FANCY FEATHERS AND FUR

Fancy Feathers and Fur is a grooming salon in Holt, in Canberra's Belconnen area, run by Penny with Anna working alongside her. Its layout is the first thing customers mention: there is no reception counter and no closed-off back room, so owners can see the whole set-up, and free-ranging chickens wander the path between the side gate and the salon. Reviewers think that openness makes a real difference to shy dogs arriving for the first time.

Beyond the setting, feedback centres on patience and on transformations. Rescue pups have been brought back from a rough state, schnauzers returned to looking like schnauzers with the tangles and stained feet dealt with, and cavoodles kept tidy across years of regular visits. Puppy first grooms come up repeatedly, often with before-and-after photos attached. Penny and Anna are described as communicating well with the dog and the owner alike. It suits nervous first-timers, rescue dogs, and owners of coated breeds needing regular upkeep.