Welcome to barkingbowser.co.uk

My Vision

My vision is simple: to create a grooming experience where every dog feels safe, calm, and genuinely cared for. I believe grooming should never be stressful or uncomfortable—instead, it should be a positive, soothing experience built on patience, trust, and kindness.

I am passionate about working with dogs and take pride in treating each one as an individual. By focusing on their comfort and wellbeing, I aim to ensure every dog in my care is relaxed, free from pain, and handled with gentle expertise at every stage of the grooming process.

Alongside this commitment to welfare, I strive to deliver exceptional grooming results. Whether it’s a simple tidy-up or a full groom, my goal is for every dog to leave looking fantastic and feeling even better.

At the heart of Barking Bowser is a genuine love for dogs—and a dedication to giving them the care, comfort, and quality they deserve.

Regular dog grooming is not just about making your dog look great. More importantly, grooming is essential for your dog’s overall health and wellbeing, something that professional groomers, vets and trainers all agree upon. 

Whether you are grooming your dog yourself or taking your furry friend to a specialist such as Barking Bowser, a consistent grooming routine will come with a long list of benefits. 

1. Improved hygiene

Just as most of us have a shower or bath every day to remove the grime of everyday life, regular dog grooming can help to remove irritants such as dirt, grease, dead skin and loose fur that can start to build up. If left ungroomed, this can start to cause tangles and knots within the fur, as well as invite harmful bacteria close to your dog's skin. 

2. Reduced/improved odour

Dogs can smell quite nice… in certain circumstances. However, there is a reason you can’t buy wet dog scented air fresheners! Whether it is from rolling in mud, splashing around in puddles or just the natural build-up of oils and debris, it is common for dogs to develop an unpleasant smell over time if left untreated. Regular grooming helps to keep those smells at bay. 

Dogs with skin folds or thick coats can be particularly prone to strong smells if parts of their fur or skin stay damp. Regular grooming in those hard-to-reach areas will help to reduce the risk of bacteria or yeast infections, which are often the root causes of persistent odours. 

Even your dog’s ears and paws can contribute to a lingering doggy smell - make sure to pay special attention to these areas during your grooming session.

3. Promotes a healthy skin and coat

Dogs produce natural oils that help to keep their coat shiny, soft and healthy. Regular brushing will help to distribute these natural oils around the whole coat, not just concentrated towards the base layer. This regular grooming also helps to remove dead hair and skin cells, which contributes to reducing itchiness and irritation. If your dog has either a long or a double coat, they will benefit from regular brushing, such as on a daily or weekly basis.

4. Reduces shedding

We’ve all been there - your favourite jumper covered in fur from a cuddle with your fluffball. Frequent brushing helps to control shedding by removing loose hair before it falls off and ends up on your furniture and clothes. Whilst you cannot completely stop your dog shedding their coat, if you commit to a regular grooming routine, you can help to reduce the amount you will have to clean up.

5. Prevent painful matting

Tangled and knotted fur can be extremely painful and irritating for your dog. If left untreated, they can also lead to skin infections. Regular grooming can help prevent matted fur from forming, especially in dogs with longer hair. If your dog already has matted fur, it is advisable that you visit a professional groomer who can safely remove them without causing further discomfort or injury. Just cutting out the matted fur isn’t always the best course of action. 

6. Spot the early signs of potential issues

Grooming is your chance to get up close and personal to your dog, giving you the perfect opportunity to check out their skin, ears, eyes, teeth, nails and paws for any unusual signs. Lumps, bumps, wounds, ticks or rashes can be spotted during grooming. For many health issues, the earlier you spot the signs, the better. 

7. Keeping their ears clean and healthy

A dog’s ears can be breeding grounds for infections and bacteria, especially if they have floppy ears that do not have regular airflow. Cleaning your dog’s ears regularly will help to prevent infections, wax build-up and mite infestations. Professional dog groomers can carefully remove any debris from the ear canal, as well as alert you to any signs of possible infections that should be taken up with a vet. 

8. Supporting proper posture

Poor posture isn’t just restricted to us humans - long nails can affect the way your dog walks and lead to joint or skeletal issues over time. If your dog’s nails are too long, it will affect their gait and paw alignment. Also, long nails are more susceptible to cracking, which can be incredibly painful. 

9. Keep fleas and ticks at bay

Consistent grooming will give you opportunities to spot fleas or ticks on your dog’s coat before any potential infestations get out of hand. Regular bathing and grooming can also help to remove pests, with many dog groomers offering suitable flea treatments to try and prevent any outbreaks. 

10. It brings you closer to your dog!

As long as you are gentle, grooming can be a positive and enjoyable experience for you and your dog, helping to bring you closer to your precious pooch. Whilst being careful not to overstimulate or feed your dog, introducing grooming at a young age to your dog with plenty of treats, praise and cuddles can help to normalise a good grooming routine.
 

Can we help you? 

At Barkingbowser, I are passionate about keeping your furry friends happy, healthy and looking eminent. Contributing to my Level 2 & level 3 City and Guilds dog grooming diploma.

Please Contact me for any queries.