Sweeney Dogg’s

Sweeney Dogg's is a dog grooming business in Berwick, in Melbourne's south-east, where Tass does the grooming and owners often come away with a photo of the finished result. Its reputation, judging by the reviews, rests on dogs that are hard work elsewhere: nervous puppies on their first visit, a dog that panics around water, an overgrown Japanese spitz, and coats that have gone six months between appointments. A cocker spaniel owner and several multi-dog households are among the regulars.

What reviewers return to again and again is the time spent settling a dog before anything starts, which is what makes owners comfortable leaving them. The other consistent thread is attention to detail rather than speed, with cuts done as asked and dogs handed back calm and cheerful rather than rattled. Owners also mention being kept in the loop while the dog is there. It suits anxious dogs, puppies being introduced to grooming, and coats that have been left too long.