OUR VISION.
We pride ourselves on creating a warm and welcoming salon experience that puts your pet at ease. Everything has been designed with them in mind - from glass screens that give them a full view of the salon to individual bathing stations so they have their own space and treatments tailored to their needs.
We also believe in working with you to improve your pet's experience within the salon – this is particularly important with anxious dogs. We'll work closely with you to find a grooming package and pace that works for your pet, building trust and confidence over time. From home-grooming tips to first aid courses – we are also on hand to empower you with advice, support and skills to care for your four-legged family members at home.
Throughout the growth and evolution of My Dog Barber, we have honed both our grooming and business skills. We're committed to passing on this knowledge and experience, and opening up career paths into dog grooming, through our new training academy.
OUR STORY.
In 2014, sparked by his love for his new puppy Oscar, Tim swapped a decade-long career in pub management for dog grooming. Fresh out of dog grooming training with City & Guilds, he converted a van into a mobile dog salon and My Dog Barber was born.
After rapidly building the business, alongside his day job, it was soon time Tim had more hands on deck. In 2015, Liam came on board – swapping cutting human hair for dogs, after 12 years working at Toni & Guy. For the next few years, their iconic red and white striped vans could be spotted hopping across the region – from Durham to Blyth – grooming dogs at home.
But the pair had their sights set on bricks and mortar. In 2017, they transformed a disused café in the heart of Low Fell into the first My Dog Barber salon. Not only did this realise their vision of creating a slick and stylish high street salon for dogs, the new salon also became integral in building their loyal customer base and establishing a solid team of skilled stylists.
Come 2020, My Dog Barber was ready to expand, to offer their services to more customers and open up opportunities for their team. After purchasing a dog grooming business from a retiring couple, Tim and Liam (with the help of Liam’s dad) swapped their scissors for hard hats and hammers – revamping the newly bought business into My Dog Barber salon number two in Chester le Street. Not keen to sit still for long, the pair did the same again in 2022, following the purchase of another dog grooming business in Blaydon.
2023 has been a year of behind-the-scenes work, with Tim and Liam working with their team to build a management structure that will enable them to successfully open their fourth and final salon in Jesmond.
My Dog Barber has also become an iPet Network training provider – enabling the launch of their training Academy. The founders, alongside tutor Elise and their team of expert stylists, will pass on their skills and years of experience to train the next generation of pet groomers with accessible, hands-on courses and industry-accredited qualifications.
