Magazine for the professional nail industry.
Issue link: http://nailsmag.epubxp.com/i/168588
{my other life } ed, and n out, clip p thed, blow must be ba ddle plucked. The dog r sa scissored o Going to the Dogs "People often assume I don't do much with my hands because my natural nails are so long. In reality, I am something of a torture tester for nail products," says Kaitlin Smith, owner of Nails by Kaitlin Jeanette Smith in Garrettsville, Ohio. "I handle afghan hounds and standard poodles in AKC conformation, where the dog is judged according to the standard set forth for each breed." Smith got her first taste of glory in the canine world when she was just 9 years old. "I took a beginner training class," she explains. "The graduation was a competition match. I won Best Junior Handler (handling skills are judged) and Best in Show (the dog itself is judged) with my standard poodle." In addition to training, she grooms the dogs. "Five years ago, we imported our first afghan hound from Australia. Our vet laughed when we chose another coated breed and wondered if we didn't already have enough hair to do," she says. "This year, we imported a beautiful 9-month-old male puppy from Iceland." While conformation showing may look simple to the bystander, a great deal is involved in terms of preparation and training. "The dog must be bathed, blown out, clipped, and scissored (poodles) or saddle plucked (afghan hound). This process usually takes two to four hours per dog," says Smith. "At home, the dog must be exercised to maintain proper muscle tone and then trained to properly hold for exam by the judge and to move around the ring. The day of the show, the dog is line brushed in small sections so every hair is set into place. All of this is for around five minutes in the ring. It's a time-intensive hobby but very rewarding. Of course the best part — besides winning — is working together as a team and just having a great time with your dog." Kaitlin Smith, nail tech In her other life: show dog owner NAILS (ISSN 0896-193x) (USPS 001-426) is published monthly, by Bobit Business Media, 3520 Challenger Street, Torrance, California 90503-1640. Periodicals postage paid at Torrance, California 90503-9998 and additional mailing ofces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Nails, P.O. Box 1067 Skokie, IL 60076-8068. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for address changes to take efect. Subscription Prices - United States $20 per year; Canada $57 per year; Foreign $87 per year. Single copy price - $5; Big Book - $40. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks to receive your first issue. Bobit Business Media reserves the right to refuse non-qualified subscriptions. Please address Editorial and Advertising correspondence to the Executive Ofces at 3520 Challenger Street Torrance, California 90503-1640 or online at www.nailsmag.com. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without consent of Bobit Business Media. All statements made, although based on information believed to be reliable and accurate, cannot be guaranteed and no fault or liability can be accepted for error or omission. Subscribers: If the Post Ofce alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within 2 years. 202 | NAILS MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2013