Doggy Tales

Bear’s visit to Bone Idol Brighton Samantha Harman

My incredibly hairy hound Bear, also known as ‘Mr Fluffypants’, was in desperate need of a haircut. After careful consideration, I selected Bone Idol Brighton, (formerly Doggy fashion), located on St James Street. The new look is impressive, having recently been refurbished, the shop now boasts a clean, bright interior and is stacked to the brim with high quality pet paraphernalia.

We immediately liked our designated dog groomer Ben, who has an impressive nine years’ experience under his belt. He proffered a dog biscuit, (not to me obviously!) then spent a good ten minutes getting to know Bear and discovering what look I wanted to achieve…

At only seven months old, this was Bear’s first ‘big boy’ haircut, so I was slightly anxious of the outcome, as I had become accustomed to my furry ball of fun. The visit was prompted out of necessity rather than vanity, he couldn’t see from beneath his unruly fringe and had several dubious tangles in delicate areas. We decided on a not ‘too groomed’ look and then Ben gave me a tour.

The grooming area is visible through a big glass window, which I liked. Ben explained that the grooming tables are hydraulic: this means that they can be lowered and raised, in order to safely accommodate any height or weight. The baths have anti-slip steps for easy, safe access. I was surprised by the vast array of shampoos and conditioners on display, as I’d wrongly assumed that one size would fit all. In fact the products are tailored to each dog and have yummy names such as ‘avocado and cucumber’ (for matted fur) and ‘oatmeal and honey’ (for sensitive skin). Ben informed me that Bear would be washed with ‘blue pearl’, which is specially formulated for dogs with white coats to give immense shine.

Feeling certain that Bear was in super safe hands, I left him for one hour and 45 minutes. When I returned I was delighted with the transformation, he looks like a different dog – a tidier, sleeker and cuter (if that’s even possible) version of his former scruffy self. Before leaving I bought a new ‘cosy dogs’ harness, which is padded in order to prevent rubbing on his skin.

Bear and I were both incredibly happy with the experience; it’s obvious that all the staff at Bone Idol are not only highly trained, but also true animal lovers which made all the difference. I think we may have found our forever dog groomer in the lovely Ben too!

Short haired special! For the next 2 weeks, Bone Idol Brighton will be offering a 50% discount for short haired dog grooms. This includes bath, blowdry, nails, anal glands (if required) and an ear clean. Bookings must be made before the end of October. For more info call: 01273 695631