Hi and welcome to Bark & Bathe!
My name is Brooke, and I am not only a passionate dog groomer but also a devoted fur mum to my pup Cooper. 

My story is a unique one but I’ll try and keep it short and sweet.  Let’s start with the basics, for the past 8 years, I have dedicated myself to dog grooming.

I hold certifications in pet grooming (Cert III) and animal companionship - behavior and training (Cert IIII). This is just the professional side of things, my experience goes much further than that. 

At 18, I welcomed my pup Cooper into my life, I was very unwell and my mum thought a furry companion might bring some light into my world.  Little did I know that Cooper would become my everything, he gave me purpose and something to look forward to every day.  But before this becomes a love letter to him, I would like to say he wasn’t the only dog who has had a great impact on my life.

My family has always been a dog family. Our first dog, Storm, a Border Collie x Kelpie, was the OG. Then came Cooper, my Pug x Cavalier x Shih Tzu, and my sister's Border Collie named Ryder. 

It was a packed house to say the least, but if that wasn’t enough, throughout the years we went on to foster 15 dogs. And as you can see it was only natural for me to see my future with dogs. 

At the age of 21, I began my grooming career at PetStock. While it was a fantastic introduction to the professional world after completing my grooming schooling, I wasn’t in love with the way it was structured. The stress of leaving a beloved pup in the hands of a stranger, combined with strict time limits, didn't sit well with me. 

So, after two years, I made the bold decision to venture out on my own. I opened Groomed by Brooke, right from my family home in Melbourne. It was a dream come true. Dogs could freely roam, and I had the freedom to create a personalized schedule for each pup. 

If a dog felt anxious during a bath, we took our time. If they needed a break during grooming, we took a rest. It was all about providing the best experience tailored to their individual needs. After two successful years, I took another leap and opened The Grooming Barn, a full-blown salon. 

While the experience was rewarding, it was during the challenging times of Covid.  Between having to squeezing more people in to accommodate for constant restrictions, and organizing more staff, it become more about the businesses survival more than the dogs experience. 

I quickly realized this isn’t what I set out to do, I didn’t want to be a business owner I wanted to be a compassionate dog groomer.  It became increasingly difficult to offer the same level of personalized care that each dog deserved, which led me to make the decision to sell.

Having experienced all versions of dog grooming, from corporate to home-based and salon environments, I knew I could blend the best of all three worlds.

At Bark & Bathe, your precious pup receives a customized, individual experience in the comfort of a warm and inviting home environment, with salons quality equipment, and my expertise as a seasoned professional groomer.

I genuinely look forward to cuddling and pampering your pup soon!