Been busy with so much around the shop lately that the blog has been sorely neglected. Since the last post, I have been to another grooming competition in Rhode Island. I was entered in 4 classes. In the "All Other Purebreds" class I was competing with Pippin, a curly coated Portuguese Water Dog, loaned to me by a good friend and PWD breeder, Jane Harding of Cutwater Portuguese Water Dogs in Essex. With Pippin, I was given an honorable mention. The judge, Julie Ostoski said of the class a... Continue reading ...
I'm back from an exciting weekend at Intergroom in NJ. This particular show happens to be one of my favorite competitions and trade shows. While I did not place with any of my entries this go round, I was able to gain some very good experience and learn some new tricks for next time. The highlight of the weekend had to be the arrival of my new Kerry Blue Terrier puppy. She is 10 weeks old, and quite the firecracker! Her name has not been decided on as of yet, but we are working on it! T... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Wednesday, November 10, 2010,
In :
Little Shop News
I arrived with my 4 dog entourage Friday morning and got right to work. Jackson and Jake were bathed and then once we were all settled into the hotel room, Jackson and I headed back out to the competition ring.  Jackson is an absolute angel on the table, and how can one resist his face?!?  Although we did not place, we learned how to tweak our groom for the next time. Here is a picture of Jackson all finished.  Friday night they had a wonderful new class, Pomadorable. Several groomers enter... Continue reading ...
I am back from another great weekend at a grooming competition. Every time I go I am so encouraged and renewed to come back to work and make every pet look and feel their very best. Seeing old friends, winning awards, buying new tools and learning new tricks really does something to the groomer's soul. Well, I was quite successful in this competition. It began Friday morning when I entered the ring with Jake, the Irish Terrier.  He was his usual feisty self, so much so that the judges com... Continue reading ...
I was asked several months ago to groom a Portuguese Water Dog, Ch. Ebb Tide's Upcountry Titan, aka Sage, for this most prestigious show. Of course I agreed, and so began our journey to "the Garden" (Madison Square Garden that is!). Monday, February 15th, we prepared Sage for our trip down to the city.  Sage snoozing in my lap on the drive down.  The hotel was filled with gorgeous dogs, and we were made to feel like celebrities. Tuesday morning we awoke early excited for our big day. We he... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Wednesday, November 18, 2009,
In :
Little Shop News
I competed on Friday with Jackson, a Golden Retriever.  We did not place, but considering it was my first time grooming a Golden for competition, I was quite pleased. The judges commented that it was a beautiful job. I look forward to many more successful competitions with this handsome man. On Saturday morning, Rusty, an adorable mixed breed, and I took the ring. Again, we did not place, but were awarded the Taxi Memorial Award. This award is given to the groomer who has captured the be... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Wednesday, September 23, 2009,
In :
Little Shop News
What a whirlwind of a weekend! I (Erin) competed with a customer's Kerry Blue Terrier, Connor, Friday afternoon, and a friend's toy Poodle, Sticks on Saturday. This was my first time in the A division, the highest level of competition, so I expected to be paying my dues as a rookie. My goal was for personal improvement in both the classes I entered. While I did not place either day, I was able to get some constructive criticism on my grooms to improve my chances next time. After the comp... Continue reading ...
Posted by Erin McLaughlin on Thursday, September 17, 2009,
In :
Little Shop News
We leave tomorrow for the biggest grooming trade show and competition in the country. Groom Expo is hosted by Barkleigh Productions in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The weekend holds much learning, shopping, competing, and fun for all attendees. I (Erin) will be competing with a customer's Kerry Blue Terrier, Connor. This will be only my second time grooming him as he is maintained mostly by his mom. Kerry's happen to be one of my favorite breeds to compete with as you can tell by the numerous ... Continue reading ...
Well, I (Erin) went to Intergroom this past weekend to compete in 3 competitions as well as do some shopping and attend some seminars. I left on Thursday to drive to Somerset, NJ with my Standard Poodle, ZZ, my American Cocker Spaniel, Rip, and a customer's baby, Jake, an Irish Terrier. My first competition was Friday morning with Jake in the Handstripped Terrier class. We did not place because we are still learning Jake's growth cycle and he did not have enough hair to make a significant ... Continue reading ...
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