I Must Brag, Brag, Brag!!!!

We just got back from Groom Expo in Hershey PA.

We had a really great time.

My daughter competed in the Rescue Round-up yesterday morning.

We were up at 5:30am.

We needed to check out of the Hotel and be checked into the Rescue Round-up contest by 7am.

Jessica and I were supposed to compete together in the Round-up, but because of a mix up only Jessica was registered.

She was a little nervous, mainly because there was no way of knowing what kind of dog she would be grooming.

The rescue dogs were from 7 or 8 different rescue groups.

Each groomer would draw a number and go over to the dog assigned that number.

My daughter drew number 10.

She drew a very sweet Pekinese named 'Bella'. 

She was full of dead coat and had mats behind her ears, some in her rear feathering, and underarms.

At 8am the grooming began.

Jess was in the fourth group to go down to the tubs, so she dematted, combed, clipped the belly, trimmed the feet, and cleaned the ears while waiting for her turn in the tub.

 After the bath, she used scissors and thinning shears to shape up, shorten, and thin out areas.

She wanted her to look as natural as possible.

She skimmed the inside of the legs to help blend areas where mats had been removed.

She blended and rounded off the sides to help the hair lay straight and smooth.

She used thinning shears to blend and shape up the chest and front legs.

She used a combination of thinning shears and scissors to rounds and shape the rear feathering.

'Bella' was a very sweet Peke, but Jess had to use a grooming loop, because the Peke would suddenly try to jump off of the table every time she spotted her foster Mom in the audience.

  Time for scissors down!

The groomers had 2 1/2 hours to bathe, dry and groom their dogs.

Jessica is normally a very fast groomer.

With this groom she was able to really take her time. 

I have never seen her groom so slowly. lol

Time....

.....for.....

....the judging.

The judges went down the row of dogs to check over each groom.

Then it was time to relax and wait for the results.

And wait.......

And take a nap. :)

Time for the award ceremony.

They announced the third place winner first.

 Yoshiko Winner took third with a Cairn Terrier.

Linda Jomphe took second place.

First and second place were now gone.

I didn't know what to think.

Of course I had faith in my daughters grooming, but there were a lot of dogs on stage, and I have seen a lot of competitions where you just can't predict who the Judges are going to pick for first place.

Then the Judges started walking towards the end of the stage where Jess was.

I heard the Judge say; "...and our first place winner of Rescue Round-up is.....Jessica Kloid!

I didn't get a picture of the exact moment that they called Jessica's name, because I was to busy celebrating and jumping up and down in my seat.

I did get pictures of them handing her her trophy.

And congratulating her for her win.

Jess thanked 'Bella' too.

I just can't possible express in words how proud I am of my daughter.

Jess has been around grooming her whole life.

She started brushing our dogs as soon as she could hold a brush.

She has been Professionally Grooming since she was eleven, and a customer told her that she could groom her dog.

I am so happy for her!!

I will be posting more about the Rescue Round-up this week.

I have before and after pictures of all of the dogs.

I will also be posting before and afters for the creative competition later. :)

✂ Happy Grooming, MFF ✂