Tops 'n' Tails

Welcome to Top’s N Tail’s  

I’m Clive and it’s great to meet you, I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you a little more about myself.

When I was 14 I used to work on a Saturday as an assistant to a dog groomer who would work from home on the street I grew up on, this is where I began to realise that grooming was for me.

Once I left school I went on to train privately under one of the country’s top groomers and after 3 months of training I was offered an apprenticeship which I accepted.

Once my apprenticeship ended I moved on to work under another pioneer within the grooming industry, this is where I really fell in love with grooming. I worked here for many years and loved every minute of it, the skills I learned are invaluable and have stayed with me. But after 8 years it was time for me to accomplish my dream and open my own salon.

In 2009 I started Doggie Doo’s Salon, it was always my dream to create a salon where dogs enjoyed visiting and felt safe and loved. So with lots of hard work this is what I have achieved, we are now one the most highly regarded salons in the area as well as having over 70 five star reviews on our FaceBook page.

I have always believed that dog grooming is not all about the haircut! But about building a bond and relationship with the dogs and owners, when an owner trusts you with their doggies it’s a fantastic feeling. I am incredibly proud of Doggie Doo’s reputation as being a kind, caring and experienced groomers, and with a fantastic team in place I decided that since relocating to Saffron Walden 3 years ago, it was time to begin a new chapter.

My approach to grooming…

I believe every dog can be groomed.  They may start off with issues, whether that be aggression, nervousness or just cheeky. With time, patience and understanding you can overcome these problems.

Each dog should be treated as an individual personality, what works for one dog will not necessarily work for another, it’s not one size fits all.

To be a good Groomer you need to ask yourself…

Why  are they behaving this way?  Have they had a bad experience previously? Is it their first time experiencing the grooming process?

After 20 years of being a groomer I still ask these questions every day.

I am always happy to offer grooming advice when asked, and understand that it can be hard to keep on top of your dog’s coat at home. I have five of my own dogs and I also struggle, so there will never be any judgement from me!

I hope to see you at the salon, and if you would like to know anything else about me please do not hesitate to ask.  

To see my grooming experience why not pop over to the gallery page, or find us on social media.