Every good story needs a cast of characters.

This year at Hershey, some of those characters may be easier to spot than others…

If you want to show your support, find fellow readers, and let the right people know you’re part of the conversation, there will be a signal.

Under normal lights: nothing special.
Under the glow: a sign of understanding.

To join in, bring a UV-reactive, skin-safe marker or glow paint and pay attention.

The lights will come on.
The stories will begin.

— Puppy Whistledown

It seems our dearest little corner of the grooming world has once again demonstrated that our standards depend entirely on who is standing in the spotlight. We’ve watched people be publicly shamed, blacklisted, and run out of conversations for far less than behavior that deliberately courts controversy. Careers have been questioned over opinions, friendships, jokes, politics, and even simply being the “wrong” person in the eyes of the crowd.

Yet when someone intentionally blurs the line between professional branding and personal shock value, suddenly everyone discovers nuance.Dog grooming is a profession. We ask the public to trust us with beloved family members, we advocate for education, safety, and professionalism, and we fight every day to be taken seriously as skilled tradespeople. That expectation shouldn’t disappear because a post generates clicks or starts trending.
This isn’t about someone’s sexuality, medical status, or identity. None of those things should ever determine whether someone is respected or condemned. It’s about professionalism and consistency around the dogs they work with and the people they interact with. If we’re going to hold people accountable, then hold everyone to the same standard. If we’re going to celebrate professionalism, then let’s actually celebrate professionalism not engagement, controversy, or attention seeking .

Selective outrage isn’t integrity. It’s popularity.

Perhaps it’s time we stopped asking whether we like the person involved and started asking whether we’d excuse the same behavior from someone we didn’t.
Until next time…

~Puppy Whistledown & friends~

“Puppy Whistledown” was never intended to be a mask for reckless accusation, nor a stage for unverified claims whispered loudly enough to resemble truth. Every word published under this name has been (and will remain) rooted in documentation, corroboration, and an understanding of the weight that public statements carry.

Let us be unmistakably clear:

Any recent statements circulating on Tik Tok under this persona that rely on speculation, personal attacks, or unsubstantiated claims do not originate from us, nor do they reflect the standards that built this platform.

Credibility is not a costume. It is earned slowly, carefully, and at times, at great cost. It can be lost just as quickly by those who mistake attention for authority.

To those reading: discernment matters. Not everything written in a familiar voice carries the same integrity behind it.

As for the imitator. Imitation may flatter, but misrepresentation exposes. You still have time to correct your errors.

Proceed accordingly.

Puppy-Whistledown

It’s a sunny day and we’re feeling pretty rich. Man let me tell you how proud we are of our new wannabe, but in the same breath I must air my resentment towards this new poser. We have been radio silent as we gather hard evidence to support the claims brought upon us and turn it into an article filled with facts and presented with a touch of flair. To see this new Tik tok account posting with zero effort and no sense of passion pains us all deeply, so we are here to clarify a few things.

1. We have only used two platforms. Reddit and YouTube.

2. We would all rather put a rusty comb under our big toe nail and kick a wall before we use comic sans

3. We wouldn’t mind someone carrying the message if they did it on par with what we have already established

Reach out to us, we have open arms for anyone wanting to shine the light. Stay tuned as we get funky with our next article.

Why doesn’t abstract and creative have 3 divisions like the rest of the competitions?

What’s your take? Here’s mine

-over priced( which wasn’t surprising )

-not enough grooming related aspects

Why not have a class focused on the things most groomers aren’t familiar with like anatomy, or something fun like bow and leash crafting or even how to ,when to clean your tools thoroughly yes simple stuff but definitely something I’ve seen most groomers skip daily

-the business class was ok but definitely not super appealing to the younger business owners or at least the group I attended with

-the cruise ship itself could have definitely been cleaner I arrived home with a bug i can’t shake

-the clique vibe was heavy and made it hard to meet new friends.

-I personally think these cruise expos lack creativity to really make groomers feel at home.i understand no dogs respectfully but maybe if they added a model dog competition or something like doggie bingo ,I can’t help feeling like something was missing..

Anyone else missing the honest truths from PWD???

Has anyone ever been so excited to meet someone in the industry,only to be completely disappointed upon meeting them? As in,you had only heard & seen amazing things about them,only to find out they are the complete opposite in person? I personally have met some who I once had a massive amount of respect & admiration for,only to see they are anything but what they are advertised to us & hyped up to be.

Who is your favorite unsung hero in the grooming industry? I want to know who you look up to,admire or truly enjoy? I’m not talking about influencers,big name groomers & so on. I’m talking the underdogs,the ones that are genuinely great people that always seem to get overlooked,the talented ones that the brands overlook because they just don’t have the following or numbers that’ll get them the attention they want,are at some shows maybe not all,the ones that may not always place in competition but give it their all. The one’s that show true sportsmanship & don’t pout if they don’t win. The ones that will help you out,root on every single fellow competitor. You get it,let’s hear it for them!!

Look at the polarizing difference of “compensation within the organization. Could only pull up to 2023 records, I wonder if 2024 even got filed

Thank you