Wag-Wagatha Christie

05/06/2026

When Thibaud’s guardians first found me through a Google search, they were feeling completely lost. Their beautiful Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen had become overgrown, overwhelmed by grooming, and very clear that he was no longer coping. Like so many loving owners of grooming-adverse dogs, they didn’t know where to turn next.

They booked a Meet & Treat session, arriving understandably anxious about how Thibaud would manage. But from the moment they walked through the door, everything changed.

Since then, Thibaud has had two grooming sessions with me, and I honestly could not be prouder of him. Beneath all that worry is the sweetest, gentlest boy, and with patience, co-operative care techniques, and positive reinforcement, he is learning that grooming does not have to feel frightening or overwhelming.

Most importantly, he no longer feels the need to escalate his behaviour to communicate that he is struggling – because now, he is being listened to before he reaches that point. Every session is building trust, confidence, and safety. Step by step, Thibaud is discovering that grooming can actually be enjoyable.

This is why I do what I do.

Not every dog needs “more handling". Sometimes they simply need someone willing to slow down, listen, and work with them instead of against them.

I am so happy Thibaud’s family found me, and so grateful to be part of his grooming journey. 🤍

02/06/2026

Unboxing something a little different today…

Say goodbye to soggy, smelly “human” towels and hello to the Bark and Beau drying kit - designed 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 for our muddy, wriggly dogs.

First impressions? The microfibre is even on both sides, and it dries insanely fast, so no more damp dog smell. The quality of the fabric is honestly far superior to other dog towels I’ve tried, and it’s a really great size too.

But the real game changer… those pockets!
They make it SO much easier to actually hold onto your dog while drying those tricky areas like ears, paws, and tails - you know, the spots a drying robe always misses.

It also comes with a super handy pouch - perfect for easy storage or taking it on the go. Whether it’s kept in the car for muddy adventures 🚗🌿 or packed in your beach bag for a day by the sea 🏖️, it’s so practical. And the embroidery on both the pouch and the towel pockets is beautifully done.

Practical, durable, and in colours that won’t show every speck of dirt.

This is going straight onto my recommendations page.
If you want one, head here: 👇
https://www.barkandbeau.co.uk/category/all-products
https://wagwagathachristie.co.uk/recommendations

Full review coming soon… but so far, I’m impressed 🐶💧

29/05/2026

Dogs don’t suddenly become “difficult” for grooming.

It’s usually a build-up of small moments that didn’t feel quite right to them.

Moments that were missed.
Or rushed through.
Or misunderstood.

And over time, those moments turn into something bigger.

So when you’re standing there thinking:
“I’ve let it get too far…”

I want you to know – that's not the full story.

You didn’t cause this.
You just weren’t shown another way to handle it.

And that 𝘤𝘢𝘯 change.

You’re not stuck – you just need a different plan.

Comment 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗧 and I’ll send you the details 🤍

25/05/2026

I’m genuinely so pleased to be able to share the free resources available from The Muzzle Movement.

As canine professionals, we’re constantly balancing welfare, safety, and ethical practice - and having access to clear, practical, and thoughtful guidance makes such a difference.

The 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘦 Campaign is exactly that.

It’s designed for those of us who want to lead the way in responsible training and handling, while supporting dogs and their humans in a way that feels proactive rather than reactive.

By signing up, you’ll get access to:
• Free resources
• Expert guidance
• Practical tools you can actually use with clients

All to help you feel confident supporting muzzle training as a normal, welfare-led practice - not something to be feared or left until it’s urgently needed.

Because the message is simple, but powerful: every dog can benefit from being muzzle trained… just in case.

If you’re a canine professional and want to access the free resources, you can sign up here 👇
https://themuzzlemovement.com/pages/just-in-case-sign-up

Let’s keep raising the standard together.

21/05/2026

If you’ve been through sedation grooming, you’ll know it’s not just the appointment itself.

It’s everything that comes after.

The second-guessing.
The guilt.
The feeling that you should have done something differently.

But this is so much more common than you think.

And it doesn’t mean you’ve failed your dog.

It just means you haven’t been given the right kind of support yet.

There is another way to approach this, one that doesn’t rely on pushing your dog past their limits.

Comment 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗧 and I’ll send you the details 🤍

18/05/2026

NEW NEWSLETTER ALERT

Introducing: 𝘛𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 🕵️🐾

A monthly(ish) newsletter where I’ll be sharing the ramblings of a mad woman…
I mean… a 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 round-up of what’s happening in my world and the world of dogs.

(Which, let’s be honest, are basically the same thing.)

Expect:
🐾 Behaviour insights
🐾 Grooming truths
🐾 Consent-based care
🐾 Questionable dog-related experiments
🐾 The occasional emotional support Spaniel
🐾 And a healthy dose of detective flair

There will be stories. There will be humour. There may even be the odd plot twist when time gets away from me and “monthly” becomes… interpretive.

The first edition investigates:
🔎 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘔𝘶𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘦
🔎 Why I’ve been brushing my own hair with dog brushes online
🔎 A brand-new service: 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘵
🔎 And finishing off with… 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘺

If that sounds like your kind of chaos, you can subscribe here →

https://vanessabarber.substack.com/?r=5toc7t&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist

Yours in curiosity,
Wag-Wagatha Christie 🐾🕵️

17/05/2026

Okay… so technically this is a “co-lab” Amandaland style 😂

BUT unlike a shallow lifestyle brand collab involving scented water bottles and beige activewear… this is actually one clever piece of kit.

I teamed up with the lovely Leanne from Bark & Beau to share some professional drying tips for dog owners, and the blog is now live!

And if you’ve got a dog who turns drying time into an Olympic sport… you definitely need to see this one 😅

You've been towel drying your dog for years...but are you doing it properly?

From missed areas, to techniques that can irritate the skin; small mistakes can lead to bigger problems over time.

We recently teamed up with dermatology-focused grooming expert Wag-Wagatha Christie to share the correct way to towel dry your dog, and how to make the process easier for dog and handler 💕

Discover more in our latest blog post on our website:
https://www.barkandbeau.co.uk/post/how-to-towel-dry-your-dog-correctly-you-ve-probably-been-doing-it-wrong-for-years
🐾

14/05/2026

After my recent guest spot on the Expert Talk with The Muzzle Movement, I’ve taken some time to reflect more deeply on a topic that I know can feel uncomfortable, complex, and at times - divisive.

The use of muzzles in a grooming context.

This isn’t a black-and-white conversation.

As groomers working within a consent-based, behaviour-led approach, we have to look beyond 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 a tool can be used, and really examine 𝘩𝘰𝘸, 𝘸𝘩𝘺, and 𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵 to the dog in front of us.

In my latest blog, I explore:
• The ethical considerations around muzzle use in grooming

• Where muzzles may, and may not, fit within a consent-led approach

• The responsibility we hold as professionals when introducing or recommending tools

• How we can support welfare without compromising our values

This was shaped not only by the Expert Talk, but by my ongoing commitment to aligning practice with ethics, even when that means sitting in the grey areas.

If you’d like to read the full blog and continue the conversation, you can sign up here 👇

https://wagwagathachristie.co.uk/blog

I’d love to hear your thoughts — this is a conversation our industry needs to keep having.

11/05/2026

Case closed with a 5⭐ review—thank you for your kind words and for being part of your dog’s grooming journey

11/05/2026

Case File: Bleu
𝘈 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘨, 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵… 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴.

“What a fabulous experience for my dog…”

And that right there? That’s the part we’re always investigating.

Because for dogs like Bleu, grooming isn’t just about the end result—it’s about how we get there.

Bleu began with a Meet & Treat session.
No clippers. No expectations. Just time, space, and the chance to say:
“Who are you… and can I trust you?”

From there, we introduced a split groom approach:

✂️ Visit one: A gentle trim
🛁 Visit two: A calm, unrushed bath

No overwhelm.
No rushing to “get it all done.”
No pushing past what Bleu was ready for.

Just steady, thoughtful progress—at Bleu’s pace.

Because when a dog has a past we don’t fully know, the goal isn’t efficiency…

…it’s understanding.

And when you get that right?

You don’t just get a “well-groomed dog.”
You get a dog who walks back in the door a little more confident than before.

Bleu, you were an absolute joy to work with 💛
And I’m already looking forward to your next visit.

The Wag-Wagatha Verdict 🕵️♀️
Sometimes the kindest grooming plan… is the one that takes a little longer.