JUDY HUDSON

Judy Hudson, CMG, is the owner-operator of "GROOMING TAILS MOBILE PET GROOMING" in Nashville, Tennessee. After attending college and receiving an Associates Degree in Veterinary Technology, Judy started her first job in the pet industry. In 1988, while working at a vet clinic, she noticed the hours and pay of the groomers, and started teaching herself how to groom. The first time a customer requested that she groom her dog, that did it. She was hooked! As in everything Judy has always done, she wanted to be the best. Thus began her long journey and time-consuming quest to make Groom Team USA! She noticed in a trade magazine where a local grooming shop had won best in show in Atlanta. Judy called them and asked for help (begged was more like it!)

After some resistance Rick and Susan Cleveland agreed to let her work for them on Saturdays to receive instruction and get started on her dream. Her first competition in Atlanta was a first place with her potpourri competition dog, and first in the group. A couple of years later she won "Best in Show" and best all around in Lexington, Kentucky in the B Division. On to the A Division and a long dry spell. After intensive training and long hours on the road with industry leaders and breeders she won her first "Best in Show" in Cape Canaveral, Florida in 2001. She received the Sybil Memorial Trophy, offered by R.W. Marsh to the competitor showing the most harmonious relationship with her dog.

Judy has appeared on television on the Animal Planet in a segment "Bred All About It" and this particular episode featured the standard poodle. She was also the groomer for the photographic session for a book called The Twelve Dogs of Christmas. Judy grooms dogs for some of country music's biggest stars, including Janice Gill and Paul Overstreet.

Judy Hudson lives just outside of Nashville in the quite little community of Kingston Springs. She has a booming mobile grooming business in the Greater Nashville area. Never in her life did Judy think she would be grooming dogs for a living, let alone making the prestigious Groom Team! She feels she is one of the luckiest people in the world to work for herself and have a job that she truly loves.