Willow & Bark started in 2021 in a converted studio in Hillsborough, after ten years of grooming for big chain salons. I wanted to do it differently: one dog at a time, no cages, no rushing — the kind of groom I'd want for my own two (a very opinionated schnauzer and a lurcher who thinks he's a lapdog).

Every groom starts with a chat about your dog and how you like them to look, and ends with a quick health check note — ears, skin, nails, anything worth keeping an eye on.

Nervous dogs, older dogs and first-timers are genuinely welcome. Slower appointments cost me time and make me no extra money — I do them because they're the difference between a dog that dreads grooming and one that pulls on the lead to get in the door.