Not every dog is the right fit for every groomer — and that’s okay.

Some dogs require more extensive grooming than others, whether that’s due to their behaviour, size, or the level of maintenance needed. In certain cases, a groom may require multiple groomers working together to ensure it’s done safely, comfortably, and to a high standard.

As a one-to-one, home-based groomer, my priority is always the wellbeing of your dog. This means being honest when a dog may need a different setup — such as a larger salon or a team environment — to give them the best possible experience.

This isn’t about turning dogs away, it’s about doing what’s right for them.

If I ever feel your dog would benefit from a different grooming environment, I’ll always explain why and help guide you in the right direction.

If your dog arrives at our salon with fleas, we will need to use our specialised flea treatment shampoo. If we find only just a few fleas, we will still need to apply the flea shampoo and still add on this cost for doing so as we are not only removing the visible fleas, but also the flea dirt buried into your dogs coat which means there may possibly be more fleas hiding which we cannot see.

Flea dirt is the faeces of adult fleas, made up primarily of digested blood from the host animal. It often looks like tiny black specks or grains of pepper scattered through an animal’s fur, particularly around the neck, back, or base of the tail. When placed on a damp paper towel, flea dirt dissolves into a reddish-brown stain, confirming that it contains blood. The presence of flea dirt is a strong indication of an active flea infestation, even if live fleas are not immediately visible. Regular grooming and checking your pet’s coat can help you spot flea dirt early and take action to prevent further discomfort or health issues.

In the event that fleas are discovered, we will need to conduct a comprehensive cleaning of our salon, including all tools and furniture, using flea spray. If we transport your dog in our vehicle, we will apply flea spray after your dog departs to mitigate any risk of cross-contamination before welcoming the next pet. Regrettably, we are unable to perform the spraying and cleaning before returning your dog home, as we aim to prevent your dog from ingesting the odour of the flea spray and other chemicals.

We also recommend washing all items your dog comes into contact with in hot water to ensure they remain flea-free.

If it looks like it will take more than 15 minutes to safely work through your dog’s matting, we will not be able to continue de-matting due to the Animal Welfare Act 2006. In these cases, the kindest and safest option for your dog is to carefully clip the coat off to relieve discomfort and prevent any unnecessary stress.

De-matting is usually carried out using a 7F blade. In more severe cases where the matting is very close to the skin, a 10 blade may be required. This is only ever used when absolutely necessary, and only when the coat is tightly pelted and cannot be safely worked through any other way.

It’s really important to understand that matting can restrict blood flow to the skin, interfere with your dog’s ability to regulate their body temperature, and may lead to irritation, discomfort, or even skin issues such as hotspots hiding underneath the coat.

Please be assured, we will always talk everything through with you first. Nothing will ever be done without your full knowledge and consent, and your dog’s comfort and wellbeing will always come first.

Absolutely! We offer a Salon-to-Home service, with travel charged from just £1.00 per mile from our Hemsworth salon. The exact cost may vary slightly depending on the type of service you book.

Baths play a really important role in the grooming process.

Before we begin clipping or styling your dog’s coat, it’s essential that the coat is properly clean and prepared. Working on a coat that hasn’t been washed and prepped can lead to an uneven finish and may also be uncomfortable for your dog if there is any dirt, tangles, or knots present.

A good bath and prep helps us achieve a much smoother, more even result, while also being much kinder to your dog’s skin and coat. It also helps protect our tools and keeps them working at their best for longer.

On top of that, it can sometimes highlight any underlying coat or skin concerns that may need a little extra attention.

If your dog has a double coat and sheds regularly, it’s really important to remove that loose, dead undercoat to keep their coat healthy and comfortable.

We’ll start by thoroughly brushing through the coat using a de-shedding rake before the bath to help lift out all that loose hair.

We then use a de-shedding shampoo during the bath, which helps to loosen and release any remaining undercoat.

This process helps reduce shedding and keeps the coat in better condition in between grooming appointments, making things more comfortable for both you and your dog.

Ear hair in dogs isn’t there by accident — it actually plays an important role in helping keep dirt and debris out of the ear canal. Removing it unnecessarily can sometimes do more harm than good.

Plucking ear hair can cause tiny micro-tears inside the ear, which may lead to irritation, infections, or complications further down the line. That’s why it’s not something that should be done routinely without good reason.

I focus on keeping ears clean and monitoring the hair to ensure it doesn’t become matted, as matting can cause discomfort and block airflow.

If ear hair does become impacted or matted, ear plucking may be necessary — but this will only be carried out with veterinary guidance or under vet supervision to ensure it’s done safely and appropriately.

As I offer a range of services throughout the day, I’m only able to focus on one dog in the salon per day.

Because of this, if you have more than one dog needing grooming, each appointment will need to be booked on separate days. This helps ensure each dog gets my full attention, care, and a calm, unhurried experience from start to finish.

We always recommend taking a gentle, gradual approach when introducing puppies to grooming. Even once they’ve had all their vaccinations, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ready for a full groom straight away.

We usually suggest starting with something simple like a bath and blow-dry, just to help them get used to the sights, sounds, and feel of the salon. This is a great way to see how your puppy copes and builds their confidence in a calm, positive way.

You’re very welcome to stay with your puppy during their first visit if you feel they need a little extra reassurance. Everything is new for them at this stage, so it can sometimes take a few visits before they fully settle into the grooming process.

Once we’ve seen how they get on and feel confident-they’re ready, we can then look at progressing them onto a full groom and style at the right time for them.

The most important thing for us is always your puppy’s comfort and wellbeing, so we’ll guide you every step of the way and make sure we’re moving at a pace that suits them.

If your dog is new to grooming, we always recommend gently introducing them to the salon environment first, as those early visits can feel a little overwhelming for them.

You’re very welcome to stay with your dog during their first session if that helps them feel more settled. Alternatively, if they come in on their own, we just kindly ask for a little extra patience, as their groom may take slightly longer while they get used to all the sights, sounds, and sensations.

Our focus is always on creating a calm, positive experience so your dog can build confidence and feel comfortable with us over time.

A full groom usually takes around 2 hours, but this can vary depending on your dog’s behaviour, size, and coat condition on the day.

We always build in a little comfort break too. After their bath and blow-dry, your dog will have a 5–10 minute rest to grab a drink of water and have a toilet break before we continue. It’s all about keeping the experience calm and enjoyable for them.

For our bath & blow-dry appointments, these typically take around 1 to 1.5 hours, again depending on coat type, thickness and behaviour.

Every dog is different, so we always work at their pace to make sure they feel relaxed and well cared for throughout their time with us.

This would be classed as a welfare groom, which means we always work at your dog’s pace and assess what they’re comfortable with on the day.

For our older dog’s, standing for long periods can sometimes be a bit too much during a full groom. To keep things as relaxed and stress-free as possible, we often recommend splitting the groom over two days. For example, we can bath and dry on day one, then complete the rest of the groom on day two.

Above all, with our senior pups, our priority is always a gentle, comfortable groom where their wellbeing comes first.

After each dog, we give their toothbrush head a really thorough clean to keep everything fresh and hygienic. It’s first rinsed in warm water to remove any leftover residue, then cleaned in an alcohol-based mouthwash to help eliminate 99.9% of bacteria.

We then pop it into our UV sterilising cabinet for 7 minutes for that extra level of sterilisation. Once it’s ready, it’s placed into a clear bag and labelled with your dog’s name (and yours too), so everything stays nicely organised.

Before your dog’s next visit, their toothbrush head is sterilised again ready for use, and the whole process is repeated after their session. Clean, safe, and cared for—just the way we like it in the salon.

Our signature bow ties are a lovely little finishing touch to our grooms and are available in limited quantities, depending on current stock. If we do happen to run out, don’t worry—you’ll be added to our waiting list and we’ll let you know as soon as they’re back in.

As these are a complimentary extra, refunds are unavailable.

To keep your pup looking their best, bow ties are designed to attach to your dog’s own collar, so please make sure they arrive wearing one.

We provide one bow tie per dog. If your pup has already had one, we’ll happily replace it once it’s looking a little tired and ready for a refresh.

Bow ties are included with full grooms and de-shedding services only—because every pampered pup deserves that extra bit of style!