Shaun Leach, our main tutor, has been a dog groomer for over 25 years and runs a very busy grooming parlour along with his partner, Shane Boniface. He has also shown Poodles, Bichons and Welsh Ter for himself for this period and other breeds for other people. Shaun holds a City & Guilds Advanced Certificate in Dog Grooming 7750  and is working towards the higher Grooming Diploma and has his City & Guilds Teacher Training Diploma. He is also a member of the Pet Care Trust and the British Grooming Association. Previously Shaun has also taught Intermediate and Advanced Grooming at Houghall College in Durham but resigned as he felt the need to concentrate wholly on the increasingly popular training courses held at Scruffy Pups.

We are getting students from all over the UK and abroad, as our reputation grows. Since opening Scruffy Pups Darlington, over nine years ago the customer base has increased ten-fold, with customers travelling miles to get their dog groomed. Recently, due to our great success story, we have extended the training school to make a dedicated,modern and state of the art Training room, so there is even more space for the students, and a flat to rent if needed, by students that are travelling a long distance.

Scruffy Pups is renowned for its in-depth coverage of all aspects of the business and its friendly, warm, welcoming staff.

Should you choose an alternative grooming school please ensure that they hold a City & Guilds qualification in a dog grooming and a Teacher Training Cert. Ensure you pay for the standard of training you deserve.

If after reading our web site you feel you would like to do a thirty two day course with us, we now expect students to do our taster day first. We have found with experience this is best for all concerned, and lets you see if this is going to be a suitable career for you without committing to spend a great deal of money first. You will pay for the day but the fee is taken off your full course fee, so it works out you are getting it free, so you have nothing to lose. On occasion the tutor has decided that a student is unsuitable for our courses. Unfortunately in these very rare cases no refund is given for the taster day. The tutors decision is final.

We are a registered training provider with NEESP, so our courses can be part / fully funded through Business Link.

We are now an approved test centre with the Pet Care Trust, for groomers to do their 7750 practical exams. Dates available from the Pet Care Trust or check our Facebook page.