Life of Riley Dog Grooming

21/07/2024

I had an amazing day last weekend full of learning and shopping! Hosted by my lovely teacher Emma Baker to celebrate her 30 years of dog grooming🐾🎓

It’s important to continue to educate myself and regularly update my equipment in order to keep providing a quality service to my clients📖✂️🐶

As usual, social media doesn’t show the hard side of things. The truth is, running a solo dog grooming business full time is very challenging physically and mentally. A lot more goes into it than people may think and it can be hard sometimes to find the motivation and passion to keep doing it. It is by far, not ‘just cutting hair’. We deal with difficult dogs, aggression, aches and pains, injuries, actual 💩, burn-out and endless to do lists. Not to mention the on going inevitable grief that comes with the job🌈

I remind myself that it’s not about being the fastest or creating ‘perfect’ grooms. As we’re working with living moving animals at the end of the day! It’s all about the dogs, their safety, comfort and happiness, as well as my own. These are my priorities. As groomers, we put so much time and energy into getting to know your dogs and finding ways to cater to them to create positive experiences and build trust. This can be draining but so worth it when you see results! Consistency is so important for this.

Learning new techniques and speaking to like minded people in the same boat has given me a bit of a boost and reminded me why I first started my small business✨🐾🐶🤎

10/06/2024

Golden Oldies✨⭐️💛

Did you know some dogs can enter their senior years at around 7 years old?

Having owned an older dog I understand the patience, respect and empathy they require and implement this in my work as much as possible.

They’re getting stiff and sore with their joints, can’t stand for as long as they used to and generally tolerate less.

Adjusting to them and reading their needs is hugely important to keep them comfortable. We may stop frequently to stretch our legs and take small breaks. I try to do as much of the groom with them sitting down as possible and then help to support them for the parts they need to stand for💛

Every groom takes time and care. A rushed groom is not a safe one🫶🏻

23/03/2024

Nothing beats fresh toe beans😍 swipe for before!

Keeping paws pads trimmed is extremely important to keep them healthy and comfortable by:

🐾Improving traction on surfaces and reducing the risk of accidents
🐾Preventing dirt becoming trapped and mats forming
🐾Preventing irritation and reduce the chance of infections

Best of all making it easier to wipe muddy paws and keep the house clean🤩👏🏻

18/02/2024

Meet Bonsai 🪴

It turns out we couldn’t live without a Life of Riley mascot. Never a replacement, only an addition to help heal a hole. Without seeking it out, this opportunity came along through one of my lovely clients and I think sometimes these things are just meant to be🐾
Spending every day with your gorgeous dogs and loving them like my own, but coming home to no little paws greeting me just didn’t feel right!
Can’t wait to shower him with love and get back to being a dog mum😁🐾

16/02/2024

Started the year with happy faces, zoomies and head tilts🤎
Very delayed but just wanted to thank you all for such a busy year last year. The end to the year was crazy and this year has started just as busy!
My business has been built mostly through word of mouth and recommendations which is amazing, thank you so much🤩
My books are full at the moment! I would love to groom more dogs and I’m so grateful for every enquiry however there’s only so much I can do🐶
Some of you already know I have stopped working Saturdays to get a bit of a better work/life balance. Thank you for your understanding and sorry to anyone who this causes inconvenience to! Alongside this I now have set admin times during the week to sort bookings and reply to messages. Therefore please be patient when waiting for a response, I will always get back to you it may just not be immediately as I am super busy🐾

Life of Riley is coming up to 2 years old and I have loved creating relationships with the dogs and owners a like🤎

Thank you for your support as always.

Maddie 🐾🐶🤎

20/12/2023

Elvis with his beautiful shiny coat🤩
These pups grow so quickly before my eyes🥹 Consistency is key to help build their confidence with grooming✂️
Keep swiping to see him on his first visit back in may🥹

27/11/2023

How could I not take a hundred photos of her🥹😍

Have the pleasure of getting and her impressive lashes ready for her photoshoots💓⭐️

20/11/2023

Cavalier love🧡

My newest cavalier addition- little Darcy in for her first puppy groom🥹

swipe for before & after pictures of the beautiful Charlotte and Pippin🧡 I’ve loved watching them grow and see how their coats have evolved🤩

06/11/2023

05/10/2023

My perfect boy, I will miss you forever🤍

My comfort and my best friend. We’ve been through a lot together and now it’s time to rest🌈

I couldn’t have asked for a better best friend.

Your name lives on in Life of Riley🖤

Please bare with me and thank you all for your understanding.

28/09/2023

Despite my camera roll being ridiculously full of dog photos, posting on social media has been at the bottom of my priority list recently. I’m still so busy grooming all your lovely doggies🥰 When I’m not grooming I’m focusing all my energy on this lovely little soul🤍 my best friend of almost 12 years. Everyone knows how hard it is to have a puppy but not many realise how emotionally draining it can be to have an elderly dog with extra needs. The constant appointments, medications, adaptations and most of all the daily heartbreak watching them deteriorate before your eyes. I’m learning a hell of a lot through him about osteoarthritis, chronic pain and ligament injuries which in turn will only help me in my profession.
I’m lucky to be surrounded by dog lovers who are so understanding and when the time comes I know I’ll have the best support🤗 For now I’ll enjoy soaking up all the cuddles from Life of Riley himself❣️

Grateful to every one of you as always and I will get back to sharing some gorgeous grooms as and when✨

14/06/2023

Diesel is summer ready☀️ Decision of the day - comb over or curtains?🪮

17/05/2023

Luna & Milo 🤎

Love having these two in🤩

Luna is teaching her little brother how to be an angel model for grooming🥹

12/05/2023

Coco was ready for a nap after her first groom today😴

so happy with how her coat turned out🤩

Swipe to see her before picture🤎

03/05/2023

Monty🖤

20/04/2023

Roxie & Raven💗

These lovely little ones are my dog ‘nieces’ 🙈

Last photo sums up their sister relationship very well😛

23/03/2023

What a pleasure it was to spruce up the lovely Lola🥹

Her owners wanted to keep her characteristic beard as she has schnauzer in her somewhere!🐾

Swipe to see her before look💜

05/03/2023

Sometimes you just need to bring your fave toy to your groom 😌🐒

First groom for Randall the Vizsla 🧡 He was very nervous of the dryer so it will be a work in progress, introducing it slowly with regular visits and lots of towel drying until he’s more confident with noises🐾

What a big bundle of joy he is and so photogenic😍

22/02/2023

A big transformation for Toby🤩💙

10/02/2023

Minstrel 🌈🕊🤎

It was an honour to give this gorgeous girl her very last groom😔 a beautiful soul with the kindest eyes✨ I’ll be giving your sister extra cuddles on her next visit as I’m sure she will be missing you terribly❤️‍🩹

22/01/2023

Stanley and his ears😍🖤

15/01/2023

Meet Charlie🤎

He is a rescue from Bulgaria. Charlie was found on the side of the road in a bag along with his mum and the rest of her litter. It’s always a bit nerve wrecking taking on a dog that has been through a lot as you just don’t know what you’re going to come up against. But Charlie has the loveliest, most gentle temperament and it was a pleasure to give him his first pamper✨

He was nervous with the equipment as expected, so I introduced it all slowly and steady. I will always try to adjust the groom to the dogs comfort level 🫶

So glad he has found a loving home 🏡

16/12/2022

Ziggy posing so nicely after his Christmas groom 🥹🎄🐾

Swipe for his before look ✨

16/12/2022

Gorgeous George has the cutest face as well as a very lovely thick coat! His owners wanted to keep him fluffy but have him neat and tidy✨

See you again soon George🐾

08/12/2022

Winnie 🥹🍯❤️

08/12/2022

Otis looking so smart after his Christmas groom 😍🎄

02/12/2022

Bertie’s first groom🤩 swipe to see what she thought of nail trimming😝😂

29/11/2022

Loki and Wanda starting off Christmas bandana season at Life of Riley 🐶🎄☃️❄️

Swipe to see their before and after looks✨

01/11/2022

Transformation Tuesday!✨

Gorgeous mother and daughter duo Bonnie and Bea 🐶💗