Nervous, first-time & senior pets
A gentler pace for pets who need one
Some dogs and cats need the whole thing to go slower. Shaky first-timers, pets who hate the sound of clippers, older ones with stiff hips. Our Maple Street shop was set up for exactly that: one pet in the room at a time, no cages, and nobody rushing.
Start with a free 10-minute meet-and-greet
Before a first full groom, we set aside ten minutes with no grooming in it at all. It's free, and it means your pet's first visit isn't also the day they get a bath.
- 1
Come in and look around
Your pet sniffs the room and meets the groomer, with no grooming happening.
- 2
Tell us the quirks
Ear-shy, hates the dryer, sore back end, bad history at another shop. We'd rather hear it now than find out halfway through.
- 3
Book when it feels right
If it went well, we book the full groom. If not, we can talk about what would make the visit easier.
We're appointment only, Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. Ask for a meet-and-greet when you get in touch, or see what a full groom includes on the Services & Pricing page.
Why a quiet shop makes a difference
Most of what upsets a nervous pet at the groomer isn't the haircut. It's the other dogs barking, the crate, the waiting around.
No cages
Nobody is put away in a cage to wait — we don't use them.
One pet at a time
We book appointments so dogs and cats don't overlap in the room. Quieter for everyone, and much easier on cats.
Calm music, two familiar faces
There are two of us and we're family-run, so your pet sees the same people each visit instead of whoever is on shift.
Cat owners can read more about how we handle feline visits on the Cat Grooming page.
Older dogs & cats
Grooming older pets without the stress
Older pets often need a gentler pace, and that is what we aim for. With one pet in the shop at a time and no cages, nothing has to be rushed to stay on schedule, and a cat who cannot be handled for long gets the same courtesy. Tell us what your senior pet can manage and we can talk it through before booking.
- A gentler pace for pets who need one
- Tell us about sore spots, lumps or tender skin
- A quieter shop, no cages and no waiting in a loud room
- An appointment time that suits you, Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm
When you book, tell us what your pet can and cannot do these days: bad knees, poor hearing, a shoulder that should not be lifted.
Not sure how much your senior pet can handle in one visit? The free 10-minute meet-and-greet is a good place to start, before anything is booked.
Tell us your pet's quirks before you come
There are only two of us and we're family-run, so the details stick. Tell us the things only you would know: the paw she will not let anyone hold, the spot on his back that is tender, the groom somewhere else that went badly. None of it is too small to mention.
- Sore hips or joints
- Hates having paws held
- Nervous around the dryer
- Recent surgery or stitches
- Lumps, scabs or hot spots
- A bad past grooming visit
- Deaf or low vision
- Gets carsick on the way
- Only tolerates short handling
Add it to your note when you book, or tell us at the door. Send us a message to set up a first visit.