Kylie's Pampered Pets

Kylie's Pampered Pets is a small grooming service at Huntly, just north of Bendigo, run by Kylie. The feedback is short and consistent, and it is mostly about handling rather than styling: dogs that struggle or refuse to be touched elsewhere settle down for her. The jobs described are everyday ones — a shampoo, a blow dry, a trim and nails — done on dogs whose owners had more or less stopped trying to book them in.

Nail trimming comes up more than anything else. One owner of a Staffy cross had been weighing up sedation at the vet, and reports the dog stood still for Kylie without barking or pulling away. Another brought in two bath-hating chihuahuas and describes them relaxing through the whole appointment for the first time. Gentle, calm and unhurried are the words that recur across the reviews, along with straightforward recommendations from people who keep coming back. It suits nervous dogs, small breeds and owners who need nails done without a fight.