Urban Paws

Urban Paws is a family-run dog care business in Yarraville, in Melbourne's inner west, where Roger and Melinda have looked after local dogs since 2009. Alongside daycare, walking and holiday minding, the Yarraville centre at 35 Hughes Street offers hydro baths and nail trims for current daycare clients, while the full grooming salon runs from the company's Geelong location.

The approach is calm and unhurried. Melinda trained as a groomer and spent years as one of the inner west's most sought-after professionals before co-founding the business, and the grooming team works at each dog's pace rather than the clock's. A full groom covers a bath, blow dry, brush out, a haircut to breed standard or owner preference, ear cleaning, nail trim and a finishing spray, with deshedding treatments offered for double-coated breeds such as golden retrievers, labradors, huskies and border collies. Premium, dog-safe products are used throughout, and all coat types are welcome, from short-coated dogs needing a tidy to long and curly coats that need regular upkeep.

With no cages, careful handling and a team chosen for genuinely loving the work, Urban Paws suits owners who want a low-stress groom from people who treat their dog like family.