Barkers Grooming & Dog Washing

Barkers Grooming & Dog Washing sits at West Pymble on Sydney's upper north shore and is run by a team rather than a single groomer. Doodle crosses are clearly its bread and butter — spoodles, labradoodles and groodles turn up again and again in customer feedback, big ones included — and some households book their dogs in months ahead to hold a regular slot.

Two qualities dominate the reviews. The first is how the team handles anxious dogs: one owner says their pup is less worried about the groomer here than anywhere previously. The second is how the place is run — appointments start on time, owners are kept updated, and nobody is made to feel judged for turning up with a coat that has knotted up between visits. Pricing is described as reasonable, and one client has been coming for three years. It suits doodle owners, larger coated breeds and dogs that need a calm, familiar routine.