Lord Billingtons

20/09/2024

Did you know that Sonia is now running puppy classes from Lord Billingtons? If you know anyone with a puppy encourage them to sign up! Class is starting soon! Sonia is an amazing trainer and has been so helpful with helping me wrangle my own little pup! (Don’t take Mozzarella’s behaviour as a testament of Sonia’s work! I need to practice more!

Did you know that you have just weeks once your puppy comes home to create the optimal chance that your puppy will grow into the best dog they can be?

There’s a short period called the critical socialisation window (usually between 4-16weeks). During this developmental period your puppy simply soaks in information and interprets it in an entirely different way than it will later… after that window closes.

Socialisation isn’t just about meeting other puppies, its about everything your pup may need to experience in their adult life and striving to have a neutral response to all those things because they are simple normal, average and ‘Meh”!
Sounds, sights, textures, people with hats, beards or glasses, things which move fast and noisy and even novelty as a concept!

Puppyhood is also the ideal time to identify your dogs traits and plan to accomodate in the best ways you can through training for the future so you never have a problem in the first place.

Let us help you with that!
If you have a puppy and you live in Wellington you might be interested in our puppy school. We have classes starting in two convenient locations (Island Bay and Lower Hutt). Let us help you help them to navigate the world!
register now (for classes or playgroups) at bookwhen.com/petprotrainer :)

02/08/2024

This August, Mozzarella and I are participating in raising money for Blind Low Vision NZ Guide Dogs!
Our goal is to walk 100km rain or shine, to raise $1000 for this great charity.
As many of you know, my dad is legally blind and while he can maintain his independence without a guide dog, raising guide dogs help other blind people keep their independence, but it is expensive!!!
Please help us support the amazing work done by Blind Low Vision NZ Guide Dogs.

https://www.pawgust.co.nz/fundraisers/kimmaiden

30/07/2024

2025 bookings!!!
Hi everyone,
I am thinking about doing to rebookings for 2025 already. As this is a mammoth task, last year it took over 50 hours, I have a favour to ask!
If you would like to change your routine, day or preferred time please let me know ASAP.
Also, if you wish to extend grooms out over winter please tell me, we usually calculate the gap between grooms from the summer grooms, I do not go back and count weeks between winter grooms cause there are only a few people that like to extend over the colder months.
Once we do start doing the bookings you will receive a bunch of Fresha emails but also an email from us. Please add the dates that are in the email from us, or log into the Fresha app to check your dates, and add to your calendars. I have come across some clients who add the Fresha email dates to their calendars and Fresha hasn’t sent the correct information!
When we start, priority is given to the dogs that come more frequently so we will be booking in the 3 weekly dogs before the 8 weekly dogs and so on.
So please give me as much information as possible to begin with and please be patient. 50 hours is a lot of extra time when I am grooming all day!!
Also please note that I will only amend schedules twice free of charge, anything more than that will incur an admin fee of $20 to compensate for my time.

Also, thank you Georgia for photorooming my photos from the ugly background I picked for this group of dogs! They look much nicer!

23/07/2024

Here are some of the grooms from the last few weeks. A lot of dogs are missing, the phone camera is not working very well! Who knew dropping your phone a few times a week wasn’t good for it!

01/07/2024

Hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend! Happy Matariki and Happy Canada Day!!

25/06/2024

Some cute pups from last week.
I have blocked all remaining December appointments off now so please contact me if you do not have your yearly appointments! (There are less than 10 appointments for December now)

16/06/2024

Some cute grooms from this week!!! I’m trying to take more photos!!

14/06/2024

One of the biggest grooms I think I have ever done!
After 5 hours between us working on Onyx, a litre of conditioner to help remove the undercoat they are looking just gorgeous!!!!
I think it’s really important to help the charities around Wellington, so we are often helping Animal Control and the SPCA groom the dogs they have to look and most importantly feel their best!
Best of luck Onyx!

13/03/2024

We have got over 900 five star reviews on Fresha!
As we approach 1,000 I will be giving discounts for the following!
1- person who gives us the 1000th five star review!
2- person who has given us the most reviews!
3- the review that makes me go “awwwww”
Thank you so much for all your love and support. It does truly mean the world to me!

07/03/2024

Discounted grooms!!
Now I have your attention, Hana and I are on the look out for some dogs to practice doing some incredibly fancy grooms on!
This is going to be a big year for us, especially Hana competing in Melbourne, and we are wanting to practice grooming show quality hairstyles.
What we require:
- incredibly well behaved dogs in all steps of the grooming process.
- free reign to decide what haircut we need to practice (there will be long leg hair involved)
- home maintenance in between visits is essential
- monthly visits to Lord Billingtons (at least)
- if we could also steal your dog and take to Auckland in October an extra added bonus!
If this sounds like something you could be interested in, please send me a message to discuss. We will be fussy about which dogs we pick for this programme so if we say no don’t be disheartened!
All breeds considered, but especially considering schnauzers in a Teddy Bear trim, and teddy bear oodles.
Be prepared for a bit of hair, I have also included a before and after of Audrey, we may need to grow the hair out for sometime before doing the haircut we would like to practice!

28/02/2024

Hope we are all keeping dry on this lovely day!
Have a few admin pieces.

We are now over 90% booked for the year. If you haven’t booked in for the year please do so now!
While we will try to accommodate you the best we can, spaces are limited. There are less than 20 appointments left in December!
If we have booked you in, please let me know if you need to reschedule sooner rather than later!

For the safety of all dogs in my care, please do not try to open the gate into the grooming area. This gives me anxiety, I don’t want any of the other dogs to get out. I know Mozzarella does make things go a little slower at the moment but please be patient and let us organise the dogs first!

If you need your dog to stay a bit longer or have time constraints for the day it is best to let me know at least the day before so I can plan for this! No one likes surprises in the grooming salon!

Finally, with winter coming it is still really important to stay on your grooming schedule, wet long hair is much harder to maintain and matts a lot easier. We can just do a brush out and tidy if you do want to keep them longer, but remember longer haircuts require more maintenance at home. And again, with being 90% booked up it will be difficult to move the winter appointments and all future appointments after!

PS. I know only 8 photos from the month is pretty shocking! I will try better!

01/02/2024

Here are some photos from our first month back at work!! Apologies if you don’t see your dog! We have been crazy busy!

30/01/2024

Wow! What a month!! Firstly apologies for the lack of photos, we have been crazy busy doing everyone’s summer haircuts! If I take a few days to reply please also be patient, this has been one of the busiest Januarys I’ve worked in my 10 years grooming!
Another reason for the lack of admin is the addition of this little cutie into my life!
Meet Mozzarella!
A few of you have already had the pleasure of meeting her! But by golly have I forgotten what hard work puppies can be!
She is a Manchester terrier. And hopefully will grow up to be a respectable member of society.
Grooming photos will come very soon!

22/12/2023

Some photos from the last couple of weeks.

18/12/2023

Most of you have heard me refer to my amazing Administrator, Kat. And hopefully you have received an email from her! If you haven’t already met her, this is her (and her old girl Niva). Kat has spent many hours of the last couple of months booking in over 350 families for the whole of next year – a mammoth task!
She’s done an awesome job and is now nearing the very end of her list! If you haven’t heard from us with your 2024 dates and want to book your dog in for the year drop us an email or a text with your preferred day, time and schedule.
Please do this sooner rather than later! Next year is already approx 80% booked up, so we may not be able to accommodate all preferences, but will do the very best we can.
If you have received word from Kat, please do look at the dates and make sure you are happy with the schedule! Making amendments is easier now where there may still be space!!
I’d just also like to say Thank You Kat! Your hard work has let me have a life outside of grooming and I appreciate that!
Also if you haven’t booked in for summer, please contact us ASAP! We have a cancellation list, but we are fully booked through to the end of February!

10/12/2023

Photo dump of the week!!!

04/12/2023

Congratulations to Nala for winning the Christmas competition. Well deserved.

01/12/2023

Enjoy the weekend!