ScallyWags Pet Parlour

21/07/2024

17/06/2024

Dad's teach us so much! 😂 Happy Father's Day, fellas!

12/06/2024

Had this beauty in on Monday. She’s a rescue and very timid. I hand stripped her coat as that’s the ideal method for a Springer Spaniel and although she’s been spayed(some say you can’t strip a spayed coat as it’s ruined), just look at the difference! She was soooo good but was too timid to stand or sit so everything was done with her lying down. So if you see this beautiful girl with wonky leg feathers you’ll know why!!!

29/03/2024

Growing a beard? Look at this bad boy!!!

22/03/2024

NO MILK PLEASE 🦔🦔🦔… If you see me in your garden, I appreciate food (unsalted raw meat, such as minced meat, I also love cat food but not fish) and I need water. Please don’t give me milk that would cause stomach problems and I could die. Please don’t use insecticides or traps. I'm inoffensive and help in your garden because I feed on insects that attack your veggies. My species is disappearing, please help us to stay alive 😘

21/03/2024

This little rescue boy had his first groom with me today - he’s obviously been groomed before and was soooo good with every aspect of the groom. Had to use a harness and belly band to do his legs as he didn’t like standing up for too long! He’s not elderly and doesn’t have issues with legs or hips - just prefers to sit, as seen in these photos. I use a harness when using the belly band for safety reasons and remove both once that part of the groom has been completed.

19/03/2024

This old gentleman is 13 years old and is a little pro on the grooming table. He takes the blast dryer in his stride and is so good for all his groom except his muzzle. Missing the majority of his teeth has a lot to do with that but it doesn’t stop him enjoying as many treats as he can get his paws on! Speaking of paws he’s also not keen on his front paws being trimmed but we manage. He’s on comfort grooms now due to his age so not too much time spent on aesthetics - he’s so cute anyway.

18/03/2024

Had this gorgeous boy in today for his first professional hand strip. He was an absolute joy. Not used to having his legs or face stripped so will work on that - he did let me finish his eyes after these pics were taken. Started with harness but took it off as we progressed and he stayed on the table willingly.

07/03/2024

Eternal Companion

02/02/2024

Think I had a little super model in this morning - such a sweet girl! Her jacket was handstripped, to keep the colour and silky look, but left long. The rest was scissor trimmed as mum wanted her legs etc to be more manageable. Sorry no side view of her legs after her trim!

31/01/2024

This little boy has separation anxiety. His owner home groomed him as he got so matted. We had 2 meet and greets where we chatted with coffee whilst he ran around the kitchen with access to the groom room. By the second meeting he was quite relaxed in my presence so we arranged a groom today with the agreement that we’d see how far I could get with him. Well, he was an absolute star! Anxious at times but got on the table voluntarily and off again. I used some restraint but only when required. He came to me for comfort during breaks off the table. We managed a full groom on him and this is the end result. PS - the tail was not my doing and he hates his front legs and paws being touched.

29/01/2024

This boy is a labradoodle and has the sweetest nature. He’s hand stripped as his coat is more wiry and look at the colour difference. The lighter fur was mostly dead so that’s what was pulled, revealing the beautiful gold underneath. He was entirely hand stripped, including his ears, legs, belly, tail and eyes. Not so keen on his eyes today so when I meet his mum for coffee, I’ll pull out those stray bits!

25/01/2024

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=868149098651910&id=100063704825487

Would you like to find out how to handle, groom and care for your dog without fear, anxiety, and stress? I'm running an evening workshop on 15th February from 6pm to 8.30pm, more details and booking http://tinyurl.com/dxtxba3w

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23/01/2024

This lovely little boy is a real character - he literally pulls his owner to the salon and jumps on the table. But he doesn’t like being bathed and doesn’t like a lot of the elements of his groom. When I first started with him I couldn’t touch his face at all. We’ve worked on that to the point that I can safely and gently hold it to trim it. He concentrates on the treat box throughout and I move him around by simply moving the trolley around! He also has lots of breaks and always gets back on the table to be as close to the treats as he can get. His parents like him long and scruffy - thank goodness!!!

22/01/2024

Groomed this lovely boy today - he’s a returning client. Very compliant but makes it clear when he wants a break, returning onto the table when he’s ready! He has a beautiful plush coat. He has a sensitive tummy so care taken not to put pressure on it when picking him up or when grooming - no restraints required.

15/01/2024

Groomed this lovely boy today - he’s a little expert! No restraints except belly band when required because he sat down - a lot. If he didn’t like something I did he asked to get of the table but then came back when he was ready. No face wash today because he has an eye condition which is being treated so I didn’t want to get it wet.

15/01/2024

Groomed this little boy last week. He was extremely anxious and has one eye so didn’t like his face being touched. In fact he didn’t like anything being done to him!! However I didn’t use any restraints on him and he had lots of breaks. We negotiated over his face and I managed to clear one eye without holding his face and when he’d laid down. The rest was done by cupping his face gently. I’m hoping build his confidence and trust up over future grooms.

14/01/2024

14/01/2024

This lovely boy is a returning client - top knot, ears and coat kept long as requested. Paws in a spaniel trim. I don’t cut too close on his chest as he has quite a barrel chest. He’s such a good, calm boy - gets on and off the table on request, no restraints required.

03/01/2024

02/01/2024

I’ve been grooming this gorgeous boy since he was a year old. As you can see, he’s happy to get on the table for his groom! He’s hand stripped and his coat has grown into this beautiful, rich red. When he came to me he was as light as his chest. Hand stripping is the manual pulling out of dead hair because in certain breeds and coat types it doesn’t all drop out naturally. It’s painless, if done correctly, and promotes healthy hair and skin, however it costs more than a standard groom due to the time, physical work and expertise required. Show standard stripping can be harsher and, in line with my ethos of cooperative, kind grooming, I don’t take on show dogs. By the way, this is the ‘before’ of his groom!

02/01/2024

This boy is soo chilled - he used the table as a head prop whilst I desheded his back. Although labradors don’t need it often, a good professional bath and de-shed of their coat helps to keep it in tip top condition - the shine is unbelievable, as is the amount of undercoat we took out!

02/01/2024

This little girl came in for her groom after a few months as her owners waited until I was set up again. She’s a little character and doesn’t like her legs being done, which is why they’re not perfect. However as you can see she’s happy and unrestrained for her groom. We’re still working on nail clipping!!

31/12/2023

Scallywags would like to wish you all everything you wish for in 2024. Thank you so much for your loyalty, support and for being the best clients I could wish for (even the furballs who snap occasionally!). Looking forward to seeing you all next year and carrying on our trust based grooming journey. ###

09/12/2023

Please consider copying and pasting this in as many places as possible. We really need to get the message out of how important it is to get puppies in the grooming salon asap so that groomers can introduce them to grooming in a slow and steady manner, rather than a full groom the first time. Rethinking Puppy Grooming Introductions

THE BENEFITS OF EARLY PUPPY INTRODUCTIONS TO THE PROFESSIONAL GROOMING SALON

The benefits of introducing puppies to the grooming salon as soon as they are fully vaccinations are massive. Dogs are not born knowing how to be groomed by a human, let alone a non-familiar human, so we need to introduce them to it slowly. It is a long post but please read on.

A good professional groomer wants your dogs to be relaxed and confident during grooming and this can easily be achieved if you start their grooming experiences early, which gives the groomer time to introduce themselves, the salon, equipment, processes and techniques positively over a period of sessions, building pups confidence, making positive associations, teaching them what is required of them during grooming, etc. The groomer will also give you advice how you can help at home to make the process even easier for your puppy.

Many groomers offer puppy packages to ensure your puppy gets the best start. Grooming training is equally as important as puppy obedience training. Investing financially and timewise in your pup's grooming experience should not be undervalued. Also bear in mind that for most breeds their groomer will handle them more than any other canine professional. Always ensure that the groomer you choose allows at least one session with no grooming taking place which will enable your puppy to get to process the salon, etc., which will make future visits less stressful.

Taking a 6 month old matted adolescent puppy to the groomers for the first time prevents all that gentle introduction, leaving the puppy with negative memories and associations which are difficult to undo. Imagine if your first visit to the hairdresser as a child your parent left you alone with the hairdresser and hadn't brushed or combed your hair for the last few months.

As a human, we really cannot fully understand the impact of walking into a grooming salon for a dog (let's call him Fred). Firstly, the salon is full of information that Fred will need time to process: sounds, sights, smells, textures. This alone can be overwhelming, especially if they are not allowed the time to process that information before they are whipped into the bath or onto the table to start grooming (both of which Fred is unlikely to have experienced before, so needs to process those too).

Most grooms involve:

*Fred being left with the groomer (maybe even the first visit)

* Fred being picked up, put on a high surface, moved between bath and table

* Safety restraints applied

* Bath

* Dried (towel, high velocity dryer, finishing dryer)

* Brushed all over (often whilst being dried at the same time)

* Claws Clipped

* Fur clipped, scissored

* Legs, ears and tail lifted

* Being moved around

* Hygiene areas being tided

* Some groomers also include:

* Ear fur plucking

* A**l gland emptying

* Teeth Cleaning

* Applying Cologne, bandanas and bows

* Using crates

That understandably is likely to be stressful for Fred, irrelevant of how good and gentle the groomer is, added to that Fred may have other issues that need taking into account:

* Separation anxiety

* General anxiety around strangers

* Noise sensitivity

* Touch sensitivity

* Discomfort/Pain

* Matted coat

* Not used to being handled by a stranger

* No grooming training done at home

* Other dogs and groomers that may be in the salon

* Not used to standing still for long periods

* Not used to having safety restraints put on

Now we are beginning to build a picture of why Fred is totally overwhelmed, struggles with the whole processes, builds up negative association with the grooming salon. This may then lead to Fred show aggressive behaviours during grooming, requiring muzzles, additional safety aids, etc. Eventually, Fred's guardians may find that groomers will refuse to groom him, leaving no option to have him sedated at the vets to be clipped off - a very expensive groom, or find that Fred freezes at the salon door the next time you take him, or comes home completely exhausted due to the stress and anxiety he has had to cope with.

I hope this gives you a least a basic understanding of why it is so important to prioritise grooming introductions

To give Fred an even better start on his grooming journey, his guardians could have invested in Sue Williamson' book "Introducing Your Puppy to Grrr-less Grooming"

07/12/2023

Good afternoon everyone. I’m pleased to say that Scallywags is up and running again, having re-located from Shefford to Clifton.
I’m still a one to one groomer with a small salon in my new home.
I only do 2 dogs a day, weekdays only and your pet will be the only one in the salon with me unless they’re small, from the same household and it’s appropriate to have them in the same room. I don’t crate dogs and they have a secure garden to go out in.
I still practice, as much a possible, consent grooming where I do what the dog accepts or tolerates and we work on the bits they don’t. This takes time and although your pet will be with me for at least a couple of hours, they do not spend all that time on the table. If they show signs of stress or wanting off the table, they get a break. I also try to groom without tethering but may do for some parts if the dog is very lively or needs it to complete the groom.
I’ll be texting my previous clients to let them know I’m here again - there’s no expectation that you return but if you do, I’d be absolutely delighted.
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!! Xx

28/05/2023

Yep

09/05/2023

Hi everyone, just an update:
Scallywags had to reduce its clientele last year due to family commitments.
The website has been closed down as I found that word of mouth was more than enough and I’m grateful to all my clients that recommended me.
It’s been an eventful time so far personally.
I’m in the process of finding a new home and will have to sell my salon, however I aim to find a property where I can continue to groom and then aim to increase my client list again.
My ethos remains the same - no more than one dog at any one time unless they’re from the same family and it’s appropriate for there to be more than one in the salon. One to one grooming, aiming to gain trust and cooperation from the pup with breaks as and when needed or, indeed, requested by the dog! Minimal restraint as I generally gain enough trust for the dog to get on and stay on the table by request.
This all takes time so my grooms are longer than most.
I’m so grateful for all your support, presently and in the past - I have the best clients! I’ll let previous clients know when I can increase capacity again. There is no expectation that you will return to me but I’ll be delighted if you do, however time spans are unknown at the moment.
I hope everyone and their furkids are well.

25/05/2022

Due to family commitments Scallywags is taking an indefinite break from grooming.
I have been blessed with wonderful, loyal customers who have been instrumental in my business growing way beyond my expectations and I’ll miss you all. I have informed all my regular clients either in person or by text and, of course, word has got round!
Thank you so so much for all your fantastic support and wonderful, encouraging feedback since I opened my salon.
I am keeping my hand in by keeping some elderly furry clients and am keeping my salon. I may well rear my head again!!!
All the best and if I see you out and about don’t be surprised if I descend on your fur baby for a cuddle.
Thank you again ######xx