Pup Palooza Buffalo

10/16/2026

An Update on Pup Palooza Buffalo

After a lot of thought, I’ve decided to step back from planning Pup Palooza Buffalo in its traditional format while I take time to evaluate what comes next.

Over the past two years, participation in our classes and competitions has grown incredibly quickly—by more than 200% in some areas. That growth is something I’m proud of and deeply grateful for. It has also made me realize that I can’t continue planning and funding an event of this size on my own.

Here’s what I’ll be exploring during this time:

• The future and location of the event. I’m grateful for the support of the Buffalo grooming community. At the same time, much of our attendance and engagement comes from out-of-state groomers, so I’ll be looking at where Pup Palooza can best serve its community. That may still be in Buffalo. I haven’t made a decision to move the event and I really don’t want to; I’m just simply being transparent and taking time to consider the options.

• A volunteer board or planning team. I’m considering bringing together people who would like to help shape and organize future events.

• Sponsorship opportunities. Sponsorship support is important to making events sustainable. I’m grateful to the sponsorship helpful hands and supporters who have gone above and beyond to help, and I’ll be exploring ways to build a broader sponsor base.

• Smaller educational events. I may continue offering smaller events, like the one we just wrapped up this year. Even those take a great deal of planning and expense, so I’ll be looking at more sustainable ways to fund them in hopes to decrease pricing for you, attendees.

Pup Palooza has not brought in a profit, and I’ve personally covered costs along the way. I chose to invest in this event because I believed in what it could offer our grooming community, and I’m grateful for everything we’ve created together. But I need to make sure that whatever comes next is sustainable.

These are challenges that come with growth—and the growth happened because of all of you. Thank you for traveling from near and far, sharing the word, offering ideas, volunteering, supporting the events, and helping make Pup Palooza what it is. I hope this pause gives me the time and support to build a stronger future for it.

In the meantime, please continue to like, follow, and share our page and spread the word about future events. If you’re interested in volunteering, joining a planning board, discussing sponsorship for the bigger event or the smaller ones that may be put on throughout 2027, I’d love to hear from you. You’re also welcome to reach out with questions or ideas.

I can’t thank you enough for helping make this dream a success. I’m excited to see what we can build together from here.

With love & gratitude,
Janelle

10/15/2026

A beautiful announcement. One of local speakers/ competitors (from Waverly, NY) who started her journey with Pup Palooza Buffalo is now sponsored by a huge sponsor of ours Les Poochs and Arielle Lea! Victoria Perry - Pet Stylist from Pup Palooza - I am so excited for you and a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS on your both of sponsorships! 🥂💜

✨️🐩 2026–2027 COMPETITION SEASON SPONSOR ANNOUNCEMENT 🐩✨️

I don't think I even have the right words quite yet, but I just couldn't wait to share this news! 🥹🤍

I am SO FRIGGEN HONORED to announce that I have officially secured a sponsorship with LES POOCHS for my 2026–2027 competition season!!!

A little backstory because this one is really special to me-

I first discovered Les Poochs in February 2025 after my first ever grooming competition, when I won some of their products.
I immediately took note of the quality and absolutely fell in love.

For those unfamiliar, Les Poochs is a luxury grooming brand known for its exceptional coat care products and professional grooming brushes. Their focus on coat health, quality, and performance is something I connected with immediately. And if you know how seriously I take my bathing & prep, you know this brand is right up my alley.

Fast forward to December 2025, while I was preparing to open Victoria's Luxury Dog Grooming-

I reached out to Arielle about stocking my salon because I knew from day ONE that VLDG needed nothing but the best.

Not only was she SOOO incredibly kind and supportive, but she helped me fully stock my salon & donated an amazing raffle basket for my grand opening!

Arielle believed in what I was building before I had even officially opened my doors. And that is something I will never forget. 🤍

One thing I've learned as I've gotten further into this industry is that the people behind the companies & products matter just as much as the products themselves.

The longer I'm in this industry, the more I realize how important it is to surround myself with companies that not only create exceptional products but genuinely care about the professionals who support them & as I continue to grow, I'm becoming more & more intentional about the names I choose to stand beside.

And THAT is what makes this partnership so special to me.
Arielle genuinely cares about this industry and the groomers she works with. Her passion, kindness, and willingness to support others are qualities I have SO much respect for. 🤍

🥁🥁🥁🥁

✨️ WHICH BRINGS ME TO TODAY! ✨️

I am SO INCREDIBLY PROUD to officially announce that I've gone from being a Les Poochs Devotee to a LES POOCHS SPONSORED GROOMER!!! 🐩🏆✨️

To have a brand I discovered through my very first competition now turn around and invest in ME and my future as a competitive groomer is just........ I'm speechless. 🥹

When I first stepped into the competition ring, I had absolutely no idea where this journey would take me.

And now, having TWO incredible companies, ProLine Shears and Les Poochs, believing in me enough to support this next chapter of my career is something I do not take lightly.

Arielle, THANK YOU for believing in me, supporting my growth, and giving me the opportunity to represent a company whose products and people I genuinely believe in. 🤍

Here's to another season of learning, growing, competing, and pushing myself further than I ever thought possible!

✨️ HERE WE GO!!! ✨️

10/08/2026

Sometimes the person who needs the education most is the one bringing it to you. ❤️🐾

As the developer of Pup Palooza Buffalo, owner of DogHawz Treats, and a mostly self-taught groomer of just three years, I’ve decided it’s time to refocus on my own grooming education.

Over the past two years, so much of my time and energy has gone into building Pup Palooza that my own grooming education took a back seat, aside from a few shows like Hershey and Intergroom.

I knew I needed more. I wanted hands-on instruction, answers to my everyday questions, and to understand not just HOW, but WHY.

More importantly, I wanted to learn in an environment where I felt comfortable asking questions without fear of being judged or embarrassed.

I’ve only groomed in front of three people before. Otherwise, it’s just me and my dogs in my little studio!

When I attended one of Jay Batista’s classes at Intergroom, I was blown away. His knowledge, teaching style, willingness to share, down-to-earth personality, and genuine kindness made an impression on me.

I knew I had to bring him to Buffalo.

Not just for me. For YOU!

And I did! Jay Batista hopped on a plane and came to little ol’ Buffalo, NY! ❤️

DAY 1 — THEORY 📚

Can I just tell you… I LEARNED!

I finally got answers to questions I’d had for years. The WHY behind the techniques started making sense.

Questions flowed, conversations opened up, and laughter filled the room. Nobody was made to feel intimidated or embarrassed. Just groomers sharing, asking, and learning together.

Jay even demonstrated handling techniques on my squirmy little Louie! If you know Louie, you KNOW! 😂

DAY 2 — HANDS-ON ✂️🐾

Here’s where things got REAL!

I hadn’t planned on grooming. I was supposed to be hosting, observing, and capturing content.

But Jay asked if I was bringing Louie back, and I said YES.

Cue the anxiety! 😂

I called my husband to bring my scissors, some wonderful ladies helped me with a table and grooming arm, and Jay lent me his comb and clippers.

Prepared? NOT EVEN CLOSE!

There I was, surrounded by groomers of all experience levels, including competition groomers, while Louie squirmed around feeding off every ounce of my nervous energy.

Everyone else’s dogs seemed to be standing beautifully, and I was just trying to get myself together!

Jay patiently showed me a brushing pattern, helped me with my technique, and then told me to work on Louie’s legs.

My response? “But you already did them!” 😂

Seriously, how was I supposed to scissor over work an internationally recognized groomer, educator, and judge had just done?!

But I picked up my scissors and tried.

Was I nervous? YES.
Was I doing everything correctly? NOPE.
Was Louie cooperating? Eventually! 😂

And somewhere along the way, something changed.

Louie settled down. I started relaxing. Jay and Rachel showed me positioning, lines, sc******ng techniques, and adjustments I’d never learned before.

Was it my best groom? Absolutely not.

BUT I SHOWED UP. I TRIED. I LEARNED. AND I GREW.

I wasn’t there to be the best groomer in the room. I was there to become a better groomer than the one who walked in.

And that’s exactly what happened.

I’m still processing those two days. Between hosting, learning, capturing content, and battling my own self-doubt, it was an emotional experience.

But it also reinforced exactly WHY I created Pup Palooza Buffalo.

I don’t want grooming education to feel exclusive or intimidating.

We had groomers with less than a year of experience, seasoned professionals, and competitive groomers learning in the SAME ROOM.

And Jay made room for EVERYONE.

That’s what I want Pup Palooza to be.

A place where you can ask questions, make mistakes, laugh, share knowledge, and leave feeling more confident than when you arrived.

I’m incredibly grateful to Jay and Rachel George for their knowledge, patience, and kindness, and to every attendee who invested in themselves and helped make this experience so special.

I also discovered something about myself.

I LOVE these smaller, intimate educational experiences!

Watching connections form, seeing groomers encourage one another, and knowing those relationships can continue beyond the classroom is exactly what I’ve hoped to create.

We’re already seeing it through our conversations and group chats.

Maybe growing “Pup Palooza Buffalo isn’t about creating bigger events. Maybe it’s about building a stronger, more supportive grooming community right here in Buffalo.

My biggest takeaway?

❤️ Great education should challenge you without making you feel small.

🐾 You don’t have to be the best to belong. You just have to be willing to learn.

✂️ Growth happens when we’re comfortable enough to step outside our comfort zones.

❤️ You don’t have to be the best to belong. You just have to be willing to learn and Pup Palooza isn’t just about bringing educators to Buffalo. It’s about bringing groomers TOGETHER.

I came into this weekend hoping to give Buffalo groomers something special.

I walked away with something special myself. ❤️

Here’s to learning, growing, and never being afraid to ask WHY!

10/08/2026

The scissors weren’t the only thing clicking this weekend. ✂️💙

So were the friendships, the “ohhh, NOW I get it!” moments, and the realization that the groomer beside you might have needed this weekend just as much as you did.

Louie had his spotlight. The poodles posed like they had a magazine cover booked. 😂 And between the learning and the laughter, a room full of groomers became a little community.

This is the part of Pup Palooza I wish I could bottle up—the feeling that you can walk in with questions and find people who are happy to help you work through them.

Jay Batista , thank you for bringing so much of yourself to Buffalo. And HYDRA USA, Les Poochs , Arielle Lea & PetEdge thank you for spoiling our groomers with swag and raffles!

We packed up the tables. We’re keeping the feeling. 🐾

Hope YOU join us at the next event!🐾

10/07/2026

What do you take home from a weekend of learning with Jay Batista? ✂️💙

New techniques to use behind the table. A better understanding of your tools and your finish. And the opportunity to put it all into practice with someone there to guide you.

In this video, attendees share what they learned, how the smaller setting helped them, and why they felt the education was worth their investment.

That’s what I want Pup Palooza Buffalo to offer: learning you can bring back to your own salon, with room to ask questions, work through challenges, and feel supported along the way. 🐾

Thank you, Jay, for giving our groomers your knowledge and individual attention—and to everyone who joined us and shared their experience.

What would YOU love to learn at a future Pup Palooza class? 👇

10/06/2026

Me before & during any event!! 😆😆

10/06/2026

What does a Pup Palooza experience feel like? Let the groomers tell you. ✂️💙

We asked attendees about learning directly from Jay Batista, having education like this here in Buffalo, and what they’d tell someone thinking about joining us.

“This is one of the best grooms I’ve ever done.” 🥹

That moment means so much. Putting a new technique into practice and seeing what you’re capable of is exactly why I want to bring these opportunities to our grooming community.

Pup Palooza is a welcoming space to ask questions, learn at your own pace, and grow alongside people who share your passion—whether you’re new behind the table or have years of experience.

Thank you, Jay, for sharing your knowledge and supporting that vision, and thank you to every groomer who helped bring it to life.

10/05/2026

Day 2 was where the learning came to life. ✂️🐾

Watching Jay Batista work is something special—but having him beside you, guiding your hands, explaining the details, and helping you see your own groom differently? That’s the experience I wanted to bring to Buffalo and with Jay Batista help, we delivered.

From scissor technique to shaping faces and refining the finish, our hands-on day gave groomers the chance to ask questions, practice, and grow with support.

10/05/2026

Day One with Jay was more than a day of learning—it was the kind of experience I strive to create with Pup Palooza: a welcoming space where groomers can learn together, ask questions, share ideas, and feel at home, wherever they are in their grooming journey. 💛✂️

jaybatistagrooming covered so much—from faces and carding to different Fusion styles, scissor techniques, and more. The questions kept flowing, the energy in the room was incredible, and the laughter was pure joy. Beginners and seasoned groomers alike leaned in, learned from Jay, and encouraged one another. That mix of curiosity, generosity, and support is what made the day feel so special.

After lunch, we brought the lessons to life with a hands-on demo with Louie & Jay! We ended the day by celebrating our attendees and sharing generous sponsor donations from hydra_usa petedge, & Les Poochs Arielle Lea

This is Pup Palooza Buffalo: education, community, and a place to feel welcome. If you’ve ever wanted to learn alongside other groomers, we’d love for you to be part of what’s next. 🐾