Groomer Has It : Animal Planet

Here Kitty, Kitty!

Episode 5 recap: “Meowza!”

Will and Jessica return to the Dog House, and the remaining groomers all seem shocked to discover Amber is no longer a part of the competition. Malissa continues to argue with Jonathan and Kathleen, and is particularly miffed that Kathleen took over her dog during the Fashion Show Grooming Challenge. “It was slap in the face,” she explains, but Jonathan and Kathleen have no intention of making any apologies.

The next morning, Nemo shows up in what appears to be lifeguard gear, and when the groomers follow him to LAFD Fire Station 29, they find out why. Jai is on hand along with Denise Fleck, an expert in the field of pet first aid and safety, and that’s exactly what the focus will be for this week’s Quick Sniff challenge. After receiving a tutorial from Denise that covers everything from treating cuts and stabilizing broken legs to administering CPR properly, the groomers find out the details for the Quick Sniff. Using stuffed, “stunt” dogs (sort of like the animal version of the CPR dummy Annie!), they will tackle three “situations” – first, they will have to tend to a long-haired dog with a nipped ear that is bleeding profusely. Next, they must muzzle and splint a German Shepherd who fell off the grooming table. Finally, they must resuscitate a dog that has stopped breathing. The groomer who completes all three tasks properly with the best time wins. As a reward for winning last week’s Grooming Challenge, Jasper is told he’ll get to shave five seconds off of his final time.

Artist sets the bar with a time of 2:27. Malissa makes it a point to say that she does indeed know the difference between stuffed animals and real animals (thank goodness!), but doesn’t come close to beating Artist’s time. Jorge and Jonathan do slightly better, but it’s still Artist who’s on top until Jasper gives it a try. His quick thinking and smart choice of using a toilet paper roll to splint the stuffed dog helps him breeze through the challenges, ending up with a new best time of 2:03, which drops down to 1:58 once his bonus 5 seconds are shaved off. Will moves like molasses and when hits the 4 minute mark, Jai tells him not to bother. It’s up to Kathleen to knock Jasper out of first place, and though she moves through each element confidently, she comes in a 2:04 so it’s not enough. Jasper wins the leg up to use during tomorrow’s Grooming Challenge.

Back at the Dog House, the stress of living under one roof seems to be taking its toll on the groomers. Jonathan and Jorge talk more smacks about Malissa, who meanwhile has decided to treat Kathleen like a ghost until she apologies. Jorge and Jessica snip at each other, and Jorge ponders putting a muzzle on Jessica to curb her comments. I think EVERYONE needs a nappy poo right now!

The next day, the groomers gather in salon and Jai introduces them to special guest judge Donna Eisenberg, who is an expert on today’s breed. Jonathan wonders if it will be some sort of rare breed, while Artist thinks it might be a raccoon or a horse and Malissa hopes for a monkey. None of their guesses are on target – this week, the focus is actually on cats – long-haired Himalayan cats to be specific! Jasper gets first pick of the litter as his Quick Sniff reward, and Donna gives the groomers a few kitty pointers, emphasizing the importance of staying calm. Jorge likens his approach with cats to his approach with women, which involves pleasing them and telling them what they want to hear to get them to do what you want. Oh, so that’s the trick? Good to know!

With just two hours to groom, everyone gets right to work. Dr. Karen makes the rounds, noting that the key is going into the task with a certain amount of confidence so the cats don’t sense any stress. Between the water, brushing, and various loud noises, none of the cats seem too psyched about the entire process, though Will, Jasper, and Kathleen seem to be faring the best so far. Artist’s cat makes his feelings very clear, peeing JUST as Artist is finished drying him, and adding insult to injury by, as Artist puts it “boo booing” on the table, leaving “chocolate truffles” behind. Let’s just say this is not the kind of “candy” you want to give your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day.

Malissa’s cat is also less than cooperative, though she boasts once again about her “seventh” sense – perhaps it needs a tune up? Jorge and Jonathan then spot Malissa cutting her cat’s whiskers, which had been deemed a big no no by special guest judge Donna. Apparently Malissa misheard her, but regardless, Kathleen seems truly appalled by her obvious gaffe, saying, “She should not have been in this competition to begin with… she is an insult to my gender.” Yikes – guess you two won’t be sharing one of those broken heart “Best Friends Forever” necklaces anytime soon?

The judges examine the groomers’ work, assessing their ability to keep their clients calm while showing their cutting expertise. It doesn’t take long for special guest judge Donna to spot Malissa’s errors, but when she questions her about it, Malissa claims she scissored the face like she was asked to do. Donna immediately sets her straight, saying, “No, I said DON’T scissor the cat’s face,” and so begins Malissa’s back-peddling full of hems and haws. She of course ends up in the bottom two, along with Artist, whose serious lack of confidence doesn’t bode well with the judges.

The J’s – Jonathan, Jorge, Jasper, and Jessica – are declared safe. Will and Kathleen earn this week’s highest honors, with Will getting praised for his successfully tackling an extremely matted kitty, while Kathleen earns mad respect for her overall skills and approach. Ultimately, they crown Kathleen the overall winner.

Back to the bottom – will it be Artist or Malissa who is sent packing? While the judges all shake their heads at Artist’s display of unusually low self-esteem, its Malissa’s lack of skills that ultimately bring about her demise. Joey even goes so far as to say that her performance is more reflective of someone who has been out of the business for years and is just getting ramped up again.

When the verdict is revealed, Malissa emotionally breaks down and though Artist tries to comfort her, she pushes him away. During her exit interview, Malissa makes it clear that she doesn’t think she deserved to go home – but who does? I mean really, I doubt anyone would ever say something like, “Yep, I deserved it - the judges were spot on! Kudos to them!”

Thankfully, though, before her final curtain call, she finally realizes her “seventh sense” goof – maybe now it will start serving her better!

What did you think about the episode? Who do you think should have gone home? Leave a comment and give me your two cents!

Open Thread: Meowza!

This is the place to post your thoughts on tonight's episode!  What did you think about tonight's grooming challenge?  How difficult is it *really* to groom a cat?  Does Xavier seem to be softening up a little bit or is that just my imagination?  Did you think the judges made the right decision this week?   And how happy are you that Malissa finally realized she only has five senses?

Pretty in Pink

With her flair for fashion and signature pink trademark, I was surprised to see Amber end up on the chopping block during last week’s challenge but it sounds like she’s got plenty on her plate to keep her busy – including her mobile pet salon business and a new baby on the way! Find out more about Amber’s experience on the show and as a groomer in my Q&A with this sassy stylist.

You’ve been in the grooming industry for almost half your life. What’s your favorite part of this business? What’s the most challenging?

Although I love grooming and all of the challenges associated with it, I really love designing state of the art mobile pet salons with my husband. After years of searching for the perfect unit, we decided the only way to achieve this was to build our own. After completing that project, we had nothing but great reviews which led us to start Amber’s Mobile Pet Salons Inc.

The biggest challenge (in this business) is training students to become grooming stylist when they have (no) knowledge at all. Also, grooming the dogs (is not) the challenge – (it’s) their owners (that are the challenge, because they) don't understand what it takes to groom their dog.

Do you have any pets of your own?

Yes, I have two blue merle Chihuahuas, one pony, and one standard poodle (pink of course).

What are your favorite breeds to work with, or ones that you consider to be a special area of expertise?

Bichons and Schnauzers.

Tell us a little bit about your line of mobile grooming salons.

We offer a few different models. They are all completely self-contained with generators, stainless steel baths, (and) high-end aluminum cabinets in over 300 colors. They have been designed like no other. When you look at our salons, your first impression is what counts the most, and most people are in awe of our units. We (also) just started to offer a bathroom and a hybrid model with an inverter/ gen system.

Pink became somewhat of your signature – personally, with your own dog, and even in some of your grooming throughout the competition. Can you explain when and how the fascination began, especially when it comes to dyeing dogs pink?

It started when I was 10 years old. I would dress my horse in pink and I would dress to match my horse while attending horse shows. After that, everything in (my) world revolved around the color pink. I can remember years ago when my fascination of pink began and have never looked back. It is very apparent in my grooming business and salon business, where 60% of our salons sales are…well, you guessed it – PINK!

What do you think are the most important qualities to have as a groomer?

Knowledge, love for the animals, knowing your breeds, (and) being able to communicate with the animals. Another thing that I think that a lot of groomers don't realize is their appearance and how they present themselves – (it’s) a very important quality that is overlooked with today’s groomers.

What’s the most rewarding experience you’ve had in your career so far?

Watching the students that I have trained become successful business people just like myself. There is nothing better than to have a client of mine call me and tell me what a wonderful job (my students) have done, knowing that when they started with me, they had no knowledge whatsoever.

If you could have picked your team for the Groomer Has It Fashion Show challenge, who would you have selected and why?

Jonathan and Jorge – I (felt) that they (were) by far the two best groomers along with me. (They) had style and knew what fashion was. With them two by my side in any type of competition, we would have used each other’s strengths to (become) unstoppable.

What did you think about Will’s comments regarding his regrets regarding who he chose as teammates?

I think he should have chosen Jonathan, because he specializes in poodles and he was the best poodle groomer there.

Congratulations to Amber, who is expecting her second child this August!

Project Poochway

Episode 4 recap: “The Fashion Show”

Y’all weren’t the only ones surprised to see Jon end up on the chopping block last week – the remaining groomers seem genuinely shocked (and a bit perturbed) when it’s Malissa who returns to the Dog House. She doesn’t help matters with her incredulous reaction to the judges’ comment that she might be a bit – gasp! – airy. Wow, really? Imagine that!

The next day, Nemo shows up decked to the nines, with a note hinting about a challenge involving couture. Wait – wishes really do come true? Is Tim Gunn on his way? While this doesn’t prove to be the case, this week’s Quick Sniff is more or less the next best thing, which will also serve as part one of the forthcoming Grooming Challenge. It goes a little something like this:

The groomers will work in teams of three to design a “look” for each class of poodles – standard, miniature, and toy. Sandy Maroney and Sharon Bolger, founders of I See Spot dog apparel, will act as guest judges for this portion. One team will have their collection deemed the most fashion forward, leading up to the grooming component and the first ever Groomer Has It fashion show!

As last week’s winner, Will not only gets to choose his teammates, but also who will comprise the other two teams. And of course, there’s a twist: this week’s losing team will decide which one from their group will be sent home.

Will selects Amber and Jessica, apparently going for the “Who dresses the cutest?” strategy. He pairs Jonathan and Kathleen with Malissa, and groups Jorge and Jasper with Artist. The teams are told they will have two hours to create their concepts, but thankfully they’ll also have the help of skilled seamstresses to put their actual pieces together.

Team Will/Amber/Jessica’s concept is based on looks that support a variety of word plays: Diva Dog, Yuppie Puppy, Ruff ‘n’ Tuff. Team Jonathan/Kathleen/Malissa decides to tap into Kathleen’s artistic skills, using her poodle silhouette sketch as a logo of sorts across the entire collection. Initially, Team Jorge/ Jasper/ Artist looks completely terrified, but once Jasper suggests a sports theme, the creative juices start flowing. As Jorge says, “Jasper is a box of surprises” – kind of like Cracker Jacks?

Sandy and Sharon return to assess the results and Team Jorge/ Jasper/ Artist take the top prize for their line that includes a cheerleader outfit, a player’s jersey, and a coach’s sweatshirt. Go team!

Now that the fashion component is complete, it’s time for the grooming. The next day, a dapperly dressed Jai informs the teams that they will have three hours to tackle one poodle from each class. As the winners of the Quick Sniff, Team Jorge/ Jasper/ Artist get to pick their models first.

Jonathan and Kathleen waste no time ganging up on Malissa, who may or may not deserve it. “When it comes to grooming, I’m going to do it my own way,” she whines, adding, “Just because (Kathleen’s) won awards and trophies doesn’t make her a better groomer than me.” (Actually, it kinda does) Eventually, Kathleen gets so frustrated that she takes Malissa’s dog away from her, instructing her to instead focus on polishing the other poodle’s nails. Snap!

Jessica and Amber struggle with their dogs, while Will announces he won’t likely finish his own on time. Meanwhile, Malissa confesses to Jonathan that she has managed to get nail polish on her dog’s tail and asks if she should dye it pink. Reason #141 why nail polish and dogs don’t mix!

But never mind that, it’s time for the fashion show! We see that Dr. Karen is going for the Marie Antoinette look with her up-do, while the special guest judge is revealed to be none other than Melissa Rivers, Little Miss Red Carpet herself.

The festivities begin. While Amber and Will seem to love their designs, Jessica confesses she’s not so hot on the idea dog clothing in general. Team Jonathan/ Kathleen/ Malissa are next with their champion poodle silhouette, though Kathleen reveals it’s a design she’s used several times before. Finally, we have “Team Spirit” – aka Jasper, Jorge, and Artist. Each group has also supplied their own runway copy for the event, which is fine until we get to Team Spirit – at this point, Jai sort of begins to rap and it’s a big ole’ hot mess!

Despite the cringe-worthy copy, Jorge says, “I’m extremely happy with my job, as usual. I’m Jorge – heeey!” doing his very best Fonzie impersonation (whether he’s aware of it or not). Meanwhile, Amber points out that tonight’s elimination is not necessarily about who is the best groomer, adding that she hopes no one throws her under the bus. This is what we call “foreshadowing.”

The judges question the groomers, including Joey asking Will why he neglected to choose Jonathan for his team, considering he’s won or placed in every grooming challenge. Will immediately admits he made a mistake and should have been more strategic, and I wonder if Amber and Jessica are thinking, “Uh hi – you know we can hear you, right?”

Deliberation begins, and Team Will/Amber/Jessica are criticized for not having enough of a theme to their fashions, as well as just average grooming. Malissa’s poorly groomed poodle face also really irks the judges. And though Team Spirit doesn’t necessarily blow everyone away with their grooming skills, the judges do agree that they presented the best overall package. Jasper is crowned the team leader, so he will be the one who earns the advantage during next week’s Quick Sniff.

Despite Malissa’s gaffe, Team Will/Amber/Jessica land in the bottom. This time, it’s up to the team to decide who will leave. Will nominates Amber and she, in turn, nominates Will, so Jessica must break the tie. Everyone seems shocked when she casts her vote for Amber. While Amber of course seems disappointed, to her credit, she takes the dismissal very well, maintaining her love for grooming and the industry.

So who would you have chosen for your team? Which fashion collection did you like best? And were you surprised that Jessica chose to keep Will? Dish! Dish!

Open Thread: The Fashion Show

Chat about tonight's episode here!  Did you like the quick sniff challenge or were you wondering what it had to do with real grooming?  Which outfits would you let your doggies wear?  What did you think about the grooming challenge?  Are poodles really the hardest breed to groom?  And do you ever want to hear Jai rap again?  Share your thoughts now and check back later for my official recap!

Gone But Not Forgotten

He was one of the youngest competitors, but also clearly a viewer favorite. Check out what Jon had to say about his experience on Groomer Has It, along with how he got started in the industry and news about his latest business venture!

You started your career seven years ago at the very early age of 13 – what inspired you to become involved with the grooming world?

My first job was working at Greenfield Yarrow. I started there knowing very little about dogs – only that I wanted to learn as much as I could.  Working for the “green team” is like training with Michael Jordan if you wanted to be a basketball player. They have the highest standards, making sure the haircut is perfect, to making sure all dogs had fresh water and a clean bed at all times. Working for people who are the best at what they do should inspire anyone.

Tell us about your own dog, Sgt. Pepper.

Sarge is my 4-year-old English Bulldog who has been coming to work with me pretty much every day. He always looks forward to daily car rides and walks – we are partners in crime!

What do you think are the most important qualities to have as a groomer?

You need to be able to deal with many different situations. You really need to know your stuff or you won’t make it very long. You need to be open to learning new things about grooming, that's why I love it so much – you can always progress in the field.

You’re also quite the entrepreneur – now at age 20, you already own a successful pet boutique and spa with plans to open a second location soon. Where do you get your entrepreneurial spirit?

The Total Dog and a Little Cat is my new newest endeavor – it’s a daycare, retail, and grooming salon. It is also the only one in my area. I am a risk taker that's for sure, but that's what makes it fun. JB's Doggy Styles, my pet boutique, is located down the street from the high school I attended – we’ve had that open for over two years now and it’s doing very well. We have a large variety of food and treats.

What’s the most rewarding experience you’ve had in your career so far?

The most rewarding part of being in this business is all the great people I’ve met, from the “green team” to my business partner Lori, to all the great groomers I met on the show. I am very proud to have made it on the show and want to continue competing in the pet grooming circuit and AKC showing.

In the Grooming Challenge, you ended up with a Great Pyrenees – quite a large dog to tackle.  Did you select this dog or were they randomly assigned?  Had you worked with that breed before? What was the most difficult part of the challenge?

The dog was selected randomly, or I would have picked a dog that fit in my pocket like Jasper’s or Kathleen’s. I have a few Great Pyrenees that come into the shop, so I know how much work and time actually has to go into the grooming. My dog was four times the amount of work of any other dog in the contest and the most difficult part was keeping the puppy from dancing around the table and falling off the table. At my shop, we use a strap that goes under the dog’s belly near the back end of the dog to keep them from falling off the table.

You seem to be really laid back and have a funny personality, especially with your pirate impression and your "Who Let the Dogs Out" dance routine on your home video! But things became quite emotional during your exit interview on the show – can you elaborate more on what you were thinking?

I had a one in 12 shot at winning a life changing prize ... and I lost. I was not planning on leaving for at least four more episodes. I think I was a better groomer then Malissa by far. One thing that was edited out was Joey telling me I had talent and that he would like to see me back next season. I met up with Joey at a grooming expo and we had a good talk. He wants to see me compete. He is the only judge that I respect.

Looking back, is there anything you think you could have done differently to save yourself in the challenge?

There was not one thing that I could have changed to improve my status at elimination time. With the amount of time I was given to groom such a large dog, I would say I did a pretty good job. I presented the judges with a clean dog!

Did you bond with any of the other groomers, or pick up any tricks of the trade that you’ll incorporate in your own career moving forward?

Jasper, Jorge, Artist, Amber, and Kathleen were all great people who I would love to hang out with again. Amber and I talked a lot about owning our own businesses. I hope to see Amber go far. Jasper is very down to earth and a great guy. I would love to take a trip to Boston to meet up with him. Jorge has great stories and I want to meet up with him.

What was your biggest take away from this experience?

Be professional when you’re on reality television. You might not get as much air time but people know they can trust you with their dogs. I want to have an empire; this is just the start for me. Everyone will know the name Jonnie B!

And They Call It Puppy Love

Episode 3 recap: “Ruff Customers”

Back at the Dog House, Will bursts through the curtains like a Broadway star, announcing, “You are so stuck with me!” Most of his fellow groomers seem shocked and more concerned about how Sarah took her dismissal. Will tries to rally support, asking the others what they would have done in his situation. Kathleen mumbles something about wondering where the potato chips are, while Jorge chimes in with “I’m hungry.” Clearly, the group has decided to move on, but Will pledges that he’ll surprise everyone in the house – you just wait.

Early the next morning, Nemo delivers a message that hints at demanding clients awaiting the groomers for the Quick Sniff. They join Jai at K9 Loft, where they’re told that they are going to be meeting with five of the salon’s most demanding clients – including a surprise celeb guest that’s the "pit bull of Hollywood.”

Pit bull of Hollywood? OMG … Is Lindsay Lohan coming?!

(Sorry, I couldn’t resist – and no, sadly, it wasn’t LiLo, but all shall be revealed in good time.)

As a reward for winning last week’s Grooming Challenge, Jonathan gets the inside scoop from the salon owner. The clients begin to arrive, and it’s up to the groomers to impress them. We see Pomeranians, Malteses, German shepherds, and Bonaduces – as in Danny, who is officially the new reality show king, because I can’t go out for milk without bumping into this guy. Side note: his super-buff arms scare me.

Danny starts grilling the groomers, asking Artist about his name and Jon, who is wearing a bandana, if dressing like a pirate improves his grooming technique. Frankly, I would have gone for the Bret Michaels reference, but that’s just me and my obsessive viewing of Rock of Love II.

The other clients are very – ahem – special as well. We’ve got Pink Lady, who, like her Maltese, is an explosion of, you guessed it, pink. I’m suddenly craving cotton candy. Amber tries to woo her with tales of her own mobile salon (pink!) and poodle (pink!), but once the client spots Amber’s acrylic nails, she freaks.

Another client says she uses a toothbrush on her dog’s coat – uh, OK, as long as it’s not my toothbrush! And Jorge is completely mesmerized by the woman carrying her two Pomeranians.

Jorge: “They were humongous!”

Just so we’re clear, he wasn’t talking about the dogs.

Danny and his German Shepherd continue to bounce around the salon. He seems particularly fascinated by Jorge’s use of hand sanitizer and ribs Malissa about whether or not she can handle a dog his size. We learn that she rides a motorcycle (“A real one! A cruiser!”), which I guess is supposed to mean she can handle anything – except talking to Danny. He’s more impressed by Kathleen’s response to what kind of collar she’d use on his dog. Meanwhile, Will has somehow completely lost his mind, talking to all the clients like he’s the Ron Popeil of grooming. But wait, there’s more! It slices! It dices! Set it and forget it! Enough already.

It’s time for the results. Danny says while he’d pick Malissa to give him a personal bath, she still needs to brush up on her sales skills. On the flip side, he tells Will to reel it in. Apparently, all the salon clients loved Jonathan, but in the end Kathleen is crowned the winner.

The next day, we discover this week’s Grooming Challenge involves giving puppies their very first groom, with just 90 minutes to complete the task. There are a variety of breeds, and Kathleen’s reward is choosing her dog. She goes for Princess the Pomeranian, and the rest of the groomers are randomly assigned a client.

Malissa seems confused by how to use ear powder correctly on her Yorkie Poo, while Artist wrestles with a rambunctious Oliver, a Bichon who is not at all psyched about his ear cleaning. Neither is Dr. Karen, who is walking the floor and making comments. She also tells Jon that he looks stressed out and questions whether or not he got soap in his Great Pyrenees’ eyes. Meanwhile, Will seems to be in love with his Poodle mix, Rosie, spending a good deal of time building rapport.

At the judging ceremony, most of the owners seem very happy with the results. Rosie’s owner is thrilled with the relationship Will has built with her puppy. Malissa is criticized for leaving powder in her dog’s ears. “I instinctively knew it was a mistake,” she admits – would that be that magical seventh sense we’re always hearing about? Dr. Karen is on Jon’s case again about his dog’s red eyes, and though Xavier disagrees with her, he does complain about the comb-out.

After the judges deliberate, the groomers are called back in, and it’s Will and Jonathan who have landed at the top. Xavier calls Jonathan’s combing of his Goldendoodle flawless, but praises Will for building a trusting relationship with Rosie and taking the advice given to him last week. It’s enough to earn Will the spot of Top Dog.

On the bottom are Malissa and Jon. The judges scold Malissa for her poor interaction with her client, along with her excessive use of ear powder and lack of common sense, but ultimately ask Jon to leave.

A very upset Jon claims in his exit interview that it was ridiculous to be asked to get a dog that size that’s never been groomed before done in 90 minutes, strongly maintaining that he did not get soap in the dog’s eyes. Then he just – well – completely breaks down. Who could blame him? This was certainly one of the most emotional decisions we’ve seen to date. Who would you have sent home? And who is your front-runner right now?

Open Thread: Ruff Customers

My official recap will be posted tomorrow (don't want to ruin it for any west coast or DVR viewers!), but in the meantime, let's discuss tonight's episode!  What did you think of the surprise celeb guest Danny Bonaduce? What about those high maintenance clients?

And let's talk about the Puppy Grooming Challenge - do you agree with the judges comments? Were you surprised to see the judges bickering? Who do you think should have won and who should have gone home?

Share your thoughts in the comments!

Another One Bites the Dust

I’ll admit it: I was saddened to see Sarah go so early on in the competition, and no, not just because of name nepotism (well okay that’s part of it – we Sarahs with an “H” need to stick together!).  I was an early fan, especially when she broke out the Mohawk during the yarn dog challenge. I was also surprised that the judges decided to cut her loose over Will, and when I recently spoke with her, she still sounded a little shell shocked as well. Check out our chat below!

You’ve been involved in the grooming business for around seven years. What first drew you to this business?

I always knew that I wanted to work with animals, ever since I could walk. I was always around them growing up – I even had ant farms and would hide wild animals in our backyard! When I got out of high school, I got an opportunity to go to grooming school for free through Petco and I really loved it – I also have an artistic side so it was a good combination. I’ve only done a few competitions so far, but in the first one, I earned second place in mixed breeds, first place in Poodles, and Best All Around Groomer!

Tell us about your own three dogs.

Matrix is a Husky who is nine, Triton is a Rottweiler who is eight, and Jane is a Shih Tzu who is six. I adopted her two years ago.

What is the dog community like in New Hampshire?

We get a lot of Shih Tzus! I think New Hampshire is a little different from working in a place like New York City – like when a standard poodle comes in, we get really excited. We see more Labs and Golden Retrievers – I kind of live in Hicksville, but I love it.

Do you have a favorite type of dog to groom, or an area of expertise?

I wouldn’t say I have a “best” anything, but I’m a confident groomer with all of my customers. I do love grooming poodles and the terrier breed is fun to groom. I like learning new things – I’m always breaking out my book and trying new techniques ands styles.

What do you think are the most important qualities to have as a groomer?

Love for animals, patience, creativity – I think patience is number one. Everyone comes in and says, “Oh, you’re job is so fun!” – and it is! – but the dogs aren’t always happy to see you all the time. Some get nervous at first, like going to the vet – it’s not like when we get our hair done and we’re so excited!

In the first grooming competition, you gave your yarn dog a Mohawk – what inspired this look?

One of my favorite dogs that comes in (to my shop) has a Mohawk. Also, I don’t think America is into pink foo foo dogs – they’re more into “tough” dogs, so I thought I’d try the Mohawk approach with the Fu Manchu knot on the chin. If I’d taken the Mohawk all the way down the back (as Xavier suggested), I think it would have looked like an iguana!

So speaking of the judges, tell us a little bit about your experience with them.

I still think about this … sometimes with Xavier, I didn’t even know what he was thinking. I was surprised by their feedback, like with the yarn dog challenge. We were told to give the dogs a pet look, not a show dog look – something manageable for the owners in every day life, but with a creative flair. Jonathan (who ultimately won the challenge) did a beautiful job, but it wasn’t practical – you couldn’t have a dog walking around with poofy legs like that, they’d get all matted.

Let’s talk about the second Quick Sniff challenge: grooming sheep – what was your first thought, and what was the hardest part?

I go to fairs (in New Hampshire) all the time, so I’ve watched sheep grooming competitions, but they used scissors, not sheers. Really, the only thing that freaked me out were those clippers. We would never use that blade on a dog! It was hard enough to use on the sheep! It was like a meat grinder! (Bill) kept telling me, “Slow down, this isn’t a race!” but I was thinking, “Yes, actually, it is!”

What did you think about the Bearded Collie challenge? Had you ever worked with that breed before?

I’d work with the breed before, and in the end I was like, “My dog looks the best!” I mean, he had a stained face, but those stains were NOT coming out – the handler and the guest judge said it, so I was getting criticized for something I couldn’t fix.

Were you surprised that you were the one to go over Will?

Yes. Will wasn’t harming the dog physically or anything, but he was called out for not handling it properly, yet I get voted off for a stained face? I guess I’m kind of happy it’s the way it happened, though – I wasn’t kicked off for something I did a horrible job on. I did the best I could with that dog.

Did you learn anything from the other groomers that you’ll take with you in your career moving forward? Or did you see anything that was particularly shocking that you’d just as soon forget?

Well, I would never sniff a dog’s butt! And I would never do a yarn dog again – that thing was brutal! But in terms of the overall experience – I mean, besides me not making it very far – I learned tons of new little tricks from the groomers, like a douche can be used as a deskunker!

What’s next for you?

I’d like to start competing more, and I’m definitely going to take more seminars. I just went to New York and talked to Jonathan about his career. I may follow him around the show circuit a bit. I have so many ideas! Sometimes I think maybe I should look at moving where there’s a higher cost of living and larger clientele, but I can’t imagine leaving my clients. These people are seriously like my family.

I love what I do and I'm glad that I had this experience - but I have A LOT MORE to say to the judges!

(Raise your hand if you’d like to see a reunion special at the end of the season – Me! Me! Me! In the meantime, if you'd like to read more about Sarah or any of the other groomers, visit the official Groomer Has It website and click on any of the groomer's rotating images on the home page!)

Q&A with American Humane Association

There have been a lot of questions and concerns as to what kind of procedures are put in place to ensure safety on and off the camera while filming a television show that predominately features animals. I thought it would be best to go straight to the experts -- check out my Q&A with Kelly Capponcelli, an American Humane Certified Animal Safety Representative who worked on Groomer Has It every step of the way!

Sarah Grace McCandless: Tell us a little bit about your responsibilities at the American Humane Association. What's the purpose of having a representative on site for the filming of a movie or television show? What type of things do you keep an eye out for?

Kelly Capponcelli: My responsibilities are always first and foremost to protect the animals and make sure they are treated humanely with the respect and compassion they deserve.  A television or film set is a busy place and American Humane is there to ensure that production pressures never compromise the safety and care of the animals. When on set we look for everything – food, water, shelter, footing, animal action, weather, proper rest periods, special effects, animal stress, animal health and more.  Any product or costume to be used on the animals must be cleared with us first. American Humane has 82 pages of Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media which are the gold standard for animal care in the entertainment industry. These guidelines were followed on the set of Groomer Has It.

SGM: Were you at all of the Groomer Has It challenges, and what were your responsibilities specifically with this show?

KC: I was assigned as the primary American Humane Safety Rep on Groomer Has It and I was present for all of the challenges on the show. I was in the same room with the animals at all times making sure they were properly handled and implementing all pertinent safety rules. Before each challenge would take place, I would check the health and stress of all the animals to make sure their safety and welfare were ensured and discuss their condition with the veterinarian on set.

SGM: I understand that during the Bearded Collie challenge, the owners specifically asked that no clippers or sheers were used on their dogs for mats, which is why they were brushed and combed instead. Can you tell us how dogs are generally de-matted with just a brushing and combing technique? 

KC: The Bearded Collies would not have been allowed to participate if their de-matting would cause stress or harm to the animal in any way. The Groomers conditioned the matted areas and gently hand-worked the majority of the mats and then brushed them out with various approved techniques.

SGM: There have been some concerns from viewers that Will's dog was somehow harmed - can you help clarify exactly what happened?

KC: According to the judge, Will was using the wrong tool to de-matt a sensitive area. Though Will was not trying to hurt the dog, as a precautionary measure, I stopped Will from trying to de-matt the dog. The judges were notified that it was me who stopped him from completing the job. American Humane’s role on set is a preventative one – meaning that when we witness a potential troublesome situation, we will act to stop the action and in some instances remove the animal from set. Because the personality of this dog was a particularly boisterous one, there was the perception that he was in stress and the decision was made to end this specific challenge.  What people who watch the show need to remember is that grooming is a necessary practice for all pets and most animals don’t tend to like it. No mistreatment took place and all safety precautions were taken by all of cast and crew, and animal owners.

SGM: Can you tell us what measures are taken to ensure the comfort and safety of the animals during the challenges?

KC: All the animals had proper shelter, food, water and rest breaks. The animals were NEVER left unattended either behind the scenes or on set. They were never left on the table or in the tubs by themselves; the dryers were never blown directly in the eyes or ears of the animals; and they had to be in proper physical and mental health. All areas where animals were present were cleared of debris and any potentially harmful objects. All dyes, cleaning products and polishes were cleared with American Humane and were non toxic and animal safe. No prong collars or choke chains were permitted. The doors to the stage were closed at all times. Cast and crew had to remain quiet and calm when working with the animals. All the animals had to be non-aggressive towards the other animals.  The environment during the entire production was appropriate, safe and professional. Production collaborated completely with all animal welfare issues and abided by all pertinent American Humane guidelines.

Click here for more information on the American Humane Association and their Film and TV unit.