Torabbi Companion Dog Grooming Services

23/08/2024

Couple of appointments available for first half September with limited availability rest of September & October.

08/08/2024

The sadness of developing long term grooming relationships is sharing the pain of loss, tempered by the joy of a lovely oldie coming in when I thought last time was the final time x

23/06/2024

Force Free Grooming, where dogs are treated with respect, given choice & listened too, no restraints. 3 appts available June/July.

16/04/2024

Just one appointment left between now and end of May at Torabbi Force Free Grooming ( Pet Professional Guild member; No Force, No Fear, No Pain )

21/03/2024

Landline crackling for Wales & not registering numbers again, use messenger to contact me. Openreach supposed to fix this week !

06/03/2024

Good Luck, have a great time & safe journeys to all going to Crufts. Looking forward to the livestreaming, results & TV coverage.

04/03/2024

Mainly for those outside the exhibitors info loop and those who are interested in the whole range of dog activities.

Where to watch Crufts more focused activity specific coverage:
Crufts Youtube channel has livestreaming from the arena throughout each day - including agility, flyball and dispalys of all sorts of activities.
You can watch livestreaming from the Obedience ring of
Inter-regional Obedience and Obreedience on Thursday
Rally on Friday
and the Obedience championships on Saturday and Sunday

If you are looking to follow a specific breed - many have exhibitors livestreaming the breed classes, go to your breed club's page and ask if anyone may be, even just photos can give not just lovely pictures to look at but a sense of the atmosphere around the ring.

When is Crufts 2024 on TV?

March 7 2024
3pm - 4pm - Channel 4
6:30pm - 7:30pm - More4
7:30pm - 9pm - Channel 4

March 8 2024
3pm - 4pm - Channel 4
6:30pm - 7:30pm - More 4
7:30pm - 8:30pm - Channel 4
March 9 2024

3:30pm - 6pm - Channel 4
7pm - 9:30pm - Channel 4
March 10 2024

4pm - 6pm - Channel 4
7pm - 9pm - Best in Show live (Channel 4)

26/02/2024

Force Free Dog Grooming at Torabbi, individual caring & respect for your dog. 6 appointments available in March & a few for April

03/02/2024

29/01/2024

I have just a few Feb/March Force Free Grooming appointments treating your dog with respect & individual choice for their comfort

17/01/2024

Only a couple of appointments available before end of February. Get in touch for Force Free considerate grooming for your companion.

28/12/2023

This may be from across the water but it spells out the reasons why I run my grooming as I do and also the only other Force Free groomer I know of in the wider area at SPPOT Grooming,

A long read but it may answer a few questions

We need to listen to what our dogs are telling us. Grooming in particular can be a challenge for many dogs, which can result in behaviours on the table that aren’t desirable, such as fidgeting, jumping and biting. When dogs are showing these behaviours, we need to address why; and no, they are not trying to ‘be the boss’.
Fear:
A dog can be scared of grooming for many reasons. This doesn’t mean that anybody has ever intentionally hurt the dog during grooming. However, the act of being restrained and unable to move away can be very distressing for some dogs, particularly when it is with a stranger. The different tools with their sights, smells and sounds can be really scary for some dogs, and if they are ‘flooded’ by these sounds, it can further cement their fear. Just like people, dogs will react to things differently from one-another. We are all individuals, and some of us need to take things slower than others.
Pain:
Whether it is chronic or acute, pain is a significant factor in dogs disliking grooming and being ‘difficult’. Pain may cause the dog to be uncomfortable with one area being touched, or it may be more generalised; a dog may just be entirely less tolerant if they are in discomfort, much like a person with a headache who now has a lot less patience than usual. If your dog is struggling with grooming, it may be worth having a thorough veterinary and physiotherapy examination. Remember: just because your dog isn’t yelping, limping or obviously in pain, that doesn’t mean they aren’t.
Discomfort:
Different from pain, discomfort may be the result of gastrointestinal issues, skin conditions or similar. Dogs with these conditions may not be obviously in pain or discomfort, but their irritation from the chronic condition may be enough to increase body sensitivity and make grooming an activity they wish to escape from, resulting in a lack of ‘compliance’ on the grooming table.
Confusion:
The dog may simply not understand what we want from them! This may come across as ‘defiance’, but really they may just not know that we want them to stand still, hold their head on this angle, turn around, give us their paw. Training the behaviours with positive reinforcement and putting cues to them will help clear up this communication barrier.
If your groomer says your dog is ‘difficult’, try to find out what that means (a description of when the behaviour happens, and what it looks like) and investigate what you can do to help your dog enjoy the groom more.
Thanks for reading!

18/11/2023

What is the difference between a Force Free groomer (me) and other groomers.
Simply I invite the dog on to my grooming table, they are free to move around, even to get off the table whenever they wish. The area of the dog's body I groom is by the dog's consent and for as long as they consent. In other words Force Free means I treat the dog as a sentient being and groom with their consent not force them to submit and definitely never tether, strap or restrain to make them compliant.
After all I would never allow one of my dogs to be treated like this poor soul, so it follows I would not treat anyone else's family member like that either.
There are an increasing number of Force Free groomers throughout the country and the more times groomers are questioned about their methods the more, hopefully, will change to Force Free grooming.

24/10/2023

I have few appointments available during November / December
message or email [email protected] to book.

19/08/2023

This helps to explain why Force Free grooming is the right way
Kindness is Essential not an option

We need to listen to what our dogs are telling us. Grooming in particular can be a challenge for many dogs, which can result in behaviours on the table that aren’t desirable, such as fidgeting, jumping and biting. When dogs are showing these behaviours, we need to address why; and no, they are not trying to ‘be the boss’.

Fear:
A dog can be scared of grooming for many reasons. This doesn’t mean that anybody has ever intentionally hurt the dog during grooming. However, the act of being restrained and unable to move away can be very distressing for some dogs, particularly when it is with a stranger. The different tools with their sights, smells and sounds can be really scary for some dogs, and if they are ‘flooded’ by these sounds, it can further cement their fear. Just like people, dogs will react to things differently from one-another. We are all individuals, and some of us need to take things slower than others.

Pain:
Whether it is chronic or acute, pain is a significant factor in dogs disliking grooming and being ‘difficult’. Pain may cause the dog to be uncomfortable with one area being touched, or it may be more generalised; a dog may just be entirely less tolerant if they are in discomfort, much like a person with a headache who now has a lot less patience than usual. If your dog is struggling with grooming, it may be worth having a thorough veterinary and physiotherapy examination. Remember: just because your dog isn’t yelping, limping or obviously in pain, that doesn’t mean they aren’t.

Discomfort:
Differejt from pain, discomfort may be the result of gastrointestinal issues, skin conditions or similar. Dogs with these conditions may not be obviously in pain or discomfort, but their irritation from the chronic condition may be enough to increase body sensitivity and make grooming an activity they wish to escape from, resulting in a lack of ‘compliance’ on the grooming table.

Confusion:
The dog may simply not understand what we want from them! This may come across as ‘defiance’, but really they may just not know that we want them to stand still, hold their head on this angle, turn around, give us their paw. Training the behaviours with positive reinforcement and putting cues to them will help clear up this communication barrier.

If your groomer says your dog is ‘difficult’, try to find out what that means (a description of when the behaviour happens, and what it looks like) and investigate what you can do to help your dog enjoy the groom more.

Thanks for reading!

01/08/2023

Torabbi Grooming Services has a few spaces in August for Force Free Grooming message for appointment Full groom £25 - £30. No deposit required after 32 yrs grooming here I trust and respect my owners !
Torabbi Grooming is on the outskirts of Sarnau, approx 8 miles north of Cardigan.

19/05/2023

There are a few different snakes found in the UK, but the European Adder is the only one that is venomous and that is a potential danger to your dog. Our advice covers the signs that your dog has been bitten by an adder and also what you do.

28/02/2023

Love being a Force Free Groomer, especially when the dogs show me how much they love having the choice, although doing a family pair would be easier if they didn't both want to be on the table together 🙂

24/02/2023

Sue at Torabbi Services for
FORCE FREE DOG GROOMING
Treating your dog with the respect they deserve !

25/01/2023

FORCE FREE grooming for companion dogs

Sue specialises in Anxious, Nervous, Rescue, Elderly & Young dogs who need that little extra care and attention.
No restraints, straps, tethers or slings are used, Just Love, Care and Respect with the grooming being guided by the dog.
Every dog has undivided attention and is treated like the individual they are.

Puppy first grooms (under 4 months) are FREE

Booking essential - limited appointments available
(Torabbi Grooming Services established 1991)

10/01/2023

Please bear with me if you're waiting for a response to a Grooming or Training message I'm working my way through 17 days offline