Centre Stage Dog Grooming

03/08/2025

Some of you already know I was very nearly taken out by Septic Shock a couple of weeks ago. I’m on the mend now, but I won’t be grooming again until the end of August. In the meantime, I’ve been using this enforced sit-down to learn Hikashop, which runs the technical end of my website. I’ve spent hours updating and revamping the product listings, though the articles are still a rather tragic and need rewriting.

Here’s where I could really use your help. I’ve stared at the screen so long I’ve gone completely word-blind... If you spot any spelling errors or anything inconsistent, can you give me a nudge please? It would be so helpful. www.centrestagedogs.co.uk

And while I’ve got you, what kind of articles would you actually want to read on the site? That’s on the to-do list for next week.

30/07/2025

Grooming Update

Hi everyone, just a quick reminder that while I’m off recovering (I was in hospital with septic shock last week), grooms are being covered by the following groomers:

Charlotte Ewin – Windlesham
Phone: 07714 002226
Instagram:

Cassie Cella – Binfield
Email: [email protected] (send an email and she’ll call you to arrange the details)

Gemma Holland – Waltham St Lawrence
Phone: 07914 831876
Instagram:

VIP clients – your next groom is already paid for, so please book straight in with any of the above.

Ad hoc clients – please also contact them directly and pay them as you would normally pay me.

All three of these groomers have worked on your dog before. I’m supervising the grooms via video call and doing a final check before the dogs go home. All grooming notes have been shared with them so everything will be done as expected.

Please support them while I rest up. I’ll be back at the end of August.

I’d be grateful if you can let me know who it is you have booked with, please drop me a dm. Many thanks!

29/07/2025

Centre Stage are so pleased to be attending this event again. It is without doubt one of the best Dog Groomer Shopping days to be had outside of Crufts. Be there or be square!!

7 weeks to the biggest demo day so far in the UK!! 💚💙💛🧡
Over 50 Breed specialists including cat demos! 🐈‍🐩🐕
To get your ticket click below:
https://buy.stripe.com/3cI9AS2833MK7SS3fw00001

28/06/2025

Why Clipping a Double-Coated Dog Short Doesn’t Keep Them Cool (but this will).

When summer hits, it’s natural to think “less hair = cooler dog,” but if your pooch is double-coated, that logic goes out the window. Double-coated breeds like Huskies, Retrievers, Border Collies and Poms have two layers of fur for a reason - a soft undercoat for insulation and a tougher topcoat that protects them from sun, wind and insects.

Shaving or clipping them short doesn’t help them stay cool - in fact, it can do the opposite. Without their topcoat, they’re more exposed to heat, sunburn and even skin problems. Trimming it shorter doesn’t do much either, as the undercoat is still sitting there like a woolly jumper in July.

So what actually helps? A good old-fashioned bath and blast.
Washing and blasting your dog loosens impacted undercoat and shifts dead hair that’s trapping heat against the skin. Once that’s gone, air can circulate properly and your dog can regulate their body temperature the way nature intended. It’s like swapping a thick winter duvet for a breezy cotton sheet — same dog, way more comfortable.

So skip the clippers and treat them to a proper de-shedding session instead. You’ll be amazed what comes out of that coat (like my fluffy friend in the pic, who expertly "sculpted" this morning from just one Pomeranian’s deshed last week, yes, all that came off one dog!)

Plus, they'll smell fresh, look fab, and feel a hundred times lighter, which has to be a total win, right?

Have you got questions about grooming your double-coated dog? Drop them below or pop in and chat to me, I love coat talk.

23/06/2025

💥 REAL TALK: 2025 GROOMING COSTS 💥

Last June, I posted the 2024 figures. This year? They’ve gone up again. And the numbers don’t lie.

📈 A 1.5 hour groom needs to be at least £54.32 to be viable in 2025.
That’s a 27% increase on last year.

Here’s the kicker:
💸 That price only pays the groomer National Minimum Wage.
Yep – no matter how experienced she is, how many qualifications she has, or how much she’s sunk into training and setting up.

To put it in perspective:
🎓 A 20-day training course? Around £4,100.
🛠️ Setting up a salon? Minimum £10,000.

So when someone’s charging less than £54.32 for an hour and a half groom, they’re likely:
🚨 Cutting corners,
🚨 Starving themselves,
🚨 Or stuck in delusion.

This isn’t about being “bougie” or greedy.
It’s about surviving. And giving dogs the safe, professional care they deserve – without groomers wrecking their health or finances to do it.

🎥 Watch the full cost breakdown in the video – the truth’s all there.

To the public: please understand.
To groomers: charge what your work is worth. You’re not being cheeky. You’re being realistic.

17/06/2025

✨ From scruffy to Centre State Show-Stopper ✨

Meet this gorgeous Yorkie after her bath, blowdry, tidy up and comb-out—and yes, she really did leave the salon looking this glamorous.

I take real pride in what I do. Every dog I groom gets one-to-one care, gentle handling and a finish that brings out their absolute best. Whether it’s a light tidy-up or a full transformation, your dog will be treated like the star they are.

🐾 I'm based in Ascot | International Certified Master Groomer | Calm, experienced grooming

📆 Most of my regulars book a year in advance (yes, really!) — but I do occasionally have adhoc appointments available. If you'd like your dog to have their own Centre Stage moment, send me a message or give me a ring.

📞 Call/text/WhatsApp: 07767 341424

29/05/2025

Ten Years with Lyme: A Post for All My Fellow Dog Groomers
This week marks ten years since I was bitten by a tick and infected with Lyme disease. Every year, right around this time, my body relives the trauma – like clockwork. What feels like “summer flu” rolls in, burning fever, swollen glands, skin that hurts to touch (I can’t even think about brushing my hair), zero appetite, crushing fatigue, and brain fog so thick I can barely string a sentence together.
Yesterday my temperature hit 105.9°F (41°C) - I was back in bed, shivering and aching, for over 15 hours. Today it’s down to 99.9°F (37.7°C) but I still feel about 3/10 if I’m being generous.
Here’s the weird bit, if you saw me, you’d probably think I looked fine. No dark circles, skin’s clear and bright, hair's not brushed but still platted up from last night... You’d never guess I was battling something so intense. It’s invisible. But it’s real. And it makes functioning - never mind working - almost impossible. My spelling’s shot, I can’t find half the words I’m looking for, and I’m knackered just walking across the room.
And to the GP at Ascot Medical Centre who confidently told me Lyme disease “doesn’t happen around here” - I asked, I begged, I even printed and brought in the NICE Guidelines - but you denied me the antibiotics that could’ve changed this outcome. That arrogance changed my life. I cannot forgive you for that. Ever.
But here’s why I’m posting this. It’s not for sympathy.
It’s for EVERY DOG GROOMER who’s been handed a dog and told, “He’s just being awkward today,” or “She’s usually fine, must be playing up.”
I want you to pause. Rethink. What if that dog isn’t being “difficult”? What if they feel exactly like I do today: feverish, foggy, sensitive to touch and just not up to it?
I wouldn’t dream of sitting in a hairdresser’s chair like this. But our dogs? They don’t get a say.
So today, let’s be kinder. Let’s be gentler. Let’s be the people who ask, “Are you okay?” - even when no one else does.
You never know what’s going on beneath the surface. You don’t know what you don’t know.
Let’s talk about this. Have you ever groomed a dog that you later realised just wasn’t well? How do you handle days when your gut says, “Something’s not right”?
Drop it in the comments. Let’s make space for this conversation.

05/04/2025

Let’s talk qualifications – is your groomer really the real deal? 🤔

I’ve done as much research as I can (for now), but let’s be honest, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I’m sure someone will point out a mistake or suggest other qualifications I’ve missed. 👀 And that’s exactly what I want to hear!

So here’s the thing – nearly all dog grooming qualifications in the UK will cost between £3K-£5K and usually take place at a dog grooming school. But here’s the kicker: groomers with years of experience should seriously consider the ICMG dog grooming certification UK, which can be done online for theory and over Zoom for practicals. No excuses, right? 💻🐶

But here’s what really gets me… I’m honestly tired of hearing things like, “I’m booked up for months, so why do I need a piece of paper to prove I can do the job?” 🤦‍♀️

The truth is – you don’t know what you don’t know. Without continual study and CPD (continuous professional development), how can you possibly keep up with new techniques, safety standards, and best practices? 🧐

What do you think?

Do you believe qualifications really matter in the grooming world? Are you a groomer who’s skipped formal qualifications? Let’s chat below!👇

And dog owners – what’s most important to you when choosing a groomer? 🐕💬

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💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments! Let’s get this conversation going – I’d love to hear your experiences or concerns.

💥 Share this with a groomer or dog owner who needs to read it!

25/03/2025

I'm very excited to be getting this table from Fisk Enterprises Limited soon! Look how smoothly it goes up and down and there is still good storage space beneath it which will be vital in my little salon!

05/03/2025

I ❤️ my job

01/02/2025

📢 Calling all dog owners! 🐶✨

Does your pup need a fresh smile and perfectly polished paws? 🦷✨🐾

Centre Stage Dog Grooming is holding our next Canine Teeth Cleaning & Nail Grinding Day on Monday, 10th February. This service is open to dogs of all sizes and breeds – because every pup deserves a healthy mouth and comfy paws!

📅 Date: Monday, 10th February
💰 Price: £60
📍 Location: Centre Stage Dog Grooming
📞 Book now: 07767 341424

🚨 Limited appointments available! Don’t miss out – book today before slots fill up!

🐶 Tag a friend who needs this for their dog 🐾💖