About The Cardinal Crystal Award for Show Dog Groomer of the Year

The Cardinal Crystal Award for Show Dog Groomer of the Year was established to recognize and promote outstanding achievement and excellence in Show Dog Grooming.  Nominees and winners are selected by their peers in the Show Dog Community on the basis of criteria specified by the Crystal Awards arbiters. This unique peer recognition is what makes the Crystal Show Dog Groomer of the Year a highly esteemed award and a true benchmark of professionalism.

The criteria used to judge the winner of the Crystal Show Dog Groomer of the Year include:

1. Grooming Ability

2. Spirit and Attitude

3. Personal Integrity

4. Courtesy and Sportsmanship

5. Humaneness to Animals

6. Professionalism

7. Accomplishments in the Show Ring during the last 12 months

Here’s how the Crystal Show Dog Groomer of the Year is selected:  First, a nomination form is printed online on this website and in Dogs In Review magazine, a specialty trade magazine for the Show Dog Community published by BowTie Inc. Nominations may be submitted only by members of the Professional Show Dog Community, including show dog groomers, owners, breeders, handlers, trainers and their employees.  The 6 nominees receiving the largest number of nominations appear on the voting ballot, which is published on this website and in Dogs In Review magazine.  Again, voting is open only members of the Professional Show Dog Community, who are informed that voting is taking place by articles in trade magazines and emails sent to them.  The nominations and voting are verified and tabulated by an independent firm.

Presented at the annual Purina Pro Plan Show Dogs Award Banquet, sponsored by Dogs In Review magazine, the Crystal Show Dog Groomer of the Year Award is part of an event that truly can be described as “the Oscars for show dog professionals.”  Held every February at the Grand Hyatt in New York City during Westminster Week, the prestigious banquet also features other awards presentations, including Trainer of the Year, Handler of the Year and Veterinarian of the Year. 

The Crystal Show Dog Groomer of the Year Award was established by Cardinal Laboratories Inc., a leading national manufacturer of pet products under the brand names Gold Medal Pets, Pet Botanics and Crazy Pet.  Cardinal Laboratories serves as the award’s benefactor, giving the Show Dog Community a valid method of electing their own peer for this award. 

In 1988, Cardinal Laboratories established the Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards to recognize the outstanding achievements of competitive groomers, grooming judges, grooming journalists and special service to promote the grooming industry, which are awarded at the Intergroom Dog Show in New Jersey every April.  Three years ago, the company decided to pay special recognition to the singular achievements of Show Dog Groomers, and added the Crystal Show Dog Groomer Award as its own separate accolade.