What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 6pm Tuesday 9am - 6pm Wednesday 9am - 6pm Thursday 9am - 6pm Friday 9am - 6pm

Lock’s Dog Grooming

Home
United Kingdom
Taunton
Lock’s Dog Grooming

City & Guilds fully qualified groomer who operates on 1-1, no force, holistic basis.
(7)

04/12/2024

Effie was here this afternoon. I gave her a little ear rub on arrival and received a nice noise of appreciation. Walk first with Zebedee out of the door. On return she sat on my chair. I got some equipment out and performed the usual process of a curry brush and soft brush stroking initially to get her desensitised to touch. I moved to the table cajoling her to sit next to me. She came over and I tried clipping her, a bit reticent, so moved onto some facework instead. Ok with jawline but chin induced a paw raise and I was dying to remove a debris strand too! Back to clipping she let me do some work around her front and she was rewarded with cheese, but reticent to them on her back. Change of tack. I moved to the chair with all the equipment and cheese and had her sit in my lap. Her demeanor changed straight away. She let me clip her back around her ears one run down her front legs, down her back and down her hips. Effie had struggled in previous sessions after a couple of weeks absence, and it was taking a while to get her back to the stage she was previously. She's now back on a herbal calming supplement which seemed to take the edge off her anxiety today and we were almost back to how she was before, which was great. She let me remove some matting from just inside thigh, she tells me with a paw pat on my arm when she's had enough. She is very very averse to having her bottom and inside legs touched, there's some history there. She is a bit hit and miss with tail stroking. Effie does have matting in these areas, so could do with a little helping calming tablet from the vet so I can tackle those bits and clip her nails too. I still want her functioning but less anxious to help with her welfare. Much improved work from Effie today. ❤️

04/12/2024

The th*****me Dudley, Maggie and Alfie were in today. Dudley normally comes for pets but he wasn't himself. Alfie ignored me as is usual and headed for the toys Maggie greeted me with her very deep awooo's, and loved having a bum scratch. Health check all had some isolated matting, but on the whole pretty good. Alfie and Maggie got into the bath. Dudley, lay down and went to sleep. Thought I'd let him chill out for a bit and bath Maggie and Alfie, both good, Alfie goes loop free. After a dry I sprayed some conditioner, Maggie then goes under the desk on a blanket and has a snooze, she doesn't like the dryers. I dried Alfie and saw to his nails and an ear clean, then Alfie could have a rest. Dudley stood by the bath but wouldn't get in. I got the steps, nope. I popped his front legs on the rim but he stood there waiting for me to put his hind ones in. Good with his bath. He loves a towel dry and nuzzles into my face. On the table he was blast dried, but he was restless. I trimmed his nails on the floor and paw trimmed him. He got back up and onto the table. He was brushed, combed had his mats removed, one large one where he'd been castrated. Then back on the floor for a feather trim, then back on the table for a de-shed. This isn't like him at all. Occasionally, he likes a floor groom, but he'll stay on the floor. After Dudley was finished we went out for respite. Alfie was next, he loves being groomed, as long as he's not being hand stripped - it makes him very grumpy. He lies on the table totally chilled whilst he's being carded and trimmed. We then went onto Maggie, good with nails and an ear clean. Fine with a brush and comb, but didn't like the comb around her face and tried to bite it. Clipping really good today, she lay down for most of it. Trying to put a comb around her for trimming wasn't washing with her in this session, but was ok with the undercoat rake, but it's not the best trim ever as a result. She let me remove a paw mat too, excellent with this. Post groom we went out again for toilet stops then we had play and cuddles. Dudley no play today, but was very receptive to a belly rub. ❤️❤️❤️

04/12/2024

Hi everyone, I am FULL for December. Also, I am now booked up 5 - 6 weeks in advance so my diary is a very tight ship. If people need to cancel grooms in December, please be mindful there will not be any availability until the end of January unless there's a cancellation. There is also the inevitably of taking an appointment from somebody else that will then need to be shifted to another week, throwing grooming cycles into disarray. Please do try and keep to scheduled appointments if at all possible. Many thanks 😊 🐶🐾

03/12/2024

Misty and Lexi were in this afternoon. Lexi was happy to see me, Misty was racing around! Health check Lexi good, Misty some ear mats in her right ear that she wasn't keen on me looking at. Lexi in the bath first, went in after a treat. Excellent bath work, no dryers for Lexi, so a bit of spray coat conditioner and we went out for respite. Misty was next in the bath, she got in eventually after running around the salon first. Not too bad with bath work. On the table, blast dryer everywhere but head. Finish dryer only. For nails and paw work, I do one paw interspersed with other things, as she doesn't like paw work. Ear clean averse to me looking, eventually with some sausage she let me clean her right one, and it was very dirty with wax. I gave that a thorough clean then removed her mats and she was better with touch after that. Left ear she wasn't as bothered with. Misty was brushed, combed, coat kinged and had a banded comb put around her. I just couldn't get her to stand up, any time I put any equipment on her she'd sit down or fidget about. We went back out for respite. I tried to trim Misty with gently holding with one hand but she'd push it to sit down. It really was tricky to get any scissor work done at all today. Tail and bottom are trimmed as much as I can do, as I can't get her to stand for long enough. Ear trim, she was really good. I tried a head dress and wasn't convinced with her ears, but she stood there with it on for some sausage. Lexi was next she's a dream to groom, won't get on the table but will stand right next to me soaking up the attention like a sponge. She was brushed, combed, carded, had her ears cleaned, nails clipped and some hair removed from her eyes with no fuss, just happy to be here and having a few treats. Fine with a head dress too. Whilst I was grooming Misty, Lexi helped herself to toys to play with, good as gold. I'm not sure what was going on with Misty today, she was either absolutely hyper or uncooperative. It may have been she's usually groomed independently, and it could be the change, who knows - but think we'll revert back to that arrangement ❤️❤️

03/12/2024

Luna was here this morning for a full groom and de-shed. Performed her health check, all good. Refused the bath and was pawing the gate, I took her out where she needed the toilet. Luna got into the bath on return after a treat. Excellent with bath work. Table work, kept the table low. Finish dryer on low. Nails and an ear clean very relaxed. Then I gave her a damp brush, comb and a de-shed with coat kings. We went out to dry her coat off a bit, then repeated the process, continuing with a de-shed as she was drying. Luna was quite happy on the table, I periodically took the loop off her and she was happy to sit there soaking up the attention, she'd lean in when brushing the base of her tail and top of her hips making some appreciative noises. Luna is very food motivated too, not that I really need to encourage her she receives them for being such a good girl. Post groom, I popped a blanket on the floor and Luna had some cuddle time and a well deserved belly rub. ❤️

02/12/2024

Here's Molly in for a longer, winter cut today. Always apprehensive on arrival, but once I take her for a walk she comes around. Health check a few isolated mats in her tail, under arms and under ears. Bath work really good, face washed with a flannel. Molly doesn't like the dryers so she's towel dried thoroughly. Nails and ear clean good. She was then damp clipped, not too bad with her clip today. We then went out so she could dry off some more. I removed the mats from her ears, tail and underarms, trimmed her tail up. Then performed another clip and a paw trim. Molly is extremely head shy. She was put in an arm lock at a previous groomers which was witnessed by the owner, and it's completely traumatised her. Therefore, we go with lots of intention stroking with cosmetic brushes around her eyes, head and muzzle, better with getting hair out of the corners of her eyes. Ear trim, pretty good. We make the rest up as we go along and what she'll tolerate. When the paw lifts she's had enough. Loves tripe sticks which I break into bits for her good girl reward. Post groom we had a cuddle in the chair. Some improvements with Molly today, patience and praise is key with this lovely girl. ❤️

02/12/2024

Podrick was here this morning for a full groom and de-shed. Podrick is great with being left, follows me around to let me know he's there for a treat. If I ask him if he wants some sausage he gives me his waggiest tail. Bath time excellent. Finish dryer on low, ear clean fine. Podrick is sensitive to having his nails trimmed so I leave them until the end. He had a damp brush, comb and deshed. Out for respite. On return his coat was pretty dry, so he had a dry brush, comb and de-shed with a coat king and furminator. Nails, I stroked his paw with a cosmetic brush to let him know intent, paw feel, then snip, "good boy", treat. After the first one he gingerly gave me his paw again, once I'd done 4 repeating the routine we were on a roll. He's very food motivated and will work for a treat. Tried him with a Christmas head dress - no reaction, if there's any negative dog behaviours with head dresses will do a picolage Xmas shot instead. Post groom I tried him with the scratchboard and he worked it out very quickly, it helped with some sharp nail edges. As usual brilliant work from Podrick. ❤️

29/11/2024

Marley was in this morning. A bit confused at being left, but once I asked him if he wanted some sausage, he remembered and was very excited and stood by the treat counter. Health check, coat in lovely condition, not a single mat 🙏 lots of lumps, bumps and growths as is typical for spaniels of a certain age. Bath time, he went loop free and was really good. On the table, he was a bit wriggly with an ear clean, good with nails, fidgetty with an underpaw trim, but he was very sausage focussed today. He's good with the blast dryer on his jacket but not around his head and ears so finish dryer in that area on low. Brush and comb good, apart from his ears. He is not a fan of his ears being touched with equipment. Clip less wriggly than his previous session, where he was intent on falling off the table. After a tail and over paw trim, the latter with the help of sausage, we went out. On return a couple of re-clips and a scissor of his legs. Ear trim and head/facework with equipment has him swinging his head but we worked on the 1, 2, 3 snip "sausage" and he started focussing and tail wagging on the 3 and his reward. Post groom he stood by the gate as he needed the toilet. When we got back we had some playtime with a ball and cuddles. There was an improvement with Marley today from his last session. He's getting to know me, I'm working out his little foibles and he loves working for reward. Good job Marley. ❤️

28/11/2024

Laura was here this afternoon for a partial big girl groom. She didn't require any body trimming, just paws. She made a beeline for the toy basket on arrival, then remembered to say hello! She knows health check comes first and jumped straight on the table. I went to the bath to run the water until it went warm, but she was straight in once the water was turned on. Excellent with bathwork, although she's worked out how to undo the zip on my treat bumbag and helped herself to treats! Towel drying is always a game to her! After her bath she went onto the table. Finish dryer on a mid setting, ear clean and nail trim really good. She gets very excited, so with each paw to trim is the "wait" command and she sits still to let me do the work. She's so eager to please. I ran a brush and comb over her with a few strokes of the furminator. Post groom, we had a bit of decompression play, then I tried her with the scratchboard to facilitate a game, Laura worked it out immediately, she's a very clever dog. Amazing work from Laura again. ❤️

27/11/2024

Here's Cookie in today (my birthday), for her full groom and I had booked this afternoon off, so was hoping for a positive outcome this morning! On arrival she was happy to see me. She then started crying when her owner left. She suffers from separation anxiety. Her owner brings in treats as she had a reaction to Wagg and went off the sausage. After sitting with her a while she got into the bath. She cried throughout her bath, so got her out as quickly as possible, dried her over the drain and took her outside. No toilet but a good sniff of all the foliage. Back in the salon, more crying wouldn't eat treats nor the licky mat her owner had prepared. No dryers today. I kept the table low so she could go to her bed if she felt overwhelmed. Front paw work was a refusal with growling and mouthing. Rear paws ok for nail trimming and a paw trim. Ear clean fine. Clipping, she was still crying but she stayed on the table. No treats still. I resorted to the sausage. The crying stopped, she had a focus. Good with her clip all over apart from front legs. She climbed and pawed for more sausage which she used to do before. After a wriggly visor trim we went out again. Back in the salon, a tail trim and an attempt to scissor her front legs. Tempting her with sausage, growling, mouthing, fidgetting, paw raising - it really was a no. So I had to leave her legs, removed her armpit mats and that was about it, I had to stop. I raised the table to clip her ears and perform facework, less wriggly and would paw me for extra sausage. Post groom, I tried the scratchboard for nails she really didn't know how to use it. She was receptive to cuddles and fuss which she received plenty of. Not quite the groom I'd envisaged today but that's the way the cookie crumbles......wind, tumbleweed, bell chimes...😆❤️

26/11/2024

This is Pixie. Shes about 5 months old. She hadn't had any puppy grooms, so this was a trial groom to assess her. She is a confident dog so would see how it goes, stopping if she becomes overwhelmed. Bath, a demat, eyework and a nail clip were the key areas. She was very matted in places so would see to that after her bath. Bath time, initially a big wriggly, liked to stand on the rim and survey her surroundings. Good with a towel dry. On the table tried the finish dryer, fine with that. I cleaned her ears, she let me trim her nails. After a good spray of coat conditioner, I then ran over her coat slowly with an undercoat rake, as soon as I hit a mat it was removed. At first she was a bit fidgetty but as each mat was removed, she settled down. Next, she scrunched the towel into a bed and went to sleep! With her leg mats I thought I'd have to clip her, but persevered with cutting them out as she was asleep and relaxed. After some sausage and a respite break, I trimmed her bottom removing mats there, her tummy and chest area a bit. Rather wriggly with paw trimming. The only real stumbling block was facework, she really did not like scissors in front of her eyes, around her muzzle or about her ears at all. I trimmed her eyebrows working from the back with a cosmetic brush first so as not to startle her. Removing any hair from her stop area and inner eye was a complete refusal. So these are areas to work on with some home desentisiation. Post groom, she wanted a cuddle in my lap and she had a few more sausage bits. When her owner came to collect, she'd flit from them to me for fuss and attention. On the whole very good work from Pixie today. ❤️

26/11/2024

Here's Ted in for his usual. He comes to greet me, then becomes unsure, but with some ball play and sausage he comes around. Health check a mat in every toe, mats in his undercarriage and where he'd been neutured. Bath time, he climbed straight in, he rim climbed initially I got kisses then he settled down. Tablework finish dryer on low, I cleaned his ears, cut out his paw mats and trimmed his nails. He was damp clipped first but not on his front legs, trimmed his visor and outer paws and headed out for respite. Back in the salon it was a reclip, tailwork, head and facework and a scissor blend - he was pretty good with all of that. Then we come to sc******ng his front legs. I put a licky mat out for him with liver pate. Left leg wasn't too bad. Right one he was getting into such a pickle, trying to leave the table, resisting, twirling about or nuzzling into my tunic. There is something going on there whether it's an old injury a vet needs to took at, or a psychological one created by historic handling. He really could do with a vet assessment before going down the road of desentisiation. I got as much as I could done with his right leg, I took him off the table a couple of times to play ball with him and rewarded any work he let me do. He loved to give kisses when told how good he was. Post groom I took him out for some decompression. We then played the scratchboard, he really likes this, and he's very clever working it out so quickly. ❤️

25/11/2024

Effie was in for her desentisiation session this afternoon. She always runs in now for pets, waiting for her walk. As soon as I get my coat on she jumps around the salon like Zebedee, so excited. On return, she jumped on the table. Managed to curry brush her and run a cosmetic brush all over her. I then clipped her, as soon as I reached an area she didn't like, I received the paw on my arm and the Paddington stare! After she'd had enough, she jumped into my chair to decompress. I moved some equipment over to the desk and got her sitting on my lap. I clipped her a bit more until the paw lifting, and paw placing - I moved on to cutting mats out of her tail, rewarded with cheese when she was accepting. Effie has been more sensitive of late. To avoid a vet sedated groom, it would be worth her having some calming supplements, as she does have some matting that requires attention. ❤️

25/11/2024

Here's Chilli in for his full groom. Chilli hasn't been very well with a back injury and a haemorrhage but he's now back to his grooms. At his last groom, he had a very matted ear and determined the skin had split due to dried blood I'd noticed in health check. His owners said he'd been scratching it, I couldn't see through the mats where the split was and unfortunately made it bleed by catching it with the clippers. There was no reaction at the time, but wondered how he'd be today. He was great on arrival couldn't wait to see me, jumping up for cuddles. Owners said they were struggling to brush/comb his ear which was a slight worry. Health check, coat was good, only a bit of matting around his undercarriage and at the base of his tail. Lifted his ears up to have a look inside and to test his sensivity, but he wasn't bothered. Bathwork good, although was itching to get out once rinsed. Table work, a good towel dry. Finish dryer on low. He was front leg sensitive, but this was down to canula's and blood tests at the vets. Nail clip ok. Tested his ears again with an ear clean, no issue. Brushed and combed, tried his ears, again wasn't bothered. He was damp clipped, even under his ears, didn't flinch, then trimmed his visor, followed by respite. On return finished off facework, trimmed his ears to no reaction at all. Clipped the base of his tail then trimmed it up. Another clip around, a paw trim and a scissor blend - again a bit front leg sensitive but we got around with sausage. Post groom, he cried at the gate so took him out for the toilet, we then sat in my chair for cuddles. When Chilli is struggling, he climbs for reassurance, I didn't receive any of that today. Really good work from Chilli. ❤️

22/11/2024

Rupert was in today. He was much better on arrival, happy to see me. He headed for the sausage counter once his owner left. Health check, a fair amount of matting in his undercarriage, tummy, ears and muzzle. He had mats in his ears that had spread down the side of his ears, jawline, throat and chin. Rupert struggles when he has mats, so was concerned about this. Bath time he was good, he climbs into the tub after a treat. He then headed to the table and hopped on. I trimmed his nails removed the matting out of his ears then cleaned them. He is ok with the blast dryer on his back and hind legs but not his chest, front legs or head. Finish dryer only. I brushed and combed the areas that weren't matted. I know he's front leg sensitive with equipment and clipping so saved that until last and clipped around everywhere else removing his matting. Plus under and over ears. We then went out for respite. Tail trim, under paw trim and eye area all good. I then undercoat raked his muzzle and he was getting into a pickle. I hadn't put a loop on him until that point. I felt his muzzle mats as I went along, but he was getting upset if I hadn't quite removed all the mats and caught it with the rake. We got there with sausage, he could have done with more trimming but he was now reluctant to have any more work carried out. The mat in his throat area I decided to clip out with mini clippers as it was attached to the skin, I wasn't prepared to stress him out any more. No brush or comb on his front legs, so went for a clipper run. He allowed one at the back of his legs, the rest of his legs and paws were scissor trimmed. Post groom I took him out again mainly to decompress, he loves a walk it's his 2nd favourite thing next to food. He came back and sat next to me polishing off the remainder of the sausage. ❤️

21/11/2024

Here's Lola in for her usual. She is always so excited to be here for treats and cuddles. Her skin issue had flared up quite badly, so was expecting resistence today. After health check, bath work was good. Finish dryer only, an ear clean and a gentle brush and comb. I damp clipped her starting with her jacket, no resistence good with her rear legs and inside her legs, chest and tummy. After a clip/trim of her ears and a trim of her face we went out for respite. She's always keen to get back for the food! On return another all over clip and tail trim once she'd dried out a bit. It's then front legs to be scissored and paw work. Rear paw work really good. I then put a licky mat out for front legs, as she is very sensitive and starts to get stressed the nearer to her front paws I get. I tapped lightly where I was going with the scissors and she stopped fidgetting, I repeated this process and she calmed down focusing on the licky mat. I rubbed her paws with my hands gently, and she let me trim underneath and remove a couple of mats inbetween her toes. Post groom we use the scratchboard for her nails. She loves this. We then went out for a post groom walk and we had cuddle time back at the salon. Good work from Lola today considering her skin issue. ❤️

19/11/2024

Clova was in today for her clip/desentisiation session. She headed straight to the toy basket on arrival. Health check a few tangles in her undercarriage, managed to snip them out. She was brushed, undercoat raked, and combed in her longer hair. Front nails not too bad, back nails took a few treats and some cosmetic brush stroking. Underpaw trim the same. Ear clean good. Lots of twirling during her clip, she had a licky mat and a small kong, she'd walk around with the kong! Tail work she would sit down and play hidey tail, managed what I could in that area. I trimmed her eyes and stop, a lot better with scissors around her face today. Then we went out for a soaking in the rain. After a towel dry, continued with facework, muzzle, head and ears, again much improved. A brush up and another clip, more table circling. So another licky mat. Overpaw trim, paw snatchy. Scissor blending had her lying down, so did what I could whilst she was still even if she wasn't in the ideal position! Post groom, we had some toy play. She took quite a lot of toys out of the basket, not sure what to play with first! Small improvements from Clova with help from her owners, but it's progress in the right direction. ❤️

19/11/2024

Here's Bertie in for his usual. He headed for the toy basket then sat by me whilst receiving fuss to some little crys. He likes to regularly jump on the table as the table generates treats! Health check just a couple of areas of isolated matting in his tail and under his ears. Bath work, very wriggly, rim climbing. He tucks his paw into my tunic to pull me closer to climb and give kisses, he received lots of reassurance and I dried him over the drain. After his dry he jumped straight onto the table. Ok with the finish dryer on low and pushed back for residual heat today. Ear clean good, very sensitive to nail and paw work, he was hopping around the table. He had a damp clip, he'd again hook his paw into my tunic to pull me close for cuddles. I'd stop, give him a cuddle then continue, good work rewarded with sausage. I also put a licky mat out and reverted to brush stroking to try and get an area clipped, otherwise he'd try and lick the clippers. After a visor and stop trim, we headed out in the pouring rain. On return I towel dried him really well, finished trimming his face, ears and muzzle, he was super wriggly. Tail work more climbing. So it was a quick trim. Another clip, around, more cuddles, kisses, climbing, wriggling. Then an over paw trim as much as he'd allow and a quick blend. Post groom, we had some play and he'd repeatedly jump on the table to receive more treats. Bertie's owners are going to try bathing him at home as I'm concerned he's struggling with sensory overload. Bath time is not his favourite part of the groom. Depending on his behaviours at home, we may try a clip only on his next one. He had 1 puppy groom, and I think this is possibly where the problem stems from - too much too soon for this lovely boy. ❤️

Address

Curload, Stoke St Gregory
Taunton
TA36JE

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm

Website

http://www.locksdoggrooming.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Lock’s Dog Grooming posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Lock’s Dog Grooming:

Videos

Video of Lola mad for the scratchboard!

Vid 2...well done Wilma! ❤️

Here's a couple of videos showing Wilma having a desentisiation session today. This girl was extremely groom anxious. Therefore, we are going back to basics, to introduce various aspects of the process slowly and to get her feeling that this is a safe place to be. Today was a nail focus day. I had thought of ways in which to make nail work fun as many dogs don't like their nails clipped. I purchased this scratch board which you put treats inside. Dogs scratch the board and I release the treats. I wasn't convinced this was going to work but look at Wilma go! She's got this...well...nailed! ❤️

This is new dog Travis. He was good with his bath. He was ok with the quieter blast dryer everywhere apart from his head. He was fine with the finish dryer on his head and ears. When it came to clipper work we had quite a lot of anxiety. Crying, dry heaving and biting the clippers. I took him off the table and we went for a little walk and when we came back he'd allow a bit more. When it came to clipping his bottom, tail, inside leg, groin, under ears, sanitary area and hocks we had more of the same, I took him off the table again and let him decompress. After a few minutes he was back on the table where he was good with bottom and tail work, he loved being told how good he was and receiving a bit of sausage, we started to gather some momentum. Then when I went to clip the remaining areas, we had more displays of stress, so I took him out for another walk. When we returned and took his lead off, he ran and jumped straight back on the table. Excellent! He's associating the table with reward. In the end I wasn't able to clip or scissor the top inside of his thigh, the groin area nor rear hocks due to equipment biting, but from where we started he made brilliant progress with some positive reinforcement and trust building. I kept the table low so as not to add another element of stress too. Post groom he had some fuss, a bit more good boy sausage and a game of ball throw. This lovely boy needed a different approach to grooming, where work was undertaken at his pace and with reading his body language. ❤️