07/27/2021
In the winter of 2019, I came to the realization that I belonged in a competitive grooming world. I never felt anything so strong in my life. I automatically went with trying to find a poodle to rent because I thought that’s what the ‘good’ groomers do. You always see the spray ups and feel that regal energy coming off a poodle.
I was not in the position to own my own competition dog so I finally found a friend’s dog. In February of 2020 we hit the salon once a week for baths to get his coat growth. We were registered for 3 shows and I was going to finally get in the ring.
COVID said no. My poodle’s owner decided he couldn’t stay in coat, so I scrambled to fit him in a single online comp, which I bombed because of my mindset. I went through multiple promises of poodle leads and nothing ever came through. I decided to stop trying to compete.
I developed friendships with more diverse groomers, and fell in love with terriers. This is my passion. I finally found something I could stay up hours reading about and watching videos.
But I still don’t have a dog.
I put in the work, introducing myself to anyone I seen with a terrier at PetQuest. I finally landed a rental! But now what?
My schedule is very different from my friends and we don’t share any time off together. I am currently spending my evenings working on my friend Kaitlyn’s dogs. I’m putting in the work. And I will be ready for Hershey because she believed in me enough to practice. This is all I have wanted for so long. And I finally feel some weight off my shoulders.
candid taken by .loomis