Top Tails with Vanessa Byrne

19/06/2025

It’s seed season!
Make sure you check your dog, especially after walks.
If seed become embedded they can travel and lead to infections and very expensive vet bills.

17/06/2025

A couple or so of salon upgrades this week.

Small things can make a big difference.

The grooming arm has been changed to a smaller one. I’m all about the dogs being comfortable and the large H bar I have had all these years was unnecessary and seemed to dominate the space.

I’ve had a yoga mat upgrade. The mat makes the table a little bit more comfortable. However they don’t last long. Nail marks and cleaning soon makes them tatty.

I try to be as sustainable as possible and I have hopefully found an answer that fits better for me in terms of the environment with a cork based mat.

Finally the big one. I’m absolutely loving the difference the new bath mat is making to the larger dogs. Especially for my more nervous bathers. It’s completely non slip and drains really well.

23/05/2025

My books are full and I’m closing my waitlist for the time being.

I’m doing my best to get back to everyone but I am extremely busy.

Just a reminder that if you are on my books you need to book well in advance to keep your spot.

03/04/2025

They say that nerves travel down the lead, what if I was to tell you they don’t?

As someone who competes with their dogs and also judges, I’ve seen and experienced nerves kicked in on countless occasions.

The Dog that can do everything perfectly in practice all of a sudden loses the plot when it comes to the ring.

We panic, we can’t get the dogs attention. We wonder what we can do. Our confidence in ourselves and in our dog leaves us.

Was it a one off? We go in the ring again, it happens again.

Now we are into a cycle.

We worry, The Dog picks up on our worry and then we worry more.

What is going to happen next time?

Canine Flow tells us that nervous energy travels from our hearts to our dogs hearts.

This is fully backed up by scientific research carried out by the Institute of heart math.

So now you know that, what can you do about it?

How can you control those nerves?

How can those feelings be changed?

How can your performance and in turn your dogs performance be changed, be transformed?

Canine Flow gives us the answers .

As an experienced competitor in various Dog sports, I can assure you that by using a few small techniques you can conquer your nerves and restore your confidence in yourself and your dog .

Come and learn what so many of my clients now know .

In just two hours spent with me and then practice at home and at your event venue, you can transform your performance.

You can change the narrative .

Enjoy the peace and Tranquility of Lenches lakes on my canine wellness retreat.

Take a breath , relax and learn calming techniques that will help you control those nerves.

For more details and to book your space, click on the link in the comments.

I’m really looking forward to seeing your progress.

02/04/2025

“be more dog” is one of my favourite phrases.

Our dogs live from their hearts; they live in the moment.

They are our guides, they bring things into our lives that we need, the lessons that we need to learn.

Maybe your dog is telling you to live more in the moment?

I discovered Canine Flow because of problems that my dog Brian was having; but it was Tonka (in the photo) that benefited too and now my dog Howard.

Live in the moment, be more dog.

If you need help from your dog to live in the moment then come and join me on my Canine Wellness Session.

It’s being held at the beautiful and tranquil Lenches Lakes, which is on the edge of the Cotswolds.

I’d love to see you and your dog there.

Details are in the comments.

01/04/2025

Just ask me on your next visit, or drop me a message and I can give you further details.

27/03/2025

Jarno the cairn terrier and his human have saved their space on the Canine Wellness Session that I’m holding at the beautiful Lenches Lakes.

I’m so excited for them.

Two hours of peace and relaxation.

Meditation, learning how to perform Canine Flow Spiral Massage and the health benefits of Earthing.

I can’t wait.

Who’s up for grabbing their space?

Details are in the comments.

24/03/2025

The biggest gift is of course is your presence.

How often are we so busy doing though?

Come and join me for less doing and more being.

It’s an opportunity to relax, be with your dog and connect together on a truly heart centred level.

This is for a maximum of 5 lucky dogs and their humans to join me on a Canine Flow Wellness Session.

For further details see the comments.

10/03/2025

Looking after the oldies…

When our dogs get older we need to adapt. We need to do things at their pace.

The older dog often feels more vulnerable. Their ability to stand may be greatly reduced.

Drying becomes a more complicated process because they often cannot tolerate the high powered driers anymore and they need to lie down more, which means it’s harder to dry tummies and legs.

Arthritic dogs have more sensitive legs and joints and sometimes cannot tolerate the clippers on them anymore.

Just like us as we age an older dog is less flexible.

So how do we adapt?

A shorter more functional style.

Splitting the groom in to a bath and then a day later a groom.

Bathing at home and just coming for a trim.

Working on the floor instead of the table.

Lots of little breaks.

Coming more often for a shorter amount of time.

Sometimes it’s best to stay with your dog to help support and soothe any anxieties.

TopTails is just about to step into their 14th year of business. Many of the dogs of my books have been with me for many, many years.

It’s an absolute honour to groom the older dogs that have been with me so long.

06/03/2025

We’re at Crufts today!
Howard did me proud by being placed third in his class.
Absolutely over the moon.

03/03/2025

Absolutely all of this.
It is also hugely beneficial for dogs to have a first visit (whatever their age) where they have a chance to discover the salon and meet me in their own time.
It is a gentle introduction with treats and things to snuffle and explore.
I can tell a lot about how to support your dog when they are groomed from these visits and I find the dogs that experience this have a really positive outlook to their visits afterwards.

Puppy Grooming: Why Starting Early is Essential!🐾

As professional groomers, we know that early grooming plays a huge role in a puppy’s development. Educating new puppy owners on why grooming should start early can make all the difference!

Let’s work together to educate them and make their pups’ first grooming experiences positive.

📢 Let’s Spread the Word! 📢
✅ Encourage owners to start brushing at home from 8 weeks old.
✅ Recommend a puppy introduction groom from 12 weeks (once vaccinated).
✅ Explain the benefits of regular salon visits to build confidence and maintain coat health.

🐾 Groomers, please share this post to help educate your clients! Let’s make every puppy’s grooming journey a happy one! 🐶✂️

**a

24/02/2025

All prepared for delivering guest training with Sue Williamson’s Taking the Grr approved groomers tonight.

We’re looking at taking the energy out of drying.

How to make drying a calmer experience for our dogs and save time and energy.

I love doing these types of sessions, working with people who are dedicated to doing their very best for the dogs they groom. I also usually learn something myself.