08/06/2026
This is the core of our grooming ethos too. That beautiful groom will come with time and patience, as the pup gets more and more comfortable with every visit.
For a very long time the grooming industry has celebrated a groomer's ability to finish a groom from beginning to end, even better if the dog looks beautiful into the bargain.
And don't get me wrong, completing a groom is absolutely the goal of any groomer, including myself - but not at the expense of a positive emotional experience for the dog.
It's true that I've come to believe that completion isn't always the best measure of success.
👉 Sometimes a dog arrives feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or even unwell.
👉 Sometimes they have a history of difficult grooming and/or handling experiences.
👉 And sometimes, they're simply having a bad day.
In those moments when we are faced with a dog who is not in the right frame of mind for strenuous activities and physical harassment, success looks more like getting the essentials done with minimal stress.
A skilled groomer isn't someone who can force a dog through grooming tasks regardless of how the dog feels.
A skilled groomer (to me) is someone who can recognise, acknowledge and, RESPECT, when a dog is struggling then ADAPT their plan REGARDLESS of what a person might think.
It's about prioritising the dog's EMOTIONAL wellbeing and experience.
Every 👏 single 👏 time 👏!
Because every grooming appointment is teaching the dog something.
They're either learning:
✔️ I am safe
✔️ My communication is respected
✔️ Good things happen during grooming
OR, they are learning the exact opposite.
Some of my proudest appointments haven't resulted in a complete groom but instead resulted in a dog leaving more relaxed than when they arrived.
Sometimes success is stopping a task BEFORE trust is lost.
I believe we should be celebrating good communication more, improved welfare and the building of trust between groomer and dog - all of which are mandatory for long-lasting, positive grooming sessions.
Because the way a dog perceives grooming is more important than being able to style a dog to breed standard.
