One-to-one grooming in Marple
One dog. One groomer. No rush.
A quiet little salon where your dog is the only dog in the room. Jess takes things slowly, so nervous pups, rescues and golden oldies leave fluffy, tidy and still wagging.
- No cages, ever
- Quiet low-noise dryers
- Fully insured
Prices
Priced by size, not by surprise
Every groom is one-to-one and booked with time to spare. Prices are a starting point. If your dog is very matted or needs extra breaks, I'll talk it through with you first.
| Service | Smallup to 10kg | Medium10–25kg | Large25kg+ |
|---|---|---|---|
Full groomBath, blow dry, full haircut, nails, ears and a bandana |
£42 | £52 | £65 |
Bath and tidyBath, dry, brush out, feet, face and bum tidy |
£32 | £40 | £48 |
Hand-strippingFor wiry coats like terriers and schnauzers, done in short sessions |
£50 | £60 | £72 |
Puppy introUnder 6 months. Short, treat-filled visit with a bath and trim |
£25 any size | ||
Nail clipWalk-in friendly, about 15 minutes, file included |
£10 any size | ||
Your first visit
Slow, gentle and on your dog's terms
New dogs start with a little getting-to-know-you. Here's what to expect.
A quick chat first
I'll ring you before the day to ask about coat, health, quirks and anything that worries them. Hoovers? Hands near paws? Tell me everything.
Sniff and settle
We spend the first ten minutes letting them explore the salon, meet me and find the treat tin. You're welcome to stay for this bit.
The groom, with breaks
Only your dog, the radio on low and quiet dryers. If they need a breather, we stop. Most first grooms take 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
Text when they're ready
I'll message you a photo when they're nearly done, so pick-up is quick and nobody's waiting around barking for you.
Meet Jess
Hello, I'm Jess. I groom one dog at a time, on purpose.
I spent eight years in busy salons where dogs waited in crates for hours, listening to dryers and barking. Lots of them coped. Some really didn't. The shakers, the rescues and the old boys with stiff hips stayed with me.
So I built The Scruffy Hound in Marple: a calm, cosy room with a non-slip table, a hydraulic bath that lowers to the floor and only ever one dog inside. It takes longer, and I think it's worth it.
Jess x- Qualified groomer, 10 years
- Canine first aid trained
- Two scruffy terriers of my own
Fresh from the tub
A few of our regulars
Shared with their owners' blessing (and a lot of treats). Follow along on Instagram for daily before-and-afters.
Kind words
Happy dogs, relieved owners
Most of our new customers come from a friend at the park. Here's what a few of them said.
Pip is a rescue who used to shake from the moment we parked outside a groomer's. With Jess he trots straight in. She sent me a photo of him asleep on the table halfway through. I actually cried in the Co-op car park.
Our 14-year-old lab has arthritis and Jess let him lie down for the whole thing. Gentle, patient and honest about what he could manage.
Finally someone who hand-strips properly instead of clipping. Bramble's coat has never looked so good.
Where we are
Tucked away just off Marple high street
The salon is a converted garden studio with its own parking space right outside the door, so nervous dogs don't have to walk past anyone. Full directions come with your booking confirmation.
Lots of our dogs come from:
- Marple
- Marple Bridge
- Hawk Green
- Romiley
- Compstall
- Mellor
- High Lane
- Strines
- Bredbury
Opening hours
By appointment
| Monday | Closed (walkies day) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday to Friday | 8.30am – 4.30pm |
| Saturday | 8.30am – 1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Nail clips can often be squeezed in at short notice. Just ring.
Questions
Things people often ask
Can't see yours? Give me a ring on 0161 496 0347. If I'm mid-groom I'll call you back.
My dog is really anxious. Can you still groom them?
Almost always, yes. Anxious dogs are exactly why I work one-to-one. We might do a couple of short "happy visits" first, with treats and no grooming, so the salon becomes somewhere good. I never force a dog through a groom.
How long will my dog be with you?
A bath and tidy is around an hour, and a full groom is 1.5 to 3 hours depending on size and coat. Because there's no queue of dogs, they're never left waiting in a crate. I'll text when they're nearly ready.
What is hand-stripping, and does it hurt?
Wiry-coated breeds like border terriers grow coat that dies off and needs pulling out, a bit like plucking a ripe feather. Done at the right time it doesn't hurt, and it keeps the colour and weatherproofing that clipping takes away. I do it in short sessions with plenty of breaks.
When should my puppy have their first visit?
Around a week or two after their final vaccinations, ideally before 6 months. The puppy intro is short and fun, so they learn that baths, brushes and dryers are nothing to worry about.
My dog's coat is matted. Will you shave them?
Only if brushing out would be unkind. Heavy matting is sore to tease out, so sometimes a short clip and a fresh start is the gentlest option. I'll always show you and agree it with you before I begin.
What if I need to cancel?
Please give me 48 hours' notice so I can offer the slot to another dog. Poorly pups are always forgiven. Just let me know as soon as you can.
Book a groom
Let's get your dog booked in
Send a request and I'll get back to you within a day with a few times that suit. New dogs, I'll pop a call in first to say hello.
I usually book 2 to 3 weeks ahead, and regulars can reserve their next slot on the way out.