Dog Star Pet Grooming

08/08/2025

Come and grab a snag or two 💜🐾
Swing by for a snag, a cold drink, and a chat with our amazing volunteers. Every dollar raised goes directly to helping rescue and rehome animals in need. 💕🐶🐱
We will also have a table set up with some goodies for your loved fur babies..

08/08/2025

First puppy groom for little “Honey” 💕

21/07/2025

Thinking about buying a poodle? Have you been told they "don't need grooming until 1yrs old" or "coat maintenance is easy"?
*PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING piece written by a groomer..in the pic that's known as a pelted coat /Pelting. A dog’s fur gets so matted & tangled it will come off in one piece. It's outs tension on the skin, can damage the skin causing horrible infections and sometimes renders the dog helpless,unable to move and it can then cause fatality
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Poodle crosses (cockapoos, doodles, maltipoos etc.) are not "easy breeds" to maintain. The photo attached (shared from another groomer) shows how matting forms at the skin. By looking at this dog's top coat, you may not see the knots and you may not feel them as you would a knot on the ends of the fur but under that fluffy top layer this is going on. Once it starts its very difficult/ impossible to brush out... and even if you could it would be cruel to put the dog through it. Maintenance at home has to be more than a quick once over for these dogs if you want to keep them in that fluffy coat which was probably one of the reasons you chose a poodle cross in the first place. You really need to sit down with a brush and then a metal comb and make sure you can get it through the entire body at least 2 to 3 times a week.
I often feel like owners don't believe groomers when they say their dog has to be clipped very short. I always hear "I know he/she is matted, but leave as much as you can". You cannot clip through matting, you can only clip under it. As this photo shows, clipping under the matting means taking the coat back to the skin.
I promise you, your groomer really doesn't want to do this but they won't hurt your dog by putting it through dematting, they also don't want to hurt their reputation when the clients go around complaining about how the last groomer "scalped" their dog but there really is not any alternative. Instead of being angry with your groomer if they clip your dog very short please respect their commitment to do what is in your dog's best interest, accept responsibility for not having brushed your dog properly at home, and work with your groomer because, together, you can prevent this happening again. All groomers will be very happy to demonstrate a technique called line brushing which will help make your grooming at home more effective. Just ask! We all want owners to know how to do this
Poodle crosses are easily one of the highest maintenance dogs in reference to their coats. The combination of the soft coat they are mixing poodles with these days is a coat that is extremely prone to matting.
If you like a fluffy pup, you probably need to consider no more than 3-5 week intervals between grooming and set aside time for regular brushing AND combing at home.
Please know, if you bathe your poodle cross you really need to blow dry and brush out right after. Moisture, be it a bath, rain, swimming, snow etc are all going to make matting worse. If you know your dog is already matted-- bathing is only going to make it worse! Brush out before the bath.
Lastly "breeders" who say these dogs can't or shouldnt be clipped and not to give them a hair cut until they are one year old are misleading potential owners in order to sell$$$$ puppies and setting them up for a sad day when they finally take their pup to the groomer!!!
If this hasn't put you off buying one please schedule your puppy's first groom immediately after they've had their vaccinations and then be prepared to do the maintenance at home between regular professional grooms.

Post (collected).

26/06/2025

TO ALL OUR CLIENTS

Have you remembered to book your dog’s grooming appointments??

Just a reminder that we get booked out very quickly!

We have the following appointments available in July:

With Catherine - Full Grooms
Thur 3/7/25 @ 12.30pm (Taken)
Wed 9/7/25 @ 12.30pm (Taken)
Thur 10/7/25 @ 1.00pm (Taken)
Wed 16/7/25 @ 12.30pm
Fri 1/8/25 @ 1.00pm

With Emma - Bath/tidy and/or deshed (Big Dogs)
Fri 11/7/25 @ 11.30am
Sat 12/7/25 @ 9am, 11am & 2pm
Sat 19/7/25 @ 8am and 11am.

These appointments will not last long so message to secure your spot.

Cheers
Cath & Em 😊

11/06/2025

Meet Poppy & Patches 💛🖤

Poppy (the cream girl) came to us after being bought from a backyard breeder and then surrendered due to behaviour challenges. In the six months she’s been with us, she’s only bonded with one human—but when it comes to other dogs, she’s joyful, playful, and a little mischievous. Poppy will need a very special home with patient people who understand that trust takes time and love.

Patches (the black and white sweetheart) was surrendered after her elderly owner went into care. She’s only 9, but our vets believe she may have early onset dementia. She becomes distressed if her favourite person is out of sight—barking and spinning in circles—and she’s also a bit wobbly on her feet.

Both girls are looking for homes that understand and embrace their quirks. Until the perfect match comes along, they’ll be safe and loved right here with us. 💕🐾

14/05/2025

🚨 PARVO OUTBREAK IN WAGGA 🦠💔

You might look at this photo and wonder… why is Nurse Kate bathing a tiny three-week-old puppy?

This little one was unknowingly exposed to parvovirus, a highly contagious and often fatal disease that attacks the immune and digestive systems of dogs—especially the young, the unvaccinated, or those with compromised immunity.

Right now, we wait. And we hope.

💔 This week, we lost a beloved adult dog to parvo. It was heartbreaking—and a sobering reminder that this virus doesn’t discriminate. It can hit fast, and it can hit hard.

At Lake Road Vet, we’re doing everything we can to protect the most vulnerable. But we need your help, fur parents.

✅ Check your dog’s vaccination status
✅ Book a booster if they’re overdue
✅ Be cautious when walking puppies or visiting dog parks

If you’re unsure whether your baby is protected, please call us or book online today. Your action could be the difference between life and loss. 💙🐾

👉 Book your vaccination here https://www.lakerdvet.com.au/book

or via our Fur Parent Portal here https://www.lakerdvet.com.au/furparentportal

14/05/2025

28/04/2025

Each year MyGivingCircle gives away $500,000 in grants and donations. You can help Dougie’s Legacy Animal Rescue by Voting today.

16/04/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/16ZZrZy6BA/?mibextid=wwXIfr

WHAT YOU DON'T SEE AT THE DOG GROOMERS.......
You dropped your dog off at the salon and picked them up few hours later - fluffy, fresh, and happy. But what you saw was just the tip of the iceberg.

You didn’t see your groomer arrive early to open up the salon, disinfect tools, lay out fresh towels, and check the day’s appointments. You didn’t see them look over your dog from nose to tail before even lifting a brush - checking the coat condition, skin, eyes, ears, nails, and weight.

You didn’t see the careful way they clipped around a wriggly paw, or how they paused to let your dog calm down during the bath. You didn’t notice the matting hidden beneath your dog’s topcoat, or the way the groomer worked slowly to avoid hurting the skin beneath it.

You weren’t there when they spotted a red patch of irritated skin, or a small lump you hadn’t noticed. You heard them gently mention it to you at collection - not to worry you, but because they genuinely care about your dog’s wellbeing.

And after you left, you didn’t see the clean-down , the floor swept, tables cleaned, blades oiled, messages replied to, notes written up for your next visit, and laundry on again.

All of that… for a price that’s often lower than what you’d pay for your own haircut. And your hairdresser?
They don’t have to bathe you, clip your nails, or hold you still while you try to bite the brush.

The truth is ……. dog grooming is so much more than a haircut.

It’s about health, hygiene, comfort, and trust. It’s about knowing dog anatomy, coat types, skin conditions, behaviour management, handling skills, and safe sc******ng techniques. It’s a profession that takes training, practice, and patience.
Most groomers got into this work because they love dogs. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be paid fairly for the physical, emotional, and skilled work they do every single day.

If your dog leaves their groomer happy, healthy and looking good - it’s not by luck. It’s because you have got a good groomer.
So next time, take a moment to thank them. Leave a review.

Tip them if you can. And above all - don’t undervalue them.
They’re doing far more than just washing the dog.

If you want to know more about the trade association for pet groomers and how we support them, contact the British Dog Groomers Association a division of the Pet Industry Federation www.petfederation.co.uk