Page 32 - Real Rochdale Issue 21 Spring 2024
P. 32

30 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          Christine Lewthwaite with her dogs Rocky and Peaches
                                                                                                                                  never used grooming tables, slings or cabinet
                                                                                                                                  dryers so she set up her salon to her needs         business and learned Christine’s unique
                                                                                                                                  and the way she was taught at the Poodle            grooming method.
                                                                                                                                  Corner.
                                                                                                                                                                                      Janine said: “We love that our customers
                                                                                                                                  Twelve years ago, her daughter Janine               can’t wait to come to our salon, and we say
                                                                                                                                  McGregor-Stead – who also worked with               how it’s a pamper spa day for them, they walk
                                                                                                                                  animals after leaving school – joined the           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
                                                                                                                                               Janine McGregor-Stead                  successful lifetime career.”
          REAL ROCHDALE - SPRING 2024                       32                                                                                                                    33                     REAL ROCHDALE - SPRING 2024
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