How I became a behavioural groomer
- Louise Thompson
- Aug 2
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 4
Helping Dogs Feel Safe at the Groomers: A Different Approach
When you work with dogs who are anxious, nervous, or even aggressive during grooming, you quickly learn that a traditional “get it done” approach doesn’t work — and usually makes things worse. I’m Louise, a dog groomer from Central Scotland who is influenced by behaviour principles, and I specialise in working with dogs who find grooming difficult. I’ve started this blog to share what I’ve learned, explain how and why I do things differently.
How it started: rough collies, rough lessons
When I first trained as a groomer, I honestly knew very little about dogs — not in the way I do now. I lived with Barney, my beloved little crossbreed, and Meg, my elderly springer spaniel. I’d been ‘grooming’ my mine and dad’s spaniels with a pair of kitchen scissors since I was a kid, and I knew having worked with horses for four years after leaving school, I wanted to work with again animals somehow. So I signed up for a (rather expensive!) grooming course, took six weeks off my full-time job, and gave it a go.
Halfway through the course I was blow-drying a rough collie and was bitten. At the time, that's all I knew — I was blow-drying and then, out of the blue, it was quite a serious bite and I had to go to A&E. I had to miss a week of the course and, upon return, I was blamed for not asking for a muzzle. By this point in the course, we had never discussed how to understand a dog, their body language, or when I might need to think about safety and muzzling. We were purely being taught about styling and, with this particular dog, de-shedding; the focus was purely on how to tend to the coat, not think about the dog’s experience, body language or welfare.
After many years of learning about dogs, I can accept now that the rough collie from training didn't bite 'out of the blue' — he was most likely trying his best to give warning signs and communication that I simply didn't understand. We weren’t taught how to recognise when a dog was scared or overwhelmed. We didn’t learn about body language or how to work safely with dogs who might be struggling — only how to style and groom various coats.
Changing direction: learning what grooming really means
After qualifying, I set up a tiny grooming business from a summer house in my garden. It was just me, my new clippers, and a growing sense of unease. I realised very quickly: most dogs don’t enjoy being groomed — and I didn’t know how to change that. So I kept things small. I worked mostly with neighbours, friends, and dogs I already knew (some of which I do still groom now, or dogs from the same family!). At the same time, I continued my main job working in the third sector, supporting people affected by homelessness.
My original qualification is in Occupational Therapy. Having left school at 16 years old, when I was 25 I decided to go back to college. I went on to university, and graduated with an honors degree in 2010. I spent a few years working in support roles across charities and health services. Eventually, that path led me to a role as a course instructor on a prison-based dog training programme. I kept a small dog grooming client base throughout — but there was something missing in my grooming and I didn’t know what. I didn’t know how to make dogs feel better about it.
Finding the missing link: behaviour, stress and understanding
Back in 2014 I was fortunate enough to work as an instructor on a prison-based dog training programme, supporting young offenders through an educational course centred around rescue dogs. It was a truly unique role that brought together my background in support work and my (at the time, limited!) knowledge of dogs. I'll be forever grateful for this role and the knowledge I gained from it, as it set me on the path I'm on now.
During my time there, I had the chance to meet and learn from some incredible people — experienced dog professionals, trainers, and rescue organisations who generously shared their knowledge. I was encouraged to dive deeper into dog behaviour and practical training, and began attending courses both online and in person. Over time, the penny dropped. I started to see why dogs might not enjoy grooming, why they were trembling on arrival, pulling away from the gate, and how their stress often shows up in subtle body language long before a growl or a snap. That was the missing link in my grooming practice — and that insight changed everything.
Around the same time as I began learning about dog behaviour, I adopted my amazing little dog, Mollie — a feisty little Border Collie x Jack Russell who had already had three homes and spent eight months in rescue kennels before her second birthday. Between her breed mix and her rocky start in life, I quickly realised I’d bitten off more than I could chew! If I was going to give her the happy, secure life she deserved, I had to learn more — not just about dogs in general, but about her in particular. What made her feel safe? What did she need to relax and trust people? How could I help her enjoy life with Barney, Meg and I? My life began to revolve around my dogs' needs, and making my dogs happy became the centre of my world.
Mollie and I started with trick training and soon moved into cooperative care work — training that helps dogs participate in their own grooming and health care without fear or restraint. That exploration shaped my whole professional approach and became a key part of the work I now do with other dogs.
Mollie also found other dogs quite difficult. While she made progress over the years, she never would have coped in a busy grooming salon or a crowded vet waiting room. She needed a quiet, low-stress environment, and someone who understood her limits. Because of her, I built my business around those values: one-to-one sessions, owner present if needed, and handling that puts the dog’s wellbeing first. Meg passed away several years ago, and more recently Mollie passed away in December 2024 after ten wonderful years together — but her legacy lives on in everything I do.
Thirteen years on… and still learning
Now, over 13 years since I first started grooming, it amazes me how much both I and my business have evolved. I’ve faced setbacks, made quite a few sacrifices, learned from my mistakes and had to rebuild more than once — after the pandemic, after surgery on my hand — and to be perfectly honest there were times when my little business was the only constant in my life. I’ve been deeply grateful for so many long-term, loyal customers and dogs.
What keeps me going is the joy of helping dogs feel better about grooming, and the trust of the people who care for them. I’ve had the pleasure of working with hundreds of dogs over the years, each with their own quirks, worries and personalities. And I’ve built a wonderful community of clients who value the gentle, respectful approach I offer. I’m now an approved groomer with Taking the Grr Out Of Grooming Dogs, a student and member of The Holistic Grooming Academy, and a professional affiliate of Pet Remedy, but I think the best thing about working with dogs is that there will always be more to learn. Each dog brings their own unique needs with them and we have to stay open to learning.
If you’ve made it to the end of this post — thank you for being here. I’m excited to start sharing more about behavioural grooming and the ways we can help our dogs feel safe, understood, and supported. What I really want now is for my little business with a big heart to grow, reach more owners and professionals, and spread the word about dog-centred grooming and behaviour.
With kindness,
Louise
Behavioural Grooming Specialist, Groomer & Canine Advocate
Stress Less Grooming
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