significant new trend is emerging in the contest ring for grooming competitions: greater access to and focus on rare dog breeds. In a world that seems to be consumed by everything “doodled,” it is encouraging to see professional groomers taking the time to learn the specific maintenance requirements of these distinctive dogs. This effort is crucial, as many of these rare breeds are currently on the endangered list.

This trend is most visible in the Hand Stripping class, where we are increasingly seeing breeds like the Australian Terrier, the Sealyham Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. What do these distinctive show dogs have in common? They are all terriers, and they are all hand stripped.

Hand stripping is a specialized, meticulous process involving the pulling of both the harsh topcoat and the softer undercoat. This technique achieves a bright, vibrant color in the coat while also offering practical benefits. The coat becomes weather resistant, allowing the dog to go out, get dirty, dry off quickly and simply be brushed clean. Furthermore, incorporating stripping or carding on non-show dogs can help pull out dead coat and prevent issues like the “Schnauzer bumps” caused by their sebaceous glands becoming clogged and forming a pimple.

Groomers who are seeking out and mastering this specialized skill are not only helping to preserve breed standards, but are also tapping into a lucrative market opportunity. You can add this to your shop as a premium service because not everyone offers it. Being able to advertise that you are the only one in your area capable of performing this specialized grooming can be a significant professional advantage and a source of additional income.

The contest ring can be a true source of inspiration. I started in poodles, but while competing, I kept seeing a gorgeous terrier in the Hand Scissoring class and knew I needed to learn about the Kerry Blue Terrier, which is now a heart breed of mine. If it wasn’t for the contest ring, I wouldn’t have found that deep passion.

The personal drive to revive these rare breeds is also strong with competitor Christina Meuse, who shares her motivation: “I loved the idea of a Sealyham since I learned what they were early in my career. I had my heart set on a breed that no one ever sees. I hope more people are inspired to look up a breed they haven’t seen before.”

The sheer spectacle of these dogs is enough to inspire a career pivot, as groomer Holly Baker notes: “It took me 19 years into my career to attend a grooming show. It was a wowing experiencing to see all the different breeds on stage, but seeing more rare breeds left me in awe.

“It was inspiring to see other pet groomers who had access to these breeds and knew how to groom them,” adds Holly. “It felt like they were grooming unicorns, and instead of feeling I would never groom one, I was inspired to chase the knowledge.

“I made friends with other competitors who started to introduce me to others who had unique breeds that would allow me groom their pets,” she continues. “That’s how I was introduced to the Dandie Dinmonts. Another groomer provided me instruction, and then I fell completely in love with the dog and breed.”

So, how does one go about learning about these rare breeds? Attending one of the AKC Meet the Breeds events will get you a lot of face time with breeds. But one of the greatest ways to get to know a breed is to rent one for the contest ring. Competitors who push the limits and go out of their comfort zone for a rare breed create a fantastic atmosphere of promotion and learning.

Competitor Stephanie Wilson highlights the reality of this choice: “I started competing with Australian Terriers after retiring my Wire Fox Terrier. Having a rare breed in the ring can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you have a standout entry in a sea of similar breeds. On the other hand, you have a much more difficult time finding rental dogs if you need one.”

The commitment needed to raise and groom these dogs is substantial. Robby Hartley, who shows and bred Australian Terriers, embodies the goal of this movement. His ability to bridge the gap between the show world and the grooming contest world is exactly what is needed in breeders and exhibitors to help bring quality dogs into the contest ring.

Robby provides insight into the supply side: “One of the best parts about supplying people with my breed is that they get seen more often. They’re pretty easy to learn, but the hardest part is the growing process and knowing how much to leave on them because each one grows at a different speed, and they naturally grow slower than a lot of the other wire-coated breeds.”

The popularity of the doodle breeds created a situation where it seemed like everyone had one. Now, clients are starting to shift away from the doodle and seeking out these rare breeds to get something different from everyone else—which is precisely how the doodle phenomenon initially began.

It’s encouraging to see that clients themselves are actually going out, getting some of these rare breeds and educating themselves on how to maintain the coats. They are constantly looking for groomers who are skilled and able to work on these specialized coats.

For groomers who confess to losing their passion—often due to the repetitive nature of the job—the question, “What can I do to get my passion back?” is frequently asked. One key answer is to learn rare breeds or to master a specialized type of coat maintenance like hand stripping.

To learn hand stripping, you can attend seminars either at an expo or ones hosted by a dedicated breeder or handler. You can also take one-on-one classes from educators, open-level competitors or people who actively show the breed to gain specific, hands-on knowledge. Alternatively, you can go to a dog show and ask the exhibitors if they could teach you more about grooming their breed.

A powerful aspect of owning one of these rare breeds is that if you are already maintaining them for grooming competitions, why not also show them? This is another way to grow as a groomer, and it directly increases the numbers of these breeds in the show world.

Our commitment as groomers is changing the way breeds are being viewed. It behooves us all to work together, get our clients on board and to teach them about how to maintain these dogs. That is how we rebuild these rare breeds and aids in ensuring they do not go extinct.