Bentley & Bear Holistic Dog and Cat Grooming

20/05/2026

Six years ago today, Bentley & Bear officially opened its doors… and honestly, I don’t think I could ever have imagined where this little business would lead me. 🩷🐾

To the clients who have embraced a gentler, more emotionally aware approach to grooming alongside me — thank you.

The ones who understand that grooming isn’t just about the finished haircut, but about trust, patience, comfort and emotional wellbeing too.
The ones who celebrate the tiny wins, support their pets through the harder moments, and allow me to work in a way that always puts the animal first.

That support has helped shape Bentley & Bear into what it is today.

And to my wonderful peers… the groomers, educators, behaviour professionals, veterinary professionals and more recently lovely collaborators I’ve met along the way — thank you too.
For the conversations, encouragement, shared learning and support within an industry that can sometimes feel lonely. I’ve learned so much from being surrounded by people who care deeply about animal welfare and emotional wellbeing.

The messages, recommendations, reviews and kindness over the years have carried this little business further than I could ever have imagined, and I never take any of it for granted.

Thank you for allowing me to do work that I truly love every single day.

And of course… thank you to Bentley & Bear themselves, the two bulldogs who unknowingly changed the entire course of my life. 🤍

Happy 6th Birthday, Bentley & Bear. 🐾

Today I’ll be celebrating a little differently — with a gentle potter around a market here in Menorca, followed by a celebratory toast this evening to six wonderful years of Bentley & Bear. 🥂

With much gratitude to you all for being part of my journey.

With love,

Caroline x

19/05/2026

Just in case you’re missing me… 😹

Here is my recent podcast with the lovely Rebecca and Dan from Atticus Academy of Animals

A great chat about what holistic grooming in cats is and how we can...

16/05/2026

Just a little note to let everyone know that Bentley & Bear will be closed next week while I take a short break to rest, recharge and refill my own treat jar 🐾

Messages will be replied to when I reopen on Tuesday 26th.

As someone who works closely with animals and emotions every day, I truly believe self-care matters in this industry too. To continue showing up calmly and compassionately for the pets in my care, it’s important that I occasionally pause and recharge myself too.

Thank you, as always, for keeping this little business so wonderfully busy and supported over the last 6 years. I never take it for granted.

Caroline x

15/05/2026

Counting down…

Over the last 6 years, certain pets have really struck a chord with me.

The sensitive ones.
The misunderstood ones.
The ones that look into your soul…
(step up, cocker spaniels).

Over the years, Bentley & Bear has become far more than grooming to me.

It’s become an emotionally attuned, behaviour-informed approach built around listening to what each pet is communicating, rather than simply working towards a finished groom.

One rescue dog taught me that anxious compliance and genuine comfort are two very different things.

It took four years of slow relationship building, careful observation and respecting her emotional threshold before she truly felt comfortable with me blasting out her thick wolf-like coat.

She taught me that patience matters more than perfection.
That going home slightly damp won’t harm a dog… but pushing a nervous system beyond what it can cope with might.

One show cocker spaniel taught me that some dogs arrive already knowing your soul and fully intend to sit directly on it.
Personal space? Never heard of it.

Some pets taught me humility.

That trauma sits deeply in the body.
That fear responses are not “bad behaviour.”
And that sometimes the kindest, most ethical decision is recognising when a pet simply isn’t emotionally safe enough for grooming in that moment.

One little cockapoo taught me that holistic care isn’t about rigid ideals or avoiding veterinary support at all costs.

For him, grooming without sedation simply wasn’t emotionally or physically safe.

And sometimes compassionate care looks like adapting the plan, involving the right professionals and putting welfare above opinion.

A Labrador reminded me that muzzles are not cruel if introduced positively.
They are safety.

In 6 years I’ve only used one a handful of times, but I will never judge a dog for saying “I’m uncomfortable” in the only way they know how.
I will always advocate for muzzle training your dogs ‘just in case’.

One little Westie still teaches me the importance of agency.

She lets me know when her nervous system has had enough processing for one session.

And guess what? I stop.

Because preserving emotional safety matters more to me than “finishing the groom.”

Another spaniel reminded me that low emotional thresholds require adaptation, not force.

My role isn’t to “push through.”
It’s to work within what her nervous system can comfortably tolerate that day.

Treats and games buy me a little more time.
Trust buys me the rest.

Somewhere along the way, I realised the pets teaching me the most were rarely the “easy” ones.

They were the ones asking to be listened to differently.

Bentley & Bear wasn’t built on perfect aesthetics.

It was built on trust, observation, patience and the quiet moments (generally on my sofa) where a pet realises they are safe.

*Pics randomly selected.

14/05/2026

Day 3 of reflection in the lead up to my 6 year Bentley & Bear anniversary. 🩷

When I first trained to groom dogs, my tutor (thanks Mollies Dog Grooming) casually mentioned:

“And some people even groom cats…”

I remember immediately saying,
“Wow… I’d LOVE to do that.”

The rest of the room looked at me like I’d completely lost the plot. 🤪

But honestly… that moment has totally stayed with me.

I also had my own beautiful Maine C**n called Hugo, who I absolutely adored (and miss more than words).
Like many cats, he taught me lessons too — including why scissors and cat matts should never mix. 🙈

My curiosity led me to study cat grooming further with an Australian grooming platform and the lovely Cat Grooming Education with Lexie alongside many more webinars, courses and far too many late-night deep dives into feline behaviour. 😹

Before long, the cats slowly started finding me.

And once I started grooming them, I was completely smitten.

The more I learned, the more I realised cat grooming could have a holistic approach too.
It was about trust, observation, patience and working with the cat in front of you.

I discovered lap grooming was very much my thing and, back then, I used to travel to people’s homes to groom their cats and started to introduce it in my home… the utility room was reserved!

And the funny thing is…
the thing everyone thought sounded completely bonkers back then has become one of the biggest parts of my journey.

Thank you for being a part of it 🩷

14/05/2026

Martin sent me this, this morning.
I have two sometimes more trains of thought going on at once.
What was I saying again??

Did this mid-podcast recording last night with Rebecca and Dan from Atticus Academy of Animals 🤦🏼‍♀️

Keeping it real 😂

Cats and dogs are my fortè, public speaking isn’t.

Who’s with me?

14/05/2026

As my books are currently closed to new dogs. Kat from Twixies in Dunstable offers a holistic approach too, it’s lovely to have Kat nearby 🤍and I can highly recommend her. If you need a holistic approach for your dog and I can’t help then please give her a follow or pop along to her forthcoming open day.

🐾 Dog Grooming Open Day 🐾

I’m so excited to invite you and your four-legged companions to celebrate the first anniversary of Twixie's Dog Grooming Spa 🫶🏻🐶💚

This is the perfect opportunity to:
🐶 See my calm, one-to-one grooming space
🐶 Learn more about my holistic grooming approach
🐶 Ask questions about your dog’s individual needs
🐶 Discover how I support nervous, reactive & sensitive dogs

I specialise in creating a low-stress, respectful environment where every dog is treated as an individual and groomed with patience and care ✨

There will be:
🐾 A relaxed, welcoming atmosphere
🐾 The chance to chat one-to-one
🐾 Refreshments for humans ☕
🐾 A small goodie for your dog 🦴

To keep things calm for all dogs, visits will be in pre-booked time slots.

📅 Date: 4th July
⏰ From: 10:30am
📍 West Dunstable
📩 Book your slot: Message me directly
📞 07378101220

Spaces are limited to ensure a peaceful experience for every dog, so please book in advance.

I can’t wait to meet you and your dogs! 🐾💚

13/05/2026

13/05/2026

6 years of Bentley & Bear Holistic Dog and Cat Grooming
In the beginning…

On the countdown to 6 years of Bentley & Bear, today I found myself looking back at the very beginning… 🩷🐾

Before the confidence to truly trust my instincts, there were blue grooming tables, Covid doorstep handovers, scruffy-to-fluffy transformations, and a growing feeling that there had to be a gentler way of doing things.

Truthfully, I think I did realise it from the start.

Even back then, I was instinctively drawn towards the quieter moments… the dogs who needed reassurance, the pauses between the grooming, the emotional side of the work that fascinated me just as much as the practical side.

But I also had to unlearn some of what I’d been taught at grooming school.

Then came the webinars, CPD, courses, late-night learning and finding a community of professionals who saw grooming and handling the way I did.

For the first time, things really started to click into place.

All those instincts I’d had from the beginning suddenly had language, science, understanding and purpose behind them… and slowly, Bentley & Bear evolved alongside me.

Six years later, I’m still learning from every dog that walks through the door ✨

Thank you for being part of my journey 🩷

12/05/2026

In 8 days, Bentley & Bear turns 6 🩷

Apparently more than 3 out of 5 businesses don’t make it past five years… which makes this milestone feel even more special.

What started in 2020 during lockdown as a mere dream quietly became my destiny and purpose.

Thousands of paws have come through the door,
Each one teaching me something more.

Hundreds of Meet & Treats along the way,
Building trust in the gentlest way.

Several kilograms of cat hair too,
Sent off for research — who knew what fluff could do?

Countless pets, both bold and shy,
Have taught me patience, calm, and why
Tiny moments matter most of all,
Even the ones that seem so small.

Big breakthroughs often quietly hide,
Behind softer eyes and a little more pride.

Quiet Reiki moments, calm and slow,
Helping worried pets let tension go.

First appointments nervous and unsure,
Ending softer, calmer, feeling more secure.

Cold cups of tea left sitting there,
With floating dog or cat hair everywhere.

And perhaps the loveliest thing by far…
Clients who became friends, just as they are. 🩷

And somewhere amongst all the fur, feelings, and funny little moments…

a business that somehow became more special than I ever imagined.

Over the next week, I’d love to share a few memories, lessons and moments from the last six years of Bentley & Bear 🐾

Caroline 🩷