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Published on October 18, 2007

 The owner of the Thailand-based Starwood Arts of Dog Grooming School recently wowed the crowds at the New York Pet Fashion Week as his five white poodles joined models in showcasing the latest in hip couture.

A dog lover since childhood, Sathit became involved in canine care 13 years ago while attending a world hair fashion contest with his newly acquired poodle. Finding it difficult to get his dog groomed stylishly, his respected friend, Ladawan Chotithada, suggested he do it himself.

Seven years ago, he gave up his hairdressing salon and went into pet styling fulltime. He later opened Starwood Arts of Dog, Thailand's first dog grooming school, and officially certified by the Ministry of Education.

Sathit's talents have been recognised at national dog grooming championships, where he's received awards from Her Royal Highness Princess Bajra Kitiyabha every year since 2001.

At August's Pet Fashion Week in the Big Apple, he was photographed and interviewed by CNN, the New York Times and pet magazines from Europe and Japan.

He presented five avant-garde dog/human styling concepts at the show, with vibrant colours matching extravagant gowns and coordinating headpieces enveloping the heads of the human and canine models.

The accessories, he says, were made of light material and paper, so as not to cause any pressure on the pooches' delicate heads. Sathit also refuses to use artificial hair colours products on the dogs. They, like the cosmetics, are all exclusively developed and produced for canines.

Bangkok shoppers will have a chance to see the New York fashion show for themselves on Saturday's afternoon at Emporium's Fashion Hall as part of the celebrations of "Emporium Pet-a-Porter: Pet Passion Week 2007".

The pet industry is one of the fastest growing businesses today, and the spin-off is being felt in all sectors.

Sathit says he currently teaches about 100 groomers a year. "It's a good job," he notes. "It has a lot of freedom and suits those who love dogs. Some people may go on to open fully equipped pet shop; grooming, selling pet food and products, some may work at home. Income can range Bt30,000 to Bt50,000 per month."

He is delighted that groomers are now regarded as professionals and treated with dignity, a far cry from two decades ago when they were largely uneducated youngsters who worked for low wages in a dirty pet shop or at the back of a vet's clinic.

"To enter Starwood, you need at least secondary education. You learn everything from anatomy and hair clipping to business management and how to deal with customers."

However, he admits that it's easier to groom a dog than style a person's hair. "The dog doesn't talk," he laughs. "Clients tell you the style they want even if it doesn't suit them. A dog who gets used to grooming will be lovely and still. Of course, if the animal is aggressive, it might bite you."

The current trend for small breeds is the "Teddy bear clip". While he approves of short clips in a hot climate, Sathit cautions owners against shaving their dogs.

"Dogs release body heat through the arch of the foot and tongue, not the skin like human. So when they don't have hair to protect their skin, they risk being bitten by mosquitoes.

"Dog owners who profess to truly love dogs should take good care of their pets. When I see dogs with ticks or matted hair, my blood boils. I want to ask those owners if they really love their dogs."

Kupluthai Pungkanon

 The Nation