The Dog Whiskerer

13/10/2026

Some chan

Dear clients

Please note changes to my availability. Reduction of Days and weights of dogs.

I do value all of you and if you are on my books I enjoy grooming your dog.
If you are unsure of this message - please contact me. I tried messaging everyone but it’s to complex.

I have as some of you are aware recently had a few injuries.

My back in December that turned out I had 2 stable fractures in my vertebrae from an earlier accident that had been present a while - lifting a heavy little dog exacerbated the injury.

A broken leg and foot late July followed by another fall 3 weeks later in the silly boot I had for my foot resulted in shoulder and hand injuries.

My wonderful assistant Georgie then left to pursue her dreams in Fashion and I wish her the very best.

This has all resulted in quite a backlog and delays with appointments. I apologise.

This has forced me to accept I need to reduce my days and I am currently studying and have decided to focus more on my studies.

I will be cutting back to grooming 3 days per week.
Mondays
Tuesdays and Saturdays.

I am also sadly having to cut back dogs by weight and height. Small dogs are fine for me to groom.

I need to reduce to no more than 12 kg ideally under 10kg. Unfortunately if I do not follow instructions I may end up requiring surgery

I am already filling for appointments into the new year so please plan ahead to schedule between now and February.

Please don’t despair-
I have been training a wonderful lady to groom. Natalie - you can message me for her number.
Nat is competent with dogs of all sizes including oodles, Handstripping and terrier styling.
Nat has amazing patience with dogs.

If you have a larger dog scheduled at present I will continue to groom them also larger elderly dogs outside the weight limit - I will personally coach Nat on their grooms.

I also have a wonderful groomer I trained previously who adores grooming cocker spaniels and large breeds - Groodles, Airedales, standard poodles etc. I can also provide jasmine’s number.

There is also Alise in Frenchs forest.

I have many friends who are groomers I can confidently refer to.

Thank you so much to everyone who has been patient lately and if I have confused you please reach out and discuss further appointments with me. For those who are a little heavier I will introduce you and your dogs to Nat. I’ve been reluctantly preparing to have to make this decision and it’s certainly not easy.

Jo🩷

13/10/2026

Dear clients

Please note changes to my availability. Reduction of Days and weights of dogs.

I do value all of you and if you are on my books I enjoy grooming your dog.
If you are unsure of this message - please contact me. I tried messaging everyone but it’s to complex.

I have as some of you are aware recently had a few injuries.

My back in December that turned out I had 2 stable fractures in my vertebrae from an earlier accident that had been present a while - lifting a heavy little dog exacerbated the injury.

A broken leg and foot late July followed by another fall 3 weeks later in the silly boot I had for my foot resulted in shoulder and hand injuries.

My wonderful assistant Georgie then left to pursue her dreams in Fashion and I wish her the very best.

This has all resulted in quite a backlog and delays with appointments. I apologise.

This has forced me to accept I need to reduce my days and I am currently studying and have decided to focus more on my studies.

I will be cutting back to grooming 3 days per week.
Mondays
Tuesdays and Saturdays.

I am also sadly having to cut back dogs by weight and height. Small dogs are fine for me to groom.

I need to reduce to no more than 12 kg ideally under 10kg. Unfortunately if I do not follow instructions I may end up requiring surgery

I am already filling for appointments into the new year so please plan ahead to schedule between now and February.

Please don’t despair-
I have been training a wonderful lady to groom. Natalie - you can message me for her number.
Nat is competent with dogs of all sizes including oodles, Handstripping and terrier styling.
Nat has amazing patience with dogs.

If you have a larger dog scheduled at present I will continue to groom them also larger elderly dogs outside the weight limit - I will personally coach Nat on their grooms.

I also have a wonderful groomer I trained previously who adores grooming cocker spaniels and large breeds - Groodles, Airedales, standard poodles etc. I can also provide jasmine’s number.

There is also Alise in Frenchs forest.

I have many friends who are groomers I can confidently refer to.

Thank you so much to everyone who has been patient lately and if I have confused you please reach out and discuss further appointments with me. For those who are a little heavier I will introduce you and your dogs to Nat. I’ve been reluctantly preparing to have to make this decision and it’s certainly not easy.

Jo🩷

10/05/2026

Hi all.

I had a few people reach out to me thinking I had closed.

I did hurt my back prior to Christmas and I’ve been having physio.

I am still working.

When I said my books were closed to new customers I did not mean to existing customers.
I’m sorry for the confusion.

As I am on the mend I’m now able to take new customers.

Ps
How sweet is tux after his makeover.

27/04/2026

Hi everyone

I’m excited to announce our books are open to new customers again. Please stay tuned for a wonderful update.

For bookings please sms 0409250968

28/01/2026

Phil turned 4 this week. If you need dog birthday cakes let me know we found this great little co locally

23/12/2025

Merry Christmas.

The salon will be closed briefly and re opening in 5/1/2026 -
We will be closed a few extra days for Australia Day long weekend as well.

Thank you for all the thoughtful Christmas gifts and for entrusting me with your dogs. I’m truly blessed to have such wonderful clients.

Stay safe and enjoy Christmas and the new year with your loved ones!

16/12/2025

As many of my clients know I’ve always kept a low profile and built my business on word of mouth reccomendations for which I’m grateful.

I have seen businesses actually request reviews to busy their online presence and ratings and I’ve never asked before. Apparently this does impact search engine and ai searches.

I would appreciate if you could take a moment to say something about my business on google maps. And if you have time share some cute images of your pups.

Many thanks

Jo🩷

The Dog Whiskerer

24/11/2025

Handstripping Digby the border using terrier - such a good boy. It’s lovely to see his coat return to a stripped coat. Stripping promotes healthier skin, coat and richer colour. It also helps repel dirt and water.

24/11/2025

✨ Why Regular Grooming, Socialisation and Coat Care Matter for Your Dog ✨

As groomers, we want every dog to feel safe, comfortable and confident. Grooming is not just about looking cute. It is an essential part of animal welfare and comfort.

Here are a few gentle reminders for all dog owners.

🐶 Socialisation Starts Early

Dogs who are calmly introduced to brushing, bathing, dryers and handling from a young age are far more relaxed throughout their lives.

If your dog has separation anxiety ( gets distressed when you leave them), you can help by:
• Keeping drop-offs calm and brief
• Avoiding lingering or emotional goodbyes
• Practising short micro-separations at home

Your calm energy helps your dog feel secure and reassured.

🧼 Regular Grooming is Welfare, Not Vanity

Matting us when the coat becomes together, this can happen beneath the surface and occurs often when dogs are not brushed correctly , often enough or when they repeatedly get wet and are not brushed out afterwards. It is not just untidy. It can cause real discomfort and harm.

Matting may lead to:
• Skin irritation, bruising and redness
• Restricted movement
• Painful coat removal
• Faeces and debris trapped against the skin

Under animal welfare laws, matting can be considered neglect. Regular grooming appointments prevent these issues and help dogs feel comfortable and healthy.

✂️ Staying With One Groomer Helps

A consistent grooming routine and relationship with a trusted groomer offers many benefits.

• Your dog becomes familiar with the space, sounds and handling
• Grooming sessions become calmer and predictable
• Your groomer understands your dog’s unique needs

Groomer-hopping or price-shopping can increase stress for dogs, especially those who are anxious or highly sensitive.

💡 Owner Responsibility

Between appointments, owners play a vital role in coat health.

• Brush regularly
• Book grooming every 4 to 8 weeks
• Keep hygiene areas clean
• Understand that oodle coats are not low maintenance. They require more care, not less

A healthy coat is always a partnership between the groomer and the owner.

🐾 Choosing a Great Groomer

A wonderful groomer will:
• Make your dog feel safe
• Speak kindly and calmly
• Use patient and gentle handling
• Explain what your dog needs
• Encourage realistic and regular care routines

Find someone you trust and stick with them. Your dog will benefit from the consistency and the relationship.

⚠️ What To Do If Your Dog Is Reactive to Grooming

Some dogs find grooming overwhelming, frightening or overstimulating. This is not unusual, and there are supportive ways to help your dog improve.

• Accept your groomer’s advice about more frequent visits. Short, positive sessions help your dog learn that grooming is safe and not something to fear.
• Do not attempt grooming at home if your dog is reactive. Dogs who are anxious or defensive need a patient, experienced professional to prevent escalation or injury.
• Consider involving a qualified dog trainer, especially one who understands cooperative care and grooming desensitisation. Many trainers specialise in teaching dogs to relax for handling and grooming.
• Schedule a vet check if your dog shows sudden fear, agitation or aggression. Joint pain, inflammation or medical discomfort can make grooming feel threatening. Groomers often notice subtle changes that may indicate pain.
• Stay calm and trust the process. Building confidence takes time, consistency and teamwork between groomer, owner and sometimes a trainer.

A responsible groomer will stop, defer the groom or refer you to a trainer or veterinarian if your dog is displaying discomfort, fear or aggression.
Please do not blame your groomer. They are doing the right thing to protect your dog’s welfare and emotional wellbeing.

With the right support, reactive dogs can make significant progress and even learn to enjoy grooming.

I hope these tips help you to make grooming a positive experience for you, your dogs and your groomers. Remember people enter a dog grooming career because they love dogs. Groomers feel bad if they can’t help your dog. We must all work together

03/09/2025

Hi everyone.

Phil and I are slowly adjusting to life without dear zazee. The salt air is certainly uplifting.

Thank you to everyone who who has been patient with me.

My appointments are filling quite fast and September is already quite full. It is probably a good time to schedule ahead to the rest of the year if you have not already.