The studio is run by Nicola Graham, an award winning stylist with over 15 years experience. Nicola specialises in Miniature Schnauzers, regularly grooming dogs that have entered and subsequently won placings at CRUFTS as well as many other shows throughout the year. She also took first place in her class at Mastergroom 2016, one of the largest grooming competitions in Europe. Nicola regularly attends shows and competitions to keep up to date with the latest products available and techniques used so Canine Couture can continue to offer you and your dog the best possible experience.

Is Canine Couture right for you?

There are many different types of grooming salon, and each will have its own benefits. Some factors to consider when choosing a groomer….

Are you willing to commit to a pre booked appointment schedule or do you want to call and arrange appointments when you feel it’s necessary? Many sole groomers have clients that pre book each appointment, and unless there are unusual circumstances, cannot ‘squeeze in’ a last minute call. Salons with a grooming team are usually more flexible with this.

Waiting time. Do you want your dogs grooming session to begin upon arrival and be able to collect your dog as soon as he/she is finished? This is usually what happens when a stylist operates on a one to one basis, meaning your dog isn’t in the salon any longer than necessary and is the sole focus of the stylist during their time there. Salons that admit groups of clients in a single time frame have a different type of approach and you can usually expect that your dog will be kept for a longer period of time before you are allowed to collect him/her.

Can the stylist produce the groom/ style you want? All groomers will have different levels of experience and skill, and it is very much advised to take time to look through a portfolio of a stylists work to assess whether they are suitable for your needs. That being said, it is also vital that you as a client recognise that even the most highly skilled stylist can not always produce beautiful grooms on dogs that have coat or behavioural issues. If there are excessive tangles/matting in the coat you should expect that a stylist will offer the only humane approach which is to take the coat short and start afresh. This is not the ‘easy’ option and not one that stylists enjoy but it is important to keep in mind your dogs comfort at all times.

What kind of set up does the salon have? Is it a clean environment? Is it sufficiently fenced/partitioned to keep your dog safe? Are the dogs crated or left loose, kept apart or allowed to socialise with one another? Lots of factors are down to personal preference alone and most stylists will be happy to discuss this with you before you decide.