Meet the Team

Hi, my name is Amy and I'm the founder and owner of Wang Doggy Day Spa. My passion is animal health and wellness, with 16 years working locally here at Warby St Vet Hospital as a Vet Nurse. My background is actually horses, but I love all animals.  

 

I'm so proud of our passionate team, that we are well connected with others in the community, so we can help your dog live a long, healthy, and happy life as a much-valued member of your family. 

​

In recent times I've completed several courses with Australian Online Courses; Dog Psychology & Training, and Dog Grooming. I enjoy learning as much as I can about dogs.

​

Outside of work... I love to travel with my family, and have new experiences and adventures (I'm always up for something fun!), I love my running and sport, and I genuinely like connecting with people. I've been able to pair my passion for helping others, with my passion for animal health and wellness. So grateful!

Hi my name is Emma and I’ve been with WDDS since the very beginning back in July 2023. I am a stylist and completed my Cert III Pet Grooming at GOTAFE in 2022.

 
My little Moodle Sadie inspired me to get more skills around the scissors. She was my first dog that required frequent grooming. I wanted to be able to groom her myself and to my standard and needs.

I enjoy doing comfort grooms and feel it’s the most rewarding part of my job; comfort grooms prioritize a dog's wellbeing over a perfect aesthetic, often done for senior, fragile or nervous dogs.

I am an advocate for providing animals with the best quality of life. Skin being the largest organ in the body, is a great place to start! I believe in a healthy skin heathy coat attitude, advocating for regular bathing and proper hygiene.  Regular Grooming is important for not only keeping their coat clean and healthy, but for minimising mats, reducing allergens and allow proper ventilation. Having a Vet nursing background I can detect abnormalities that some groomers could miss, giving you advice and recommendations to see your local vet.

 

 I also have a Cert III Companion animal services, Cert IV Veterinary Nursing & Dog and Cat Microchipping Course. 

In the future, I would like to add to my skills by completing a course in pet nutrition.

When I'm not grooming dogs, I love playing netball, taking my Border Collie (Sophie), my Moodle (Sadie) and my son (Aiden) on walks along the creek, taking care of my large collection of indoor and outdoor plants. I'm also an avid hooker (I crochet) and thrift shopper!

As well as my 2 dogs I also have an inside ginger cat named Fraiser, he’s 8, he loves to sleep all day and play in the household water bowl. 

 

What I love the most about working at WDDS is the close friendships I have with all the girls. Going to work is so easy and enjoyable.

My most memorable experience at WDDS was in the early days of the business. I had this old small dog with a long, thin, oily coat. The owner wanted their dog to have a wash and a comfort clip. My favourite part was the transformation; the dog looked 5 years younger! I never saw that dog again, but I still have a very clear picture and memory of it. If I could own a dog with any coat type it would be a tight curled Miniature Poodle. They are a lot of work but they look fantastic once groomed.   

Hi, I'm Nicole. I'm a new member of this amazing team, but already feel at home. I have followed my passion for working with dogs since I can remember, and if I'm working with dogs, I'm happy! I am especially interested in dog behaviour and communication, eager to learn as much as I can to help people better connect with their dogs. 

​

I completed an intensive hands on grooming course in 2008, and worked in some of Melbourne's biggest pet stores in retail and grooming, and managed Pets Domain here in Wangaratta. 

​

Until it's recent closure, I worked at the Wangaratta RSPCA. Gaining skills and training in dog behaviour, handling techniques, communication, and fostering animals. I am very excited to be able to continue to help and work with dogs, supporting their well-being and connection with their owners. 

​

Hi, I’m Lindsay owner of Canine Nurture. I work out of the WDDS consult room providing Myotherapy, Functional Exercise and Laser Therapy for dogs. ​

Originally from the UK, I completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, driven by a lifelong love for animals that began on the dairy farm I called home. I've now been in Australia for 13 years, during which time my husband and I have welcomed three kids and two dogs into our family. 

In 2020 I gained my Diploma in Canine Myofunctional Therapy and quickly became hooked on improving a dog’s quality of life through massage, functional exercise and by recognising & responding to pain. I launched Canine Nurture, treating dogs in their own homes and was thrilled when Amy reached out about a canine health and wellness hub for Wangaratta’s dog owners. 

I'm also dedicated to proactive care and love helping owners give their puppies the best possible start. This inspired me to complete a Puppy School Instructor course so I can share practical, supportive advice with owners. More recently, I became Fear Free Certified to further support dogs in a calm, positive and compassionate way. I’m also proud to be a Canine Arthritis Advocate, helping arthritic dogs live more comfortably and improve their quality of life by showing owners that arthritis doesn’t have to mean painful senior years. 

Outside of work, I love gardening; I am currently trying to encourage more birds and lizards to our garden, but my Jack Russel Ruby doesn’t think they should move in! I stay active with my kids and 2 dogs either trekking through the bush, swimming or paddling on the board at the lake. 

Hi, I’m Gayle, a stylist at Wang Doggy Day Spa. I’ve been part of the team for about 18 months, joining after I completed my “Cert III Animal Care Services – Dog Grooming” through GOTafe. For me, this was just the beginning, and I continue to learn from Amy and my colleagues.  

I find working with dogs rewarding, occasionally challenging and sometimes exhausting. Whatever each day brings I strive to improve my grooming skills. I’ve found there are many elements and influencing factors to consider when providing the best outcome for each dog and to their owner. I try to work on each dog’s strengths and identify their weaknesses so I can develop and implement strategies to assist their experience. Nothing pleases me more than seeing a dog that is comfortable and relaxed during their groom. 

  I have continued to fill gaps in my grooming and dog handling knowledge by attending additional training opportunities, short courses, workshops and seminars including 

• Four Paws K9 training- Grooming Aggressive Dogs 

• Pet Tech – Pet CPR & First Aid 

• Melanie Newman- Introductory to Scissoring workshop 

• Australian Dog Grooming School – Intensive Grooming course 

• Melanie Newman- Mastering Round Heads seminar & workshop 

• Fear Free Pets- Fear Free Certification 

 

I would like to increase my understanding of animal behaviors. I know dogs communicate through various ways and to be responsive to their cues would be beneficial to me on many levels. My heart sings when I see an unsure dog develop trust and confidence throughout their groom. Once proficient at styled breed grooms I’d like to dabble in some coat carving and coloring. This appeals to my creativeness. 

In my free time I’m happy tinkering around the house. I enjoy gardening and landscape design, and preserving my home grown produce. Other interests include observing nature at all levels. I’m an active volunteer of our local Landcare group and I tend to “holiday” on citizen science projects around Australia, nerdy I know. But you get to see some amazing places.  

It’s rather odd that I don’t have a dog. I do have a couple of laying hens, does that count? If I were to have a dog it would probably be a loyal old lazy Labrador. I also have a soft spot for all the older dogs that visit the salon (they are mostly charming 😉). If I was to get a young pup, I’m not sure I would survive their teenage years.  

Here is to hundreds more happy handsome hounds. 🐩🧡✂  ​

Hi I'm Airlie. I'm a new member of this team and have already enjoyed every second. I'm from Yarrawonga and travel to Wangaratta for work here once a week. 

​

Dogs have always been a big part of my life, at home we have 4 of our own. I've always loved spending time with dogs so one day I decided to start a little dog washing business from my backyard. I would meet so many different breeds and a variety of personalities that made me love dogs even more. Someone said to me one day, "You'd make a great dog groomer!" And from there that's all I could think about. So in April of 2023 freshly out of school the year prior, I completed my course and started grooming and have been practicing ever since. 

​

I am super confident in my skills but I always love learning new techniques and ideas, and I also love teaching others about things I found helpful or certain styles of grooming. My favourite styles being the teddy bear, asian fusion and any breed standard styles. 

​

I love every minute of dog grooming and I always enjoy meeting new clients and creating a bond with them and their pups, as well as educating owners about everything they need to know about how to look after their fur friends.