FAQS
Do you groom at my home?
Yes. Fab Dogz provides a premium, fully mobile dog grooming service, so I come directly to your home. Your dog is groomed in my fully equipped, state-of-the-art grooming van parked outside, providing a calm, one-to-one grooming experience without the stress of travelling to a salon.
This also means your dog is never left waiting in cages around other dogs, helping to create a quieter and more relaxed environment.
Do I need to provide water or power?
You do not need to provide water, as Fab Dogz comes fully equipped with a large onboard water tank and a state-of-the-art heated hydro bath.
However, I do require access to mains electricity to power the grooming van during your appointment. I carry a 25-metre hookup cable, which connects the van to your home’s electric supply. This must be plugged directly into a mains wall socket and not into an extension lead.
Most customers simply pass the cable through a front door or window into a hallway or front room socket
Do you need designated parking?
Yes. For all grooming appointments, I require suitable parking for the grooming van within 25 metres of your property so that I can connect to your mains power supply.
This can include:
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A driveway large enough for a large transit-sized van
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Parking across the front of your driveway if space is limited
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On-street parking, provided it is close enough for the power cable to safely reach your property
Customers are responsible for ensuring that suitable parking is available for the appointment. This forms part of the booking terms and conditions agreed to at the time of booking.
If I arrive and there is no suitable parking available, meaning I am unable to safely park the van or connect to power, the full appointment cost will still be charged.
For standalone nail trim appointments, it is sometimes possible for me to work without plugging into mains power. However, my grooming table is electric, so if you believe parking or power access may be an issue, please let me know before your appointment. I can then adjust the table to a suitable height for your dog before travelling to you.
What if I live on a hill?
Grooming on some hills can be possible, but it depends on the severity of the incline and the length of the appointment.
If the incline is minimal, I can often adjust the position of the van to help level it out — for example by positioning either the front or rear wheels up onto a kerb to reduce the angle.
However, if the hill is particularly steep, it may not be possible to safely carry out grooming services at your property, especially for longer appointments. This is because equipment inside the van can roll or shift, your dog would be standing on an incline throughout the groom, and the water systems in the bath may not drain or pump correctly when the van is not level.
This also applies to properties where the only available parking is a steeply sloped driveway. However, if there is enough space and the area across the front of the driveway is level, I can often park there instead
How Much Do Your Services Cost
Pricing is bespoke and depends on a wide range of factors, as every dog and every groom is different.
Some of the factors that affect pricing include:
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Breed
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Size
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Age
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Coat type and coat condition
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Length of time between grooming appointments
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Home grooming and maintenance routine
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The style and length you would like your dog trimmed to
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Temperament and behaviour during grooming
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Health conditions or mobility considerations
Because there are so many variables involved, I do not have a published price list.
I also prefer to personally speak with all potential new clients before registration. This gives me the opportunity to properly discuss your dog’s grooming needs, ensure that I can meet those needs to a high standard, and answer any questions you may have about my services.
Any prices discussed before the appointment are estimates rather than fixed quotations. As consultations are carried out over the phone, I am unable to physically assess your dog’s coat condition beforehand. This means I cannot always accurately determine factors such as matting, coat density, behaviour during grooming, or other issues that may affect the groom until the appointment itself.
If you are interested in registering as a client, please complete the enquiry form on the Contact Us page and I will get in touch.
Are you Qualified and Insured?
Yes. Fab Dogz is fully insured, and I am a fully qualified dog groomer with a strong professional background in animal care, welfare, and zoology.
I hold an OFQUAL-accredited Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming, as well as a CPD-approved Canine First Aid qualification. I also hold a Bachelor of Science First Class Honours degree in Zoology from Cardiff University, and a Level 3 Diploma in Animal Management, which I completed with distinction.
Dog grooming is currently an unregulated industry, which means there are many different training routes available. Some groomers complete shorter or non-accredited courses, while others choose to undertake formal, regulated qualifications. There are only a limited number of training providers offering the recognised OFQUAL-accredited Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming, which is considered one of the gold-standard qualifications within the industry.
This is the route I chose because I wanted to ensure that my training met a recognised professional standard and gave me the knowledge, skill, and confidence to provide a safe, high-quality grooming experience.
Before becoming a dog groomer, I had a long and award-winning career working with animals, including specialist zoological work as a Senior Primate Keeper at Twycross Zoo. My background has given me extensive experience in animal behaviour, handling, welfare, husbandry, and care.
I am also a member of professional organisations within the pet and grooming industry, including the Pet Industry Federation, the British Dog Groomers’ Association, and the British Isles Grooming Association. I am also registered with The Groomers Spotlight, which only lists groomers who hold recognised OFQUAL-accredited qualifications.
Your dog’s welfare, safety, and comfort are always at the forefront of everything I do.
Do you groom Large and XL Breeds?
In most cases, I do not groom large or extra-large breeds. As a mobile groomer working alone in an enclosed grooming van, I need to be able to safely move dogs between the grooming table and bath without assistance.
That said, suitability is assessed on an individual basis, as some larger dogs are very well suited to mobile grooming.
Larger breeds may still be accepted if they:
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Have an excellent temperament
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Are confident and comfortable with grooming
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Are well trained and responsive to handling
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Can safely jump onto the grooming table and into the bath with little or no physical assistance
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Remain calm and cooperative throughout the grooming process
For dogs who are unable or unwilling to do this safely, mobile grooming is often not the most appropriate option. In these cases, I would usually recommend attending a salon environment where multiple staff members are available to safely assist with lifting and handling between grooming areas.
How do I book my dog in for a groom?
To enquire about grooming services, please complete the enquiry form on the Contact Us page.
This allows me to learn a little more about your dog, make an initial assessment as to whether I am able to meet their grooming needs, and determine whether I currently have suitable availability to accommodate them on my books.
If suitable, I will then get in touch to arrange a telephone consultation. This gives us the opportunity to discuss your dog’s grooming requirements in more detail, and you will also have the chance to ask any questions you may have about my services.
Following the consultation, I can provide you with an estimated price range and guide you through the registration process. Once registration has been completed, we can then look at suitable appointment dates.
In most cases, I work on repeating grooming schedules rather than ad hoc appointments. Clients are generally booked in on a regular schedule for the year, based on what is most appropriate for their dog’s coat type, grooming needs, and coat maintenance between appointments.
If you are looking for a more occasional or flexible arrangement, I may be able to add you to the standby list — please see the waiting list section below for more information.
Do you have a waiting list if I cannot book immediately?
When I am fully booked, I operate two separate waiting lists depending on the type of grooming arrangement you are looking for.
Regular Schedule Waiting List
This waiting list is for clients looking for ongoing regular grooming appointments if future availability becomes available.
If you have a breed of dog that requires grooming on a regular 6–8 weekly schedule, then this would generally be the most appropriate waiting list to join. This includes breeds such as Poodles, Bichons, poodle mixes, bichon mixes, and other curly-coated breeds that require regular maintenance grooming.
Standby Waiting List
I also operate a standby waiting list for very flexible owners who are happy to be contacted at short notice if a last-minute appointment becomes available.
These appointments do arise fairly regularly, but they are unpredictable and cannot be relied upon at fixed intervals. For this reason, the standby list is generally only suitable for:
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Dogs who cope well with a more ad hoc grooming routine
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Owners with excellent flexibility and availability
If you would like to be considered for a place on my books, the first step is to complete the enquiry form on the Contact Us page.
What Areas Do you cover?
I cover Bridgend and the immediately surrounding areas.
My main coverage area is CF31, although I also cover some areas within other postcodes, including parts of CF32, CF33, CF35 and CF71.
Areas I regularly cover include:
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Pen-y-Fai
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Brackla
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Coity
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Coychurch
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Litchard
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Laleston
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Cefn Cribwr
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Some areas of Porthcawl
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Some areas of Cowbridge (depending on the service required)
Travel is always assessed on an individual basis.
For shorter appointments such as standalone nail trims, I generally stay more local unless multiple dogs are being booked together, as it is often not practical to travel longer distances for a quick lower-cost service.
However, I already offer grouped nail trim visits in some further afield areas, and this can be a great way to access appointments in locations that I may not otherwise travel to for a single nail trim booking. If several neighbours or local dog owners are able to book appointments together at the same time, it may be possible for me to travel to areas such as Porthcawl or Cowbridge for grouped nail trim sessions.
I do not currently cover areas such as:
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Penarth
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Barry
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Sully
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St Athan
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Maesteg
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Swansea
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Port Talbot
As these locations are outside my usual travelling radius. This is not an exhaustive list of excluded areas, and coverage is always assessed individually depending on location and service required.
If you are unsure whether I cover your area, the best option is to get in touch via the enquiry form on the Contact Us page.
Can i book a weekend Appointment?
No. I Do not currently offer Weekend appointments.
How Long will my appointment take?
Appointment times vary depending on your dog’s breed, size, coat type, coat condition, temperament, behaviour, health, and the style of groom being carried out.
Fab Dogz is a premium grooming service, and I will never rush your dog’s appointment. My grooming process is focused on your dog’s comfort, welfare, and individual needs, rather than working on a high-volume model where dogs are rushed in and out as quickly as possible.
The exact length of the appointment will depend on the groom required. Longer coats, more detailed styles, or coats that require extra preparation will naturally take more time. Where appropriate, I will fluff dry suitable coats before the haircut, as this is a professional grooming technique that helps achieve the best possible finish. This will only be done if your dog is comfortable with the dryer.
Some appointments may also need to be adapted for dogs with individual behavioural needs, anxiety, mobility issues, medical conditions, or other specific requirements. Depending on the circumstances, this can sometimes make the groom longer, or occasionally shorter, if adjustments are needed to keep your dog comfortable and safe.
For this reason, appointment times are always estimated rather than guaranteed. I will always take the time needed to give your dog the best possible grooming experience.
Can I choose how my dog is styled?
Yes, of course. I always carry out a full style consultation with every owner so that we can discuss the look you would like for your dog.
A suitable style will be chosen based on your dog’s coat type, coat condition, lifestyle, grooming schedule, and the level of home grooming you are able to maintain between appointments.
Some requested styles may not always be possible straight away. For example, owners may request a longer, fluffier style, but if there is matting in the coat, this cannot be safely achieved. Matted areas often need to be clipped out at a very short length in order to remove the matting safely and humanely.
It is important to understand that removing matting by excessive brushing is not appropriate. If brushing out matting would take longer than 15 minutes, this is considered against animal welfare guidance, and groomers have a legal obligation to prioritise the dog’s welfare. At Fab Dogz, humanity over vanity is always at the forefront.
If your dog’s coat condition means that the requested style cannot be achieved immediately, we can put a plan in place to work towards it. This may include a suitable grooming schedule and a realistic home grooming routine to help maintain the coat properly between appointments.
Style choices also depend on the individual dog. Every dog has their own personality, temperament, tolerance levels, and grooming history. Dogs who have completed appropriate puppy grooming introductions at the correct age, have been groomed regularly from a young age, and have had positive grooming experiences are often more comfortable with the full grooming process. These dogs are usually able to tolerate a wider range of styling options.
Other dogs may have been introduced to grooming later, may not have been groomed as regularly as recommended, or may feel nervous about certain parts of the grooming process. Some dogs are particularly sensitive about having specific areas touched, such as their feet, tail, ears, or face.
In these cases, we will agree on a style that suits your dog as an individual, taking into account what they can comfortably tolerate. Your dog’s welfare, comfort, and emotional wellbeing will always come before achieving a particular look.
What payment methods do you accept?
I accept payment by cash or card.
Payment for your dog’s groom is taken immediately following the appointment.
Please note that I do not accept bank transfer.
Do you have Terms and Conditions
Yes. All clients are required to read and agree to the Fab Dogz terms and conditions as part of the registration process.
The terms and conditions can be viewed on the website Terms and Conditions Page. When registering as a client, they will also be sent to you electronically via an online form. This can be completed and signed from your phone, tablet, or computer, and once submitted, it will be returned directly to my booking system.
Please note that appointments cannot be offered or confirmed until the registration process has been completed. This includes agreeing to the terms and conditions, as this is an important part of becoming a registered Fab Dogz client
If you would like to know more about Fab Dogz, the services offered or anything else then please don't hesitate to reach to to me on the contact details below or via my social media channels.
