Visiting the grooming areas at the dog show is like being in a giant beauty salon!  Shampooing, trimming, combing, spraying…..!   If only I could be so pampered!  🙂  The dogs are all being groomed to perfection before going into the show ring.  I have several images from last weekend’s show that have a “salon” theme and so I will post them over the next few days.  In this image you’ll see a pampered pooch relaxing under the warmth of a blow dryer.  It was fun to watch a few “makeovers” as the day progressed.  I saw one dog – a bearded collie – just as his grooming began and then again later.  What a difference!  His fur was so silky and smooth after being groomed!  It takes a lot of hard work and attention to detail to groom a dog properly and as a spectator I always appreciate and admire the work done by the breeder/owner/handler.

The gentleman in the background of this image was having a conversation…or should I say trying to have a conversation…with a couple people at the dog show.  All the while, the Gordon Setter was jumping up and begging for attention.  He had his paws wrapped over the man’s arms and he was being very lovable.  The conversation just wasn’t going to happen until the dog received hugs and kisses.  In this image, the man and woman who were chatting are both petting the dog and the Gordon is loving every minute of it.  It’s as if he’s saying, “It’s about time that you pay attention to ME!”   You just can’t ignore a big, soft, fluffy dog who is smothering you with kisses!

Isn’t this the sweetest photo?  This gentleman was grooming his Maltese and stopped for a second to give him a kiss on the nose.  It was one of those moments that I look for when photographing pets and people.  A second in time that shows the love and bond between the pet and human.  The trick is to be ready to shoot when the moment happens!  I’m working on a new webpage of images from the Back Mountain Kennel Club Dog Show this past weekend.  I have been to a bunch of shows this year, but haven’t had a chance to put together web pages for each one.  That will be my winter project.  In the meantime, I have lots of adorable images from Back Mountain, so stay tuned for more!

Both Peyton Mannings excel in their respective sports….the tall handsome one on the football field, and the short furry one in the dog show ring!  I met the furry version at Saturday’s dog show in Bloomsburg, Pa.  He was napping atop a grooming table and briefly opened his eyes when I said his name.  Then it was back to nap time…resting up before he went into the ring.  Peyton is a 6-month old Shih Tzu who seems most comfortable in the dog show world.   Oh and yes, he most definitely was named after the tall handsome Peyton Manning!