ;D

Anyway, the main attraction of the night was the green screen jet ski. Complete with air to blow your hair back, everyone was eager to hop on and take a ride!

And what's better than a Schnauzer riding a wave? ;)

Tropical themed groomers from all over hit the dance floor. There wasn't as much of an island music selection as I would've imagined, and it was mostly rap, but Mr. B kept the tunes spinning all night. Thrown into the mix were classic Groom Expo party songs like Michael Jackson, Cottoneyed Joe, Thank God I'm a Country Boy (complete with the bubble wrap stomp!), Cupid Shuffle, and others. All in all, it was a great night!

One thing I do have to say though: I felt so much better after taking that stuffy beard off! :)

Tosha and I woke up Saturday morning, groggy but ready to learn and shop! Our morning began with a seminar on setting yourself apart from other shops, but it wasn't really what either of us expected. A lot of the advice given was good old-fashioned common sense: keep your shop clean, hand dry all dogs with coat, and the like. However, the one thing that made the seminar worth it was the Christmas idea: a clear bulb with a lock of hair and tinsel inside, possibly painted with the dog's name on it. What a great memento! Maybe we can do that at the shop this year?

The trade show was in full swing with the feeling of energy and insanity vibrating down the rows of booths. After picking up some shampoo orders for Nancy, I ran around in typical J.C. trade show fashion: every and any direction, like a maniac! ;)
After buying some nail pens from Show Seasons, I went to the Groomer's Helper booth to see Chuck... and to paint one of Mark's nails blue! Gotta love my wacky trade show buddies; where else could I do something like this?

The second seminar in my day was hosted by Olga, who demonstrated a trim on - you guessed it - Bichons! The most impressive segment included her detailed explanation of those little puffball heads, a point that most anyone would love to brush up on... figuratively speaking! I feel like she was absolutely right when she said that the proper finish can only be achieved with shears; snap-on combs can come close, but there's nothing like carving out and then shaping that little fluffy ball.

Saturday's luncheon was not only delicious, but fun as well! After a buffet of delicious pan-seared chicken and potatoes, Mr. B. hosted a version of Minute to Win It. All of us contestants were given a different wacky activity to do, everything from putting a lampshade on our heads with a fishing line to shaking all the tennis balls out of a box strapped to our butts! Me? I got off the hook easy, yanking all the tissues out of a box! Everyone got a Barkleigh bag. You can never have too many of those!

This is what handstripping from hell must be like!

Still stuffed from lunch, I headed down to Diane Betelak's Wonderful Wheaten class. OK, so the Wheaten wasn't so wonderful, as he had peed all over himself. Ah, not only a Wheaten, but an un-neutered male! At least Diane was able to put him in an exquisite, modified show trim.

Woof!

I can't quite remember in what fashion I bought things from the trade floor. Whether it be something I needed, something for the shelter, or just something that looked good, I was very bad with my credit card! While making the plastic melt, I saw my old classmate Novi in the competition arena with his toy Poodle, Ozzi. He ended up taking first place. Congrats again Poodle Guy!

The last class of the day was all about mixed breed makeovers. After viewing the slideshow of adorable mutts that Cheryl Purcell put together, I knew I had to get a DVD to keep them for reference. One of my favorites included a Maltese/Poodle mix groomed to look like a Westie; apparently, those little ears stand right up when you take the hair off! I also loved the Lhasa Apso turned Dandie Dinmont. Looks like I've got a new style to learn, because I fell in love with that little puffy head and tasseled ears!

With the night coming to a close, I decided to drop by the Aesculap booth to have my German Red Clipper blades sharpened. After talking to the reps about how I loved the Favorita II, especially for those pelted rescue dogs, they decided to give me the clipper that haunted my dreams: a Fav5! I'm still reeling from the fact that I now own the clipper with the power that I thought I was years away from owning! I cannot thank them enough, and neither will my little matted friends!

After showing off my new favorite toy (hehe!), it was already time for the Saturday night dinner. Best in Show awards allowed the competition winners to show off the best dogs the industry had to offer! Different this year was the exclusion of the Dancing with Dogs presentation. In its place was a lineup that was just as fun, if not more so. The night began with the retirement roast of Frank Rowe. Dirty jokes abounded about who slept with Frank and raucous laughter filled the dining hall. Frank even let fly with some jokes of his own, then offended everyone with his Elvis impersonation; he just stood in place with his arms crossed!

Next was something that I was involved in on Thursday night. Todd Shelley took the stage and waited for the emcee, Jay Scruggs, to appear on stage. When he didn't show up, Todd pulled out his cellphone and pretended to dial him. On screen, a video presented to look like live feed showed a very busy Jay selling DVDs in his booth. He took off, leaving a customer with one of them, and ended up in the room where the Internet Social was held. At that moment, all of us yelled in unison, "Oh my god, it's Jay Scruggs!!" He asked which way it was to the award show; we all pointed in a different direction, and off he went again!

Further editing of the video featured Jay stopping at the Bear's Den restaurant to play video games, running by a wide-eyed Ellen Ehrlich, cleaning up with hand sanitizer, and also included Pet Groomer's own Dirty Hairy pointing in every direction possible. Jay came running into the first Barkleigh Honors Awards - what a great show they put on, and that was only for the introduction!

Winners of awards included Daryl Conner for best blog, Frankie Brown for hospitality, Lisa Leady for congeniality (who also had us all crying - love ya, Lisa!!), Chuck for contribution to the industry, and Dawn Omboy for creative styling... and that's just to touch on the list! About midway they featured a spoof of Groomer Has It. The "up-and-coming" third season would feature the Barkleigh dog pooping in his trailer and a groomer using hedge clippers to style a model dog. While I was laughing, a small voice inside my head was silently cursing - this was an indication that there most definitely will not be a third season. Damn. At least the spoof was wonderfully entertaining!

The final award of the night - the Sally Liddick Lifetime Achievement Award - went to Sam Kohl for his many years of service and improvements to the industry over the many years. Ellen didn't win any awards, although she was nominated for a couple. Just remember Ellen, you are running with the big dogs now, and you should be proud!

A great night after a great day - how could I ask for anything else? Tomorrow is the last day, already! Why oh why does time have to fly when you're having this much fun? ;D

Busy Breeds on Friday!

Today marked the beginning of the trade show at Groom Expo 2011, and was also filled with five different breeds for me! Oster Theater, led by Chris Pawlosky, provided useful insight into trims for Bichon, Wheaten, Schnauzer, and Poodle - some of which can be used in the competition ring or on pets. I can't wait to try some of these tips out!


Oster's Fab 4!

Although I missed Frankie's spirited opening to the trade show, that didn't take away from the rising excitement flowing from booth to booth. People darting this way and that, carrying bags and boxes of goodies - ah yes, this is just the beginning!

After walking the entire floor, taking it all in, and planning my attack, I went to the Forever Stainless booth to play "Guess My Age" with Jorge. He originally guessed 21, then said I looked more like 15. Love ya, Jorge! :)

Tosha attended a creative seminar; the pictures she showed me of quick tips were wonderful. Dogs with leopard and zebra stripes that were applied in less than 5 minutes? Yes please!

After dinner, I spoke very briefly with none other than Judge Joey! I hope we'll be able to talk dogs this time around!

The last seminar of the night featured Irina Pinkusevich and her tips for the $32,500 groom on the American Cocker. I have a parti-colored client much like the one she worked on, and I would just die to try some of her carding techniques. If only I could get Mommy away from that terrible ten blade... I realize some of you shuddered when you read that. I'm the one who has to take her down! Oh, for a stripping knife! ;)

Gorgeous guy!

That's all for now, because tonight's the big party where I unveil my newest doggy costume... stay tuned!! Pictures coming too!

Wet but Wonderful... Thursday at Groom Expo 2011!

Wow, what a start to the biggest grooming trade show on earth! Both myself and my roommate Tosha got caught along the highway due to torrential floods caused by remnants of hurricanes Irene and Lee. Yikes! This caused all kinds of delays for us, but some of the people in Pennsylvania have really been going through hell. My heart goes out to them :(

Tosha and I originally planned to go to Chocolate World, but all of Hershey's attractions were shut down. Huge bummer, especially considering that today is also my birthday. We grabbed a coffee and talked in the lobby instead, viewing sights including screaming toddlers and other groomers. Another groomer came a day earlier for her daughter's birthday, also today. Since they couldn't really do anything, that's two birthdays threatened to be wrecked!

We didn't let the canceled trip get us down though. Lunch at Bear's Den followed by a Chris Christensen seminar put us back in the Groom Expo spirit. I enjoyed the class, but I feel like I would've enjoyed it more if the Q&A was saved for the end. Y'all know how I feel about people just randomly yelling out stuff. Like my two-legged muse once said, "Shut up, listen, and learn!" Hehe! :3

Anyway, Thursday night also meant the Internet Social! Dawn couldn't make it this year, so I, Tosha, Ellen Ehrlich, and many others help bring it all together. And who should happen to come along and help out with the prizes but good ol' Jorge! He hasn't changed a bit, claiming that the sets of Breathe Healthy masks that were donated to the raffle would keep hair out of your lungs, but not your panties! Some things never change! :)

He's "Jorgelicious"!!

All of the money we raised in the raffle is going to Missy Arnold, a groomer battling breast cancer. Tickets sold out within half an hour! I was able to score two gallons of Tropiclean shampoo, and a shedding supplement for Xavier! At the end of the raffle, I got on the mic and gave Dawn a shout-out, then invited everyone to have some cake:

After all, my friends should all have cake on my birthday!

Overall, all things considered, it's been a good start to the show. Hopefully the rest of the flood waters are receding and everyone can make it here safely!

Products in Review: Himalayan Dog Chews!

You're probably thinking the same thing I did when I first saw these for sale: "What the HECK is a Himalayan Dog Chew?" I could tell you about how wonderful it is, that it's quite possibly the ultimate treat and boredom buster, but it's easier to take it from a true critic:

...oops, looks like he's a little preoccupied at the moment :)

Last Sunday was the annual Steel Valley Cluster dog show - one of the biggest in the nation! While checking out the vendors in between the wonderful Westies, Schnauzers, Cresteds, and more, I happened upon one booth selling a wide variety of chew toys. I've been looking for the perfect chew for my picky little connoisseur, Xavier. He's the kind of dog who will only play with a rubber toy if it has something delicious inside, gets stomach upset from the wrong ingredients, and doesn't see any point in chewing on a Nylabone. I, myself, have a few hangups about giving him processed bull pizzle, which by the way, comes from Old English. And we thought rappers were being original with "izzle" speak. Hehehe. Anyway, was there a magical treat out there for my dog?

Yes, indeed there is. Off to the side was a display of bags containing different sizes of Himalayan Dog Chews. Intrigued, I picked one up and began reading the label. Basically, it's a slab of cheese made from cows and yaks, smoked in old Himalayan style. Don't let the description fool you - these things are solid! I decided that since Xavier loves cheese, it was something we just had to try. Not sure of what size would suit him best, I picked a bag of mixed chews and proceeded to checkout. The slightly higher price for these tasty sticks paid off. Xavier grabbed the smallest of the bunch, made a beeline for "the den" (that is, under the table!), and began gnawing away. Four hours later, one worn out dog put a decent-sized dent in the stick and could chew no more. Once his jaw was no longer tired, you knew exactly where to find him: chewing it again!

The smallest of the bunch kept Xavier happy for about three days before it got too small. Imagine how happy he'll be when he digs into the large and extra-large ones! There hasn't been any digestive upset, but this would be a concern for lactose-intolerant dogs. Oh well, guess they'll just have to shizzle the pizzle all over the hizzle, fa-zizzle!

...OK, new use for the Himalayan Dog Chew: bop myself in the head with one next time I try "izzle" speak! Never again, haha! ;)

Stay tuned, only four more weeks until Groom Expo!!

YUCK!

I usually like to do a complete overhaul on all of my tools every month and give 'em the works: spray, shine, polish, and pick out all of those pesky hairs we groomers must deal with. From slickers to shears, clippers to blades, everything in my grooming arsenal got some TLC, even things I hadn't used in a while. Nothing could prepare me for what I was going to find on the inside of my clippers though!

I remembered a tip I received at Groom Expo: take the bottom base off of the Oster clippers and blow out any hair that may have become trapped inside. Not only were they supposed to run better, but doing this would prevent a short circuit. Well, today I discovered a screwdriver long enough to reach down into those holes and gently removed the base...

EEEYUUUUU!

I'm sure there's little bits of hair dating back to some of my first Shih Tzu shavedowns in there! Why haven't I burned these poor things out yet??

Taking the nozzle of my HV dryer, I hit the switch to low power and blasted it all away...

Ah, yes, much better!

God only knows how much longer my clippers would've gone with all that fuzz lodged deep within. And when I turned them back on, they sang like they did the day I eagerly took them out of the box for the first time.

I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to take extra special care of your tools! Learn the proper ways to clean them and increase their productivity and longevity! Nothing would suck any worse than that busy rush coupled with a pair of shorted-out clippers or nasty shears!!

...and Back Again! Intergroom 2011

I think the second and third days flew by the quickest. Saturday was the perfect warm-up to the crazy insanity that was about to ensue!

Before things got too wild, my first class was all about reiki. I was expecting a presentation on pet massage, but it turned out to be a brief introduction to energy work. I do believe that there is some merit to reiki, but I just can't seem to get past the "new age" aspect of it. I believe that we are all one in the same and can influence things with the right techniques and materials, but I prefer to use methods that are grounded more in science. Guess I'm just a dork like that, haha.

After dragging boxes of shampoos back to the room, it was time for Scott Wasserman's presentation on the Kerry Blue Terrier. I'm not sure which I was more impressed with: the gorgeous trim he put on the dog, or the fact that she was ten years old!


The last class went a little slow for me. It was a presentation on Sporting breeds by Jodi Murphy and Diane Betelak. They covered every single sporting breed, and presented the sporting jacket and sporting saddle patterns at the tail end. The Power Point presentation was a little heavy; I was hoping to see more of how to set the patterns. It was a nice review though.

I met up with Sharon at the show's close. We went to dinner with other groomers she met, all of them friends of Dawn Omboy. The waiter at the Outback was a charmer, plus we got a free appetizer from the night before. A good start to an increasingly wild night...

Then came Chuck's alcohol-fueled dance party at the Holiday Inn! Dawn was already there, and was already drinking. So I decided, what the hell, and went straight for the cash bar. Got Kahlua? Nope. Got any amber beer? Nope. Jack and coke? Third time's the charm! I ran outside, glass in hand, saying, "You guys are really in trouble now, I'll be flying soon!" Then I told the story about how the night before I graduated grooming school, I had three of those bad boys. More drunken groomer stories emerged, and the party temporarily moved out into the hallway!

When we went into the conference room with the DJ, dance floor, and party lights, the tail end of rap was coming to an end. A little Bob Seeger and Cottoneyed Joe ushered in a storm of dancing groomers. Plus, it didn't hurt that most of us had just downed our drinks and were feeling happy! The air was filled with Madonna, Rick James, MJ, KC and the Sunshine Band, and other
party anthems throughout the night. Mostly, I just remember busting moves like no one's business, then bumping into Judge Joey in the hallway and announcing, "Hey! Judge Joey! I'm dancin' my ass off!" Drunk groomers are the best ;)

Even after the music stopped, we continued the party as we walked back to our respective rooms, calling each other awesome. As I said, drunk groomers are the best! It's almost surprising that all of us were able to function just fine on Monday, the final day already!

The day began on an extremely pleasant note. Hayley Keyes, president of IPG, gave a presentation on belligerent dogs. After the "experience" at Groom Expo, I was hesitant to take any class that was geared towards handling. However, Hayley used pressure points to help stabilize a biting Cocker Spaniel. Her handling was gentle and professional, the dog slowly relaxed: a true moment of zen. It was a surprise that I welcomed wholeheartedly. In fact, I went over to the IPG booth to personally thank her.

I ran into my trade show buddy Poodle. When I told him I'd be back, he walked over to someone else. Ah, I see how it is! ;)
Another Poodle held my attention near the Davis booth. Irena Pinkusevitch put on a demo about Poodle tricks. When she suggested using chunkers on the legs instead of shears, I knew that I was meant to have those shiny new Osters! ;)

Afterward, I ran into Judge Joey and asked him if he had any downtime. We were to meet up after my last class on the Bichon Frise, hosted by Vero DaSylva. She began the class by giving us a pep talk about entering the competition ring and how difficult it can get, because once you hit level three "everyone theenks you are beetch... and zey are right!"

Ooh la la... Bichon!

While the class was very helpful, it ended up running long. By the time it let out and I ran into Joey again, it was time to start breaking things down. He gave me a hug and apologized for not being able to talk. He definitely said it best: "Things are crazy!" Seems like every show I go to gets crazier and wilder. Guess that means I'm growing! Now I'll have to chase after him at Hershey ;)

After saying my goodbyes and making one more round through the booths, I couldn't help but feel a little sad. I'm never ready for when a trade show comes to an end. With one last look at the expo floor, which would soon be completely clear once again, I felt an intense burst of satisfaction; Intergroom 2011 was perhaps one of the most fun shows I've been to so far, and things are only looking up. Who knows what adventures are waiting for me?

As I was loading up the Puppy Waggin' with all of my new treasures, the radio was playing Frank Sinatra's New York New York. It was fitting, even though I didn't visit the city itself. I'm making a brand new start for myself in the world of grooming, and I'm going to make it! This show confirmed it. I'm not where I thought I'd be, but I'm right where I ought to be!

...and I couldn't help but feel a little teased when my GPS tried to take me through Hershey. Not until September!! ;D

There... Intergroom 2011!

Some things were never meant to last, especially the good ones. It seems like these things are here and gone by the time we turn around. Nonetheless, the memories that we make and the lessons we learn from them are lifelong. This year, Intergroom was no exception; bigger and better than last year, it was a weekend to remember!

Friday, after dropping Xavier off at the kennel, cruising the turnpike, and having some words with my GPS, I found myself gazing out the window of the seventh story of the Hampton Inn - the Meadowlands Expo Center was just in sight! Going through my lists, looking over my class schedule, wondering what kind of fun and wacky experiences I was about to embark on... there was no way I was sleeping easy!

The Meadowlands at night!

The sun rose early on Saturday morning and woke me up before my alarm clock. Even though I was still tired from the drive, my mind began to race. Day one was now in swing! Here we go!

After a short walk, I picked up my badge from the front desk and walked into my first classroom: Pet Profits with none other than Chuck Simons. Together with his friend Mark of DogsClickHere.com, he gave an informative speech about the ways to get your name out there, make yourself known, and have a strategy to retire with comfort. Right before he got started, he asked me how I was doing - all eyes were on me. I couldn't help but think, "Wow, I got public recognition from Chuck!" Hehe!

While in the class, I ran into my friend Sharon from Groom Expo last year. We headed over to the expo center's double doors, now thrown wide open. Frankie Brown sat in his rightful place, near the table of Wahl bags. We each grabbed one, walked in, and let the sensory overload begin! Products, tools, tables, and an array of miscellany as far as the eye could see with the competition ring in the center of it all - now THIS was a slice of heaven, baby!

It didn't take too long before I ran into another familiar face: Dawn Omboy was selling a bathing system! Ellen Ehrlich was a few booths away, and good ol' Jorge was with Forever Stainless. The show had barely begun and already I was catching up with so many friends. I continued to walk around and let myself be overwhelmed with nothing but goodies and pure bliss from every direction, all the while devising how I was going to be bad with my credit card!

My second class was extremely useful: "Other" Sporting Breeds with Anette Quick. Using a Bravura clipper, she put a stunning sporting jacket trim on a rather antsy English Springer Spaniel. In addition to becoming more confident with my pattern lines, I picked up some useful tips to help utilize my thinners to the fullest. Awesome!

Georgia the Springer and Anette

Back on the trade show floor, I discovered a booth that was selling Kenchii shears, including the new Flame series chunkers that I was eyeballing. Upon trying them, however, I decided that they didn't fit my hand just right. No worries - I'd just go to the Oster booth and get some of their chunkers. I was going to weigh the two out at Groom Expo this year anyway, now I'd just have them sooner!

The third class of the day - Geometrics in Canine Design - was full of useful tips, some of which weren't even relevant to the subject. Gotta love when those little gems pop up! Featuring the "Best of the Masters" Pam Lauritzen, Vero DaSylva, and Scott Wasserman, we all learned and laughed as they took little snipes at each other. It's great when you have a teacher with a sense of humor, but three at once was downright hilarious!

At last, the zero hour arrived: five o' clock began a slew of deals from vendors, and free alcohol on the trade show floor! I'm not kidding. At the Show Seasons booth, I ended up with a few extra colognes after being poured two blueberry cocktails. As for how they tasted, in my own words that made all the reps laugh: "This. Is. INCREDIBLE!"

I made a new trade show buddy at the Espree booth; a beautiful standard Poodle. He came right up to me, gave me a huge nuzzle, then tried to follow me! I assured him that I would be back to love on him some more.

At the Jarden/Oster booth, a gorgeous pair of chunkers sat on display, begging to be bought. I knew that I had to have them. Now here's where the twist comes in: it was buy one pair, get another free. I really didn't need another pair of standard shears... until I saw the 10" straights. And on top of that, I got the last pair! I wished I had a Poodle right then and there just to try them out on!

Swinging by the Tropiclean booth, I got some more colognes there too. Looks like I'm stocked up on smelly stuff for years to come, haha! I also ran into Judge Joey, and his wife! I asked him if we could get together sometime and talk dogs for a bit. So many questions needed answers! He said he had some downtime on Monday; I was excited to finally get some much needed information. As we parted ways for the evening, I asked him, holding up all my bags, "Hey, do you think I bought enough shit yet?" Haha!

After a few trips to several other booths, and many swipes of my credit card later (haha), it was already the end of day one. And of course walking back, I got caught in a sudden deluge of rain and wild winds. It's all because someone said, "Hey, the rain let up!" as soon as everyone walked outside. Go figure ;)

Bringing up to Speed...

I was just thinking the other day that I haven't written anything here in a good, long while. And I was right. It's almost as though I have a nasty case of writer's block, in which everything just kind of comes up at once and clogs my thought processes completely. Kind of hurts my head, really :P

Life continues to be fast-paced and sometimes intense. Xavier's lost some weight, and I've gained even more grooming know-how. Intergroom is but twelve days away - expect a full report!

Maybe afterward I'll figure out how I want to organize all the random crap that is cluttering my head and come up with a few good posts ;D

A Second Look at the Puppy Bowl

It's that time of year again. Game fans are gearing up with a bounty of snacks and cold ones, eagerly awaiting the day where they all gather around the TV. I'm talking, of course, about Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl! What else could there be? ;)

I have to say that I am a big fan. People are shocked when I tell them that I get a real kick out of watching puppies play for almost two hours. What the heck is so fascinating about puppies playing, anyway?

There's plenty, especially if you're interested in canine body language. In addition to some instances of utter cuteness, as well as the occasional sight gag from Animal Planet (who could forget the streaking Chinese Crested?), Puppy Bowl is a gold mine for students of the dog. Of course, the best way to learn from this event is to have a text nearby or at least read, such as Roger Abrante's Dog Language or Brenda Aloff's Canine Body Language; both are excellent reference materials that I would recommend to anyone in a heartbeat. Once you know what to look for, you begin to see this puppy playtime as a giant social experiment and experience for them: what happens when I do this? What happens when I do that? That puppy is doing that, I'm going to try that too! Oops, shouldn't have done that. Oh well, what's that? The subtle cues dogs give each other--every lift of the eyebrow, tail tilt, or body shift--suddenly jump out at you, and you are now learning along with the puppies. Talk about a trip! How can you not get excited for Puppy Bowl now?

Yes, it's a great learning experience for we the students. The puppies are the ultimate beneficiaries, though. Every year when I watch the Puppy Bowl, I can't help but think that a whole handful of pups is going into the world with better social skills that most dogs severely lack, and will most likely never see. I think of all the "cute" dogs who were bought as a fashion accessory or a cuddly toy and will grow up terrified because they missed out on the critical socialization period in puppyhood. No, Puppy Bowl won't guarantee a perfect pup, but it will certainly get them started in the right direction.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm rooting for the Nordic puppies this year!

Year of the Pet Groomer

I remember about this time last year, when everyone on Petgroomer.com declared 2010 to be the Year of the Pet Groomer. Fresh out of school, I felt that I could get in on the revelry; my foot was pretty far in the door, or so I thought. Now, I feel like more of a groomer than ever before.

I keep portfolios of dogs that come into my care. The earliest shelter dogs and the ones from school have one of their own. 2010's is just over two inches thick! I just finished tallying up all the different breeds and trim styles, and these are the results:

Total entries: 409
Multiple appearances: 63
Natural styled: 30
Silhouette tidy: 53
Coat strip: 108
Sporting: 132
Sporting jacket: 27
Scruffy jacket: 1
Square terrier: 26
Short-legged terrier: 8
Lion: 9
Bolero: 2
German: 5
Miami: 3
T-clip: 2
Desi: 1

Considering that these are just the dogs that I put in the portfolio, it's no wonder that I feel like I've worked harder in the past year than any before! In addition to learning the correct patterns, I've developed a fine eye for detail and the dexterity for style! THIS is grooming, baby!

So then, if 2010 was the Year of the Pet Groomer, what outstanding adventures will 2011 hold? Happy New Year everyone!

The Bare Mechanics of Training

NOTE: I do not claim to be a professional ethologist or behaviorist by writing this blog. The following information is an accumulation of material from various authors I've studied since 2007. The list includes, but is not limited to: Dr. Ian Dunbar, Patricia McConnell Ph.D, Nicole Wilde, Jean Donaldson, Karen Pryor, Victoria Stilwell, Brenda Aloff, Turid Rugaas, Paul Owens.

I've been wanting to do a blog on behavior and training for some time now. Finally I feel I have enough information and experiences to work with. However, I realize that there are plenty of different views--some of which are terribly skewed--on the different terms. So, I decided to do this little write-up and put it at every header of all future training posts. Now we can all be on the same page! I realize that this is a re-hash of everything I've studied, but it amazes me how many people get their terms mixed up. So here it is in clear and simple print.

In my experiences, there are four forces that are constantly at work when teaching and training, even if we don't realize it: positive, negative, reinforcement, and punishment. It's common to associate "positive" and "reinforcement" with only things that are good, while tying "negative" and "punishment" to only things that are bad. When dealing with training, it's best to view these items through a psychologist's eyes.

Positive (+): adding
Negative (-): removing
Reinforcement (R): something intended to increase the frequency of a behavior
Punishment(P): something intended to decrease the frequency of a behavior

Now these can be combined into four basic mechanics:

Positive reinforcement (+R): adding something intended to increase the frequency of a behavior
Example: Dog gives paw on cue. Gets a treat.
Positive punishment(+P): adding something intended to decrease the frequency of a behavior
Example: Dog barks. Gets a zap from a shock collar.
Negative reinforcement(-R): removing something in order to increase the frequency of a behavior
Example: Dog stops pulling on lead. Tightness of the collar subsides.
Negative punishment(-P): removing something in order to decrease the frequency of a behavior
Example: Dog is playing tug and his teeth catch your hand. The game is over.

Note that when I define reinforcement and punishment, I use the word intended. In order for either one to work, the "something" must be effective. Example: if you ask my dog Xavier for a series of complex behaviors and you have a big broccoli in your hand, you will get snubbed--he hates broccoli! If you have a little sliver of chicken, you've won his heart and he's ready to impress you!

More often than not, the mechanics work closely together. Someone who says that they never use punishment, in actuality, has used it in some form. If you've ever taken your dog back inside for being too noisy, that's (-P); you've removed the dog himself from something--being outside--in order to cease his carrying on. Before you go thinking that you're a horrible person for having done so, let me point out that not all punishment needs to be brutally aversive; by the same token, not all rewards need to be the equivalent of hitting the jackpot lotto. Again, it simply must be effective.

One more point I'd like to touch on for now: the mechanics need not be only physical. Not all (+P) consists of giving the dog an uncomfortable feeling, nor does (+R) have to be about stuffing the dog full of treats. Dogs are very sensitive to our vocal tones. One good displeased "Ah!" sends out a clear message: I don't like what you did there! Also, a happy "Good dog!" is an excellent example of (+R) because, let's face it, dogs aim to please.

In the coming articles I'll be talking about types of training, the power of (P), and other things - stay tuned!!

Tribute to Zebee, the Toughest Maltese!

I haven't been in the business of grooming for too long, but I've already experienced client loss, something no groomer looks forward to. My first was sweet old Trevor, the donut Pomeranian. Then, one of our Yorkie clients, Miss Emma, developed cancer rapidly. Now, a third name is added to the list: Zebee, the toughest Maltese.

Last June, I stopped in Nancy's shop, hoping to learn a few pointers before heading off to school. On the table was a tiny white body, curled up comfortably on a towel. Zebee's eyes met mine and I knew that this was no average dog. Three years ago, he injured his back and became partially paralyzed. Even at the age of twelve, his eyes glowed like a puppy's. Nancy said he was on borrowed time, and wouldn't be with us much longer.

After school, when I got the job with Nancy, I was surprised to see Hunter in the shop with his brother Zebee. Although there weren't any improvements in his health, Zebee was still as spunky as ever. He sang a song in the tub and tried to stand on his own. We put him in a sling and watched in amazement as he tried to stand on all four legs, if only for a short while. Zebee's mom said that he still got around the house without assistance, which amazed us even more.

The months passed by and Zebee's frail body grew weaker. His will to live was unbroken, and you could see it in his eyes. I thought for sure that at one point, Zebee would not be back for another groom. Tuesday, he returned with his brother for the final time. He had his song in the tub and was very alert. Suddenly, he collapsed. We thought for sure he had died right there in the shop, until he showed signs of fading consciousness. Although his body gave out, Zebee's will remained. His last moments of life were spent with his mom and brother. It was decided that it was in Zebee's best interest that he be put to sleep.

None of us knew for certain what became of him after they left. Jo had a hard feeling in her throat, I felt dizzy, and the shop was, in general, much quieter. Nancy confirmed that Zebee was no longer with us. Although my dizzy spells subsided, I was filled with sadness for having lost the tough little Maltese.

Then, I realized that this was not the time to grieve for Zebee. There were other dogs at the shop who still needed tended to; I had to be strong for them. It occurred to me that I had to have the strength of Zebee to get through the rest of my day's grooms, and suddenly I was inspired. All of the dogs went out looking great, and afterward we all remarked about how incredible it was for Zebee to hold on as long as he did, even when things looked bleak.

In my younger days, I questioned the nature of the social animal. Why form bonds when ultimately, they will one day be broken? Among other things, these ever-important bonds lead to our own personal improvement, whether it is shared between friends of the two-legged or four-legged variety. It isn't always easy to stand in the face of adversity, but this little Maltese did it on a daily basis. I'm glad to have known Zebee, and I wish to share in his strength.

It's never really goodbye; there will always be another dog show.
See you on the other side Zeb!

The Sunday Wrap-up

It's never going to get any easier as the years go by to bring such a great show to a close. I'm still amazed when people say they won't go; with so many wonderful products, events, and people, how can you not love Groom Expo? However, as I look at the pile that Vanessa referred to as "grooming supplies throw-up" covering the entire corner of the room, I should be so lucky that the show isn't longer, haha!

First thing I did this morning was book it to the trade show. Frankie Brown stood at the doors, and--in a similar fashion of last year's opening day--was getting us completely riled up. He went right for the throat this year; instead of saying how he was going to put his size fourteens through the doors, he had us count down from ten and then he threw them open! Gotta love Frankie!

With a few extra minutes, I stopped to talk to Jorge before the Forever Stainless Steel booth got mobbed. He even said it himself: "D'y'know, every time I see you walk by I am running my mouth!" Yep, same old Jorge! When I told him about how far I've come since Intergroom, he was impressed with how much I'm constantly growing. Yep, I will never stop!

After swinging by the Romani's to pick up some water peelers, as well as to chat briefly with Marlene Romani (very funny lady), I decided to go and show support for Ellen. Her seminar on mobile grooming was excellent; although primarily geared towards mobile groomers, she included a lot of ideas and strategies that can be incorporated into any salon. I hope to use some of these great tips to better improve my customer relations.

It was already time for the Sunday luncheon, which included a happy retirement party for Judy Bremer-Taxman. Emotions ran high as Mr. B played a video entitled "The Best of Judy". The fifteen minute collection included some of Judy's best--or, not so best--moments of her seminars on carding and client relations. Everyone in the room was laughing hard, especially when she was singing Harvest Moon, with modified groomer's lyrics, to an Old English Sheepdog doll, and then dancing with it! Other clips included her poking an audience member with a skip-tooth blade, pretending to do battle with an angry stuffed animal kitty, and declaring that she just plain had enough! When Judy took center stage and thanked all the people who had an impact on her career with Barkleigh, tears flowed steadily from everyone; some of her friends were lost, and others saw her through her darkest moments. In closing, she thanked all of us for coming and showing the love through all the expos each year. Mr. B loaded up his air gun with confetti and shot it onto the stage. Judy teased him to shoot her in the butt--even though she is retiring, she will always be the same hilarious Judy. While she will be missed in the programs, she still plans on coming as a spectator. Good thing, it just wouldn't be the same without her dirty sense of humor!

"Hey Mr. B! Hit my butt!" ~Judy Bremer-Taxman

Rock on Judy!

I also had the honor of meeting some of her friends, originally from Russia. They presented her with a photo frame containing two paw prints shaped from dog hair and an embroidery of a Hershey kiss that said "20 Great Years". If I can say one thing about this year, it's been my most emotional by far!

I met up with Tosha, Vanessa, and Sunny at the Poodle demonstration. Although our speaker covered a lot of things I already know, I picked up some useful tips for scissoring topknots and tails. Tails especially tend to turn out funky for me. Turns out there's a better angle I can hold my shears to. Can't wait to try it out!

Ooh la la... Poodleful!

After bolting around the trade show for a bit longer and picking up some Furminators for the shop, Vanessa and I went to our last seminar: the Oster clipper clinic. I can't say that it was the most exciting thing ever, but now I'm looking forward to going home and opening my clippers up. I need to check things like the carbon brushes, the blade drive, and the wiring. I want those babies to last; now I have the knowledge I need to extend their life. The seminar let out early, but I got to catch up with Novi, Dianne, and Debra. Then I got to meet Vivian Nash! With as crazy insane as the show was, I'm glad I got to reconnect and make some new acquaintances. These are the friendships that will be able to be instantly rekindled at the trade shows I go to. The only person I was looking for and didn't get to see was Judge Joey. Bummer, I was looking forward to talking to him for a bit. But wait, there's still some other things left to do!

Vanessa and I went to watch the creative competition. There were some truly amazing entries this year, one of them being Jean's Toybox theme. Others included a Bambi Poodle that looked less like a dog and more like a real deer, the Queen of Hearts, a Jurassic bark, and a breathtaking 9/11 tribute with a feathery-looking eagle sculpted out of the Poodle's hair. We didn't get to see who won; I needed Groomer's Helpers, Tosha needed a Les Pooch brush, and the trade show was minutes from closing! We got to our respective booths in the nick of time, as several other vendors started breaking down early. And so concluded another wonderful year of dog hair, products, tools, and me being mischievous with my credit cards, haha!

Both Tosha and Vanessa left just over an hour ago. We thought it was funny how we're all going in separate directions to get back home. It will never cease to amaze me how these shows can bring us all together with one common goal: to become better groomers. Well, that, and to have a fun time! As I stated at the beginning, it's never going to be easy to bring such a wonderful thing to an end. But I know that I can't be sad, because I always remember one of my most favorite quotations of all time: "It's never really goodbye, because there will always be another dog show."

Peace out, and see y'all next year in Hershey, baby!

The Wild Wild Westie, and Saturday Shockers and Sweets

Last night's western party was wild, wild, and in more ways than one! Guess who won a free pass to next year's show? Me, as the Wild Wild Westie!

Since I decided that I was obligated to outdo myself every year, I racked my brain trying to come up with a creative costume. However, the western theme is extremely limited. While talking out loud about possible ideas, my mom walked by and said "How about a Westie?"

I paused for a moment before nodding and saying "The Wild Wild Westie." And so the legend was born.

There were some really great costumes there: saloon girls, Indians wielding tomahawks, a sheriff, and your standard cowboys and cowgirls, just to name a few. No one got as many reactions as I did, so I felt that I was going to be a frontrunner for this year's contest. One event I tried right away was the mechanical bull. I stayed on for at least ten seconds before being thrown off. I landed funny on my not-so-great foot, so I decided that was enough for one night. Other events that were just as much, if not more, fun included instructional line dancing. The teacher and Mr. B played us through songs like Cottoneyed Joe, Cupid Shuffle, and Macarena, all while Mr. B littered the dance floor with fuzzy cowboy hats, balloons, and glow sticks. We even did a conga line in honor of our Puerto Rican guests. There were plenty of Kahlua and creams to go around, as I found a $20 crumpled up in my pocket--don't you love that? However, my motto is that yes, I can drink, but I will always go to my classes sober!

After a while of wild dancing to country and pop songs, Mr. B announced the costume contest was beginning and that all contestants needed to be on the floor. I ran out and did the Westie wiggle; I was picked out almost instantly! The already crazy atmosphere was escalating! Nine other people got called up, including the Indians, the sheriff, and the cowgirls. We were all asked to tell a little story about our costumes. Mine was simply: "My name is J.C. I am a mild mannered groomer by day, but at night, I turn into the Wild Wild Westie! Woooo!" Then I turned around to display my name on my back, and to shake my tail! The crowd cheered; I was a finalist, up against the sheriff. Ultimately, she won when she handcuffed a man. She got the VIP package, but I was more than thrilled to receive a Do-It-All pass. If it means I'm getting into the show next year, I won't complain at all!

Afterward, the handcuffed man came up to me and told me I should've won; the sheriff had both her friends and his friends cheering for her, a definite advantage. I told him that either way, I had a free ticket to next year, and that was just fine with me. Turns out he was one of Chuck's friends that I had dinner with from last year! We danced for a little bit before he left.

I also met up with Novi, who rode the bull twice. It was winding down to the end, and everyone was getting tired. Mr. B fired random songs at us to keep our spirits high, including but not limited to Apache, Baby Got Back, Don't Stop Till You Get Enough, and several others from last year's 80s party. We closed out doing a kickline to Low Places. Someone fell out of sync and caused a massive domino effect. There was lots of laughter and smiles all around; it was a moment of clarity and zen for me. I belong here, and at last I've arrived. I may not be in the competitions or be a crazy super-groomer, but the best is yet to come. I look forward to it every day, and things like this just fan that fire within.

And after all that excitement I couldn't sleep!

Saturday was a proverbial rollercoaster. Tosha, Vanessa, and I went to Melissa Verplank's time-saver seminar and picked up some excellent tips. After buying some of my very own Les Pooch brushes (no more need to sneak Nancy's anymore), we bumped into Ellen Ehrlich, who invited us to a practice run of her mobile seminar at the end of the day. Things were really looking up, right?

This is where things got hairy, in a bad way. I really hate to say this, but as a result of the two seminars of his I attended, I have lost a tremendous amount of respect for Gary Wilkes. It pains me to think that a brilliant Groomer to Groomer columnist whose articles are based in science and fact feels that hitting and shocking a dog in any fashion is appropriate. His views on positive reinforcement are horribly skewed, as he shares the all-too-common vision of, as I call it, "the Stepford trainer." No, not all those who use +R view punishment as a barbaric thing. I am a believer in negative punishment (-P), that is, removing something in order to decrease the frequency of a behavior. If Xavier is barking outside, I take him back in. He is removed from something he wants: to be outside. How is this not punishment? I think I'll write another blog on this topic, because I feel a soapbox moment coming on. Let me just keep it at this: we're no longer living in the stone age. We know dogs aren't stupid, and have capacity to learn. Real learning doesn't happen overnight. Any person can hit and shock another being into submission, but how many can actually teach them what it is that they want from them?

Anyway, in between these "events" was a much more enjoyable luncheon that involved the game show: "Are You Smarter Than Judy?" Three randomly selected contestants were pitted against none other than Judy Bremer-Taxman in a trivia style game show hosted by Mr. B. Questions ranged from trivia about groomers, famous TV dogs, even a "Name That Tune" segment featuring the barking dog songs. All the contestants received Sally Liddick's new book, as well as a mouth full of Tropiclean fresh breath foam from Judy. And yes, she let the dirty jokes fly; use your imagination, kids!

"Who wants some foam in their mouth?" ~Judy Bremer-Taxman

Judy draws a blank...

My other purchases of the day included a gallon of Why Bitch shampoo, a bottle of that aforementioned Tropiclean stuff, and my big purchase: a Chris Christensen Kool Pup dryer! Only problem is that they sold out, so mine will be shipped to me within the week. Rock on guys, and especially BBird! I can't wait to try my "mojo comb", haha!

The last seminar of the day was Melissa Verplank's bow-making made simple. I still can't make bows to save my life! I need to practice making them of chopsticks like I did back in school. Tosha and I met up and headed off to see Ellen's mock seminar. Aside from some computer issues, I feel like she is ready to deliver tomorrow. She's nervous, but there's no need for her to be; she's a wonderful public speaker, personable, and humorous to boot! Looking forward to attending the real thing tomorrow!

Right, I've been booking it all day. On my way back up to the room, I finally ran into Judge Joey! We still didn't get to talk all that much, but I did tell him about winning the pass to next year. I need to catch him tomorrow...

Back to booking it! I changed into my "fancy" clothes and made a run for the Best in Show dinner. By the time I got there, the show had just begun. Novi walked up on stage with his beautiful Poodle; several people in the audience as well as myself were all rooting for him. The Best in Show went to the freestyle groomer, but Novi seemed proud that he had made it so far, and rightly so. Groom on, Novi! Maybe I'll be up there with you someday!

Dinner was served, and while I was eating, I had the pleasure of talking to Joanne Russell, better known as Sparkly Barkleigh. I still find it amazing that even the biggest names in the industry had humble beginnings similar to my own. So much for that notion about being born into the business I had for so long; I will be laughing at that for the rest of my days! I love Joanne's attitude, as it mirrors my own: always learn, always improve, share with other groomers, and don't forget to have fun with it all!

After judging Level 2, they waited for Level 3 in order to do a tribute to John Nash. Bridget McAllister and her Aussie performed freestyle while Sasha Reiss sang Con Te Partiro; there wasn't a dry eye in the entire room, and if there was, they were holding back hard. I myself was crying; that's one of my all-time favorite songs, Sasha can sing it better than Andrea Bocelli, and considering it was all done in John Nash's memory, of course it got the water works going. Shirlee Kalstone's story of his life made it all the harder to not shed a tear; even though I never had the opportunity to actually meet John, I feel connected to him through the school and his closest friends. Level 3 is now to be awarded with the John Nash memorial trophy every year.

Out came the Dancing with Dogs competitors! There wasn't a crowd favorite choice this year, which I felt made the event a little more light and carefree. There was an Aussie grooving to Black and White; a drum-playing, drink-serving, partying Border Collie; a Chihuahua weaving to her own theme song; and a sparkly Golden backing it up to Black-eyed Peas, just to name a few. Even though I didn't get any pictures of the dogs this year, I did get 5 of 6 Sasha performances on video. When you hear him sing, you understand why I am a fan!

Sasha rocks!!
(I had several videos, but they were removed at Sasha's request. He's promising a performance that's bigger and better than before. Needless to say, I'm already looking forward to it!)

Now, after that day-long rollercoaster ride, I am exhausted. Groom Expo 2010 is sadly coming to a close. However, there is but one more day of fun and fur left to go--let's close this show with a bang!

Friday... Sparkly and Soothing!

...but not at the same time, haha!

Today began with the day long seminar on creative grooming. Angela and Lori touched on topics ranging from Blo-pens, dyes, glitter glue, and braids. It inspired me to pick up a tube of Davis Glitter Glue. Wait until I get back home and get Xavier on the table!

Our friend from the Internet Social, Sharon, joined me in exploring how much fun you can have with dog hair. We ate at Bear's Den for lunch and both spent some money at the trade show! At first, the floor sounded and felt very quiet; as the day went on, things started to get nutty. Gotta love that trade show excitement!

I stopped by the Wahl booth and talked with Lisa Leady for a bit. She says cat grooming is easy money, but you still can't pay me enough to do it. More power to the cat groomers, I say! Somehow we got on the topic of my dog being a couch potato. When I told her that we stay more fit in the winter from running through the snow, all she could say was "You really ARE backwards!" Yep, I revel in it, haha!


"Ooooooo!"

Getting back to the creative seminar, we got to watch as a Chinese Crested was decked out in glitter for the h
olidays, a Schnauzer got rhinestones and a ghost pattern put on her back. The main attraction, however, was the "Poodlington" - a gorgeous standard rocking the Bedlington style. Sophie was the model for a flower and fish on one side, and a pumpkin--with her tail as the stem--on the other.

Flower, fish, and pumpkin-butt!

Dyeing seems like a lot of work, but it's well worth it, especially if the color holds the way you want it to. Hair swatches for each client really is a great idea! The final product was amazing; each shape was carved and penned to real artistic beauty. They even put sparkles on the fish! Ahh, those final touches really make a dog stand out, no? As a treat, someone brought in a longhaired Shih Tzu. Braiding patterns is something I'd definitely like to try. Hopefully the clients will remember to remove them before they get tangled and matted!

After the seminar was over, they were announcing the results of the Poodle competition. After a brief "Hi!" to Judge Joey, I met up with Sunny, Terri, and Debra, who were rooting for Novi. His Poodle looked gorgeous: crisp, curvy... groomed to a T, really. When the judge announced, "I hope I'm not butchering this..." we knew that Novi won the Level 1 Poodle class. Congrats are in order Novi, truly a job well done!

Novi wins!

Before going to my next seminar, I decided to stop at the Cocoa Beanery and get a bagel; Bear's Den was packed. As I reached for it, I heard a familiar voice...
Lisa: That is NOT a good dinner!
Me: Well, hey... I've survived on worse, I went to college! I've survived on Doritos and pop, and look at me! I'm as skinny as stairway railing!
Lisa: Yeah, someone really ought to throw you a sandwich.
Me: Or two.
Lisa: Or three.
Me: Now THAT is crossing the line!
Sorry I almost made you spit your latte all over the place, Lisa :)

On my way back up to the room to drop off some purchases, I ran into Jay Scruggs in the elevator. He's very personable, as we began talking like we've known each other for a while. Sue Zecco is overseas, so sadly they have no booth this year. He was glad that I was enjoying the expo, and chuckled when I told him about the Davis Glitter Glue... somebody is going to get sparkly paw prints when I get home!

The canine massage class was very informative. Lead by former Groomer Has It contestant and fellow Ohioan Sherri Shinsky, we covered the basics of dog anatomy, the do's and don'ts of massage, and introductory touches. I might try these on Xavier before I cover him in bling.

The last class let out early, so I am writing this now; by the time I am done jumping around in costume at the Wild Wild West party, I won't want to write! Stay tuned tomorrow for more details...