Groomania-Belgium
I just returned from Belgium where I was invited to speak and judge. Groomania is hosted by Kitty and Darren Cooke of Transgroom. I have known Kitty for almost 20 years as she was a top level international competitor at the same time I was out in the grooming contest ring. We have crossed paths many times and it's been years since I've seen her and her husband. When I got this international assignment I was thrilled not only to travel to Belgium but also to get reacquainted with old friends.
It's been a number of years since I have been involved with the European grooming scene. Some of the changes that I really noticed quickly was that all docking and cropping of the ears and tails has been banned. Poodles, Schnauzers, and Cockers all have natural, long tails. And dogs that we routinely think of with cropped ears are left natural. Another thing that I noticed was all of their setters have shaved ears, even though the rest of the feathering is long and natural as we find it here in the United States. And clipping a terrier – well, we won't even go there. In the European countries, it's almost unheard of to clip a coat that should be and hand stripped!
The educational show grooming competition lasted for two days. The event was held in a new facility that did a great job facilitating a great show. In one area there were six mini stages set up that were just large enough to accommodate a stylist and grooming table. At each of these mini stages was an industry expert conducting an up close and personal grooming demonstration, allowing the viewer to see clearly and ask questions about the techniques he demonstrated. Since Belgium is a multilingual country, the show hosts also provided translators at many of the stages so everybody could understand, whether they spoke English, Dutch, French, or German.
On Monday I conducted an all-day seminar at Transgroom company headquarters. Our group was small, which allowed us to get up close and personal - even all heading out to lunch together at a small local restaurant.
At one time I was traveling internationally on a regular basis with dog grooming. It was fun to get back over to Europe and compare the differences between American and European grooming. It was also wonderful to get reacquainted with old friends.
A number of years ago I was having dinner out with my family here in the states. I'll never forget when a longtime family friend who is a dentist came up to me and was inquiring about my latest travel adventures. I had just returned from one of my oversea jaunts. She just shook her head in disbelief and stated, “You're amazing. I spent years studying to become a doctor and look in people's mouths all day. You're a self-taught dog groomer and you travel the world!” You never know where this career can lead you.
Happy Trimming,
Melissa
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