The Crufts Grooming Hall: A Glittering Spectacle That Misses The Point Yet Again!

Dog Holding Station at Crufts 2024. Photo Credit: Unknown.

So they plan to introduce an entire hall dedicated to a profession that currently exists for the entertainment of humans. 

They want to introduce a competition that focuses on achieving flawless trims within acceptable time frames, and they want to demonstrate to the world what the “UK’s top dog grooming stylists” look like with a “spectacle” unlike any other ever seen! 

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Crufts 2026: Hall 8! 

A dedicated space for dog groomers to take part in prestigious competitions that has sent ripples of excitement through a large chunk of the dog styling community. And to be entirely honest, it’s come as no real surprise to me. 

We all know that Crufts isn’t shy about straying from its core mission and values, but even still, I couldn’t help but feel increasing frustration at just how pathetically hypocritical the entire fiasco continues to be each year. 

With promises to raise industry standards and improve animal welfare policies, it seems to me that whilst a somewhat honourable idea does all the talking, it’s what makes the most money that prevails. 

But are we really still as clueless as they’d have the world believe we are?

Wake Up Call for Groomers

Groomers I’m talking to you here — do you really not know why this initiative is bad for our sector and, more specifically, your future?  Are you blissfully ignorant of the flaws of conventional grooming standards, or do you just choose to ignore the facts? 

Because this isn’t a time to be celebrating at all — not if you are serious about making a positive difference to the lives of the animals you’re entrusted to care for.

When we focus all of our attention on what looks good over what feels right, we fail to uphold our duty to protect and enhance the well-being of dogs. 

I can’t help but wonder why styling remains the benchmark to professional grooming stardom.

Why is it that to be considered worthy of a title, a groomer must be able to transform a dog to look a certain way? In what ways does this improve the quality of dogs’ lives?!

What needs to happen for the industry to slap itself in the face and finally accept that styling is not the be-all-and-end-all?!

The Uncomfortable Truth

Because I personally couldn’t give a monkey’s arse if my dog looked like a traditional Poodle — if it was a choice between my dog feeling comfortable or having the worst 60 minutes of her life just to look good, I’d pick comfortable each and every time. 

I mean, who wouldn’t? 

This new scheme isn’t just a mere oversight, by the way. We know the impact bad experiences have on an animal’s health. We know that high-stress environments can cause an array of health disorders, many chronic, that lead to more serious, life-threatening conditions long-term. 

Hang on to your knickers, I know you love to showcase your talents (I totally respect them, by the way!), but here’s the hard-hitting truth: grooming competitions are not going to improve welfare standards, nor are they going to prove to anyone worth convincing that you are the best at what you do!

Grooming competitions will only make standards worse. 

Grooming competitions will only depreciate your true value. 

Grooming competitions will only deprive you of your true potential. 

And ultimately, grooming competitions will only contribute to the prolonged suffering of dogs, not just from within the ring, but beyond.  

The Ripple Effect We’re Ignoring

Our influence is one of the utmost significance, and yet we abuse it every single day. 

When we use our opportunities to feed into our egos, rather than to educate on areas where it would make the biggest, positive impact (health, wellbeing, and welfare), we continue to let ourselves, the dogs, and our beloved industry down. 

As much as this initiative might attract a lot more attention and increase demand for attendance, we must consider how it will impact the general opinion of the professional grooming industry and the professionals working tirelessly to earn a living within it.

Because, NEWS FLASH, not all dogs are competition-ready. 

The majority of dogs never will be, yet with events such as this showcasing them nonetheless, there’s no stopping expectations from reaching new, unrealistic heights!

We are faced with a worldwide problem here.

As it is, very few groomers get paid what they need to survive as a result of being undervalued and pressurised by unrealistic expectations, and I suspect we will get paid much less when Crufts kickstarts this ridiculous plan to glamourise and promote the beauty and fashion side of professional grooming, over and above the true purpose of our roles: welfare and wellness.

Since the average pet dog is simply unequipped to endure conventional and outdated grooming processes, there’s undoubtedly going to be a worrying rise in burnout amongst groomers, who feel like failures based on a vanity-driven idea of what grooming should be. 

There’s no getting away from this. 

And so we must acknowledge the significance and influence events like Crufts have on not only our future groomers but also the general public and their perception of what constitutes good and bad grooming care practice.

The Path Crufts Should Be Taking 

Instead of celebrating “visual spectacles”, imagine if Crufts had announced the introduction of educational stands where more behaviour-trained groomers focused on guiding attendees on ways to: 

• Create a calming grooming environment using science-backed methods and techniques

• Reduce stress and increase confidence using behaviour modification protocol 

• Promote cooperation through the introduction of choice and agency in dogs 

• Devise bespoke care plans that contribute to a dog’s individual needs

• Build upon an interconnected network of trust pet care providers to ensure a dog receives consistent and synchronised care 

Just imagine the message that would send to our industry and the dog-loving community as a whole! Imagine the groomers it would inspire to step into more ethical and science-backed methods of grooming! Imagine the hundreds of dogs it would directly benefit as a result of a more dog-centred shift to grooming processes! 

But no, we’ve got ourselves another bloody circus that prioritises the desires of humans over and above the needs of dogs! 

The truth is that dogs deserve better than to be treated as props in Crufts’ latest money-making scheme.

They deserve groomers who see them as emotional individuals with their own needs, fears, and preferences.

They deserve an industry that puts their well-being first, always, and I just don't think that this new ploy is the way to do that.

To say I’m disgusted with this news would be a monumental understatement.