Furry Dogmother Huyton

01/04/2025

Ive excelled my Canva skills today 😁

Please see the days I have availability. They are all 2 hour slots, very limited and go fast.

I only groom small to medium breeds due to lifting.

Massage, Reiki and Nail Clipping all breeds and sizes are ok 👍

I don't offer collection or drop off but can recommend an excellent mobile groomer if that's what you need for your dog.

31/03/2025

6 Things You Can Do to Help Your Dog Prepare for a Grooming Session

Ok.... its 14 slides but it's full of detail to help our 🐕

I love detail and have been studying hard to understand it and want owners to understand a bit more too.

Please message me for advice, I'm always happy to help.

#

23/03/2025

Have you ever wondered 🤔 if your dog would benefit from massage?

Please come and see me for a FREE muscular health check on your dog.

Ill be doing my palpation routine and explaining how massage is beneficial for our dogs both physically and emotionally YES it can improve their health and happiness 😊

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KH3BRFafX/

23/03/2025

Canine Arthritis Management

20/03/2025

Yellow Dog UK

20/03/2025

Teddy

How time flies as he's almost 6 and has been coming since he was a puppy. How good is that! I have a lot of clients who stay with me and I really encourage this as it's better for your dog, they get used to the groomer, their environment and it does reduce their stress. Some dogs do stress! We have to help them.

I love ❤️ working with dogs and I prioritise their wellbeing over vanity. However, we can achieve a really nice style if they're introduced slowly and patiently.

Teddy is a really good example 👏

20/03/2025

Are you ready to walk for a cause? Register for Parade of Paws today!

Join us on May 31st for a 1-2 mile walk to raise funds in support of SHS animals awaiting their forever homes. Bring your kiddos and fur babies, enjoy music, food & drinks, a vendor fair, and more!

Register today: spokanehumanesociety.org/parade-of-paws-2025/. See you there! 🐾

10/03/2025

10/03/2025

"Just a generation ago if you went near a dog when he was eating and the dog growled, somebody would say, 'Don't go near the dog when he's eating!, what are you crazy?' Now the dog gets euthanized. Back then, dogs were allowed to say, NO. Dogs are not allowed to say no anymore...They can't get freaked out, they can't be afraid, they can never signal 'I'd rather not.' We don't have any kind of nuance with regard to dogs expressing that they are uncomfortable, afraid, angry, or in pain, worried, or upset. If the dog is anything other than completely sunny and goofy every second, he goes from a nice dog to an 'AGGRESSIVE' dog."
- Jean Donaldson

10/03/2025

Grooming Dogs is more than just a hair cut. There are so many things that affect their experience and behaviour in the Grooming environment.

I look at the whole picture not just how we want them to look. Their behaviour provides so much information about how they are feeling.

This video really is just 'the tip of the iceberg? and it shows how difficult grooming can be for both our dogs and groomers.

01/03/2025

Know of any podcasts or zoom shows looking for a guest? 😀

I’m looking to do more interviews about the benefits of Reiki. 🙌🏼

Ideal for shows about Dogs, Dog Groomers, Horses, Cats, Veterinary, Stress, and any specific Health conditions or wellness related.

Tag some shows or hosts that would be a good fit and feel free to share! Thank you 🙏🏼

01/03/2025

This is one reason I have stayed as a one to one groomer and treat every dog as an individual. Im not fully holistic but my aim is to move more in this direction and Im currently studying with Sue Williamson Taking the Grrr Out Of Grooming Dogs My Clinical Canine massage therapy and Reiki are fully holistic. This lady is a fully qualified holistic groomer and if anyone is not fully aware of what holistic or consent based grooming is please read and check out her qualifications.

Responsibilities

A few months back I attended a great seminar run by Trevor Cooper, all about dog law. He discussed the animal welfare act in depth and explained how it applies to each of us.

As groomers, as soon as the guardian drops their dog into our care we become the temporary keepers of that dog, meaning we are liable for their welfare at that time. This raised a really interesting question in my mind … if a dog enters my salon and they are matted, have over grown claws or a skin condition that needs to be bathed then according to the animal welfare act it’s my responsibility to rid them of the matting, trim the claws or bath them, simple enough right? But… what if the dog is so distressed by the clippers, or goes into a severe state of panic when being bathed or having their nails trimmed that I choose not to continue the appointment - am I still liable? Or does it revert back to the guardian for allowing the dog to get into this condition in the first place?

There is no black and white answer. In a court of law it would probably depend on who had the better lawyers.

I really do feel like one of the biggest contributory factors to groomers “pushing a dog over threshold” is because of the above situation. No-one wants to see a dog suffer, and yet groomers are usually faced with dogs in poor conditions every single day. We do our best for each one of them, but more often than not the physical welfare is put ahead of the emotional. Why? Because you can see the physical damage. Once they leave your salon the groomer is no longer liable for any emotional consequences of what the dog has been through. And more often than not the guardians have no clue what the dog has had to endure either, they just see that their dog is no longer matted so it’s problem solved right?

But what about the next time they come for a groom? The fear of the last experience etched so deeply in their mind that they need to be dragged through the door? The guardian still can’t brush the dog and so once again the groomer feels forced to shave the dog off to free them of matting. The dog’s aversion to clippers becomes stronger and harder to heal. At this point a behaviourist may be called in followed closely by the vets.

The groomer feels like a failure, the guardian feels like a failure and worst of all the dog is emotionally traumatised.

In my opinion there is no one guilty party in these situations. We are all responsible. The breeder should be making sure prospective guardians know how to properly care for the dogs coat, the guardian should be making sure the dog is comfortable being handled and the groomer should be supporting the guardian and making sure they have the right tools and equipment. If the dog hates being brushed then the guardian should be addressing this first before going to a groomer and if the groomer identifies a dog is becoming stressed at a particular process they should be feeding this back to the guardian and working with them to change the dogs emotional response - not just pushing through to get the job done.

Is it time consuming? Yes. Is it expensive to go through training and behaviour consultations? More often than not yes. But it’s all part of being a guardian of an animal, whether permanent or temporary.

Rather than playing the blame game, let’s all put our hands up and admit our part. Let’s all take responsibility and do better 🐾

01/03/2025

If you would like your dog to have a consistent groomer (me), 21 years experience, fully qualified, 2 hour slot groomed at their pace and pleasure then please book in.

Appointments are limited. Please text for a booking link.

Small to medium breeds only for grooming (not a mobile or collection service).

Massage and nail clipping all breeds and sizes are welcome.

29/01/2025

Exactly this 👏

I’ve barely scratched the surface of my Dynamic Dog course and it’s already sent my brain into complete overdrive.

Undiagnosed pain in dogs is something I am just so passionate about but the more I’ve researched and learnt, the more of a reality it’s becoming that we truly are in a canine welfare pandemic.

I can say in confidence that it’s near on impossible to find a conformationally sound dog anymore. Dietary issues are on the rise, skin conditions and of course, any form of pain in a dog will lead to more perceived behavioural problems. I say perceived because in my opinion these aren’t dogs misbehaving, these are dogs who are desperately trying to communicate with us. They are screaming for help - some louder than others.

Dogs are the ultimate pros when it comes to hiding pain. In fact for most, it won’t become apparent to us until the pain is unbearable for them.

I currently have the privilege of sharing my life with an aging dog. But with that privilege comes great heartache. To the untrained eye, he may look perfectly happy and healthy, but for me I can see the subtle signs that things are starting to decline. Yes he’s desperate to go for a walk when I pick up his lead, but very quickly I can see the scuffing of his back paws. His gait is gradually getting worse and I can see the muscle wastage in his hind legs. His fur has random areas that have parted or changed texture. Despite three different pain killers, he still has moments where he is licking the furniture or panting when on the sofa. He’s become a lot more clingy and confused.

Had I known 9 years ago what I know now, I would have gotten x-rays and started physio therapy with him right from the get go. I would have adapted his activities to make sure they were suitable for him and not just convenient for me. The thought that he may have been suffering with chronic pain for years breaks me; but I can’t beat myself up for what I didn’t know.

All I can do now is monitor the changes in his behaviour, regularly check in with the vet and frequently go through the quality of life assessment.

As humans, we need to do better. We need to start learning more about the animals we share our lives with. We need to understand the way they communicate and the way they should move.

My mission for this year is to make more people aware of pain and the impact it has on behaviour. I want to be a part of the much needed evolution of the grooming industry that takes into account the problems of poor conformation, diet and undiagnosed pain.

I don’t know how exactly, but I will do it. For Monty, for Max and for as many other dogs as I can 🐾

29/01/2025

Dog Behaviour - Trigger Stacking - Candle Analogy

I'm currently studying how to observe, handle, and keep dogs calm dogs during their groom. Im also learning what we can do in the lead up to their groom! This module has completely made me re-think and Ive pulled together an article for you to read because it's joint working that helps between dog owner, groomer and wherever else they may visit ie vet, doggy daycare etc etc ....

25/12/2024

16/12/2024

Dogs need space too! Especially with all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, make sure your dog gets the space they need!

Whether it's during a holiday party, fireworks, or on a walk, your dog deserves some space too!

https://www.yellowdoguk.co.uk 💛