History of Sarah Hawks

    The very first grooming shop she applied to is Florida and she was turned down because she was a girl, they said they needed someone who could lift dogs, at the time she was riding 3 day event horses in competition.

    In 1979 she was hired on as a bather in a shop in Newark, DE and quickly learned the basics from the groomers there.  After 3 years she opened Dog Works and in 1988 tested and became the states first Certified Master Groomer with National Dog Groomers of America Association.

    While being primarily known for her hand-stripping and Terrier grooming ability, Sarah has also studied under some of the top American Cocker Spaniel and Poodle people in order to film edit and produce a line of Grooming Education Videos.

    She competed from 1992 to 1997 with enough points to make the 95 and 96 teams. In November of 95 she took her Sealyham Terrier "Trigger" to Utrich Holland and went "Best in Show" over a field of 99 competitors helping the Americans win the Gold. In 1996 at Intergroom, who hosted the World Team Competitions, she won a silver medal with a "supplied Westie".

    With many "Best in Shows" and "Best all around Groomer" awards, her last serious competition was in Mass. in 1997 where she finished with a "Best all around Groomer" award with 2 first and 3 second places.

    She has Judged in the US and abroad and won the "Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement" award for "Judge of the Year" in 1998, an award she is most proud of. Sarah works closely with the top terrier handler, Marjorie Good, and credits her with teaching her about terriers. Sarah also breeds and exhibits Sealyham Terriers. She is most proud of  "Rowdy's"  National Specialty win at Montgomery in 2000.

    Sarah competes now only occasionally to keep her skills sharp. She competes each year at Intergroom and Medals consistently. In 1999 she won Gold with her 5 1/2 month Sealy puppy "Rowdy" in the American Hand-Stripping class. In 2000, she won Gold with a Kerry Blue in the American Clipped Terrier class and first runner up in the Oster Invitational. Sarah works at "Dog Works" in Newark, DE. and is a Certifier for the National Dog Groomers Association of America.

    In 2004 Sarah won the Oster International Invitational Grooming contest at intergroom.  Intergroom is a contest that is invite only against competitors from around the world.  This past year (2005) she won 2 bronze medals and judged the Oster Invetational as well as presenting two educational seminars to groomers.  Won on had stripping where she was joined by outstanding groomers from France and England.  She also demonstrated her Econo Bichon Trim to help groomers everywhere learn an easier way to groom Bichons.

    In September 2005 she will present an all day seminar at Groom Expo in Hershey Pennsylvania.    

Awards

Sarah has won many awards over the past 13 years of competition including many gold, silver and bronze medals at Intergroom the worlds most prestigious grooming competition.  She won Best in show in Holland as a member of the USA Groom team for 1995.  Making her European Groomer of the year. 

    With many "Best in Show" and "Best all around Groomer" awards she was a member of USAGT in 1996 as well with a Silver Medal at the World Championship.  She was a two time winner of the "Winners Circle Competition" held at the Barkliegh shows.  The Oster International Tournament of champions in 2004.  The Cardinal Crystal achievement award for judge of the year.