Local dog groomer, Misty Nuss, of Dog Gone Classy recently traveled on a 14-hour flight to Incheon, South Korea to compete in the Model Dog Grooming World Championships.
Nuss, along with four other ladies from across America, represented team USA and won the World Championship Best In Show in the creative model dog class with designs that include color and imagination.
Nuss was also awarded with Best-In-Class for the poodle model dog group at the competition.
“I would have never expected to be where I am today representing the USA on an international traveling grooming team,” says Nuss. “Traveling to South Korea was such a wonderful experience and I want to thank all of the people who have donated and sponsored me. Thank you for helping to make this amazing opportunity possible!”
Model dogs are plastic dogs covered with a wig made of synthetic fiber. The objective for using these dogs is to allow all groomers to begin with the exact same model to truly test skill and expertise in grooming.
Competitors are assigned a specific class and then compete against other countries within a specific style.
Nuss qualified for the World Championships after winning Best-In-Show Individual Model Dog Stylist at the first stop of Model Dog World Championships held in Pittsburgh last November.
Nuss will travel to Taiwan in October for the next stop on the Model Dog World Championship circuit. Nuss and team USA will attempt to defend and hold their title while also going after more prestigious awards in Taiwan.
“Trudy Vanarsdale, owner of Dog Gone Classy, took the chance on teaching me and I will always be grateful to her for the time she has put in to teach me and push me to become who I am today,” says Nuss. “I really want to give her credit because she has spent countless hours helping me become the groomer I am today.”
Nuss would also like to thank Rob and Stephanie Wilkerson of ATS and everyone who sponsored her with a donation to travel to South Korea.
“I’m just so thankful for all the support and I just feel incredibly lucky to be able to do this and compete on an international stage.”
By Adam Capps
Assistant Editor
