Behaviourally minded dog grooming with a focus on training and reducing anxiety

Making dog grooming a pleasant, predictable and consistent experience for our canine companions.

How are we different?

At Minds Alike Dog Grooming, it’s not just about grooming—we want your dog to enjoy the experience.
We understand that grooming can be a challenging process for many dogs, which is why we go beyond the basics to help your dog build confidence and feel secure. After all, training is explaining—and we believe every interaction is an opportunity to support your dog’s learning and wellbeing.

We’re different from many traditional groomers, and here’s why:

1) You're Welcome to Stay

In many cases, your presence can provide vital reassurance. While it's often said that dogs behave “better” without their guardian present, what we’ve found is this: your dog feels safe enough with you to express how they truly feel. That’s not a problem—it’s a good starting point.

Some dogs find separation deeply stressful, and unfortunately, this distress can become associated with grooming. By allowing you to stay, we reduce that stress and make the experience more positive.

You'll also have the chance to observe, ask questions, and receive guidance. We can demonstrate techniques and provide exercises to help you support your dog’s progress at home.

Note: In certain situations, some dogs may benefit from working with us one-on-one. Similarly, you may choose not to stay—and that’s perfectly okay. We approach each case individually.

2) We Take a Behaviourally-Minded Approach

Grooming is not just about appearance—it’s about how your dog feels during the process. Our groomer is not only skilled and compassionate but also undergoing training with our in-house behaviourist to deepen their understanding of dog behaviour and emotional wellbeing.

We pay close attention to your dog’s signals. We pause for breaks. We play. We reward. We adapt. If a particular part of the groom is causing stress, we assess whether it’s best to continue or reschedule for a focused training session.

3) Where There's Anxiety, We Train

At Minds Alike, we believe in using training to create predictability and build trust.

This might involve using “start cues” to establish consent-based practices—giving your dog the option to participate voluntarily. When dogs feel they have choice and control, they become more relaxed and cooperative.

We also prioritise reading and responding to body language, helping to ease anxiety before it escalates. Our approach is always mindful and present.

4) A One-Dog-at-a-Time Salon

We only groom one dog at a time. This ensures a quiet, calm, and focused environment—reducing stress and giving your dog the full attention they deserve.

5) We're Adaptable

Every dog is different, and we tailor our services to meet individual needs. For example:

Hates the dryer? We can do a bath one day and a cut the next after natural drying.
Fearful of clippers? We’ll work on desensitisation, and use scissors in the meantime.
Needs shorter sessions? We offer split grooms to reduce overwhelm or focus only on challenging areas.

We believe flexibility leads to better outcomes. Our goal is always to support your dog—not to force them through a one-size-fits-all routine.

At Minds Alike, grooming is about more than just looks. It’s about creating trust, confidence, and a positive experience—for both you and your dog.

New puppy? From 10-12 weeks we can start their grooming journey! This is a worthy investment, especially if you have a breed who will need regular grooming.
What is included:
x5 30 minute sessions.
There is so much to get used to in terms of the grooming environment and the equipment needed, including:
The sights - such as all these strange objects, and being in an enclosed space with a new person (we won’t be strangers for long though!)
The sensations - such as the water from the shower touching them, the feel of the surface, being up high and slightly out of control if in the bath or on the table, the warm air from the dryer, the scissors, clippers or brushes running along their coat, their nail being squeezed while it is clipped and in general being handled and held.
The smells - such as shampoo, us, and other dogs.
The sounds - such as the hose in the bath, the clippers, the snipping of scissors, the dryer
The tastes - Well, hopefully plenty of treats!
Each session introduces your puppy to a new element of the grooming experience, as well as continue to build on what was covered the week before.
Packages are tailored to the individual, but the idea being that by the time your puppy is six months old they have had a calm and gentle introduction and some coat maintenance taking place along the way.
Has your dog had a bad start in their grooming journey?
May be they are showing signs of anxiety, refusing to go near the door, or are desperate to leave.
Or may be they have been difficult and even aggressive when grooming some body areas?
What is included:
x5 30 minute sessions.
There is so much to get used to in terms of the grooming environment and the equipment needed, including:
The sights - such as all these strange objects, and being in an enclosed space with a new person (we won’t be strangers for long though!)
The sensations - such as the water from the shower touching them, the feel of the surface, being up high and slightly out of control if in the bath or on the table, the warm air from the dryer, the scissors, clippers or brushes running along their coat, their nail being squeezed while it is clipped and in general being handled and held.
The smells - such as shampoo, us, and other dogs.
The sounds - such as the hose in the bath, the clippers, the snipping of scissors, the dryer
The tastes - Well, hopefully plenty of treats!
Each session reintroduces your dog a new element of the grooming experience, as well as continue to build on what was covered the week before.
Packages are tailored to the individual, as we are sure that there will be one area or another that needs more focused attention.
These 30 minute sessions are ideal if your dog has an issue with any element of their groom.
- You would be present for this
- We would explain and demonstrate consent based training techniques and desensitisation work
- You will go home and do some practice
- Each week you come back, your dog gets better and better and eventually the tricky area is able to be managed within a normal groom.
Here are some examples where Training Grooms are handy:
E.g. your dog is fine being bathed and body clipped, but only has an issue with trimming around their face. We would split their full groom session, by adding an additional 30 minute session to work on their head separately.
E.g. your dog really hates his nails being done, and now is impossible for the vet or the groomer.
E.g. your dog has had some bad ear infections and now has an issue about his ears being handled.
E.g. Your dog is not good for the vet, and you would like to work on some handling outside of the vet environment.
There are so many scenarios where this service could be helpful. If you are ensure please email info@mindsalikeanimaltraining.com
- Health check
- Bath and shampoo in our hydro-bath
- Dry
- Tidy up as necessary, including pads and hygiene areas
- Nail clip
- Health check
- Bath and shampoo in our hydro-bath
- Blow Dry
- Clip, Scissor, Hand strip or de-shed as appropriate
- Nail clip
Nail clipping is not always your dogs favourite activity.
In fact, if you are booking this appointment, chances are you feel unable to do this yourself.
We will:
--Play some games with your dog to help them settle in to the environment.
--We will ensure we use treats, play and breaks to ensure your dog has the best experience possible.
--If your dog struggles with nail clipping, we will discuss training plans to help the process become easier over time.
Note - any dog who has multiple issues or training needs will need to book a Training Groom Session.

Location:

Unit 8, Little Pressmore Farm, Vale Road, Chesham, HP5 3NS