Meet Steph
Grooming Experience / Behaviour Knowledge / A Different Way of Looking at Grooming
Why I Created Yes! Canine Care
I've spent more than a decade working hands-on with dogs as a professional groomer, including owning and operating my own grooming salon.
Over those years, I saw again and again that some dogs found grooming genuinely difficult. What could look like stubbornness, aggression or “bad behaviour” was often a much more complicated picture.
I became increasingly interested in understanding what dogs were communicating through their behaviour and, importantly, how we could change the experience rather than simply expecting the dog to cope.
Yes! Canine Care grew from that experience — bringing together my practical knowledge of grooming with my study of animal behaviour and training.
My Experience & Qualifications
10+ Years of Professional Grooming
More than a decade of hands-on experience working with dogs in a professional grooming environment, including owning and operating my own grooming salon.
Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour & Training
Formal training in animal behaviour and training, supporting a practical, evidence-informed approach to understanding behaviour and helping dogs develop new skills.
Practical Dog Training Experience
Alongside my grooming experience, I have worked supporting dogs and their owners through training walks, group obedience classes and client consultations.
This hands-on experience continues to develop my understanding of canine behaviour, learning and communication, while allowing me to apply behaviour and training principles in real-world situations.
Canine Remedial Massage
Additional experience in canine remedial massage, contributing to my understanding of dogs' physical comfort, movement and individual needs.
My Approach
I don't believe dogs need to be forced through grooming simply because the appointment needs to be completed.
I believe behaviour is communication, and that understanding what a dog is telling us gives us an opportunity to change how we approach the situation.
My goal isn't to make every dog love grooming. It's to help dogs feel safer, build their ability to participate, and give owners and groomers practical strategies that make grooming more manageable.
Understand
Look at the whole picture — behaviour, history, environment, grooming experiences, physical comfort and individual needs.
Support
Develop practical strategies that help the dog feel safer and give them opportunities for choice, control and successful participation.
Progress
Work towards small, achievable improvements that can be carried into future grooming experiences.
Why “Yes!”?
Because I'm interested in finding the things a dog can say yes to.
Maybe today it's allowing a brush near their body.
Maybe it's choosing to place a paw on a target.
Maybe it's simply staying in the room without feeling overwhelmed.
Those small moments matter.
Yes! Canine Care is about finding those moments and building from them.
