Smarty Paws is an award-winning professional dog grooming salon, having recently opened a second salon. Both salons are in the heart of my home town of Beeston, Nottingham, that provide a professional but personable service.

To me, my work is more than just a job. I value each dog and owner individually and only groom one dog at a time so that my time and energy is fully dedicated to each client.

Both salons are equipped with the highest quality equipment including movable electric baths and tables, cordless clippers, stand dryers etc.

My salon is large enough to cater for breeds of all different shapes and sizes and, unlike many other salons, I have a free-roam policy. I strive to make the dogs as relaxed and comfortable as possible, and having the freedom to move around is better for their mental well-being. It allows them to express their personality. I also have a securely enclosed yard for the dogs to run around in at one of the salons where I absolutely love playing with them.

Dog grooming is a messy and smelly business, but I work hard to ensure my salon looks clean and smells fresh. Whilst many salons hide their workstations from view, I purposely installed a window between the reception and salon to allow my customers to see their dogs being trimmed and the other salon is completely open.

Dogs are my biggest passion in life and I have been working in dog grooming salons since I was 14 years old, starting out on Saturdays and progressing to full-time after I finished school.

After ten years of working in 3 different salons, I decided to set up my own, and in January 2015 I founded Smarty Paws at the age of 24.

I started out by renting a table in the salon I had previously volunteered in, managing my own clients and accounts. Over the next 18 months, I built up a regular client base and earned enough to become self-employed on full-time. Basis. In June 2016 I earned a Level 3 City and Guilds dog grooming qualification.

My ten years working in the industry gave me a strong understanding of what makes a good salon, and this gave me a clear vision of what I wanted my own salon, Smarty Paws to be.

Since opening my own salon in 2017, I have been able to pass on my expertise and experience training two members of staff into confident, competent groomers who still work at Smarty Paws.

Smarty Paws’ new and second salon has extra room/space to provide extra training days for staff and dog owners. We hope to provide animal first aid courses and seminars, to ensure we’re always equipped with the latest guidance and training.

My advice to anyone thinking about taking up dog grooming as a career, or just starting out, is to get as much hands-on experience within a salon. There are many great courses available now to learn and gain dog grooming qualifications but I feel they don’t offer a very realistic aspect of everyday grooming.

Each dog I groom is completely different, from coat care to personality. Dog grooming requires lots of patience and understanding.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time showing and competing with my standard poodles. There is Finnegan, a four-year-old silver standard poodle and Delilah a two-and-half white standard poodle who has competed at Crufts in recent years. Who are both often at the salons.

For me personally, the thing I love about dog grooming besides the creative aspect and feeling a sense of accomplishment after each groom is the rewarding factor of making the dog feel better! The health benefits and seeing the difference in how the dog must feel and shows its gratitude in the way it suddenly becomes alive, light-footed and playful!

Customers on a daily basis thank me and tell me how differently their dog behaves in a joyful way!