Starbarks is an all breed dog grooming salon based in Brantham, near East Bergholt & Manningtree on the Suffolk / Essex border.

Helen is a groomer of Crufts winners & Show Champions, having studied at the renowned Writtle University College to gain her City & Guilds Level 3 qualification in Professional Dog Grooming, gaining distinctions in every unit the mark was obtainable in. She has years of experience in the canine world, including many years attending and sitting on the committee of a local dog obedience club.

Aside from pampering all kinds of beloved dogs, Helen specialises in hand stripping for all traditionally hand stripped/wire coated breeds, passing her City & Guilds Hand Stripping Diploma Exam with flying colours.

Helen shows & judges Italian Spinoni and is able to offer expert Italian Spinone grooming/hand stripping to Kennel Club breed standard. She is proud to be endorsed as a breed specialist groomer by the Italian Spinone Club of Great Britain.

Currently there are just two professional groomers in the country who are willing and able to groom the breed correctly, even the top groomers in the country can't seem to get it right. There are a few around who claim they can do so, even some who own them themselves but, believe me, they can't. So please be careful who you trust with your Spinone if you wish to retain their beautiful unique look. I am always available for advice whether you are a client of mine or not or even if you are a groomer yourself so please don't be afraid to get in touch if you need help.

Below are just a handful of incorrect Spinone grooms I've seen by various professional groomers up and down the country.

Wherever you are in the country, whatever breed of dog you have, please ensure your groomer is qualified. I have yet to find another qualified groomer in my area, even though some say they are. Unfortunately it is very easy for anyone to purchase a £20 online course and then declare themselves qualified, you can not learn to groom dogs, and more importantly ensure their safety by answering a few simple questions on your computer. There are also many groomers who display certificates that are not from any recognised body and, as such, are no different than me designing my own and printing it off.
The certificates you need to look for are City & Guilds Level 3. (C&G Level 2 is only a bathing & drying qualification so not good enough to groom dogs in full).

At Starbarks all dogs are looked after & pampered on a one-to-one basis in an air conditioned/heated bespoke modern salon where we strive to create a relaxing, calm and enjoyable experience for your pet.

FIRST AID CERTIFIED
Helen always has your dogs best interests at heart and there is nothing more important than staying up to date with all the relevant information and skills needed if your dog should become poorly whilst at Starbarks.
Helen is certified in First Aid For Dogs so you have peace of mind when leaving your beloved pet to be groomed.
Also experienced with epileptic dogs, you can rest assured your dog will be in safe hands if you do have a dog that suffers from seizures.

G.D.P.R
Starbarks never has and never will share your information to any third parties and any data collected is only done so to provide a high level of service.
Please click the link below to download our Data Privacy Notice.
CLICK HERE

At Starbarks we have a passion for grooming whether it is for a breed standard cut or a pet clip, all dogs are turned out to the highest standard.