Hair Off The Dog by Kate

04/05/2026

28/04/2026

🐾 New Client Alert: Meet Nero! 🐾

Ever wondered if you could knit a whole second Border Collie from just one grooming session? See the hairy photo for the evidence! 🧶🐶

Today we welcomed the handsome Nero to Hair Off the Dog by Kate. Nero was a little unsure of the "big scary wind machine" (a.k.a. the dryer) near his head at first—to be fair, it’s a lot of drama for early morning!

But that is the beauty of being based at Mitton Hall. We have the most wonderful open field right on our doorstep! It’s the perfect spot for dogs to have a pre-groom run-out or even a "stress-buster" break during the session if they need a moment to reset. 🌾🐕

But with some extra patience, a few "paws-es" for breaks, and plenty of reassurance, he realised he was in a spa, not a storm.

By the end, he was settled, sleek, and rocking his new bandana like a total pro. 😎

The Nero Report:
• Status: Successfully de-shed (and feeling about 5kg lighter).

• Vibe: Timid but sweet.

• Next Stop: Straight back to Doggy Day Care to show off his blow-out to his friends! 🏃‍♂️💨

We know this brave boy will be a confident regular in no time once he gets the routine down. He’s such a lovely lad, and we’re already looking forward to his next visit!

24/04/2026

Hair Off The Dog by Kate 🐾✨

The “Home Away From Home” Edition: Starring Rosie!

If you’re looking for Rosie, you won’t find her pacing the salon or checking the clock. This sweet senior lady has officially reached VIP status (Very Important Pensioner), and she knows exactly how to handle a spa day.

Rosie has been a regular with me for some time, and she’s reached that level of comfort where she doesn't just visit—she moves in! She actually brought her own bed with her today to squeeze in a post-groom nap before her Uber (Dad) arrived. 🛌💤

The Lowdown on Today’s Session:

• Ear Maintenance: Poor Rosie is dealing with a pesky spaniel ear infection and is currently on meds. I gave them a deep, gentle clean to help her feel a bit more human—well, more dog!

• The Comfort Level: 10/10. Once the fluff was buffed, it was straight to the basket for some beauty sleep.

• The Spies: Molly the cat was caught staring from the sidelines, absolutely baffled. I think she was waiting for the traditional "dog chases cat" game, but Rosie was far too busy dreaming of treats to provide any entertainment. 🐈‍⬛❓

• The Social Butterfly: Peppa was, as always, just thrilled to have a roommate for the day. Company is company, even if they’re snoring! 🐶❤️

It’s such a compliment when they feel this relaxed. Senior dogs really do hold the most special place in the salon. Rest up, Rosie! You look fabulous. See you again soon 🥰

23/04/2026

For those who have a schnauzer
These words will ring so true
You never own a schnauzer,
Cos the schnauzer, it owns you.
The day you bought your bundle home
Your old life disappeared,
Now every single thing you do
Will be governed by the beard.
Schnauzers have so many traits
Not just one or two
From sheer bloody stubbornness
To the ability to rule
They like to dig their beds at night
And boy can they snore
They miss you when you leave the house
And will be waiting by the door.
They have to shred bits of paper
And they destroy your slippers too
Schnauzers are really nosy
And will always follow you.
Schnauzers are very vocal
They like to make a lot of noise
From barking at the postman
To squeaking annoying toys
Your lap will never be empty
Their love for you is true
Opening your heart to a schnauzer
Is the best thing you could do…..🥰

23/04/2026

True story! 🤣🐶🤪

22/04/2026

🫧 Spa Day for Bluebell! 🫧

Our favorite Cavapoochon, Bluebell, stopped by for her regular groom today! 🐾 After she took a little detour for an unscheduled "dip" in the canal the other week, we were bracing ourselves for some serious tangles—but she surprised us all!
Despite her muddy adventures, she wasn’t half as bad as we expected. She was the absolute best girl on the table and is getting more confident and relaxed with us every single time. 💖

Check out that post-groom glow! From canal-swimmer to couture-canine. ✨

20/04/2026

🚨 BREAKING NEWS: Jack is a Model 🚨
Jack stopped by Hair Off The Dog for his very first visit today, and honestly? He put the rest of us to shame. 😇
Most dogs act like a bath is a personal betrayal, but Jack? Patient. Polished. A total professional. He sat there like he was at a five-star spa while I evicted the "Grinch" living in his paws and gave him the ultimate summer slim-down. ☀️✂️
The Transformation:
• Before: 80% fluff, 20% mystery, 100% "I've been busy in the garden." 🕵️‍♂️
• After: 100% aerodynamic, 0% Grinch feet, and ready to break hearts at the park. 💔
He’s officially ready for the sunshine and feeling light as a feather. If only all our first dates went as smoothly as Jack’s first groom!
Welcome to the clean-club, Jack! You’re a legend. 🐾✨
Hair Off The Dog by Kate 🐶
Turning "Scruffy" into "Sophisticated" one pup at a time.

16/04/2026

"Wisdom Over Whisps"

Forget the fountain of youth; these two have found the fountain of FABULOUS! ⛲✨ Meet Millie (14!) and Nico.

Now, with age comes great wisdom, and these two are basically pet philosophy professors. But with that wisdom also comes... sensitive hearing, slightly rusty steering (bless their legs!), and Millie has very poor vision and hearing loss 🙉🙊

So, how did we get them this dazzling while respecting their senior status?

1. Gently, Gently: We ditched the industrial-strength dryers (which feel like sitting next to a jet engine ✈️) for the "whisper" setting (okay, a hand dryer, but it sounds like a gentle breeze).

2. The 'Happy Hoodie' Hug: Millie rocked the equivalent of a calming spa headband to muffle the spooky sounds. 🎧

3. Efficiency Wins: We cut down on the "fluffing" time. Older legs get tired! 🐾
It’s easy to focus on making them look pretty, but sometimes, the real skill is making them feel comfortable. A smooth coat is nice, but a happy, stress-free old pup? That's the real win! (But seriously, look at those top knots! 🔥)

14/04/2026

🎤 A Tale of Two Spaniels (Featuring The King of Curls!) 🎤

The "Social Butterfly"

POV: You’re so excited to get back to Mitton Hall daycare that you "forget" your accessories at the salon! 🐾💨

Meet the gorgeous Gentle Ruby. She has officially claimed the title for the softest fur here at Hair Off The Dog, but she was in such a rush to get back to Ellie and the rest of her daycare pals that we totally missed the bandana window!

Standard procedure today: Groom Ruby first, then her sibling Nico... and then let the party begin. Can’t blame her for wanting to show off that fresh fluff to the squad! 🥳🥰

Well, we knew Gentle Ruby was ready to party, but her sibling Nico had a different vibe when he arrived at Hair Off The Dog!

Nico (aka Brian May from Queen!) was feeling a little nervous about his turn in the spa chair. 🥺 Grooming is big work when you’re maintaining that level of rockstar volume! But we took it slow, and once he realized a spa day isn’t so scary, he totally got into the swing of things.

Take a moment to appreciate this masterpiece. ✨ As gorgeous as those head curls are, there was NO WAY we were cutting them! Mom requested we leave the iconic look, and we couldn't agree more—they are too gorgeous to touch! 🎸👑

Look at that "After" glow (and the matching bandana he did remember to wear)! 🧡

It was a joy to work with this lovely pair of spaniels, especially seeing how happy they were to be reunited! They were soon back to business at Mitton Hall Doggy Daycare to find Ellie and the rest of the pack. 🐾💨

Hashtags:

11/04/2026

'Though she be but little she is fierce' 😜🐶🐶🐶 My gorgeous Peppa 🥰

07/04/2026

HAZARD UNLOCKED: "The Apple Watch SOS" 🚨

Welcome back to the salon, Peanut!

This lovely chap came in for his regular refresh. As a seasoned "Hair Off The Dog" regular, we’re well-accustomed to his fancy ways and his charming little quirks. We dry him on the floor in case he tries to “bolt” off the table, taking the table with him!! We did some serious de-shedding (swipe to see the floof pile!), sculpted his lovely leg feathers, and gave his face that "refined gentleman" tidy-up. ✂️✨

The Groom:
🧼 Deep-clean bath
🍃 Paw-print bandana for maximum style
🐾 Tidy paws and ears
🌟 Blended finish for a smooth, healthy coat

BUT, let’s talk about the dryer phase. Even though we know Peanut’s routines, he completely caught us out with the “biggest cuddle” in history. He apparently decided he was not a fan of the noise this time. His solution? A full-force, standard-issue CUDDLE BOMB. 💣❤️
He knocked me clean over for hugs. It was so dramatic that my Apple Watch detected a “serious fall” and was moments away from calling in the cavalry on SOS! 😂
We survived, and for a moment I thought I might die, as he was licking me to death. But, I think we can all agree the results (and the cuddles) were worth it. He looks amazing! Thanks for the cuddles Peanut 🥰🐶

What's the best (or funniest) thing your dog has ever done to get out of bath time? Drop it below! 👇