
Company: Lovely Pups
Location: Bristol, South West
Salary: Self-employed
Closing Date: 30 September 2026
We are looking for a friendly, enthusiastic and experienced dog groomer to join our extremely popular salon, on a self employed, rent-a-table basis.
Lovely Pups are one of the most popular dog grooming salons in Bristol, with an extremely loyal client base, that we affectionately call the ‘Lovely Puppers’.
We have an outstanding reputation for providing a friendly, professional and ethical service. We endeavour to make grooming as fun and stress-free for everyone involved – we even have a dedicated play space and you’ll often find us rolling around on the floor with the dogs!
We currently have a long waiting list of potential new clients, so we’re looking for a talented groomer that can slot straight into the team and us meet the high demand for our services.
We pride ourselves on our ethical approach to grooming and animal welfare is our top priority. We work on a one in, one out basis, which helps us to ensure that the atmosphere in the salon as calm as possible. We do not store dogs and we do not have cages.
We ask all new clients to attend consultations, to ensure we are the right fit. We will not take on dangerous dogs or clients who do not follow our ethical values.
In terms of our approach to grooming, we do not brush out matting. We prioritise ‘humanity over vanity’ and we work with clients to promote good home grooming routines. We will always do what’s best for the dog, even if it means that we have to forego the requested style, or stop a groom entirely.
To protect ourselves, we have a strict policy regarding cancellations and no-shows and we do not tolerate being treated poorly. We’re a very supportive team of neurodivergents, so if you need help or advice, we’ll always be there for you.
Renting a table means you have the flexibility of being self employed, while enjoying the perks of operating under the Lovely Pups umbrella. You’ll be renting your table on a split-profit basis, dependant on your level of experience. You’ll have full control of your own bookings and clientele. Our prices are set salon wide and reflect the outstanding level of care and service that we provide.
- Our outstanding reputation & strong brand recognition;
- Support from our friendly, fun & knowledgeable team;
- Existing client & waiting list;
- A one in, one out, style of grooming;
- No cages or storing of dogs;
- Secure & safe environment;
- A dedicated play space with lots of toys;
- Excellent location;
- Water & electricity;
- Air conditioning;
- Washing machine;
- Kitchen & toilet;
- Magnetic door lock + intercom;
- Internal CCTV;
- Motion alarm system
- Bespoke electronic, height adjustable, grooming table;
- Adjustable heavy duty H-bar;
- Neck restraint, belly strap, muzzles, calming cradle;
- Hydrobath;
- Grooming trolley;
- High velocity dryers;
- Stand dryers;
- Shampoos;
- Grooming sprays (fast dry, conditioning, finishing etc);
- Towels;
- Happy hoodies
- Clippers;
- Blades & guards;
- Scissors & combs;
- Liability insurance (minimum public liability);
- Phone & booking system of your choice
- Upholding the Lovely Pups reputation;
- Strictly following our ethical and safety policies;
- Providing a high quality, professional service;
- Prepping and styling;
- Help the team to maintain a friendly, clean and hygienic salon environment;
- Managing your appointments and clientele;
- Treating staff and clients with respect and courtesy;
- Opening and closing the salon when necessary
- Will have qualifications from either City & Guilds, International College of Master Groomers, iPet or their equivalent;
- Will have an animal first aid qualification;
- Must be able to confidently carry out a wide variety of grooms, to a high standard, independently;
- Will be comfortable grooming nervous dogs;
- Must be passionate about dogs and their welfare;
- Will have excellent customer service skills;
- Will be able to organise their own work diary and bookings;
- Will communicate efficiently and professionally with clientele.
- Has excellent dog handling skills and is proficient in reading dog behaviour;
- Must always work in a safe and professional manner;
- Will be knowledgable about canine skin, coat and diet issues.
- Dedicated and hard working;
- Fun and relaxed;
- Empathetic and kind towards both animals & people;
- Technically skilled;
- Honest & trustworthy;
- Patient;
- Enthusiastic;
- Eager to learn and improve;
- Bonus points for a hilarious sense of humour!
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations, you’ve passed the first test! If this sounds like a position that you’d be suited to, then please submit your CV, a portfolio of your work (with annotations) and professional references via the link below.
Please also give us a brief description of yourself and answer the following questions:
- What is your favourite breed to groom?
- What is your strongest grooming skill?
- What would you most like to improve on?
Do not use AI in your application.
Please mention Jobs With Animals when applying for this role.

