Will Co Down dog groomer Tanya be the best in show on BBC 1’s Pooch Perfect?

Tanya Salas, 29, who owns Hairy Pawters dog grooming parlour in Craigantlet, features in the second episode of the show on Thursday, which is presented by actress Sheridan Smith and her fluffy co-host Stanley as they go on a mission to find the UK’s top dog groomer.

Tanya, who has been a dog groomer for over four years, explained how she got involved with the TV competition.

“They advertised it during the first lockdown. I was bored sitting at home, so I decided to apply.

“I had to do a load of interviews over Zoom and then out of hundreds of applicants you had to get through to the next round, and then the next round.

“Whenever I was told I got through, I flew over to Manchester in August for filming.”

Tanya is “sworn to secrecy” about how she got on, but she can reveal the breed of pooches she had to primp and preen.

“I had to groom an Alaskan Malamute, they are like a giant Husky. They have like a double coat, so you take all the dead hair out. It’s get a bit messy on the programme. The producers were quite surprised at the amount of hair.

“Then I had to do a challenge called ‘Puppy’s First Groom’. I had a Bedlington Terrier, which is quite a rare breed.

“I own a Malamute, so I was quite lucky with that one. And I have a client with a Bedlington Terrier.”

Tanya has competed in a lot of dog grooming competitions and has placed in every one that she has competed in, but she admits she was nervous being on TV.

“Whenever we are in our own salons, we don’t have to groom a dog and answer questions at the same time with a load of cameras in front of us, but it was a good experience and probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It definitely makes me want to compete more.”

Tanya said Sheridan Smith really helped put her, and all the contestants, at ease.

“She is lovely, she is so down-to-earth. If we were stressing out, which we all were, she would calm us down.”

Tanya is one of three Northern Ireland contestants taking part in the show.

Sadly, Thomas McDonald, 35, owner and head tutor at the Wizard of Dogs salon in Cookstown, who featured on the first episode didn’t make it through to the quarter finals. Michael Shiels, owner of Bark n Beauty Spa in Londonderry, will also feature in an upcoming episode.

*Pooch Perfect is BBC One at 8pm on Thursday.