Why is a hotel a bad idea for Les Ciseaux d’Or (and why choose a cottage)?

Participating in Les Ciseaux d’Or in Graulhet is a logistical challenge. As a professional groomer, you do not travel light. You arrive with your grooming tables, your dryers, your cases of precious scissors, your cosmetic products… and above all, with your model dogs.

Let’s be realistic: the standard hotel room is the worst enemy of the groomer in competition.

• Lack of space to unfold a crate or store equipment.
• Difficulty of access (hallways, elevators) with dogs and trolleys.
• Stress of the animals due to noise from neighbors.
• Difficulty taking dogs out for their needs quickly in the morning or evening.

At Les Cottages du Tarn, located just 10 minutes from the contest venue in Graulhet, we understand these constraints. We offer you much more than a bed: we offer you a high-performance logistical base, on the ground floor with nature, where your dogs will be treated as well as you.

Pets Welcome: An assumed “Pet Friendly” policy

This is the number 1 question for participants in Les Ciseaux d’Or: “Do you accept dogs?”. The answer is a big YES.

All our cottages, whether in Brens or Peyrole, are open to pets (model dogs or companions). We know that your dogs are high-level athletes who need calm before getting on the judging table.

Important note: To ensure the quality of the welcome, we simply ask you to notify us when booking and to provide for the payment of the animal supplement.

Calm before the storm

Stress is contagious. If you are stressed by your accommodation, your dog will feel it, and this can affect their behavior during the contest. By staying with us, you enjoy the Tarn countryside. You can walk your dogs in a green setting, far from asphalt and city noise, to relax them before the event.

Logistics: Easy parking and Storage space

No more parking struggles in the city center with a trunk full of heavy equipment. At Les Cottages du Tarn:

• Free and secure parking: You park your vehicle literally in front of your cottage door.
• Easy loading: No endless stairs. You take your grooming tables and crates directly from the trunk to the living room.
• Living space: Our cottages are real houses. You have room to set up your equipment, prepare the dogs the day before, and store your belongings without having to step over suitcases.

Physical relaxation for the Groomer: Save your back

The public often ignores it, but competition grooming is an intense physical test. Standing for hours, bent over the dog, arms in tension for scissoring or stripping… On the evening of February 7th, your back and shoulders will be tight.

This is where our offer makes all the difference compared to classic accommodation.

The Private Sauna in Brens: Muscle recovery

On our Brens estate (the closest to Graulhet), you have access to a private sauna. Upon reservation, you privatize the space for yourself or your team. Dry heat is radical for eliminating muscle tension, aches, and accumulated stress. It is the ideal recovery tool to be efficient the next day.

The Private Jacuzzi in Peyrole

If you stay at Le Cottage Bien-être in Peyrole, you have a private jacuzzi accessible 24/7. After a day of competition, immersing yourself in hot massaging water is the best possible reward. Your body will thank you.

Grooming Schools and Delegations: Our solutions for groups

Les Ciseaux d’Or is also a moment of conviviality where grooming schools and regional delegations travel as a group. Accommodating 10 people and 10 dogs is often impossible in a classic cottage.

In Brens, we designed our accommodations to be modular. We offer connecting cottages (Duos) that allow living together while separating spaces for the tranquility of dogs and humans.

In addition to conviviality, this solution is economical: you can cook on-site in our fully equipped kitchens instead of going to a restaurant for every meal.

Strategic Location: 10 minutes from the contest

Time is precious on contest mornings. You don’t want to drive 45 minutes with groomed dogs who risk getting messy or agitated in the car.

Our Brens cottages are located about 8 to 10 minutes from the center of Graulhet. It is the ideal distance: close enough to be on-site quickly, but set back enough to guarantee the calm of the countryside. Peyrole is barely further (10-12 minutes).

FAQ: Ciseaux d’Or Special

How many dogs can we bring per cottage?

We are flexible, but for everyone’s comfort, please let us know the number and breed of dogs when requesting your reservation. Our spacious cottages like Le Grand Cottage or the Duos allow hosting multiple animals without space issues.

Are the gardens enclosed?

Most of our cottages have private outdoor spaces. If you have runaway dogs or need absolute security, specify it to us so that we can guide you to the most secure cottage (like Le Cottage Bien-être or Le Gîte Nature which have well-defined gardens).

Is there an outdoor water point?

Yes, we have accessible water points if you need to rinse muddy paws after the walk, before entering the cottage. We rely on the professionalism of groomers to keep the premises clean.

Can we arrive late on Friday?

Yes, we offer autonomous arrivals via key boxes. If you come from far away after your work day at the salon, you can arrive without stress, even late.