Groomer says dogs SHOULD be asked for consent before treatments - as the experience is meant to be "enjoyable"

A groomer says dogs SHOULD be asked for consent before treatments - as the experience is meant to be "enjoyable". Stephanie Zikmann, 30, says all groomers have a "duty of care" to their clients - both human and canine. Her comments come after a dog owner was criticised over a grooming advert posted online. It stated that any applicants must be willing to wait for and then maintain consent while treating her pet. But Stephanie, from East Ayrshire, Scotland, said: “Consent is not ridiculous. We have got to consider the emotional needs of a dog. We have a duty of care. "I’ve seen a lot of grooming where dogs are treated as objects to be styled. It’s like a cattle market." The mum-of-three, a self-styled holistic dog groomer, has a number of tactics to get pooches onside. She set up her business after struggling to find groomers to style her Tibetan Mastiff's Louise and Nala and miniature poodle, Lola. Perspective clients and their dogs come in for a 15 minute ‘meet and treat’ before being set up with a bespoke plan to settle them into the grooming world. Stephanie said: "I get new dogs to come in and explore and pick up what they want from textures and treats. “It shows me that a dog might not like carpet or metal so I can devise a bespoke care plan. “Many then have two to three sessions to get them to adapt and feel comfortable. Some dogs are more resilient than others. Grooming should be enjoyable for the dog. She continued: "I look at the confidence level of the dog. “Lots of them come into an unfamiliar environment so we want them to be comfortable. “If they are not this is often when they might try to bite or escape a groomer.” Stephanie charges £60 an hour and also offers clients a grooming masterclass so they can care for their dogs at home. And she said: "Each dog is individual. If you have co-operation and consent the groom shouldn’t take longer than an hour. “But you have to open-minded to a dogs needs. Some may be comfortable if you do 30 minute sessions at a time. “We’re all dog lovers but lots of groomers might not know any better. We want to make the experience positive for everyone – including the dog.”