Diane Pawz First Dog Grooming – Perth, Australia

I’m Diane Lloyd. I live in Perth, Western Australia, and I’ve been here for the past 18 years — though I’m originally a Geordie girl from South Shields, England. I’m now aged 57 yrs old, a senior groomer. Before I started grooming dogs, I spent 20 years working as a draftsperson. It was a good career, but when I got my Cavoodle puppy, everything changed. I absolutely adored her and wanted to spend more time with her, so I decided to follow my heart and become a dog groomer. With no experience apart from YouTube videos, I signed up for my Certificate II and III in Dog Grooming and just went for it. It wasn’t easy starting from scratch, but I was determined to learn and do it properly. Now, nine years later, I have my own home salon, Pawz First. I’m lucky to have a big house with a large garage, which I’ve turned into my grooming space. It’s comfortable, calm, and perfect for one-on-one grooms. Here in Australia, Oodles are everywhere — they’ve become such a popular breed! But there just aren’t enough experienced groomers. So from the beginning, I decided to focus on quality over quantity. I take my time with each dog, and I want both the dogs and their owners to feel completely at ease. That’s how Pawz First was born, and I honestly love what I do every single day.

My journey with teeth cleaning started a few years ago when I wanted to add something extra for my clients. I first tried another toothbrush system, but it wasn’t great — the handle even cracked twice! Then one day, I was listening to Bill Betts’ ( A fan- love his podcasts) and heard an interview with The Tooth Fairy, who talked about the Emmi-Pet. I was instantly intrigued and decided to give it a try (the agent in Perth a elderly man ready to retire didn’t hold much range of products). I started using the Emmi-Pet 2, and it’s been fantastic — solid, reliable, and gentle. It does a really good job, and most importantly, the dogs tolerate it well. When I first introduced it, I offered sessions to my regular grooming clients at a reduced rate so I could get used to using it. Now, two years on, I’ve built up a lot of confidence and offer it to both grooming and non-grooming clients. The first session is a one-hour consultation, where I take the time to desensitise the dog to the ultrasound toothbrush. Every dog is different — some take to it straight away, and others need a few visits to get comfortable. I always explain to owners that you might not see much tartar removal in the beginning, but with regular sessions, the improvement is amazing. Follow-up appointments are 30 minutes each, and depending on the dog, it can take two to five sessions, or sometimes more for anxious dogs. I’ve had some that needed up to ten! But that’s okay, it’s all about patience and making it a positive experience.

A Heartwarming Example 

One of my current clients is a 16-year-old dog who can’t hear and whose vision is very poor. She’s now on her fifth appointment. The first session was an hour-long Consultation and First Gentle Cleaning, which turned out to be a wonderful training opportunity. Despite her age, she did really well, even though she kept nudging me and lifting her head throughout, I actually saw great results after that very first visit. Her owner told me she’s snapped at her before when having her teeth brushed at home, but she hasn’t done that with me at all.

There’s just a small amount of tartar left on both sides of her back molars, and I’m excited to try the tartar eraser on her at her next appointment. Working with older dogs like her really reminds me why I love what I do, it’s about patience, trust, and helping them feel safe and cared for. After nine years of grooming, I can honestly say I’m so glad I took that leap all those years ago. My Cavoodle inspired a complete career change, and now I get to do something I truly love — caring for dogs and helping them look and feel their best, one gentle groom (and one wagging tail) at a time.