Local dog groomer does country proud at World Dog Grooming Championship
By Kirra Livingstone
BEERWAH’S very own professional dog groomer, Shayla Knipe, placed
fifth alongside three of Australia’s best groomers, at the highly competitive EGA World Dog Grooming Championship.
The nation’s team had their inaugural and only win in 2012, with the
World Championship held biennially. The competition was held in Belgium on September 22, with Australia facing off against 24 other countries.
Shayla said she was proud to make the team again this year after missing out, but the team was not expecting to place against the fierce competition. “When they first announced the six finalists, we didn’t expect to get in,” she said.
“Grooming on the world stage is amazing and an experience on it’s own.
“When they told us we came fifth, we were all so excited, it was just absolutely incredible.
“It’s hard because I am still in shock, I still can’t believe I am one of the leaders of the industry from our country and I’ve now represented Australia.”
Australia was at a disadvantage, because team members had to hire dogs overseas due to quarantine regulations restricting them from bringing their own. Each team was made up of four of the highest scoring dog groomers from each country.
Shayla made the Australian team back in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she couldn’t attend.
Shayla specialises in terrier grooming, and fell into dog grooming when she was a vet nurse fresh out of high school.
“I used to do my preparations for surgeries and I would have to shave the dogs and I was so awkward using the clippers,” she said.
“I really wasn’t good at it so I went to a local grooming salon and asked them to teach me how to do it properly.
“From there, I got into grooming and I guess realising that it was like an art.”
The international award winner started dog grooming competitively when she decided she wanted to represent her country on the world stage one day.
“I started dog grooming for fun in 2008, but then started competing in 2012 because I loved the creative side of it,” she said.
“I also love the psychological side of it, that we are connected to the animals we groom and for each breed they have a different personality we need to cater to.”
Shayla is passionate about regulating the dog grooming industry in Australia, with many groomers who have not been trained properly, now teaching other aspiring groomers.
Shayla owns two dog grooming businesses, first opening in Marcoola in 2019, and also runs an academy out of her Mooloolaba branch.
