I am working on setting up a live Webcam feed to my shop. You will get to watch me groom your fuzzy friends first hand. See how we safely handle each personality to create beautiful grooms.

We have nothing to hide. Come and see some excitement on how many times we dont get bitten. LOL.. We do sometimes have to dodge the sharp end of the dog. So please note, we handle with tough love and respect. Dogs respond and love routine.

Some dogs have a strong personality and their trust is earned. If you have any questions on my handling techniques I am happy to answer your questions.

I have the program down loading its now just a matter of getting wireless internet to behave.

I will announce soon when we will be on line our very first time!!

Here is the link to the page, sign up and get ready!!

LIVE WEBCAM

I am excited to announce Jecht and I will be at the Go West! Supernatural Groom Fest, competing in the Creative Style Category.

The dates are November 7&8th.

The creative comp is on the 8th at 2pm. Come watch and cheer Jecht and I on!

http://www.animalhavengrooming.com/go-west.html

Wow, we have a blast down in New York, Runa and I. I was a little bit worried about her at first, not knowing how she would be on the airplane. Would she stress out, cry, make a fit being in the carrier the entire flight, upsetting other passengers. But no, she was perfect! She never made a sound and slept almost all the way.

When we managed to land at the New wark airport they had a designated doggy pee area that Runa ran around in, stretching and watering the grass.

The stressed out part was when we landed, picked up my checked bag and couldnt find the driver they sent for us. All over the caresol we were at there were drivers with the customers names so logic states that, he or she is your ride. Well, I stood over 30 mins and walked around not finding anyone. I was thinking maybe I miss understood them, that they have just a cab waiting for my ride to the hotel. After asking a few people I realized they couldnt help me. Then I remember I was smart enough to print out the email with the car pickup info. Scrambling through my bag and looking at runa crossing her legs (She needed to pee) I pulled out the paper work. Scanning over it for the info I realized something horrible, my stomach dropped. My computer printer had a hick up and printed it out in gibberish. All funky symbols. I am lost now.

I realized I better call  they guy who arranged all this for help. I pulled out my cell phone, but was unable to make a call. I had put a roaming block on it so rogers wouldn't charge me $1.49 a min to be in the USA. DAM IT! I thought to myself.

Looking around I saw they still have pay phones. YAY!

I managed to find the phone number I needed. Looking over the phone, it stated it costs .50 - 1.00 for phone calls. I managed to put .50 cents in the phone and dialed. There was a voice that to make this call you need to put in a $1.00.. So I put in .50 more. Then it said, " You can not dial this number as it is, you must put in teh area code. Then it swallowed my $1.00..  WHAT!? It took my money and didnt  let me redial. I know I was low on change and getting desperate. I dialed again and put in another $1.00. Again the voice said bla bla bla. and then took my money. WTF? I had no more change. Then next phone over took a credit card, ah Yes! I have enough on it to make a life saving phone call! I put in the card and try to dial. The number "1" button was stuck. and the computer voice just kept talking over and over.. Meh, it was broken. SO I shifted over to the next phone. It too took a credit card. so I tried my best to follow the instructions. Dial the number. put in the card .. nothing.. it kept telling me to put in a $1.00.. I was starting to panic a little. I tried every kind of combination to make this phone work. No luck.

So my only recourse it to get some change to make a call. I asked one person where can I get change, then sent me in one direction, to a dead end. I asked a friendly person and they suggested to go upstairs to get a vender to make change. So I gathered up all my luggage and took the escalator up stairs. I asked the book place, could you break a few bills so I can make a phone call? They said, you have to buy something. I asked have any gum. They said no, go next door. So I picked up all my stuff and wheeled it all to the next vender. They had gum. I asked could you please give me some quarters, I need to make a phone call. She said, I will give you only a $1.00.. I was like Thank you, but CRAP. I have one chance. I cant keep going from vender to vender gathering $1.00 here and there. I dont need that much gum!

SO I gathered all my stuff again and made it down the escalator. (Now I have runa in a bag still, with my big checked bag and other carry on.) I get back to the pay phone. I noticed one driver lady still standing by me with a name that was not mine. I am thinking I guess they must be late or something.

I get to the phone and I let out a small prayer and breathe. I plug in the phone number and money. IT WORKS!!

They guy who set this up with a driver said the driver called saying you didnt show. I said I have been here this entire time but see no one. So they called that driver back explaining I am still here.

So after the comforting phone call  I stood around for another 10-15 mins. when the lady driver that was across from me the entire time walks up to me and asks me are you Nina.. I said yes! Oh, I am your driver, I have been here all this time. I asked Why didnt you have my name? She didnt answer me or she said something in a really thick accent I didnt hear her. I was just happy to leave the airport.

I was having visions of being abandoned, drying up from the lack of food and water, and decomposing into the shadows. Forever lost.

HA HA HA.. that was only the start of it all!!

Here is the skinny of what happened this week. When I get a moment this evening I will post a full blog of Runa and My adventure in New York.

Angela, Lori and I got the opportunity to be on the Today Show, Here is the link

Today SHow

And here on Pix

Pix

Sneek Peek on TLC Extreme Poodles

Extreme Poodles

Here we are on TV Guide

TvGuide

More to come

WOW! What a great experience this adventure so far has brought to me. Jen, Jecht and I flew to California and hopped into our rental car to brave the crazy freeways down in LA. THANK GOD FOR GPS! Yes, I had to shout that out! What an adrenaline rush navigating the roads down there. Makes me appreciate the low key two lane highway we have here at home,lol.

This great once in a life time opportunity gave me the chance to meet my grooming idols. I got to briefly  meet Dawn Omboy who is known as the queen of colour, Lori Crag who has the magnificent falcor, Angela Kompe and many others. WOW! I got to meet the ladies I have admired for a very long time. What a great honor to get that chance. If you ever get to see them at their best you will all be blown away. Their attention to detail and darn creativeness just blew me away and to aspire to get out there even better at my craft. On top of that to be one of the ladies at the center of the dog grooming pilot by Nancey Glass Productions.

The crew was super nice even under crazy hours and stressful situations. We arrived in California Friday Night arriving at our hotel around midnight. We tried to sleep but the butterflies in our tummies wouldn't rest. So somewhat bagged we got ready for the Saturday to arrive at the Hound Lounge at 930am for some filming. There I had to do some on site colouring with my poodle in the tub. I applied his pink for the shirt and the purple for his skirt. ( I had to re-do the roller derby dog, I did have other plans but meh, it was fun) Then had to wash, dry and fluff him out among many other creative groomers also doing the same thing. Boy, was is crazy! Water splashing every where, Soap all over the floor, I was soaked from head to toe with the bathing system they had there. Glad to have my tub set up the way it is now.. lol.. 

I got to briefly meet the other girls as the craziness was around us. I mean crazy , I mean the crew of cameras surrounding us. Then about 5.15pm it was over. Ya long day. I was burnt out. Jen and I tried to rush to the trade show to do some shopping but by the time we arrived we had 10 minuets to do the hole show.. Well I got a comb and a smock. Victory for me. ha .. but we figured we should have some time before the big show tomorrow.

Well Sunday came fast and early, The camera crew was there at 7:30am. yes AM. and we had to look all awake. This day I was really craving Timmies Coffee.. hotel coffee really sucks.

Then we did our morning interviews and rushed off to the trade show at the Pasadena convention center. We had 1 and 1/2 hours to shop. Well I was so dazed that everything looked like a blurr.. Jen kept focus by making sure we got our number one purchase over that was our smocks. We really needed new grooming outfit. And they had such a great bargen there. SO done. Then I saw the most cutest bows ever! I said to myself well.. I will get those after the creative comp. And a force dryer too! yes.. I will cram it in my suit case! So I thought.

Then it was time to register for the show. Jecht was getting a bit grumpy but I did my best to keep him at his best. Then up to the stage to my numbered table. I started to shake. Just like most of my fuzzy friends that come to my shop.. Yup, I shook. lol.. Then the judge announced it was time to start. The cameras where doing 360s around me, kicking my stuff all over the floor, my hand where shaking, I had all my stuff lined up but now everything is a mess. I tried a few things I didnt know if they would work, and then they didnt.. I was kicking my self because I wasn't prepared.. But kept thinking well its just for the show anyways.. But I still shook like crazy.. man, what stress!

Then It was done after 2 1/2 hours. Scissors down!

Then the fun part.. The 2 min presentation. Well, I am a dog groomer for a reason. Because I am a dog person, not a real people person. Its my avenue to talk to people. Its easy when you have a common interest or love, then its fine. But talking in front of 3000 people. Well it was out of my comfort zone for sure. And to top it off, I ended my presentation with a song.. HA HA HA HA HA HA! I must of been mad?! Well during my performance I lost my voice because I was giving my all. All fun..

Boy.. What an adventure! After the judging was over and it was time to close I packed up all my stuff and moved it all to the next area for the final interview. Well, I was scrambling through all my bags and stuff and couldn't find my car keys. I thought someone might of taken them. It was the straw that broke the camels back. Nancey Glass came over to me to see how I was doing and I lost it. I broke down crying saying "SOMEONE STOLE MY KEYS! WAAAAAA!!"" HA HA HA It was fricken funny! Well not at the time but HA HA HA HA! I was under so much stress and didn't realize it.. then after some more scrambling Jen found the keys and all was good, But I was still emotional.. then I had to do my final interview. DAM IT! With blood shot eyes! HA HA HA HA! well it will make for good tv right? Or make me look like a moron.. HA HA HA!

Then Monday Came and it was time to go home. But before we returned the rental car and hit the airport we had one hour to visit Hollywood blvd. We did the strip in 1 hour. Jecht got a picture taken with some stars, I was hit on by a guy dress up as the bumble bee transformer and Jen got to visit her favorite lingerie store..

Ah, we miss California but its nice to be sleeping in my own bed.!

Keep in touch and as soon as I know when the pilot will be aired on TLC I will be posting it!

Thank you everyone who supported me all this time! Good things are to come!

Time is ticking away for the big day! We will be leaving Friday Feb 12 to california and returning Monday Feb, 15th.

I Can not express the excitment I feel to be apart of this great opportunity. I feel a little nervious about putting my poodle Jecht into the airplane cargo, I so wish I could just have him sit by me on the way there. LOL

The pasadena dog grooming competition is one the biggest competition in all america. I am thrilled to visit the 170 venders all relating to pet care and dog grooming products. Jen and I are going to learn so much while down there not only in use of new products but how to make are grooms better for eveyone. Continuing education is a must for a dog groomer or then you get in a rut and cookie cut every dogs hair style to look just like every other dog. And in my eyes that can not be so, each personality that comes into my shop all get something different for their own unique personality. Ah, I love my job!

So to make a long story short my shop will be closed for grooming untill I get back.

Tuesday 16th we will be open for grooming.

Wish us luck!

If you were wondering what was up the last 2 days, well I will tell you.

I have been chosen with 3 other groomers to star in a dog grooming pilot about creative dog grooming.

Jen, Jecht and I will be given the chance to compete in Pasadena California on Feb 14th. This will be my very first big creative dog grooming competion and boy is Jecht and I EXCITED! This great event will be captured on film and air hopfully on TLC.

What a great fun experance! I will keep you all posted as the adventure continues!

Hi everyone!,

I am sooooo excited to announce that I have been chosen to be on the pilot of the new creative dog grooming show they are going to be filming in Feb.

I will be entering my poodle Jecht in the creative competition in Pasadena California and the film crew will be there the entire time showing off the experience. SOOO Excited..

Now the problem is WHAT do I make Jecht into? Any Suggestions? LOL?

Well wish me luck! I will keep you all updated on this fun great experience!

If your intrested in learning more of what its about check out this site!  

http://www.groomexpo.com/gke10/

And to see what its all about here is the link to the groomer to groomer magazine! I will be on the cover of that one day soon! LOL

http://groomertogroomer.com/

Hugs

Nina & Jecht

I am working hard to make some fun stuff on this site. I am excited to let you all know of the upcoming photo contest.

I want pictures of your dog in its CUTEST!

The winner will be posted on my website and get a grooming coupon of $55.00!

SO send me pictures!

email at   reignboots@gmail.com

I am also going to be setting up another page of "ASK A GROOMER"

Here I would like to set up a friendly site for pet owners to ask grooming questions. Anything from what kind of brush to use, how often should I bath my dogs and why does his face stink.

I will try my best to get the answers to you!

Lets have some fun!

If you have heard about the grooming show "the groomer has it" that plays on Animal Planet, Well they are planning to do a new show about creative grooming in feb. I am hoping to be one of the lucky contestants!

As soon as I know more I will let you all know!

Nina