Spring 202430 years of The Dog Shop

The Dog Shop in Littleborough celebrates 30 years of business this summer.

Owner Christine Lewthwaite knew she wanted to work with dogs from a young age, landing a job at the Poodle Corner under its “very talented dog groomer” when she was 14.

After many years and after meeting her husband and having children, she decided to go back to dog grooming. In 1994 she found “the perfect little shop” on Calderbrook Road with a front yard and good parking for customers.

Christine, who has also bred her own dogs and won second place at Crufts with one, has never used grooming tables, slings or cabinet dryers so she set up her salon to her needs and the way she was taught at the Poodle Corner.

Twelve years ago, her daughter Janine McGregor-Stead – who also worked with animals after leaving school – joined the business and learned Christine’s unique grooming method.

Janine said: “We love that our customers can’t wait to come to our salon, and we say how it’s a pamper spa day for them, they walk out feeling a million dollars and it shows!

“We have many customers that travel fair distances for our services; we love to get recommendations through word of mouth. Our motto has always been ‘your work is your advert’ so even if the job is challenging, we make our best efforts to do the best job we can.

“Our customers, both human and canine, make our job most enjoyable and Christine even has customers still visiting that used the Poodle Corner all those years ago.

“We are extremely proud of our family-run little business, 30 years is such an achievement.

“It just shows a little passion can fuel a successful lifetime career.”