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About Us

Dog Grooming & Boarding​

Dog Grooming & Boarding

For over 30 years we have been grooming dogs of all breeds from our home at Ashgate in the beautiful county of Somerset. In recent years the business has expanded to offer a more comprehensive grooming service and dog boarding.

In 2018 the decision was made to open a small 11 unit boarding kennel after repeated requests from our grooming clients for this facility. The boarding kennels is extremely popular and we advise booking early for your holiday. Our on-line booking facility allows you to check dates whilst browsing your holiday options.

Our grooming salon has also changed a lot since we started in the 70’s. Our purpose built grooming salon allows us to offer a fully comprehensive service whilst still providing an area where our more sensitive clients can be groomed in peace. This quiet, secure area, is also used for grooming cats. Cat grooming is a very specialist area and two of our senior groomers have undertaken special training to provide this service. The salon is full air-conditioning to ensure the dogs & cats , and our grooming team, are kept comfortable.

The Grooming Academy

The dog grooming industry is currently unregulated and anyone can start grooming dogs without training or qualification. At Ashgate, we strongly believe that qualification is essential and all of our groomers are qualified to a minimum Level 3 Professional Diploma standard or studying towards it. We also offer an apprenticeship program for new groomers to obtain their Level 2 qualification.

In 2020, we officially opened our Grooming Academy. We are affiliated to the Open College Network of West Midlands working alongside Julie Harris of Tail’s of St Leonards and Dandini’s Dog Grooming in Portsmouth providing the OCN Level 3 Diploma in Professional Dog Grooming. As well as full grooming courses, we offer top up training to groomers already working in the industry and seminars/workshops on specific breeds or techniques. Other courses include Groom your Own Dog Days and Handstripping. Bespoke courses can also be arranged.

Cat Grooming

A cat’s skin and coat can be a reflection of their overall health and wellbeing so it is important to look after it.    Cats can suffer from matting, allergies, ticks and fleas etc. just like dogs and regular maintenance of the coat is extremely important to their overall health.

Whilst cats will self groom, it is a myth that this grooming cleans the coat.   Cats lick themselves and ingest large amounts of hair whilst at the same time depositing saliva on the coat which creates an idea base for dander.   This is normally the cause of allergic reactions in their owners.  It also results in hairballs which are a potential health risk.  Cats are naturally greasy and this can cause matting of the coat.

Cat grooming is a very different skill to dog grooming and our two senior groomers have undertaken specialist training.      Their training has included handling and restraining for both the cat and their safety,   the use and type of products that can be used on a cat’s skin,  recognising different temperament and adjusting grooming techniques accordingly.   The training that has been undertaken is both comprehensive and provided by experienced cat groomers.

We are now offering this service to cat owners on specific cat days where are groomers can dedicate their time and we can provide a safe, quiet salon area.

fully licensed and insured

South Somerset District Council 36264.

Ashgate Kennels were inspected in December 2020 and awarded a 5 star grading. 

Our Team

Meet The Team Jacky

Jacky

Owner

Level 3 Diploma in Professional Dog Grooming, Canine First Aid Certificate, Kennel Club Points Of The Dog, Kennel Club Breed Specific Seminars on West Highland White Terriers, Scottish Terriers and Border Terriers.

Meet The Team Mark

Mark

Joint Owner

Mark jointly owns the business with Jacky and concentrates on running the Boarding Kennel. He has many years of experience with animal care.

Meet The Team Jordan NEW

Jordan

Salon Manager & Professional Dog Groomer

Jordan started handstripping at the age of 8 when she helped in in the Ashgate/Hillcloud Show Kennel. She has a degree in Animal Welfare and Behaviour Management.

Meet The Team Elaine

Elaine

Kennel Assistant

Elaine comes from a farming background and has, in recent years, studied animal behaviour. She has an Animal First Aid Certificate and has undertaken courses on Canine Behaviour.

Meet The Team Lucy

Lucy

Freelance Groomer

Lucy obtained her City & Guilds professional dog grooming qualification from KD Grooming in Wincanton, passing 3 practical assessments, 5 assignments, and 3 exams

Meet-the-Team-Gemma-A

Gemma A

Dog Groomer

Gemma A has recently joined us and is a qualified Level 3 Professional Dog Groomer. She started her training with a C&G Level 2 and has decided to carry on with her studies.

Meet The Team Gemma

Gemma L

Academy Partner/Stylist

Gemma, is a fully qualified dog groomer who has been grooming since 2013. She has many qualifications including a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management.

IMG-20211017-WA0006 (2)

Kerry

Senior Groomer/Trainer

Kerry joined our team in 2021 in the position of Senior Groomer/Trainer. She has been grooming for over 10 years and has had her own grooming business.

Ashgate-Team-Member-2

Beth

Dog Groomer

Beth joined us in August 2022 with a year’s experience in the industry. She is currently working towards her Level 3 qualification under the supervision of our tutors.

Our Affiliations

Dog Boarding

Mark – Kennel Manager – Mark is in overall charge of the boarding kennel and together with Jacky, ensures that all dogs in our care are safe and well cared for. He has great knowledge of dogs and is with the dogs staying with us most of the day. He spends his time ensuring they are played with and mentally stimulated as well as getting lots of fuss and individual attention. Mark is responsible for the kennel buildings and ensures we meet the very high standards of cleanliness and disease control that is expected of a modern kennel.

The premises are never left unattended and all our kennels are alarmed and protected by the latest technology. We take the safety of your dog very seriously. We will be installing camera’s in each kennel shortly so we can check our visitors overnight.

Our promise to you is that your dog will be well cared for and treated like one of our own whilst he/she is with us and we hope that you will feel comfortable leaving your dog with us..

We will soon start building a new larger grooming room which will allow us to continue our expansion. The new room is being designed with the comfort of our grooming dogs in mind and the welfare of the staff who work here. We will have a waiting area which you will be welcome to use, and have a coffee, while your dog is being trimmed. Keep an eye on this site and our Facebook page for developments and new services.

About Dog Boarding

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