Waggle House

Waggle House is a small salon in North Curl Curl on Sydney's Northern Beaches, run by owner Juli, and it doubles as a daycare — a number of clients use both sides of the business for the same dog. Feedback keeps returning to the finish on coated breeds: schnauzer cuts, spoodle trims that land the brief every time, and a Cavoodle's first puppy teddy bear groom.

What separates it in reviews is the handling. Clients describe mindful grooming — dogs that are frightened of the groomer or the vet are worked with slowly and kept as relaxed as possible, and an owner whose dog has separation anxiety was given a staged plan to help her settle into the space over several visits. Dogs are said to come home looking sharp and, more to the point, happy. Cost comes up as affordable rather than boutique. It suits nervous dogs, puppies booking a first groom, and doodle crosses whose owners want a specific look each time.