Grooming Competition

[Kim]

When I went to pick Allie up from the Groomers today, the Groomer asked me if we would be interested in allowing her to compete with Allie at an out of town Grooming competition in November.  She said that Allie has a perfect coat and a perfect temprament.  I was running short on time, but told her I would be ok with that... but as I was leaving I was wishing for more time to ask some more questions.  She works at the daycare that Allie goes to - so I see her about once a week.  I will be talking to her more about this next week, but I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this, and if there is any reason that I shouldn't allow her to do this?

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I think I would want to know more about her. Is she planning on taking Allie in the car with her or is she asking you to bring Allie? I wouldn't feel comfortable letting someone I really don't know taking my pride and joy!

[Mary Steward]

I agree with Nancie, I would suggest you meet her at the location at a specific time. Since you trust the daycare and she works there, I would think she would be trustworthy. I've never been to a grooming show, but at regular AKC dog shows, many of the dogs were being groomed and visitors could walk by. I don't believe they allow this anymore for safety reasons, which is a real shame, I think. It was a great way to meet breeders and see the personality of the breed (as several dogs of same breed were there.)
Anyway, if you decide this is safe, I think it seems like it would be a really fun thing!!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

If the AKC dog show is a bench show (like Westminster) then visitors can still walk past dogs being groomed (in fact encouraged).

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Also, I would want to find out what she has in mind for the grooming = like coloring, shaving etc. I would want to make sure nothing was going to irritate Allie's skin.

[Kim]

Good idea! It's a scissor cutting contest - I did get that much out of our conversation. Thanks for the ideas - I will make a list of questions to ask her next week.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I'm going a different direction on this one ..... I'm going to say I would have to give a big no. This would be a strange environment, with a stranger, and other strange people and not for a really good reason. I hated even taking my girls in to be groomed (thus the reason I now do it myself at home), much less letting someone take them somewhere else and do it in a stressful environment. I would also guess the groomer will be stressed since she is competing which I would think would translate into not being real at ease and Allie would pick up on that. I would just have to say no.

I watched one of those competitions on TV the other night where they take the poodles and groom them into different items (like a camel or something) and they dyed their hair many different colors. I really felt like that was borderline abuse. I felt so sorry for those poor dogs standing there forever while they did the grooming and dying ..... not much fun, and exhausting, and for what!

[BG and Gavin]

I saw that too. Could not beleive my eyes. I kept thinking "you are kidding me right?"