How to Find Dogs for Certification Testing or Competition: Interview with Lindsey Dicken
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In this interview, Melissa Verplank sits down with Lindsey Dicken for discussion about finding dogs — appropriate dogs for certification testing or competitive pet. Lindsey shares her own personal story of how she started grooming and got bit by ‘the bug.’ Competitive by nature, it didn’t take her long to become totally immersed in the world of high-end pet styling. Her rise to the top has come quickly compared to most. She, like most professional pet stylists, was not blessed with beautiful dogs. Nope. She does every day dogs just like you — along with her fair share of #7 all shave downs! So how did Lindsey gain the skill to become an award-winning stylist? Where – and how – did she find dogs? Why did she feel it was important to go down this path? And how does all of her hard work help her as she grooms every day pet dogs? Join Lindsey as she shares with you some of her secrets — most of them are surprisingly easy to apply!
In this video you will learn:
- Why you don’t always need ‘Show Dogs’.
- What type of ‘homework’ you need to do to get to the top.
- The worst thing you have to lose.
- How to make owners feel involved.
- The #1 phase of finding dogs to groom in the contest ring.
Lindsey Dicken
Lindsey Dicken is a National Certified Master Groomer. She has been grooming for 8 years, and has been grooming competitively for 6 of those. Prior to becoming a pet stylist, Lindsey was active in preparing and exhibiting saddle and draft horses.
Since beginning her dog grooming career, Lindsey has competed all over the country, and won multiple Best All Around Groomer awards, Best Scissored Poodle awards, World Champion Poodle Groomer, and Intergroom’s American Groomer of the Year. She received the Lynn Carver Memorial Award for Best All Around Pet Stylist in 2008 and 2010, and was nominated for a Cardinal Crystal American Groomer of the Year award. Lindsey has won several Best In Shows, most notably back to back wins at Intergroom 2009 and 2010 with a Bichon Frise.
She has qualified for Groom Team USA’s Top Ten Stylists every year she was eligible, reaching # 6 position her very first year. She was the #1 ranked groomer in the nation for 2007, 2009, and 2011 and had the honor of traveling to Germany in 2009 to compete in the World Team Grooming Championship. She helped Groom Team bring home the gold for the USA, winning a gold medal with a Bichon Frise. In 2011, Groom Team USA traveled to Belgium, and Lindsey helped her team earn the silver medal, competing with a miniature poodle in English Saddle trim.
Lindsey is most known for her work on Bichons Frises and Poodles, however she has also excelled in competition with Kerry Blue Terriers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, Clumber Spaniels, English Cocker Spaniels, Gordon Setters, and mixed breeds.
In addition to competing in grooming contests, Lindsey also shows her Bichons Frises, miniature poodles, and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers in AKC conformation shows.
Contact Information
The Fetching Canine
1490 W. St RD 434 - Suite 100 Longwood, FL 32750
SALON Phone: 407-493-5099
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