About Us

The Kind Canine started in Aberfeldie, Victoria, in 2020. After grooming in various salons and vet clinics in Perth and Melbourne for many years, I was going through a health crisis and opened up in my laundry at home, grooming a couple of dogs here and there to keep the household going between medical appointments.

I was already grooming in a Fear Free way, I just wasn't aware that there was a whole certificate and philosophy out there. When my dear friend Emma Cook recommended I take the certification, I was the third groomer in the state to do so, and one of the very first in the country. I'm so pleased to see how many salons are now Fear Free in such a short time!

The Kind Canine took off very quickly through word of mouth, and within six months, we had kitted out the garage into a full service salon. By the time I decided to move to Queensland (covid and my family living up here), I had 2 employees and hundreds of clients I was very sad to say goodbye to.

Fast forward to 2026, and after a few years of working as a dog trainer, puppy preschool instructor and retail gal, my partner Greyden and I decided that we wanted to start the next chapter of The Kind Canine, here in Sherwood. We soft-launched in April and have since had the pleasure of meeting 33 new doggies and their wonderful families. Every client that has entered our doors has been a pleasure, and I look forward to helping you all in the future!

Our salon has been designed from the ground up to accommodate special needs doggies, and we work one-on-one by appointment only. As a neurodivergent human (AuDHD), I completely understand the confusion, fear, and anxiety that dogs feel in a crowded, loud environment, and my professional goal is to make the grooming experience as positive as possible for each doggy that comes into the salon.

Our Logo and Inspiration

Our logo is modeled on my heart dog, my beloved Papillon, Scooter. He was the love of my life for 12 years, and taught me so much of what I know about dog behaviour and doggy emotions. He taught me how to handle toy breeds appropriately, how to ask for permission, and how to soothe a troubled soul. He passed away in 2023, but lives on in our logo and grooming philosophy.

I'm a sucker for punishment, and have a little rescue Pomeranian now. His name is Whisper (Wish for short), and is still a work in progress. I hope for him to become the ace little salon dog Scootie was one day, but we are working at his pace. You will likely hear his dulcet tones (barking) when you enter the salon!

Qualifications

• Certified Fear Free Dog Groomer 2020 and ongoing, former member of the Australian Fear Free Ethics Committee
• Member of the Pet Professional Guild Australia 2021 onward
• Ongoing member of Susan Garrett's DogsThat education portal
• Studied with Delta Dog Training, certified in 2010