The Final Fall Fest

I recently returned from RI where the NEPGP held their 30^th anniversary grooming festival.  This is to be the last year for November shows, as in 2011 we move to July for Summerfest.  If 2010 is any indication, it will surely be an exciting show. 

The club went all out for their big anniversary, with extra special speakers and new contests.  I almost felt like I was at a big international show where there was too much to choose from!  So many great seminars overlapping each other, it was hard to pick which ones to attend.  If only I could do them all… unfortunately, prioritizing means missing some stuff.  And once again, because of the busy educational program schedule, I missed nearly all of the regular grooming competitions, only getting quick peeks between classes, tending to dogs, and shopping.

Oh the shopping!  This vendor turnout was better than I’d seen in several years.  While I don’t think our New England show will ever compare to the giants like Intergroom, for a relatively small show, we had a very nice, large selection of products to browse and buy.  I was able to cross several items off my long shopping list, meanwhile saving on shipping and special show pricing. 

The whole thing started off with a bang on Friday, with fantastic add-on programs.  I chose to spend the day with BBird and Kendra, knowing the topics covered would be right up my alley.  Plus how could I miss BBird after waiting so long for NEPGP to bring her here all the way from AZ?  Both speakers did a great job as expected and as an irresistible bonus, attendees got an awesome gift certificate for the Cherrybrook booth, which practically paid for half the seminar, and certainly helped save money, as I bought a ton of Chris Christensen products and tools!

Tripp thoroughly enjoyed his time at the show too.  He accompanied me to most of the classes, which I’m so thankful NEPGP allows.  Of course, as always, he thought everyone was there just for him.  His fame continues to grow… even more so after Kendra asked to use him as her demo dog.  How exciting for both of us!  And it worked out well for her dematting segment, as I had no time before the show to wash and brush Tripp out, so he was in rather embarrassing condition.  (Though that worked out well while shopping too, as I was able to test tools and products on a “realistic” coat, rather than one already perfectly primped.)  I’m so proud of my boy for being such a good guinea pig.  By the end of the class he was so surrounded by groomers getting a closer look, I could barely see his face through the crowd – and it had the biggest smile, just sucking up all that attention.  J 

Friday evening brought the all new “Pom-Adorabe” grooming competition, for which Chicken Joe supplied his lovely Pomeranians.  It was winner take all – an intimidating but invigorating scenario.  I had considered entering, but waited too long and the class filled.  Which I’m kind of glad, as this gave me the chance to see it first and get a feel for whether it was something I’d really want to do, or for that matter have half a chance at the prize.  I can’t say watching the competition was encouraging, only considering the groomers who entered – some of the top competitors were there.  Kendra actually won the class with a Pom who looked ready to enter the show ring at Westminster.  Tough to beat that! LOL  It will be interesting to see what future years bring, if this becomes a regular event.  Perhaps some day I’ll work up the nerve. ;-)

This year all my nerve was saved for Saturday.  After another full day of seminars – all of which I spent with Eric Salas, finally getting the chance to hear this awesome speaker, who I somehow missed at every other show over the years (but won’t miss again!) – the evening brought two firsts for me… 

Over the summer Honey Loring organized an all-Poodle musical freestyle team, which Tripp & I joined.  We only made it to a couple practices, but his foundation training and natural intelligence makes him a quick learner.  All of us were excited but understandably a bit nervous when NEPGP invited us to do a group “dancing with dogs” demo at the show.  We had just an hour or so before the demo to practice, and due to a last minute change in lineup, our basic routine had to be altered quite a bit.  I must say, we were all pretty thrilled with how well the team improvised.  Although it didn’t go off without a hitch, the crowd loved it and everyone had fun, which is most important.  They called us back for an encore, which flowed a bit more smoothly, and ended with the passing of the hat – carried by Standard Poodle Charlie - to collect for APAW, which trains Poodles as service dogs.  Tripp was a total show off and a big hit with everyone.  But then I always say he looks flashy whether he does stuff right or wrong.  Hmm, hopefully that will work to our advantage in the grooming ring as well as performance.  hehehe

Next on the schedule was the Creative Runway competition, sponsored by Barkleigh.  I was ecstatic to see NEPGP finally offer creative, and couldn’t resist the opportunity to enter.  This was my first creative competition and a great learning opportunity.  While my design was a basic “abstract” with a breed profile base, I did more coloring than ever before.  I admit I’m surprised at how much work creative is.  Much as I completely love and respect profile grooming, creative is definitely harder, at least in preparation.  I spent 3 days getting my borrowed Poodle ready for the contest, doing multi-stage dying, scissoring and rescissoring, touching up patterns, and so on.  That’s not including time in previous months spent setting in patterns and testing dyes, or time at the show doing finishing touchups!  (Compare that to a profile dog, which “only” requires regular grooming, basic prepwork, and a perfect fluff before the competition, then you just show up and groom.  Okay there’s a bit more to it than that, but it definitely takes less out of your schedule!)  I was pretty happy with how my design turned out, which rarely happens.  Maybe I’m becoming less self critical?  Doubt it! LOL  I did a German trim with a Celtic knot over the back, accented by a stylish green and purple color pattern.  It was definitely not perfect, but the profile turned out nicer than I’ve ever done, and the knotwork was decent considering I had to entirely reset it from scratch.  I have to mention a comment I received on my design after the show – one of the top competitive groomers (who does incredible work) asked me if I had help doing it.  Wow, I take that as quite a compliment to think it must look so good I couldn’t possibly have done it all myself! haha J

The creative lineup was fun and the camaraderie was great.  Everyone was helping each other get ready and offering tips, while helping calm nerves.  One by one we took our turn on the runway, the audience obviously enjoying every bit of the show.  At the end we waited with dogs posed as the judge went over each one and made her decision.  Prizes consisted of ticket packages to Groom Expo, including lodging for the top winner.  Ends up, I’m going to Hershey!  I guess technically that makes three firsts for the evening. ;-)  There was also a People’s Choice award, which happily went to the 3^rd place winner.  (As cool as it is to win both, I think it’s often fairer for a lower or non-placing entry to win PC.)  But it was close!  I admit I felt almost embarrassed when the crowd went wild for me, like I was back in high school or something (as if that ever happened! LOL).  Guess I’m just not used to mass positive attention.  But I played it cool through the whole thing, as I was focusing my energy on keeping my dog calm.  And luckily my wallflower side is overshadowed by my drive to compete and improve in grooming.  Next year will be interesting as I will hopefully have Tripp ready for Intergroom in a much more intricate theme design.  Stay tuned!

The show winded down on Sunday with more seminars and finishing shopping.  Tripp must be my lucky charm, as we had the “magic key” to open the Cherrybrook treasure chest, winning a very special brush.  Along with other freebies I got in classes and with show specials, and all the cool tools I purchased, I have several fun new “toys” for the salon and myself!  Add that to the fantastic educational programs presented, and of course the unforgettable events and wins, it was indeed a wonderful celebration of 30 years for NEPGP.  What a way to go – the final Fall Fest… here’s to continued growth and hopefully an even more exciting all new Summerfest!

For more information on APAW, visit americanpoodlesatwork.org.  To learn about creative grooming, visit thenapcg.com.  And to see footage of NEPGP’s Barkleigh Creative Runway and “The Pompoms” musical freestyle demo, check out my youtube page at youtube.com/caninestyle.

NEPGP 2009 - debuting an original style

Ah, the "home show" for us New England groomers.  We really are lucky to have such a dedicated club that offers so wonderful an event each year.  Great atmosphere & people, awesome competitions, and even better prizes than some of the bigger shows, excellent seminars, and considering it's "just a small regional show" there's a decent turnout of vendors.  Being that it's currently in RI, it can be a bit of a trip for those members residing in the northern states, but unless they live on the border and want to attend a Canadian event, NEPGP is also the closest trade show/competition... and well worth the drive, too! :-)

This year was new for me traveling with two dogs.  Made life interesting trying to keep the puppy off the clean contest Poodle for two days! LOL  But tagging along was a good experience for Tripp, since he'll be up on that table one of these years!  Chaz, as always, was a good sport, and his incredible coat held up all that time with barely a touchup before competing.  Next year perhaps I'll work up the nerve to add another dog to the mix and enter more than one class??  Gotta do it one of these years, I suppose!

We drove down Saturday morning, and made it in time to catch a seminar, do a little shopping, and watch a bit of the contests.  Sunday of course I rose early for ring time at 7:30.  This was going to be the official debut of my original Poodle design!  I came up with "the Bandu" several years ago.  The basic trim is a "Banded Dutch" (hence the name) - pajama/sweetheart style body, with deep crest on the neck to promote balance, and English Saddle style legs, with bands on the front to match.  I decided long ago that if I were to ever compete with this trim, I needed to add a little flair to it with a fancy body pattern, just to make it a little more special.  After many tweaks on paper, I finally came up with the perfect design just last year.  Of course putting it on a dog is a totally different thing than drawing a 2-D picture!  And then there is the whole part of waiting for just the right dog to try it on.  Any style of Dutch clip can be tricky to make balanced, so the dog must have rather good conformation to pull it off.  Chaz, being a UKC CH and AKC pointed, with that to-die-for coat, is an excellent choice for any style trim.  Still, it was a process getting it just right.  My first attempt over the summer at setting the body pattern fell a little short.  But after one or two touchups I managed to get it the way I wanted.  I double checked with NEPGP that it wasn't against the rules (or just plain ridiculous) to enter something this creative in a regular competition, and was encouraged by both the club and fellow groomers & Poodle friends to go for it.  I'm glad they talked me into it, as I've been saying for years that I'd like to see and do something different in the ring, rather than the same old trims.  As absolutely beautiful as those are, we groomers are generally an artistic bunch, and most would appreciate a little variety in grooming styles.  And what better venue to display new trims than at a grooming show?  I must say, I did see a couple rather creative trims in the mixed breed ring this year.  Very nice. :-)  There was gorgeous grooming being done across the board in all classes.  Excellent turnout in every division.

Oh, before I forget again, I also wanted to thank whoever left their hydraulic table in the ring and offered it's use to whoever wanted it for the Poodle class.  It was in my assigned spot, so our "pit boss" said to go ahead.  Must say it was a great help during grooming, though did make me want one of my own all the more. LOL  Anyway, thank you so much for your generosity!

So the competition begins, and I get to work on my Bandu trim.  Setting the pattern took up half the allotted time.  I knew I was probably shooting myself in the foot entering such a complicated design, but what did I have to lose?  As long as it turned out presentable.  I did get nervous when they called 45 minutes remaining and I hadn't even scissored the legs - yikes!  Luckily he wasn't terribly overgrown in that area, so could get by with just a quick tipping of the hair.  Still, the finish was a lot rougher than I'd hoped, plus the topknot needed tons more work to be correct.  And somehow I managed to miss several spots on his face - usually my clipper work is much better than that!  But at least I was quite happy with how the body turned out.  Overall it was pretty well put together, so I'm glad it had a decent unveiling.

I'm told that there were several positive remarks made by spectators, who, no doubt, were impressed to see something different being presented.  And I was pleasantly surprised to be given very positive feedback from several top competitors and judges!  That alone made it worth the entry.  Alas, I did not win anything, but hey, at least they didn't laugh me out of the ring! LOL  I was also up against some stiff competition with seemingly flawless grooms, so it was no surprise, either!  My photos don't really show all the imperfections of my groom.  Of course, I'm never really happy with my work at first, anyway. ;-)

The critiques I received were very consistent, yet rather ironic...  Everyone agreed that the body pattern was very cool and well done, but the banded legs were distracting - taking away from the Celtic knot design, as well as making it hard to judge balance/profile.  But as previously described, the legs are what make the Bandu special, and the knotwork was thrown in more as an afterthought!  Therein lies the irony. LOL  I do understand their point, though, and looking from their viewpoint I kind of agree.  But it's still really funny! hehehe  Many encouraged me to try again, keeping the body pattern and just doing regular Poodle puppy-style legs.  Whether or not I do so remains undecided.  Part of me is tempted, hoping to do better and perhaps earn an award (wow, when did I get so competitive?), but the other part wants to move on and try something else.  I have a year to decide and play around with Chazie's hair, so we'll see...

I can't wait to find out what next year's 30th anniversary show brings! :-)

Intergroom 2009

So this is a first... I went to a grooming convention and didn't attend any seminars!  *gasp*  I know, shocking, esp. with all the pushing I do for continuing education.  However, I certainly can't say I didn't learn anything!  Grooming competitions in and of themselves are a learning experience, particularly when contestants get critiques from the judges.  You can also pick up little tidbits just walking around the trade show.  Seminars are of course best, but sometimes you truly don't have time for both competing and classes in the same day.  (I'll make up for that at the next convention!)

Apparently I've gone into dog show mode - traveling hundreds of miles just for a scrap of ribbon. LOL  I had hoped to take the opportunity of being back at Intergroom to certify in another group, but unfortunately couldn't find a dog in time.  (Happily, I'm told NDGAA will likely return to RI again this fall, so I may get my chance yet!)  Still, I had that free contest entry from last year's win, so just for fun I took my friend's Standard Poodle. 

We headed south Friday morning for a two night stay, reaching NJ in time to register and do a bit of shopping.  Saturday was grooming day, thankfully an afternoon class, so I had time to relax and eat in the morning before prepping my dog, then competing.  I even had time to pick up a couple more things at the trade show before and after!  I swear the shopping deals alone almost make the trip worthwhile... almost. ;-) 

Everyone probably knows by now that NJ is not my favorite place.  I swore I wouldn't go back for a while after last year, but you know me - got a free ticket (yet again!) so just had to go. LOL  At least this time the trip went smoother, only a couple minor traffic snags, but nothing too stressful.  Even the new hotel was excellent.  I honestly think that was the cleanest room I've ever been in!  Impressive!  I'm actually kinda bummed that they're moving the show (What's up with that?!  After all these years!?) - in 2010 Intergroom will be in northern NJ, just a few miles outside NY City, if I'm reading the map right.  It's nice that it'll be closer to me now (and less travel into NJ, hehe) but too bad they aren't staying with that great hotel.  Hopefully the next one is also clean & comfortable.  But I don't plan on finding out for a few more years... seriously this time. ;-)

The grooming competition - I'm still amazed at the size of the Poodle class.  I'm told there were over 30 groomers in my division alone!  Obviously I had no shot at placing; maybe at a smaller show, but there were some fabulous stylists in that huge crowd.  I didn't make it easy for myself either - my Poodle had four months of growth and of all things was groomed in a modified show trim.  [The HCC (Historically Correct Continental) is a shorter version of what you see in AKC shows, and is closer to what Poodles traditionally wore as working hunting dogs.]  Chaz is a retired show dog, UKC CH, AKC pointed (hey, they told me to get a better dog than last year's rescue Mini! haha) with a coat to die for, so while I won't likely be getting any "points for difficulty" with this boy, it does make my job a lot easier and opens up endless styling opportunities.  (I'll actually be getting creative next, with an original style of my own!) 

Anyway, I'm not entirely solid on the Continental pattern, and as always tend to be a bit slow, so I was ecstatic to do as well as I did.  He actually turned out fairly presentable, and the bracelets were some of the best I've ever done!  I got some wonderful compliments from the judges, so that made me feel good.  Of course the groom was far from perfect, so they also pointed out the snafus.  There were a bunch of little things, like slightly crooked hip poms that weren't round enough (but not terrible considering I had to reset them from scratch!), minor uneven spots here and there, and a somewhat "mushroomy" topknot that even I wasn't happy with.  But overall, good enough to send home without touchups for now.  I tracked down two out of three of the judges for critiques, and the pointers I got will be very helpful come summer when I do a "real" show groom, taking my friend's new show Standard from Puppy coat to adult Continental.  Between the competition/critiques, and Chaz winning BOV twice after I groomed him last year (and even messed up once!) I'm feeling more confident in my show grooming ability.  Can't compare to the real pros, but I'll get there eventually. :-)

Now I'm off to another dog show... I seem to have one every weekend lately!  And I don't even have a dog (yet)!  Scary to think what next year's schedule will be like when I'm showing my own (although that will only bit a little UKC and performance)!  Unfortunately I do have to work Saturdays once in a while too.  LOL 

Next up is a hard-to-come-by UKC weekend tomorrow & Sunday, and then onto the AKC shows...  York County next week, which I'll stop in to watch on Sunday...  After that is a fun match on Mother's Day which I'll actually be judging at!  Should be interesting.  Will have to do a quick brush up on my breed standards...  Then there is a DiscDog trial near East Hartford over Memorial Day weekend which we're planning to make a family outing of... Plus the fundraiser for American Poodles at Work on Memorial Day, which I believe I may be teaching a mini grooming workshop at...  Who knows what else is going on this spring - I can't keep up!  I know one of these weeks I need to find time to get back to studying for my final ISCC tests!  Along with a dozen other things on my to-do list! LOL

Vacation for Education - Rhode Island

It's hard to believe November is here already.  So much has happened in 2008, more than I ever could have imagined in a single year.  Getting on a plane for the first time in my life, becoming a Nationally Certified Groomer, revisiting an old favorite vacation spot, finally witnessing both creative styling and musical freestyle in person, attending new trade shows, and getting back in the grooming competition ring...  It wouldn't have happened without winning the NEPGP 2007 grand door prize.  Fate is an amazing thing!

This year's Fall Festival opened on Halloween with a fun costume party, following a day of competition and add-on programs.  The weekend brought more seminars and great contest entries.  I spent Saturday in classes, with a spoiled Poodle on my lap, while Sunday kept us busy in the grooming ring.  Never thought I'd be thankful for daylight savings time, but setting the clocks back gave me a much needed extra hour of sleep.  Well, not exactly - I still had to get up at 5 am to prepare for competition, but at least it felt more like 6:00 (only an hour or so earlier than I usually wake).  Of course I've been catching up ever since, generally falling asleep on the couch in the middle of a good evening movie. LOL

My goal for competition this fall was simply to do better than I did in the spring.  While I managed to pass my NDGAA practical exam at Intergroom, my styling wasn't nearly finished enough (at least IMO) to have any chance at placing in competition (esp. combined with all that missing hair somebody chewed off their legs).  Since competing is - or should be - about learning & improving (plus having fun), I aimed to try again at NEPGP.  Besides, with my free ticket, I had nothing to lose!  (Well, except missing a couple good seminars.) 

I roughed in with snap-on combs this time, saving several precious minutes.  By the time scissors down was called, I had nailed breed profile and finished sufficiently enough that I could call it done.  At least, done enough for a salon groom; for competition quality I thought it was still a little rough.  Mostly minor imperfections, but enough that I believed it deserved no more than a lower placement, if any.  We truly are our own worst critics!  The judges went over all the lovely entries, made note of technical merit, overall balance, and level of difficulty.  Finally they called out Third Place, then Second... when they came to First, I was stunned to hear them announce my name.  It never ceases to amaze me to be awarded a placement.  In my usual winners daze, I walked on stage and received my trophy and prize for the Poodle competition.  One more win away from A division!  (Yikes!)

And so, I close out the year of conventions with the show that started it all.  I'm extremely thankful for the opportunities that last year's door prize afforded me, plus the generosity of the sponsors who provided all those free tickets!  It truly was a year of new experiences and higher learning!   

It's not over yet, however...  Part of my winnings from the grooming contest include another free entry to Intergroom in 2009.  Thus the circle continues!

Here's to the new year offering even bigger opportunities and education for all professional groomers.

Vacation for Education - Pennsylvania

This week I returned from Groom Expo & Animal Behavior Conference in Hershey, PA.  Awesome show - so big it's actually a bit overwhelming!  I learned the trick there is to spend the first full day just methodically shopping the trade show, then you have the weekend to focus on classes.  Plus try to catch some of the competitions between all that.

Despite a tiring schedule, it was a fairly relaxing week.  A day in the country on each end of the trip, of course, helped.  The drive each way was long, but we enjoyed a short stay in the Amish country before show time (where we took annual family vacations when I was a kid), then on a secluded mountain with friends on the way home.  It's been nearly 18 years since I last visited PA, and it was great to see it again.  Also picked up some nice fresh dried herbs and oat flour while there - so much better than what supermarkets carry, plus way cheaper!  I even did a little Christmas shopping, plus picked up a souvenir or two for myself.  I found the most unique little trinket in one store; a pewter jewelry box which held a lovely necklace, a pair of earrings hooked in the lid, and the cover doubled as a lapel pin.  Never seen anything like it.  4 in 1 for less than $9, I couldn't resist!  The style/theme was a love & romance hex sign, very pretty for jewelry, I think.

When I first received the free ticket package at last year's grooming convention, I said "if I can only make it to one show, it'll be Groom Expo!"  I love the location, and heard it's one of the best shows, but total costs can be prohibitive for some, so I definitely had to take advantage of my gift certificate.  It's actually not so much the show costs that hurt you, at least if you go for a basic seminar package (daily price is close to average, but being a long show it does add up fast) - it's more the lodging.  Great accommodations, clean rooms, just a bit overpriced even with the group discount.  But then, maybe I really can't judge, as I wasn't able to use all the amenities...  In any case this trip has killed the rest of the year for any more travel, other than the quick trip to NEPGP.  Shopping did not help my bottom line, but they were all necessary business expenses.  The new dryer really did me in, but at least I didn't have to pay for shipping.  Just hope this one lasts me many years!

The seminars were wonderful and they provided ample breaks to allow shopping & contest viewing.  While this did cut into class time - could've taken more if they crammed the seminars back to back - it was nice to have the free time; and necessary if you want to see everything!  Like I said, that show was HUGE!  It's an incredible opportunity to meet so many vendors and sometimes even witness the unveiling of new products.  Not to mention taking advantage of any show specials.  I joined Barkleigh's "Groomers Club" and got back more than my money's worth in one day of shopping.  Okay, you want to know just how big the show is?  It's so big they have a tour guide! LOL  "Debbie & the Newbies" tours go around a few times each day, showing newcomers all the sights of Groom Expo.  You do have to wear a silly hat ;-) but you also get some coupons for the weekend.  So I highly recommend taking the tour first thing.  I made use of one $5 off coupon to join the Groomers Club, which subsequently saved me more when shopping.  There were also lots of free gifts from both the tour and the club.  I'd say nearly a third off all the stuff I brought home was free samples, etc.  Even snagged 2 or 3 very nice tote bags, which certainly came in handy for packing all that new stuff!

Back to the seminars!  Interestingly, I took fewer grooming classes at Groom Expo than I have at any other show.  Not that I didn't want to, but when there's so many choices, you have to prioritize.  Most of the weekend I spent in behavior & training and business seminars.  Everything was educational and fun, with fantastic speakers, a couple of which coincidentally held the majority of my chosen classes.  There were also excellent grooming demos on the trade show floor.

The competitions, esp. creative, were a must see.  Entries in the regular classes seemed average in number this year, but the specialty classes are where this show really shines.  That's where the big prize money is!  Creative is the star, and Groom Expo is one of the few (or only?) shows where you actually groom the dog in the ring.  You walk in with a fluffy Poodle (or breed of choice - but Poodle coats being the most versatile, that's pretty much all you see in creative these days), precolored if necessary, but little else, and you get a set time to sculpt, add more color, decorations and accessorize the dog into something else altogether.  This year's placements included a My Little Pony, a panda bear, and a hippie.  The "World Champion" (1st place) wins not only an enormous trophy and bragging rights, but $2500 prize money!  Incredible.  Now for a chance at that, I'd gladly come pay for the lodging. ;-)  hehe  Someday I hope to do just that!  Heck, even third place gets a very decent $750.  At least it'd cover travel & show expenses, with maybe a little left if you just stayed a couple days.

A review of Groom Expo wouldn't be complete without mention of the "Dancing with Dogs" tournament.  Ever since I first learned about Musical Freestyle, I've been rather hooked on it.  I've taken a workshop, read books & articles, and watched videos, but never seen a competition in person.  It was amazing to finally have that opportunity after so many years.  WCFO held contests throughout the weekend, and I was able to catch a few routines here and there.  Yet another ring I'd willingly travel down to enter!  Their prize money for this special occasion was nothing to sneeze at either. 

Freestyle is a relatively new sport, which is compared to dressage in the horse world.  As you "dance" around the ring, your dog follows you in heel position (walking forward or backward on either side), mirrors you face on, circles or weaves between your legs, add in some jumps, rolls, and other flashy steps, there are really infinite possibilities and combinations.  Everyone has a different routine of their own - that's why it's called "freestyle!"  I can see incorporating many country line dances into a routine, or for that matter just going line dancing with a canine partner. LOL  Freestyle is all about having fun, and the training is purely positive, so the dogs love the sport.  It's still less common that the mainstream sports, but if you ever have the chance to watch a competition, you'll surely be mesmerized!  There are several organizations, including WCFO, CFF, and MDSA; check them all out and google for more to see if anything is offered in your area.  Many freestylers also form local groups for camaraderie, support, training & practice, etc... perhaps you're lucky enough to have one near you.

In all, it was a very full week at Groom Expo and it was great to visit PA again.  Wonderful location... as my new tee shirt says, "Virginia may be for lovers, but Pennsylvania has Intercourse."  :-D  (Yes, that's a real town in the heart of the Amish country.  Nice place too!)

One more show to go... I guess four out of seven isn't bad!

Vacation for Education - New Jersey

It's no secret that I'm, uh, not fond of NJ.  No offense to anyone from there, and I suppose any state that gave us Bon Jovi can't be all bad, but really, you know what it's like.  Let's leave it at that. 
Apparently, the only way to get me to NJ is with a free ticket!  I've only been to Intergroom one other time, and I had a pass then too (again from NEPGP).  Oh, don't get me wrong, the show is great, and definitely worth the trip!  But I could certainly do without everything outside of the convention center.  Friday, Apr. 11 was rather bad from the start.  First, we left later than expected, and I had just found out that I was supposed to be there earlier than previously planned.  Of course, we ended up forgetting the camera, so had to turn around for that... luckily only 12 minutes from home.  But still, we were late enough as it was!  Once we hit the cities down south, of course, traffic was a b****.  Oh yes, just what I wanted to do - sit motionless in NJ traffic for an hour.  The sun was going down, and we still weren't in Somerset.  I was supposed to take my NDGAA written tests between 3 and 6pm, which appeared to be the only available slot I could take.  That time was long gone.  Finally we arrived around 7, no supper in our bellies, just in time for certification orientation, but too late to register for the show.  Needless to say, by then I was totally stressed out.  Would they even let us in without our badges?  What about my missed tests; was I just out of luck?  Oh, and did I mention my contest/certification dog had chewed holes in his coat so his legs looked like they had a run in with a weedwacker?  *sigh*  My weekend was obviously doomed.  See what happens when I go to NJ?

Okay, so security did let us in for orientation.  Peggy Harris (my certifier) reassured me that they'd make certain I got my writtens done, and she could overlook the missing hair on my dog if the rest of the groom was up to par.  I was able to breathe and relax a bit after that, and once I had food in my stomach (dinner at 9? talk about eating with the elite!) I felt quite better.  Stressed, tired, and low blood sugar does not make for a pleasant Tara. LOL  There was the opening night party later, but no way was I up for that after my day - all I wanted to do was curl up with the Poodle and sleep.

Saturday was a fresh start and things started going much more smoothly.  I got the dog bathed & prepped for the afternoon competition.  Managed to fit in a little shopping and socializing.  And took my written tests, which were a bit harder than I expected.  Always a pleasant surprise though, as it shows their high standards.  As Peggy said, "they aren't gonna give it away!"  LOL  Here's a tip: if you're planning to certify, actually study the required reading!  Yeah, you say duh (and so did I after the fact) but I thought I had the breed standards down enough that I didn't need to read the grooming book too.  That's where I made my mistakes - got home, looked in the book, and the missed answered were right there in plain sight.  Oh well, chalk it up to education!  Next time I'll read both! haha  I still managed to pass with an 83; respectable enough I suppose.  Though a 90+ would've been nicer. ;-)
Afternoon brought the Poodle competition.  I was so excited and happy to be back in the ring I seriously was barely nervous at all.  Splash, the Mini who I borrowed from a friend, behaved excellently.  Great thing is this is a young dog, so I can use him for several years to come (as long as he doesn't rip out any more hair! ;-)  His conformation is terrible, but he (usually) has a great coat to camouflage all that with.  Can you say points for difficulty? hehehe  Well, I need to work on my timing, as I wasn't entirely finished when they called "scissors down."  Still looked very rough in my eyes.  Of course I am a perfectionist, like most groomers.  One of the best tips when you're competing is to rough in the entire dog, then go over it all in stages to refine it.  That way you never finish with a half done dog, just possibly one with correct lines that could've been smoother.  Splash actually didn't look too bad overall, even the patchy front leg was decently hidden.  But there were sticky-outies, and the front angulation needed to be taken in tighter.  Still, as I am so slow on Poodle grooms, I'm just glad I got as far as I did!  Needless to say I didn't place in competition.  But I'll be practicing over the summer, so look out in the fall! :-)
When the contest was over, I got a critique from one of the judges.  (Always do this when you compete - that's how you learn!)  She confirmed the faults I was already aware of, so I felt pretty good about that - at least I know I'm on the right track, and given enough time I could've done him up very nicely.  Then I popped over to the NDGAA booth for Peggy to review my groom for the practical certification test.  While I lost some points for the "loaded shoulders" and unfinished scissor work, I did achieve breed profile.  As in the contest ring, correct profile is the most important thing - you can do perfectly smooth scissoring, but if the profile is off, it's all but worthless.  I finished certification with a score of 88.  I guess I can live with that.

Sunday was a little more laid back.  A leisurely breakfast at the local diner, additional shopping at the trade show, catching what I could of the contests, and hitting some seminars.  The day's competitions included Extreme Makeover and Creative.  I didn't get to see much of the first, but know it's an awesome contest - several months of hairgrowth on the dogs, all to be sculpted into the perfect breed specimen, or another breed altogether!  I'd love to do this some day, maybe with a poodlington trim.  Just another ring to get in on! LOL  The afternoon Creative ring had some neat entries.  Pregroomed, as it was at APF.  The winner was an incredible Elvis theme, with a guitar on one side, and The King's likeness and name on the other.  Amazing.  I also particularly liked the Giraffe.  Great job!
I was only able to do a couple seminars over the weekend... the one downside to competing - it interferes with class schedules.  But what I attended was great.  First there was a lecture on providing Spa services.  Very good, I took lots of helpful notes.  Then Sue Zecco offered a "Subtle Changes" workshop on tweaking your grooms for more effective competition.  Oh!  After Saturday's contest, she came up and asked me if she could use Splash as a demo dog in her class.  Well, she didn't have to ask twice - I jumped right on that opportunity!  I suppose maybe some people would be hesitant of having their work picked apart and talked about in front of an audience, but again, this is how you learn.  Of course, Sue has a good sense of humor, so she did make a wisecrack about the missing hair. hehehe  How could she resist? ;-)  She went over my groom, pointing out what was right and what needed tweaking, made some subtle changes, and showed us all that this is a dog that one could place with.  Good to know!  I took several notes, and learned more about Poodle grooming, along with some great general tips for competitors. 

A wonderful end to the weekend.  With the van packed up, we headed back to NH late that afternoon.  Always nice to sleep in one's own bed.  Even nicer with a Poodle next to you. ;-)

Vacation for Education - Georgia

So begins the journey... 

After an already busy start to the year with local dog shows, lectures and salon renovations, I attended my first national grooming convention of 2008 over the weekend of March 7.  Atlanta Pet Fair truly is "the biggest little trade show" in the U.S. and is so worth the trip!  APF had been on my radar for some time, and my free ticket package was just the nudge I needed to finally go. 
The seminars were outstanding, with so many offered it was hard to choose; I wish I could’ve seen them all!  Grooming competition was somewhat smaller than I expected - more comparable to our New England show - but just as wonderful.  It was also very exciting to finally be able to see Creative entries in person.  This is another thing I plan to do in the future - what artist could resist all that coloring and sculpting?  The Model Dog contest was interesting as well, though I think I still prefer real dogs.  APF’s trade show was huge.  So many vendors, I had to use a lot of willpower to not buy everything I saw.  After all, I needed to be able to fit it all in the luggage to fly home!  Of course, I still made several purchases, some of which I had shipped, and the rest was strategically packed with the rest of our stuff.  But proudly, nearly everything bought was on my shopping list - products to try, etc. - I believe only one impulse item (poodle/groomer t-shirt) made it through.  Can’t guarantee the same would happen at a show we drove to. LOL

The flights down and back went off without a hitch.  Although the airport/security crap was still a pain as expected, but could’ve been worse.  I’m not sure if the Rescue Remedy helped at all, but acupressure techniques definitely managed to reduce any initial stress and kept my motion sickness well under control.  Coming home was easier on my nerves, now that I’d experienced flight... of course I was also too exhausted to really stress out, plus the flight was a bit smoother.  I only needed acupressure once or twice this time for some minor turbulance and pressure changes making me woozy.  (It was a tight little commuter jet.)  And I managed to read on the way, planning my schedule for the next show.  Not bad, I didn’t even need Dramamine!

Now, I swear I work harder at these shows than I do at home in my shop.  The hours are certainly longer!  Seminars started at 8 am each morning and ran until at least 5 pm.  Competition hours were even longer, and there were evening parties two nights in a row.  With the tight seminar schedule I barely had time to shop for necessities and quickly peek at the competitions, never mind squeeze in meals and bathroom breaks.  And on top of all this there was Daylight Savings Time, making me lose another hour of sleep in the middle of the weekend.  I actually missed a couple lectures that morning because of the stupid time change.  Luckily one of those missed topics is being repeated at another show, so I’ll be able to catch it there.  At least I was able to attend many other great lectures, including an ISCC SuperCoats, an awesome handstripping seminar by Daryl Connor, various breed demos, and other business related subjects.  Even got to sit in on a speaker lecture, which was great, and may be useful to me in the future if I ever do start teaching.

ISCC offered their rare Lifetime Membership, which I gladly took advantage of.  It’ll save a lot of money in the long run.  No more forgetting renewal fees, and now I can "officially" begin the certification process.  (Plus I got this nifty "lifetime" bar added to my membership pin!  Oohh. Aahh.  LOL) 
I also spoke with NDGAA about certifying with them as well, which I will start testing for next month.  You know, because I don’t have enough to think about already!

I mentioned APF parties.  Yep, even groomers need to kick off their shoes (sometimes literally, as I observed) and have some fun.  Unfortunately I was too tired to make the Internet Social, but have heard nice things about it.  If nothing else, what a great chance to meet your online friends.  Next night was the Kenchii Party, which advertised a DJ, belly dancing and breakdancing demos.  Even I couldn’t resist checking it out, and I am not a party person!  Gotta say the cash bar was terrible (had to go down to the restaurant for a good mixed drink), but otherwise the party was pretty awesome.  Great dancing and fun.  I, of course, remained a wallflower, though I was so tempted to do some of the familiar line dancing.  Maybe if I’d had a stronger drink. ;-)  If I had known anyone in the crowd, I likely would’ve at least done the Hustle to Last Dance at the end - which I was shocked noone started!  We always Hustle to that song up here!  Oh well, guess that’s what I get for not going to the Internet Social and meeting people to dance with. LOL  Incidentally, I still managed to make contact with several people from my groomers lists over the weekend.

All in all, a great start to the season... bring on the next show! 
But first, a nap. ;-)

Vacation for Education

Like most self-employed groomers, I don't take many "real" vacations - almost all trips are somehow business or dog related.  But that's okay!  Not that I don't enjoy time away from it all, but I am also more than happy to spend a few weekends here and there to learn more about my trade.  I'm all about continuing education!  It's so important for professionals to keep up to date with new developments in their fields, and there is always more to learn.  Grooming is an especially high burnout career, so taking time to refresh your knowledge and network with other pet pros is preventative medicine.  Conventions can stimulate the mind, rest the body, and soothe the soul.

Now, much as I love going to the trade shows and seminars, I do unfortunately have tendencies towards being a homebody, along with that definite shy streak, which subsequently gets worse the more I stay home. :-p  It has also become more difficult to travel now with all my allergies; packing food & supplements, finding acceptable restaurants, not to mention dealing with flareups - not fun away from home.  Plus the fact that all this travel costs money.  Hey, believe me, I could keep coming up with excuses!  But the truth is, valid as they are, there is no excuse good enough to get out of it.  Continuing education is simply necessary for the conscientious professional.  There are several forms of it, but conventions remain the best.  So I deal with it all - I designate funds for education & travel expenses (all tax deductible), I deal with the hassle of living with allergies, and I suck up social anxiety and make myself deal with that.  Besides, the enjoyment of learning new things outweighs all of those.  Oh, I still stress out, but it's worth it! :-)

Every year I make it a point to attend the New England Pet Grooming Professionals convention, along with any other seminars I can get to.  Last year was fairly busy for me, with a total of five (mostly local) workshops/seminars/conventions, up from four in '06, and previous averages of two or three per year.  And it looks like I may beat my record once again in 2008...  at the NEPGP 2007 Fall Festival, I won the door prize - a package of free entry to seven grooming shows!  Wow!  I was in total shock.  The entire memory remains hazy.  But it definitely was not a dream - I have the certificates to prove it! LOL  What an incredible opportunity.  I hope I prove myself worthy of such a gift.  While I won't be able to make it to every show (a couple are just too far or have conflicting schedules) I'll still be traveling more and further than ever before.  And quite likely getting on a plane for the first time in my life!  I'll tell you what, I'll be putting Rescue Remedy to the test on that trip! ;-)

So begins the year of new experiences and higher learning...