Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a mobile Dog Groomer? From the van type and interior (or exterior) requirements, to the general day-to-day work. We've caught up with Tash Barltrop, owner of Top 2 Tail Dog Spa and Grooming and City and Guilds qualified dog groomer, to get the lowdown on her purpose-built mobile grooming salon. Mat

What van do you use daily, and how long has you had it for?

I use a Ford Transit MK8 in white as my sole business van. We've had this van for two years now. 

Why did you choose this type of van over other makes and models? 

To be honest it was chosen as it was one of the first suitable vans we found. The size works well for what we needed and it could be customised for my business. 

Was your van already converted to suit your business?

No it wasn't. We got it converted specifically for the business and our needs. We used a specialist dog grooming van company, who convert thousands of vans a year. They’ve been doing it for years and we felt they were the best people to go to to get exactly what we needed as they understood our business and requirements.

Is there anything you wish was different or extra in your van?

The only thing I think that we're missing is that I would add a vacuum on the table. There were extra requirements when we were getting the van customised and that is one option that we didn’t choose originally, so I would add that next time.

How do you find mobile grooming vs working from a shop?

I prefer working from my van as a mobile groomer, because I don’t get as bored and I can groom as many or as little dogs as I like. It also breaks up my day as I can choose the hours and number of dogs per day and work around my other commitments. 

Describe your average day?

It completely varies from day to day. I can groom between three and eight dogs a day, depending on the size and the area they live in, and then it can also vary for what service they are looking for; whether it be a standard groom or one of the more specific spa services I offer. 

What’s you’re favourite dog breed to groom?

My favourite dog to groom would probably be a Labradoodle because I prefer grooming bigger dogs. I like the coats they have and they are generally well tempered dogs too. 

Do all size dogs fit in your van, and what is the biggest dog you've groomed?

So far they have yes, I haven't found a dog too large for my van currently. I’ve groomed a St. Bernard and they are around 10 stone, so my van can accomodate pretty large dogs both in size and fur length. I groom a good mix of small and larger dogs and have never experienced any problems. 

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