Dalilove Dog Grooming

22/10/2026

Some indoor game ideas for rainy days

Check out our blog on how to entertain your Puppy / Dog on these rainy days.

https://jordandogtraining.com.au/entertaining-your-dog-on-rainy-afternoons/

07/10/2026

⛈️ Storm season is starting… how does your dog cope?

We are coming into storm season again and while some dogs couldn’t care less about thunder, others know a storm is coming long before we do.

If your dog gets worried, make things as comfortable as you can. Close the curtains or blinds, make the room a bit darker and put the TV or some music on to help block out some of the thunder.

And yes, you can comfort your dog. You aren’t rewarding them for being scared.

If they’re still able to engage with you, try to redirect them rather than letting them sit and focus on every rumble.

Scatter some treats around the room and let them sniff them out. Give them a favourite chew or stuffed Kong. Do a few really easy things they know well — sit, paw, touch — and reward them. Or simply get a favourite toy out and have a little game.

Sniffing is especially good, so even throwing a handful of treats into a towel or around the lounge room and letting them search can give them something else to concentrate on.

But watch your dog. If they’re too scared to eat, play or interact with you, don’t keep trying to distract them. At that point, just let them go wherever they feel safest and stay nearby if that’s what they want.

And please check your gates and doors. Storms are one of those times when even a normally sensible dog can panic and try to get out.

If your dog really struggles with storms every year, talk to your vet before the next big storm arrives rather than waiting until they’re already terrified.

Basically, comfort them, redirect them if you can, and listen to what your dog is telling you. 🐾

26/09/2026

🎄 ONLY 12 FRIDAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS! 🎄

Yes… I checked twice because that doesn’t sound possible either! 😂

Now is a really good time to have a look at your calendar and start thinking about your dog’s grooming appointments between now and Christmas.

🐾 Check your holidays – are you going away?
🐾 Work backwards from Christmas and make sure your dog’s appointments fit around your plans.
🐾 If your dog is on a regular 4, 6 or 8-week schedule, check that their next appointments are booked.
🐾 And if you’d like your dog looking and smelling lovely for Christmas, please don’t leave it until December to organise it!

The weeks leading up to Christmas are always my busiest time of the year, and once those appointments are gone, I can’t magically squeeze another dog into the day — no matter how nicely you ask. 😂

Have a quick look at your diary now, check your holidays and message me if you need to organise or adjust your upcoming appointments.

Let’s get those Christmas grooms sorted before the silly season really begins! 🎄🐶✂️

19/09/2026

Positive Reinforcement Starts Young 🐾

One of the most important things we can teach a puppy is that new experiences are safe and can actually be fun.

Arlo just had his second bath, and afterwards he happily jumped straight back in to investigate, just in case there happened to be a biscuit hiding in there. 😂 There wasn’t this time, but occasionally there is!

That’s what positive reinforcement is about. It’s not bribing them with treats every time; it’s building a history of good experiences so they want to participate.

Bathing, drying, nails, brushing and handling are all things our dogs need to learn. Introducing them gradually, rewarding curiosity and never forcing them through fear helps build confidence that can last a lifetime.

At this age, I’m much more interested in Arlo thinking “Ooh, maybe there are biscuits in there!” than “Oh no, not the bath!” ❤️🐾

31/08/2026

🐾 A little grooming tip…

Have you ever noticed how puppies seem to go through "fear periods"?

One week they're happy to explore the world. The next, the vacuum cleaner is terrifying, a stranger is suspicious, and the rubbish bin they've walked past twenty times suddenly looks dangerous!

That's completely normal.

It's also why those early grooming visits are so important.

A puppy who only comes to the groomer when they're matted and desperately need a full haircut has to deal with everything at once. A bath, the dryer, clippers, scissors, nail clipping, being handled by a stranger... it can be overwhelming.

Instead, I like to introduce grooming in small, positive steps.

A quick visit to say hello.
A gentle bath.
Standing on the table.
Learning that the dryer isn't scary.
Having their feet touched.
Lots of praise, patience and breaks.

Every positive experience builds confidence for the next one.

That's why I always say I'm not just grooming the puppy in front of me—I'm helping create the dog they'll be for the next 10 to 15 years.

If you're bringing home a new puppy (or you've recently adopted a young dog), I highly recommend this course from iGroomSchool. It walks you through exactly how to prepare your dog at home before their first professional groom.

🐶 Preparing Your Puppy for Professional Grooming

A little preparation now can make a lifetime of grooming easier—for both you and your dog. 🐾

29/08/2026

🐾 Sunday Story – Part 3

How my approach to grooming changed over the years...

If you had asked me twenty years ago how to groom a dog, my answer would probably have been very different to what it is today.

Not because I didn't care.

But because, like many groomers, I was taught that the goal was to get the groom done.

Over the years, the dogs taught me something different.

They taught me that every behaviour has a reason.

A puppy that won't stand still isn't being naughty.

A dog that pulls their paw away isn't being difficult.

A dog that growls isn't trying to be dominant.

They're communicating.

The more I learnt about dog behaviour, the more I realised that slowing down often achieved far more than pushing through.

That doesn't mean every dog loves grooming. Some never will.

My goal isn't to make every dog love being groomed.

My goal is to help them feel safe.

Safe enough to trust me.

Safe enough to cope.

Safe enough to come back next time without fear.

A few years ago I started learning even more about behaviour-informed grooming. I've spent countless hours reading, watching webinars, learning from others and, most importantly, learning from the dogs themselves.

Most recently I completed the Modern Principles of Behaviour-Informed Dog Grooming course, and it confirmed something I'd already discovered through experience...

Kindness isn't a soft option.

It's often the most effective one.

These days, some of my proudest moments have nothing to do with the finished haircut.

They're the puppy who stands still for a few extra seconds.

The nervous rescue dog who walks through my gate with a wagging tail.

Or the owner who says,

"I never thought my dog would actually enjoy coming to the groomer."

Those are the moments that remind me I'm on the right path.

Because at Dalilove, I'm not just grooming dogs.

I'm building confidence...
..one groom at a time. 🐾

27/08/2026

🐾 Friday Did You Know...?

Did you know that a wet coat mats much faster than a dry one?

It's something I see quite often.

A dog goes for a swim, gets caught in the rain, or has a play with the sprinkler. They dry naturally, everyone carries on with their day... and a few weeks later, those little knots have turned into mats.

When hair gets wet, it stretches and tangles much more easily. As it dries, those tangles tighten, especially if your dog has a long, curly or double coat.

If your dog gets soaked, try to:
🐾 Towel dry them as much as possible.
🐾 Brush them once they're almost dry.
🐾 Pay extra attention behind the ears, under the collar, in the armpits and around the tail—these areas tend to mat first.

A little extra effort after a swim or rainy walk can save a lot of brushing (or shaving!) later.

After all, it's much easier to prevent a mat than it is to remove one. 🐾

24/08/2026

🐾 A little grooming tip…

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is…

“We’ll wait until he needs his first haircut before taking him to the groomer.”

It sounds logical, but it’s actually one of the hardest ways to introduce grooming.

Your puppy’s first visit shouldn’t be about getting the perfect haircut. It should be about building confidence.

Imagine your very first visit to the dentist included fillings, X-rays and a tooth being pulled. Chances are you wouldn’t be excited to go back!

Puppies learn best when everything is introduced in small, positive steps. Meeting a new person, standing on the table, hearing the clippers, feeling the vibration, having their paws touched, a warm bath, a gentle blow dry… they’re all big experiences for a little puppy.

When we take the time to build confidence first, grooming becomes something they’re comfortable with instead of something they simply have to endure.

That’s why I love seeing puppies before they need a full groom. Those first few visits aren’t about creating a beautiful haircut, they’re about creating a dog who is happy to come back for the next 10–15 years.

After all, confidence starts long before the first clip. 🐾

22/08/2026

🐾 Sunday Story – Part 2

Where did the name Dalilove come from?

One question I get asked quite a bit is...

"Why Dalilove?"

The answer is actually pretty simple.

I've always had a soft spot for Dalmatians.

The "Dali" comes from Dalmatians, and the "love"... well, that speaks for itself.

Long before Dalilove Dog Grooming existed, I was breeding Dalmatians under my registered kennel prefix, Dalilove. Although I haven't had a litter for around ten years, I'm still a registered breeder and the name has always been close to my heart.

So when I started my own grooming business from home in 2022, there was never really another name to consider.

Dalilove already represented everything I wanted my business to be.

A genuine love of dogs.
A calm, caring environment.
And treating every dog as an individual.

Over the years, I've learnt that grooming is about so much more than making a dog look nice.

It's about trust.

It's about patience.

And it's about sending dogs home feeling just as good as they look.

Every dog that walks through my gate becomes part of the Dalilove story, and I feel incredibly lucky that so many families trust me with their four-legged family members.

I think the name still suits me perfectly.

Because at the end of the day...

It's always been about the dogs. ❤️🐾

20/08/2026

🐾 A little grooming tip…

Have you ever brushed your dog and thought…

“Wow, I’m getting so much hair out!”

That’s actually a good thing.

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that shedding and matting are the same thing. They’re not.

Shedding is completely normal. Healthy hairs reach the end of their life, fall out and make way for new ones. Breeds like Labradors, Border Collies and Dalmatians shed all year round, with bigger seasonal sheds in spring and autumn.

Matting is something different. Mats happen when loose hair doesn’t come out. Instead, it gets trapped in the coat and tangles tighter and tighter. Over time those tangles become little knots, and little knots become one big mat.

Think of it like this… shedding is your dog changing clothes. Matting is wearing the same jumper for months without ever brushing it.

Mats aren’t just untidy. They pull on the skin every time your dog moves, trap moisture and dirt, hide grass seeds and parasites, and can even make it difficult for the skin to breathe. They can become painful long before you notice them.

The good news? Regular brushing at home, combined with professional grooming, removes the loose coat before it has a chance to turn into mats.

If you’re not sure whether your dog is shedding, matting, or both, just ask. I’m always happy to show you what to look for and the best way to manage your dog’s coat.

After all, it’s much easier to brush out loose hair than to shave out painful mats. 🐾