COFFS Harbour dog groomer Sarah Bogefors is considering competing abroad in her homeland of Sweden after a rapid rise in domestic competitions in the past year.

Sarah, a naturalised Australian, owns the Shampooch Grooming Service which has been running for the past two years locally.

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Recently Sarah has been testing her well-developed skills in dog grooming competitions around the country, in which groomers are judged on their technique, coat preparation and final result.

In May in Cairns, she took out three second places at the ‘Pup Cup’.

Then in Brisbane in July she received two first places and a third in the Pet Show Dog Grooming Competition.

“It’s a fun and interesting industry because I love being creative, meeting great people and learning so much,” Sarah told NOTA.

”There is always something new to know.”

The next competition takes her to Brisbane for the ‘Groomathon’ in November – where she’s entered into the Poodle class, Gundog class, two Model Dog classes and the Fake Dog class.

Other classes include All Other Purebreds, Terrier and Coarse Coat, Salon Freestyle and Asian Fusion.

To prepare, Sarah has sought out private coaching from the captain of The Groom Team Australia, working on everything from prep work to drying, grooming and applying the finishing touches.

Sarah enjoys grooming Poodles, as there’s so many classes the breed can partake in.

“Their hair can be sculpted because of their curls.

“I also love the Gundog class, because I love to handstrip and card their hair.”

“There are a lot of choices,” Sarah said.

“I can do the teddy bear look for most Oodles and Doodles at the moment.

“Plus, I can turn a dog to look like a different breed by changing its cut, for example a Maltese into a Schnauzer, or a Poodle into a Bedlington Terrier.”

For the sake of the dogs working alongside groomers, strict competition rules must be followed.

For example, grooms can only last one hour before dogs are given a rest and a toilet break.

Sarah said getting dogs used to being groomed should start from when they are puppies.

“Some dogs can be anxious, so in my Salon, it has to be a good start.

“I take it slow and easy, talk a lot to them and give them rests in between,” Sarah said.

“I work a lot with puppies and I try to get them in as soon as possible after their vaccinations, to help them feel comfy and safe and get used to the noises.”

Sarah owns two Cavoodles, one of which, Margaret, took out first place in a recent Salon Freestyle event.

By Mary KEILY