13/10/2026
A massive shout-out to Barca’s mum and dad!
Barca hasn't been with his family since he was a puppy, so when he first came to me for grooming, let's just say it didn't go particularly well! 😅
He HATED it. He couldn't sit still, tried to fling himself out of the bath, off the table... you name it, he tried it!
But here's where his lovely mum and dad deserve some recognition ❤️
They've brought Barca to see me every 6 weeks, stayed with him throughout his grooms to help him feel more comfortable, and most importantly, they've been putting in the work at home. Consistently.
And you know what? Today was actually a really good grooming day! 🥹
Barca managed to sit still for most of his groom, was noticeably better in the bath and coped so much better with the dryer. Was he perfect? No! But that's not what we're aiming for.
We're aiming for a dog who feels safer, more comfortable and more confident with the grooming process. And today, we saw just how far he's come. ❤️
Here's something worth thinking about...
If a dog lives for 10 years and visits the groomer every 6 weeks for a 2-hour appointment, they'll spend approximately 173 hours being groomed in their entire lifetime. That's less than 0.2% of their life!
Which means over 99.8% of their life is spent somewhere other than the grooming salon.
And that is why the work you put in at home matters so much.
As groomers, we can build trust, adapt our handling, work at the dog's pace and make their experience as positive as possible. But we only see them for a tiny fraction of their lives.
The consistency, patience and practice that happens between appointments can make the biggest difference.
Barca is a perfect example of what can happen when owners and groomers work together.
So thank you, Barca's mum and dad, for showing up for him, putting in the effort and not giving up when things were difficult.
You should be really proud of him (and you). I know I am!
