DogzBody Spa

This sled dog groomer aims to educate and support owners in a bid to reduce numbers in breed rescue.

The lockdown resulted in an explosion in dog ownership as people spent more time at home. Sadly, as people return back to work, they realise that having a canine companion is more complex than they originally expected. Particularly those that purchased breeds that are high maintenance and need a lot of exercise and stimulation.

Sadly, with the rise in popularity of the ‘wolf-type dog’ featured in hugely popular tv programmes such as Game of Thrones and on celebrity blogs, many people have joined the trend and added a Husky, Malamute, Samoyed or sled breed mix to their family unit.

There is no doubt that their good looks attract a lot of attention, making puppies incredibly hard to resist. However, these ancient breeds were bred to work – a fact that many owners do not account for when acquiring one. They also shed a lot of hair… all year round.

A high-end dog grooming salon in Manchester is fighting to change the fate of the sled dog, offering specialist advice not only on the maintenance of their teeth, skin and coat but also offering behavioural recommendations and referrals to suitable specialist dog parks, dog walkers/sitters and all manner of other things sled breed friendly.

Fran Gray, owner and groomer at DogzBody Spa in Worsley (Manchester), has owned sled breeds for almost 13 years. Her first dog was a Samoyed called Leo who she went on to show at Crufts and at many other well-respected dog events. Sadly Leo died of cancer during lockdown in October 2020, but he is survived by Fran’s two other rescue dogs: Cara the Siberian Husky and Indiana Bones the Malamute cross Great Pyrenees. They are the inspiration for the salon and encouraged Fran to train a small team of groomers to tackle these quirky double-coated breeds.

“After spending some years fundraising and offering free grooms to rescue sled dogs in the North West, I realised that numbers in rescue were increasing and those offering foster/ kennel spaces were starting to dwindle as money ran out. I believe one sled breed organisation currently has 186 on the waiting list to come into rescue. It’s a never-ending battle and one which is made worse when owners aren’t aware of the help and support that is out there, a possible lifeline for keeping their dogs long term.

“Of course, prevention is better than a cure and researching the breed is key… but there are ways to support owners if they find themselves struggling with certain elements of owning a sled dog. We are aware that many groomers across the UK have banned or generally avoid grooming these breeds as they can be intimidating to those not in the know. For example, Huskies are extremely intelligent dogs with lots of energy. To those who are not familiar with their body language, they may find the intense eye-to-eye stare of the Husky and spontaneous screaming (howling) rather off-putting. Not to mention the tonnes of hair that they shed during a groom. But this is all completely normal. But a lack of options for professional grooming may lead to poor coat condition and a variety of related health issues. The double coat (which sled dogs and other breeds such as German Shepherds have) is an essential part of the dog’s make up, with both layers of coat working together to either insulate the dog in cold weather or reflect the sun’s rays and protect the skin in hot weather. A coat in poor condition cannot work efficiently and so the dog suffers.

“I’ve met sled dog owners that are on the brink of relinquishing their dogs to rescue for a myriad of reasons, but once we’ve spoken at length about their experiences and I have a reassured them that this is all normal and can be managed, they seem much happier about the future. When they see myself and my team interacting with their dog and making them feel welcome, it also has a calming effect. They’ve finally found a team of people that understand and actively welcome them… and all the hair!” Fran said.

DogzBody Spa has been designed to feel homely and welcoming, to both dogs and owners. Dogs have plenty of space to move about without ever having to come into contact with another dog – this is particularly good for sled dogs who can cause quite a strong reaction in other smaller breeds.

Their experience starts in the undercover garden where they can toilet and spend some time bonding with the groomer until it’s bath time. After being bathed in a specialist deshedding shampoo and snuggled up in a towelling robe, the dogs are then led to their own pampering station where the drying/ brushing/nail trimming/ear cleaning can take place. Following the groom, owners are given full feedback and advice on maintenance between appointments.

“We are also available for advice any time and can be reached on Facebook, Instagram, phone, text and email. Our relationship with the owner is extremely important and we are more than happy to sit down and have a chat over a cuppa if required…especially if that support means keeping that dog in a loving home.” Fran said.

At the moment DogzBody caters for the dogs of North Manchester (with several clients travelling some distance to use their services). However, Fran does offer in-person demonstrations and question/answer sessions for other groomers at events around the country in order to spread the knowledge. There are some great sled breed and double coat groomers out there, but there are also groomers using incorrect shampoos and equipment for these breeds and the coats are getting damaged. Not mainly training colleges concentrate on this coat type at present and this leads to lack of knowledge. There are also some arguments surrounding clipping/ scissoring this coat type, a controversial debate that sparks friction on many a forum!

A damaged coat becomes a welfare issue as it can prevent a sled breed being able to regulate their body temperature efficiently, repel rain/snow and can result in certain skin conditions and alopecia. The science of the double coat is quite complex, as is the hair growth cycle, so making a mistake can take a long time to resolve. DogzBody Spa have had a fair number of ‘salvage’ missions where the coat has been incorrectly groomed (by either a groomer or owner) and the team have had to work together to get the dog comfortable and healthy again.

DogzBody Spa is a high-end dog grooming boutique in Worsley (Manchester UK), welcoming ALL breeds of dog and specialising in sled dogs and other double coated breeds. The team can be contacted through Facebook, Instagram and through their own website at www.dogzbody.co.uk