About Gone Dog Grooming

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I run Gone Dog Grooming as a specialist, one-to-one grooming space where dogs are handled with calm, considered care. My focus is on ensuring each dog feels safe and understood, so their coat and comfort can be looked after without stress or force. Good grooming is not simply about the finish on the day, but about supporting a dog’s comfort and wellbeing in a way that is respectful and appropriate for them.

The name Gone Dog Grooming reflects both our rural location and a personal family connection. It nods to the number of local gun dogs, and also to my son’s love of fishing and the programme Gone Fishing. It feels rooted in this place, and in the kind of honest, steady work I believe in.

I live with my teenage son and three very different dogs. One is an elderly, anxious Labrador I rehomed from a former client, cherished beyond belief and shedding enough to keep my Labrador coat skills well practised. Another is a small cockapoo with a fine toy poodle coat, and the third is a show Cocker Spaniel with two artificial hips who requires extra physical support. Living with dogs who all need something different has shaped how I groom just as much as any qualification.

Outside the salon, I am happiest in wellies on the moors, knitting cosy jumpers, or cooking gluten-free food. I have been coeliac for over twenty years, so the kitchen sees its fair share of experimentation. I have a weakness for gluten-free ginger biscuits, a love of good cheese, preferably French and unapologetically strong, and I run on strong coffee and Lakrids liquorice. Fishing has become part of life thanks to my son, and I now enjoy sea fishing too, particularly when the water is calm and the day is bright.

Before becoming a dog groomer, I worked in healthcare as a Radiographer and later in Healthcare IT, developing systems for the NHS and across European healthcare settings. Following the loss of my husband to cancer, I found myself raising our young son alone, which fundamentally reshaped how I viewed work, time, and what truly matters. It brought a clear realisation that meaningful work must allow space for family, connection, and wellbeing, rather than existing at their expense.

After leaving healthcare, I went on to support isolated individuals as a Befriending Project Coordinator and became a qualified Mental Health First Aider. This work developed skills that are central to how I groom today — calm communication, careful observation, patience, and an understanding of anxiety and behaviour. These are particularly important when working with nervous, elderly, or more sensitive dogs.

I hold City & Guilds Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in professional dog grooming, with further training in:

• Canine skin and coat health
• Breed styling and hand stripping
• Emmi-Pet ultrasonic dental care
• Canine Reiki, offered either alongside grooming or as a standalone supportive therapy