THAT kind of *seems* like a torture, too. (Just kidding; poor little thing. Great survival instinct, her. Glad she’s somewhere safe, now.)"
You know what, I really do think it's a kind of torture. I don't have a lot of use for the whole dog & cat show thing.
Me either, CA.
Reminds me (kind of) of those *childrens’ beauty pageants* where the moms dress-up their little girls like hollyweird-o sluts; Joan Benet Ramnsey comes to mind (RIP, little one), among others.
My champion (who is now retired to the life of leisure) loves the whole process, with the exception of the bath. She loves to stand on the grooming table and get trimmed and blow dried and brushed and fussed over. Most pet dogs, who are not used to that kind of thing find it stressful because they are not started at an early age to tolerate it. I think dogs who are well socialized in that way are far better off than the average pet who goes nowhere and then once or twice a year has the stressful experience of going to the vet’s office for a check up and shots, or the groomers etc.
I take mine to a groomer now, sometimes instead of doing it myself, and the groomer ALWAYS comments on how enjoyable she is to groom because she enjoys it.
Now, ME, I always hated being in the ring. It was torture for ME. :)