Hi everyone
My name is Jane and i live near Bishop Aukland, co. durham. I am looking to complete my city and guilds advanced dog grooming exam, which is a nightmare to organise!!

I have completed the theory paper, cocker spaniel and westie modules all with credits and am desperately in search of a miniature schnauzer with a good temperament and coat length to complete the qualification. I have booked a test date at Grimsby college for 5 weeks time but unfortunately the dog i had lined up has fallen through, help!!

I am just wondering if anyone could please be kind enough to put me in contact with anyone that would be kind enough to help me with this nightmare situation!! Anyway thanks all for listening to my rant, i hope to be a regular member and inputter at the forum so speak to everybody soon
Jane

this is the problem i had so i gave up ......for now anyways.

your college must be able to help you with this surely?they have dogs in all the time to help with this ....no?

how about putting a notice in one of the dog magazines?
dogs world maybe .....free groom to help with passing an exam.local notices in the shops in your area.
sorry i cant be more help maybe someone eles will have a better idea.

welcome to the forum :-)

Are the dogs owners allowed to come into the College with you for the exam and sit somewhere in view? The reason I ask is that it is going to be very difficult for anyone to just entrust their dog with a complete stranger, a forum may not be the best place to ask as no-one knows who you are, but if you can confirm they can be in view of their dog it might go a long way.

All I can suggest is that you get in touch with a few dog groomers/kennels explain your problem and ask if you could come in and meet any MS owners that they would know.  I take it you have been doing a work experience involved somewhere with animals one or two days a week who can also speak to a dog groomer/kennel to confirm who you are along with the college.

It is going to be very difficult for you to just get in touch with a breeder or owner out of the blue and ask for a dog. Your going to need to get to know people and install trust  before anyone will let you take their dog, they will also need to see that their dog is happy to be with you.

You don't have long, I would open up the yellow pages and go and visit every dog groomer you can find firstly, along with some sort of proof of your course and see if you have any luck.

Poor you, best of luck! Sure you'll find one somewhere!

Are you training at a general college or a grooming training school?  If the latter then they'll be able to provide you with a suitable dog if you ask.

Thanks everyone for your help and advise

The problem is that I have been out of dog grooming for about 4 years as I have had 2 small kiddies and decided to be a full time mam. Previous to that I had worked full time in the industry for about 10 years. Unfortunately I have lost contact with many of the grooming contacts I had and this is why its so difficult.
I know what you mean about an owner trusting a stranger with their dog and unfortunately nobody other than the students and assessors are allowed in the room. There may be a viewing area but im unsure as I havent been to this particular exam centre, it may be worth me ringing them to find out.

Anyway thanks once again for your advise, much appreciated

Jane

Jane can you get in touch with the place that you trained?  Do you need you C&G to get back into it again?  Think that I might be tempted to take a brief refresher at a grooming school as in my experience, parlour grooming to breed standards and C&G requirements are two very different things.  A bit like driving a car and passing a driving test.... :)
Just a thought and it would also put you in touch with contacts and available dogs.

Have you asked the C&G? I know when I did my exams they did say you should provide the dogs if possible, but a small pool of dogs may be available. Good luck!