Shellharbour businesswoman Tiarne Perkiss, 22, did the Illawarra proud on the weekend by winning a major award at the Canberra International Dog Show.
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Ms Perkiss took 10 dogs and walked away with a Best In Show Award. She took five for showing and five for grooming and two did particularly well.
“I competed in three sections of the grooming and my junior Maddie competed in three sections in novice. I was lucky enough to take out three major sections of the show and have three of the five dogs eligible for Best in Show. I won Best in Show with my toy poodle Kiss. Maddie also placed in all her sections,” she said.
It has been a big couple of years for Ms Perkiss.
After opening a grooming salon for dogs called Perky Pooches in 2014 she was named runner-up for Best New Business in the IWIB Awards in 2015. Ms Perkiss hopes her success encourages other young people.
“It is a true indication as to were you can go if you put your heart and soul into it,” she said.
Ms Perkiss has regularly shown dogs for many years.
She started running the dog grooming business from home but the demand was so high, she needed more space.
Her original idea during a Year 9 project at Corpus Christi was to start her own business selling dog tug toys and coats online.
But her underlying dream was always to actually work with animals and that is what the grooming business and the dog shows are allowing her to do. Her business is located at Unit 4, 17-19 Industrial Road, Oak Flats. Perky Pooches boasts a state-of-the-art electric dog bath and grooming tables. Further information at perkypooches.com.