Tails & Tweed Luxury Pet Grooming Abingdon

23/10/2026

October is National Pet Obesity Month and it’s a great time to talk about keeping your dog at a healthy weight.

When dogs are overweight it causes extra strain on their joints, which could lead to arthritis and cause them pain, overweight dogs are also more prone to diabetes, heart disease and breathing problems

By keeping your dog at a healthy weight with regular exercise you can help prevent and even avoid some of these problems and keep them more comfortable

We recommend speaking with your vets to find the best food for your dog nutrients wise, and working out a portion that is correct for your dog

21/10/2026

🤍 Nothing makes us feel more successful than seeing the same names in our diary, month after month.

In a world that’s always chasing the next new client, we think there’s something pretty special about the ones who keep coming back. 🐾

The dogs who know the routine. The owners who trust us with their precious family members. The relationships that grow with every visit.

For us, success isn’t just about a busy diary or a beautiful groom. It’s about the trust we build, the standards we maintain, and the little faces we get excited to see again and again. ✨

To every client who chooses Tails & Tweed time after time — thank you for being part of our story. You’re the reason we love what we do. 🤎

💬 Tell us, how long have you and your dog been coming to see us? We’d love to know!

📍 Tails & Tweed | Luxury Pet Grooming, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

20/10/2026

✂️🌍 Because we believe your pets deserve the very best.

This weekend, our very own Laura travelled to Holland to compete in her first international dog grooming competition! 🇳🇱

There was no placing this time, but every competition brings new experiences, fresh inspiration and opportunities to learn from some incredibly talented groomers across Europe.

So why are we sharing this on our salon page? 💜

Because we believe that being a great groomer means never standing still.

Even after years in the industry, we’re still pushing ourselves, refining our techniques and learning new skills. From coat care and breed-specific styling to the little details that make all the difference, there is always something new to discover.

And that passion for continued learning doesn’t just benefit us. It benefits every dog who walks through our salon door.

We want you to feel confident that when you trust us with your beloved pet, they’re in the hands of a team that genuinely cares about doing the very best we can, every single day.

We may be experienced, but we will never stop learning. 🐾✨

Here’s to new challenges, new skills and always striving to be better!

20/10/2026

💙 Teddy 💙

🐾 Little paws, big first steps! 🛁✨

A puppy’s first grooming experience is about so much more than getting clean. It’s about building trust, creating positive associations and helping them feel safe and confident for all the grooms to come. 🤍

This little one came in for their first introduction to grooming, enjoying a gentle bath and blow-dry, plenty of fuss, and lots of encouragement along the way. 🥰

We take things at their pace, allowing puppies to explore new sights, sounds and sensations without overwhelming them. There’s no rush — just patience, praise and plenty of positive experiences.

Because the goal isn’t simply a beautifully clean puppy today. It’s helping them grow into a happy, confident adult who feels comfortable coming to the groomer. ✨

🐶 Have you got a new puppy at home? Introducing them to grooming early, with the right approach, can make such a difference as they grow.

📍 Tails & Tweed | Luxury Pet Grooming in Abingdon, Oxfordshire

19/10/2026

A little appreciation post for all the lovely faces we’ve had in lately. 🐾💜

We’re genuinely so grateful for every client who trusts us with their dogs, time and time again.

We get to know their little personalities, their funny habits, their likes and dislikes — and it really does become more than just a groom.

Some have been coming to us for years, some are newer faces, but we’re grateful for every single one.

Thank you for trusting us with your dogs. It really does mean a lot. 🥰

17/10/2026

GOT A NEW PUPPY? DON’T WAIT TILL THEY NEED A HAIRCUT 🐶 ✂️

Your puppy’s first grooming experiences can shape how they feel about being groomed for the rest of their life.

A puppy groom is about:

•Building Confidence
•Positive Experiences
•Getting used to grooming
•Preventing Future Problems

We recommend that puppies come into us from the time when all vaccinations are completed! So we can build their confidence and get them used to the grooming process

Don’t wait until their coat becomes too difficult to manage!

Comment “Puppy” or message us for more information or to book your puppy in!

16/10/2026

🖤Huxley 🖤

✨ A beautiful transformation, with a little patience along the way… ✨

At just 8 months old, this handsome Cocker Spaniel is still transitioning from his puppy coat into his adult coat, which means not every hair is quite ready to come out just yet!

Handstripping isn’t simply about removing coat — it’s about understanding the coat, recognising what’s ready to come out, and knowing when to leave it alone. Rushing the process can compromise coat quality, so patience and experience are key to achieving and maintaining that beautiful, natural Cocker Spaniel coat.

The goal is always to work with the coat, not against it. Sometimes that means accepting that a young dog needs a little more time to develop, rather than chasing perfection in a single session.

And even with some puppy coat still to come through, just look at this lovely transformation! 😍

Do you love the natural finish of a traditionally handstripped coat? Let us know in the comments! 👇

📍 Tails & Tweed | Luxury Pet Grooming, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

15/10/2026

Handstripping: more than just a haircut!

Did you know that not every coat is meant to be clipped?

Handstripping is a traditional grooming technique used to maintain the texture, colour and condition of certain wire-haired coats. Rather than cutting the hair, the groomer carefully removes mature, dead hairs by hand or with specialist tools, allowing the new coat to grow through.

Which breeds can benefit from handstripping?

It’s commonly suited to many wire-coated and harsh-coated breeds, including:
🐶 Border Terriers
🐶 Wire Fox Terriers
🐶 Schnauzers
🐶 Dachshunds (wire-haired)
🐶 Welsh Terriers
🐶 Irish Terriers
🐶 Italian Spinone

Why choose handstripping?

• Helps preserve the natural, harsh texture of the coat.
• Maintains the coat’s characteristic colour and appearance.
• Supports the natural coat cycle when carried out correctly.
• Helps achieve a traditional, breed-appropriate finish.

Did you know? Clipping a suitable wire coat repeatedly can soften its texture and alter its colour over time. Handstripping helps preserve those distinctive coat qualities — which is why understanding the individual coat is so important.

Is handstripping right for every wire-haired dog?

Not necessarily! Coat type, maturity, condition, genetics and the dog’s comfort all matter. Some coats are better suited to alternative grooming methods, and a professional assessment is always the best place to start.

At Tails & Tweed in Abingdon, we have a particular passion for traditional grooming techniques and helping dogs look and feel their best.

🐾 Does your dog have a wire coat? Tell us their breed in the comments — we’d love to know!

📍 Tails & Tweed | Luxury dog grooming in Abingdon, Oxfordshire

15/10/2026

Three things I always check before picking up the brush… 🐾

Grooming starts before the first brush stroke.

👀 I check for sore spots
Any areas that look irritated, sensitive or uncomfortable need to be identified before we start.

🐕 I watch how the dog is holding themselves
Their body language can tell us a lot. Are they relaxed? Tense? Shifting away from touch? Protecting a particular area?

🔎 I properly assess the skin and coat
Not just a quick glance — I’m looking at the condition of the skin, coat, tangles, matting and anything else that might affect how we approach the groom.

It takes a few extra moments, but those moments matter.

Every dog walks through the door with a different coat, different needs and a different tolerance for grooming. The plan should start with the dog in front of us, not a predetermined haircut.

Groomers — what’s the first thing you look for when a dog arrives? And owners, did you realise this was part of the grooming process? 👇

13/10/2026

Very proud of Ella! She’s worked very hard to complete her Foundation course for dog grooming assistants!

🎓 A huge congratulations to Ella! ✂️🐾

We’re delighted to celebrate Ella, who has just completed her Foundation Course for Dog Grooming Assistants at Tails & Tweed Academy!

Taking the first steps into a new career is exciting, and building the right foundations is such an important part of that journey. From developing practical skills to gaining a deeper understanding of working safely and confidently with dogs, every step counts.

Ella, we hope you’re incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved. Thank you for choosing Tails & Tweed Academy to be part of your journey into the grooming industry. We can’t wait to see where your new skills take you! 💜

At Tails & Tweed Academy, we believe great groomers start with great foundations, expert guidance and a genuine commitment to learning.

Thinking about a future in dog grooming? Whether you’re taking your very first steps or looking to develop your skills, we’d love to talk about your options.

📩 Get in touch to find out more about our dog grooming training courses in Oxfordshire.