The Hypocrisy of Clout-Chasing Competitors & Influencers

Grooming Gone Wrong

Oh, we have been watching. We can see the desperate chase for recognition, the obsession with a trophy, the need to prove you’re the best, no matter the cost. This applies to a lot people out there.

At first, you went for the real shows with cats, and yeah, that was impressive. You didn’t win. And that’s what really mattered to you, wasn’t it? Not the skill, not the education, not the art, the damn ribbon.

So what did you do? You tried again. You jumped into the dog world, picked up a poodle like 99.9% of every other competitor, and gave it your best shot. And you failed. Miserably. Because newsflash, you’re not a dog groomer. You never were.

But that didn’t stop you, did it? No, because you were on a mission for that trophy; rules, ethics, and integrity be damned.

So You Found a Loophole At the Expense of the Dog.

You found a sideshow competition that doesn’t give a damn about real standards, real safety, or real education. A place where rules don’t matter, and you could get away with the kind of careless grooming that would never fly in a legitimate competition. Hey tradeshow owner, you are just as much to blame for this as well.

And there it was, the perfect chance to take your cat grooming skills and force them onto a fur-bearing breed like you knew what the hell you were doing.

You knew better. You damn well should have known better. But that didn’t matter, did it? Because you got that ribbon.

✔ Skin and coat integrity? Who cares!
✔ Dog’s future condition? Not your problem!
✔ Proper technique? Never heard of it!

You sacrificed your professionalism, your credibility, and that poor dog’s well-being all for the sake of clout and an empty title.

And the worst part? You don’t even see the hypocrisy.

Influencers—What Are You Really Reflecting?

You built a platform. You gained followers. You became an “influencer” in this industry. And with that comes responsibility. But instead of leading by example, instead of upholding professionalism, ethics, and animal safety, you turned it into a game of clout-chasing and rule-dodging.

And then you have the audacity to act surprised when people call out the shameful nonsense happening at these trade shows?

You are just as guilty.

The next wave of groomers is watching. The pet owners are watching. Hell, even brands and event organizers are watching. And what have they seen?

✔ That cutting corners and exploiting loopholes gets rewarded.
✔ That following the rules isn’t necessary if you know how to manipulate the system.
✔ That winning a ribbon is more important than respecting the animal in your hands.

And we wonder why this industry struggles with credibility. Why pet owners don’t trust groomers. Why trade shows have become an embarrassment instead of a celebration of skill and education.

You didn’t just fail the dog in front of you. You failed the industry as a whole.

If You Have a Platform, You Have a Responsibility.

Influencers—if you want to be seen as a leader in this industry, then act like one. Because your actions have consequences. The way you groom, the things you say, the loopholes you exploit?

You are teaching the next generation of groomers what is acceptable.

💥 If you promote bad practices, guess what? That’s what people will copy.
💥 If you bend the rules to win, don’t be shocked when others do the same.
💥 If you put your ego before ethics, this industry will keep going downhill—and it will be because of people like you.

If this post makes you mad? Good. It should. Because that means you know damn well you’re part of the problem.

I’m an influencer in my own way, the one that calls out every single one of you who isn’t doing this industry justice. You don’t have the formal education, you probably couldn’t pass a basic quiz if you tried, because you don’t care about the knowledge, just the pretty picture. And that? That’s exactly why this industry is drowning in mediocrity.

So what’s it going to be? Keep chasing meaningless ribbons and flexing your "wins" to your followers? Or start reflecting something worth following?

This is Bullet. And I’m Here to Call You Out.

Why? Because someone has to. Someone has to take a stand while the rest of you hide in the shadows, whisper behind closed doors, and secretly wish you had the guts to say it. But you don’t.

And that’s fine, you don’t have to back me. But know this—I damn sure am not backing down. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

Because this industry deserves better. And if you don’t like hearing it? Too bad.

Step Up or Get Out of the Way.