Editor's Note: Congratulations to Jonathan for making it to the final two of the first season of Groomer Has It. Please only leave positive comments for Jonathan on this post. If you'd like to continue to discuss the outcome of the first season of Groomer Has It, please continue to use the Open Thread or Finale Recap post. Thank you.
Groomer Has It finalist Jonathan David may be the first season runner-up, but when it comes to his extensive and impressive career, he’s definitely a top dog (pun intended). Having been mentored by grooming guru John Nash along with numerous competition wins under his belt, Jonathan has made quite the name for himself in his home base of New York City, especially with a client list that reads like an issue of US Weekly. Find out more about his experience, his favorite and most challenging moments throughout the season, and what’s next for this sassy entrepreneur!
You’ve been grooming for over 15 years – what was it that first attracted you to the industry and to working with animals in general?
Well, I grew up in a very animal-friendly family, especially my father. Being from suburban New Jersey, we were always finding baby birds and injured animals that he would help us rescue, raise and release. I always knew I wanted to work with animals in some capacity and I eventually gravitated towards dogs. When I was in high school, I met a groomer that taught me how to do my own Maltese. I was just a natural at it and I loved doing it, so here I am.
You’re a graduate of the Nash Academy – what skills in particular did you acquire during your training that you found to be particularly useful throughout the competition?
The Nash Academy is, in my opinion, just about the best school you can go to (for grooming). John and Vivian Nash, the founders, are both industry leaders and they’ve been mentors for me. Because they’re both grooming judges and they are leaders in keeping true to the breed standards, I think I’ve had the chance to be influenced by the best.
How did you first get involved in the New York grooming scene, and how did you carve out a niche with high-profile and celebrity clients?
I moved to New York in my early 20’s to get away from small town USA and start to explore life. John Nash helped me get a job at a top salon in New York. I was kind of nervous at first; I had never seen such high-end products for dogs and the salon was state of the art. We had celebrities and high-profile clients come in on a daily basis, and I just remember thinking how great it was that a grooming salon could be so posh and unusual from the small town shops I had been used to. I quickly built up a clientele and eventually, after 7 years of being the salon manager, I went out on my own and started my house-call mobile business. About 30 clients stuck with me and helped me build what I have today.
I’ve read that Poodles are your area of expertise – what’s something that’s lesser known about this breed and are there any others you enjoy working with or tend to work with more?
I think people tend to think of Poodles as a foo-foo dog and not so much of a “manly” dog but this breed is so versatile. They actually started as water retrievers and they’re extremely intelligent. If you give them a less stylized cut, they can be a great “man’s” dog too. But as much as I like them, I’m really into Terriers too. I love their feisty personality, not unlike myself.
What grooming essentials would you pass on to a new pet owner?
For breeds that need regular grooming, I always tell owners not to start them out too late and don’t wait too long in between groomings. If you have a breed that will need regular grooming, forming a bond between your pet and the groomer is essential for the health and well-being of both the pet and the groomer. Your pet will have a lifelong experience of visits with a groomer and you want it to be a pleasant experience.
In addition to your grooming experience, you’ve also spent considerable time in the show ring and won many awards. Do you prefer wearing one hat vs. the other?
Well I haven’t been in the conformation ring for a while; that was an old hobby of mine. Currently, I do enter grooming competitions all over the country. I love the grooming competition circuit and grooming competitions have really helped me to improve and perfect my skills. Plus, it’s fun when you know a lot of the people you compete against and you form camaraderie. We share knowledge and tips and it’s a great community.
What was your favorite challenge throughout the season?
Hmm, that’s a hard one – probably the mobile grooming challenge. Jorge was so much fun to ride with. We were lost for a while but eventually we got it and we had a blast. Everyone thought the two New Yorkers would get totally lost, but we pulled it off.
Which one was the most difficult, and why?
The most difficult challenge was the creative (magazine cover challenge). I’ve seen creative grooming done before, but those people prepare for months for an event like that – we had one day. Not only did we have to groom, but we had to style the photo, and then get the dog to perform the way we wanted. I was like a monkey jumping all over the place, on the floor, on the wall, making crazy noises but it worked. I was in the top two for that one.
Is there anything you would have done differently in any of the challenges?
I guess the biggest mistake was the Portuguese Waterdog challenge. I was given a cheat sheet, which I looked at but I didn’t read it word for word, and that bit me in the butt. I was afraid I would be over-judged for having a cheat sheet and be criticized by the judges for having a great looking dog, but a step-by-step guide in doing so. I was damned if I did and damned if I didn’t.
Speaking of difficult, there were a lot of clashing personalities throughout the season, and for you this seemed to be particularly true with Malissa. Were things as tense behind the scenes as they appeared to be in front of the camera?
Malissa and I actually got along most of the time. She laughed at her “blonde” moments just as much as anyone else, but as the competition got more intense, I guess she took it more personally. As far as our “big fight,” I felt strongly about keeping to a theme and working as a team, and she had a different opinion than Kathleen and I. We’re all strong minded people and we were under a lot of pressure but in retrospect, I have no hard feelings – hopefully she doesn’t either.
There also appeared to be no love lost between you and Will – how did you feel when you found out that he’d be the one to help you prepare for the dog show in the final Grooming Challenge?
Let me start by saying that Will is a very talented groomer and he has been awarded for winning competitions. I respect him as a professional, but we are very different people and we did clash now and then. At first I was less than thrilled that he was there to help me, just because I knew our personalities didn’t mesh well, but in the end I was glad. He worked his butt off for me and I was really grateful.
You seemed pretty disappointed by the final outcome – do you think you deserved the title more than Artist or any of the other groomers for that matter, and if so, why?
Of course I was disappointed, I wanted to win. Personally, I like Artist, and he grew by leaps and bounds through the competition. He did show potential, but I think he has much more to learn and he’s on his way to being a great groomer. I think we all had our strengths in different ways.
Is there anyone you think you’ll stay in touch with from the show?
I have spoken to Amber and Kathleen. They’re both great groomers and I like them both. I will definitely stay in touch with Jorge. We talk almost every day. He is so much fun and we really clicked. He’s the only one that could really take a joke and give it right back without missing a beat! He and I are teaming up to do some charity events this summer which should be great.
You’ve worked in a number of shops in Manhattan but now do house calls – any aspirations to open up your own boutique at some point?
Well, right now I’m working on my product line. I have a shampoo and conditioner and I’m working on a few additional products. I like where my life is right now so I’m just going with the flow and seeing where it takes me.
What’s next for you in your life and your career?
My main focus grooming-wise is to continue competing. I’m doing well this year and I’m going to almost every competition at every convention. I’m going to dabble in more pet-related television, my product line just launched and I’m working on a book about New York City dogs and their owners.
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