GROOMER HAS IT: Interview with Cassandra Reed!

Cassandra Reed, nicknamed “The spunky chick” and  who supplied the “bubbly” to the competition, was the eighth groomer to be clipped from Groomer Has It’s Season Two, dashing her dream to become America’s Top Groomer.

Cassandra, who came into the competition determined to prove that she “wasn’t just another pretty face”, has 5 years of grooming experience under her belt and works at The Clipper Cottage in Mogadore, Ohio, where her goal is to ultimately own her own grooming salon. I’d say she hung in the competition longer than a lot of groomers with many more years of experience, so she did herself proud!

Cassandra answered a few questions we had for her here:

CDW: First of all, we HAVE to ask you if yours and Marco’s relationship was really as antagonistic as it came across? We know there’s creative editing, but was he the biggest thorn in your side in the Dog House and the competition?

Cassandra:  I wouldn’t say Marco was a thorn in my side. He’s very business-oriented and likes things done his way kinda like everyone else, but I think in our case he would just not take any suggestions I had, and would not take them into consideration. I do wish Marco luck and continued success in his businesses though.

CDW:  It seemed like it was really pivotal for you to reach the “top 4″. Why was it so important for you to have made it  to the “top 4″ as opposed to the “top 5″?

Cassandra:  When I got into the Dog House and “sized up” my competition, I knew I could go pretty far. I wasn’t sure I could win however. I set a goal for myself and that goal was to be in the final four! I knew I could do it and I should have been. The judges told me if Lisa did not save Danielle, I would have stayed and Danielle would have gone home!! No hard feelings though. I love Lisa and Danielle. I feel really accomplished to get as far as I did, even to make it on the show was awesome!

CDW:  Were you at all suprised when Lisa chose Danielle to save when you were in the bottom two, or did you feel like that was a given once it was you and Danielle at the bottom?

Cassandra:  I was not surprised at all that Lisa picked Danielle. They were very close in the house.  We all got along of course, but I think that even though Lisa said she thought Danielle might be a better competitor to her, I think she just said that and was really scared of me! Hey, that’s what I tell myself to make myself feel better, HAHAHA!

CDW:  We thought you did a great job in the grooming challenge making your dog look like it’s owner! How do you feel you did despite the judges comments that it wasn’t carried through or creative enough?

Cassandra:  I wish the judges would have  remembered how annoying my owner was! He kept asking me questions like “Are you done yet?” and saying “It doesn’t have to be perfect, does it?” I said “Yes it does!!!!”. The owner also wouldn’t dress up like I wanted to. I don’t think the judges took all that into consideration. I went with the owner’s idea because I figured if I didn’t, the judges would have complained about that. If I could do it again, I would just go with my idea!!!!

CDW:  Who did you get along best with in the Dog House and do you think you’ll maintain contact with any of your co-competitors?

Cassandra:  I got along with most of everyone. I talk to Bill, Sherri and Lisa the most out of everyone.  Occasionally, I talk to Danielle and Chicken Joe.

CDW:  What out of all the challenges you participated in was your favorite, and which was your least favorite and why?

Cassandra:  My favorite episode was the shelter one. It made me realize being a groomer, I can volunteer my time helping dogs find homes. That is exactly what I did when I got home. I now volunteer at a local animal shelter (the Portage Animal Protection League) . My least favorite was the Labradoodle challenge. Everyone’s dog was so matted they should have been shaved down. I’m not the kind of groomer who likes to shave any dog down, but this would have been an exception. I felt so bad for those dogs.

CDW:  Did you truly feel intimidated by Doc Halligan or was it just a misunderstanding, or miscommunication and do you feel that may have been key to your being clipped this week?

Cassandra:  I felt that every time Doc and I spoke to each other, she really did not care much for what I said. It was almost like she didn’t believe anything I said. I guess it could have been my nerves, but Joey and X didn’t make me feel that way. I don’t think it has anything to do with me being clipped because if Danielle had not been saved, she would’ve been the one going home and not me.

CDW:  Is there any specific thing you wish you’d done differently that might have affected the outcome in your being clipped so soon?

Cassandra:  I really did the best I could on each challenge, so it’s hard to say what I would have done differently. I would have loved to have gotten dogs who were actually groomable. Most of mine were 11+years old with arthritis, could barely stand,  were 3 times bigger and had that much more hair than everyone else’s. Really watch the episodes again!!! I’m not making it up!! Thank you so much for this interview opportunity! It was lots of fun!

Cassandra, you were lots of fun too, and we’ll miss seeing you on Groomer Has It’s remaining episodes! Good luck to you in your grooming career and we hope you achieve your dream of owning your own salon!  Thanks again for answering our questions!