I entered a clipper competition in Chilliwack, BC at the West Coast Groom Fest, attended seminars to stay current on the latest techniques and trends, and caught up with other groomers in the industry. Thank you to Olga Zabelinskaya who came from the US to judge and Barb Prueckel for her always insightful and energetic seminars. I look forward to next year!
At the end of September I was fortunate enough to attend Groomania in Kortrijk, Belgium. Groomania is Europe's largest educational and professional grooming event. It attracts top groomers from all over the world to collaborate and share their knowledge.
At the event I attended several seminars covering many different breeds, including Labradoodle and Bichon.
The Labradoodle seminar was presented by Barbara Prueckel from Calgary, Alberta. It was amazing to connect with Barb all the way on the other side of the Atlantic. I have known her for many years, and she is a great contributor to the grooming industry and an all around fantastic person.
Yumiko Nakamura from Japan presented Asian styling techniques for Bichons. Yumiko is an international award-winning groomer. She demonstrated different techniques that are popular in Japan. Some aspects of the style would be great here at home to give your dog a unique look.
I had the best time learning new ideas from top-notch international groomers. Bring me your furry friend and lets get creative!