VA VA GROOM

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas to all my customers, followers and supporters. Just settled down with the dog to watch our favourite Christmas Eve film, can you guess what it is?

21/12/2024

My Christmas present to myself arrived in the post this morning. I cannot tell how excited I’ve been for this, and it has not disappointed. I’m heading off to a cafe now to start my planning.

I have been very quiet on social media recently, partly run out of steam, partly run out of ideas, partly lack of organisation and partly time just getting away from me, well not anymore!

Thank you Rachel Spencer, I absolutely love it 🤩

19/12/2024

This is totally what I do looking up at the clouds.

09/12/2024

When your Spotify is hi-jacked by dogs and your husband! I like to put plinkerty plonkerty music on for the dogs, and when my husband is listening to podcasts I resort to the sleeping forecast on BBC Sounds. My music just hasn’t had a look in on my Spotify Wrapped this year.

07/11/2024

2 more sleeps 🤞

Are you a Northern Region finalist share this to your profile or page let’s get this party started 💜

30/10/2024

Having done my Level 3 Dog Grooming & Salon Management Diploma and my Level 5 Holistic Dog Grooming Behaviourist Diploma, both IPET Network qualifications, it would be an honour to be in for a chance for an iAward and champion dog-centric grooming , hint hint!

iAwards 2025 - NOW OPEN //

IPET Network are THRILLED to launch the iAwards in conjunction with Groomers, My Pet Online and Andis. These awards are to celebrate the best in education and learning in the animal care sector and nominations are now OPEN but closing at 10am on Monday 16th December 2024. This is your chance to celebrate the WINS by highlighting business and individuals who focus on:

🤩Welfare
🤩Inspiration
🤩New Knowledge
🤩Success

The awards are open to all in the sector and we want to hear what makes those in the sector great!

The awards are FREE TO ENTER but tickets to attend the iAwards ceremony are now on sale (tickets are limited so get yours today!) The ceremony is being held on Sunday 19th January 2025 in Cheshire and is set to be a night to remember.

Nominate and find out more here: https://www.ipetnetwork.co.uk/news-stories-ipet-network/iawards/
Buy your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/iawards-2025-tickets-922903137127

The iAwards is the evening before our annual iPET Network POW WOW conference where our Training Providers are invited to attend a complimentary day of professional development and networking.

Follow the dedicated socials for the iAwards here and to find out more:
IAwards Event

Good luck and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the event!

IPET NETWORK, FOR PEOPLE, FOR PETS, FOR THE FUTURE.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ipetnetwork.co.uk
Tel: 0800 433 4700

28/10/2024

Tired of buying expensive enrichment toys that your dog is bored of after 30 seconds? Here is a cheap and easy enrichment idea that you can recreate over and over as required. Start off with loosely filled with treats so your dog does not get frustrated and lose interest if they can’t get them out, then pack the tighter and tighter each time to increase the challenge. For bigger dogs use kitchen towel inners.

23/10/2024

Rest assured that no aversive training methods are ever used at VA VA GROOM.

The PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report is the UK's largest annual assessment of pet wellbeing.

The 2024 (PAW) Report reveals worrying trends about dog training in the UK and how using aversive tools and techniques are harming, not helping our dogs.

The report tells us that using positive, reward-based training is much better for dogs, helping them feel safer and more secure. It also highlights the need for better education on effective and humane training methods.

The PDSA says;

'An issue that may be contributing to confrontational behaviour and poor welfare in dogs is the use of aversive training methods'

Full report here 👇
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/.../pdsa.../paw-report-2024/dogs

19/10/2024

This article is not specific to grooming but does explain some of the techniques used in holistic grooming.

Sadly and because of the way they are often treated and misunderstood, there are many scared dogs in our communities. When we live or work with dogs who fear things, or even fear us, we have to adopt certain strategies and communicate slightly differently. Supporting a fearful dog is not about forci...

17/10/2024

This is a fascinating and insightful read, and rest assured at VA VA GROOM, slip leads or neck nooses are not used. In fact 99.99% of the time I don’t use restraints, opting for a low table or a floor groom where no restraints are required , or using my hand or arm to gently support.

✨Structures around your Dogs Neck ✨

Collar V Harness. Always a controversial subject, here’s the reason why I will always prefer a harness for your dog to protect those important structures around your dogs neck. Contrary to believe harnesses do NOT encourage your dog to pull, (always hearing this), lead pulling is often a training issue.

🤔 Did you know that if your dog pulls on a collar/ head collar/halti, you may be harming and causing damage to structures around your dog’s neck?
Please read …

~Muscles:- collar damage can cause contusions, strains, pain, injury to the muscles of the neck

~ Spinal cord & nerves:- collar damage may result in narrowing of the spinal canal,osteoarthritis and herniated discs, can also impinge the nerves causing pain and impaired neurological functions

- Nerves:-The vagus nerve is one of the most important structures of your dog’s nervous system. It originates at the neck level and it controls multiple life-essential organs such as the heart, lungs, stomach and the intestinal tract. Restricting the blood to this nerve may lead to dysfunction in these systems in your dog.

~Arteries & Veins:- collar damage may cause pressure on these blood vessels causing higher blood pressure in the brain and raised intra-ocular pressure, long-term effects may be impaired blood circulation in the brain.
Pulling on the neck increases pressure on the jugular vein. This can cause a build-up of pressure around the brain or can affect the flow of cerebral-spinal fluid, either of which can lead to epilepsy in pre-disposed dogs.

~Larynx & Oesophagus:- collar damage may cause difficulties in swallowing & choking and shortness of breath in your dog.

~Trachea:- collar damage may cause the cartilage rings to flatten or break, resulting in a narrower diameter and thus respiratory problems

-Hyoid apparatus:- a group of bones and cartilages that suspend the tongue and larynx. Trauma to these structures can cause damage and even fractures. (Thankfully very rare).

-Thyroid Gland. In a July 2015 Peter Dobias, DVM, notes the high rate of thyroid disease among large breeds of dogs who often pull strongly when on-leash
The thyroid gland is located in your dog's neck, where it produces thyroid hormones including thyroxine (T4), along with several other important thyroid hormones. When dogs pull, the thyroid gland can become inflamed and attacked/destroyed by the dog’s own immune system. This damage can cause a deficit of thyroid hormone and is termed “hypothyroidism”

-Structures around the eye. Scientists have found that pressure inside the eye was significantly increased when pressure was applied to a dog’s neck from its collar. Increased eye pressure can create additional problems for dogs already suffering from corneas, glaucoma, or eye injuries.

🙏 If you’re pulling the dog along by the collar or your dogs in front pulling you, please, please consider your dogs neck and the damage this can cause to your dog. Please consider a correctly fitted harness.

References:-

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4925585/

https://www.k9bridle.com/dogs-that-pull-on-the-lead/

https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/news/news-articles/2020/05/collars-risk-causing-neck-injuries-in-dogs,-study-shows

https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/dog-collar-injuries-can-cause-thyroid-disease #:~:text=One%20cause%20of%20hypothyroidism%20that%20is%20often%20missed&text=Trauma%20to%20the%20thyroid%20gland,to%20injuries%20by%20dog%20collars.

-injuries
,
- -dogs

17/10/2024

As an holistic groomer dealing with anxious and traumatised dogs, I am very aware of my own body language and facial expressions when around them. And here is why.

Dogs are incredibly in tune with us, much more than we sometimes give them credit for. It’s not just our words or actions they pay attention to, our dogs are constantly reading our emotional states. A study by Müller and her team in 2015 gives us a deeper understanding of this, showing that dogs ...

14/10/2024

Stephanie Zikmann is the founder of The Holistic Grooming Academy, an award winning holistic dog groomer and best selling author. She is my inspiration, support and, I like to consider, a friend.

Knowing that you have played a key role in helping your dog to overcome grooming-related fears can be such a rewarding thing...

13/10/2024

I really do have the best customers. At VA VA GROOM it is more than grooming, it is a whole ethos of care and support, and one that works both ways when I receive such lovely reviews. Thank you.

01/10/2024

Holistic grooming isn't easy and it's always nice to know what you do is appreciated. Thank you.