14/10/2026
🐾 A little update, and some thoughts from me as I’m preparing to officially reopen…
I’ve really appreciated having some time away to recover from my hand surgery, and if I’m honest, I’ve also enjoyed having a proper break from the demands of running a business.
Having that time away has given me the chance to reflect on what I enjoy most about grooming, and how I want to work moving forward.
One thing I’ve always struggled with is keeping up with social media for the business. Partly because so much of what I want to talk about comes back to the same subject — the relationship between a dog’s physical health, pain and behaviour.
I sometimes feel like a broken record talking about it, but it’s something I see on almost a daily basis.
Very often, what we see as a grooming problem isn’t actually a problem with grooming itself.
A dog who struggles with handling, becomes distressed, growls, snaps or bites may be communicating fear, pain or physical discomfort that needs to be explored beyond the grooming environment.
I can adapt how I groom. I can change my handling, reduce expectations, give dogs more choice and do everything I can to make the experience as comfortable as possible.
But my job isn’t simply to find a way to get your dog groomed, despite their behaviour.
It’s to consider WHY they’re behaving that way and what might need to happen to improve their experience of grooming.
And sometimes the answers aren’t found in the grooming salon. They require veterinary investigations, appropriate pain management, behaviour support or work at home.
Managing a dog’s behaviour during grooming isn’t the same as addressing the reason it’s happening.
I genuinely enjoy helping dogs who struggle with grooming, but I can’t be the only person working towards improving their experience.
And while I understand why a dog might bite, caring about that dog doesn’t mean I should continually put myself at risk trying to groom them.
My understanding of canine behaviour doesn’t remove those risks completely, and it doesn’t create an obligation for me to keep managing them when underlying concerns aren’t being investigated.
This isn’t a change in what I believe or how I approach grooming. It’s about being clearer with the boundaries I need to work safely and sustainably.
I’m incredibly grateful for the owners who already understand this, communicate openly and put so much effort into supporting their dogs. You make a real difference, and you’re a big part of why I enjoy what I do.
I’ll be sharing an update about reopening, availability and a few changes to my working arrangements over the next couple of days.
For now, I just wanted to share a little of what’s been on my mind while I’ve been away💛
