🐾 Welcome to Dandini’s
At Dandini’s, we host a collective of independent, self-employed dog groomers who each run their own business from within our salon. While every groomer manages their own diary and services independently, all share a deep commitment to Dandini’s values of animal welfare, kindness, and grooming excellence.
Alongside the grooming businesses, Caroline — salon owner and lead educator — runs a dedicated training programme from The Training Room, a separate facility located at the rear of the building. As part of their course, students also complete a salon placement within the main grooming salon, where they gain hands-on experience in bathing, drying, and preparing dogs for styling in a real working environment. Alice, a qualified grooming assistant who works with two of our independent groomers, kindly volunteers her time to support students during this early stage of their learning, helping them build confidence in handling dogs and understanding the flow of a professional salon.
We’re proud to maintain a crate-free, stress-conscious space built on high standards of safety, hygiene, and compassion. Only groomers who meet these standards are invited to work from the salon — giving you peace of mind, no matter which groomer you choose.
👥 Meet the Groomers
Our salon is home to a number of experienced, self-employed professionals — many of whom trained right here at Dandini’s.
Click below to learn more about each groomer, their background, and how to book with them directly.
🐾 Caroline Cogan
Salon Owner & Lead Educator
Caroline has been grooming professionally since 2007, after training in London with respected industry mentors Heidi Anderton and Colin Taylor — the latter now well known as the judge on BBC’s Pooch Perfect. She joined Dandini’s shortly after, learning alongside Jan, the salon’s founder and an experienced groomer of over 40 years. In 2011, Jan passed the reins to Caroline, confident in her skills and dedication.
Caroline holds the City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma for Professional Dog Stylists, the Level 4 LCGI Recognition of Achievement Award, a Level 3 Award in Education and Training, and a Level 3 Assessors Qualification.
Today, Caroline works primarily from the dedicated training space at the back of the salon, where she mentors and develops the next generation of groomers. She also works as an Independent End Point Assessor, supporting quality and consistency in apprenticeship grooming standards across the South East.
The main salon space is now rented by a small team of independent groomers who run their own businesses within Dandini’s. While they manage their own schedules and day-to-day operations, Caroline remains a supportive presence — offering guidance when needed and helping to maintain the high standards and calm, professional atmosphere that Dandini’s is known for.
Although her focus is now largely on education, Caroline continues to groom selectively — particularly when teaching or working on poodles in show trim, including Robyn’s show dog and others preparing for the ring.
Email Caroline about dog grooming training
or career opportunities
🐾 Robyn Maloney
Independent Groomer at Dandini's
Robyn began her grooming career in 2011, training at Dandini’s under the guidance of Caroline. She completed both her Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in dog grooming with top distinctions, and is currently working towards her International Certified Master Groomer qualification — with all modules passed so far at distinction level.
Passionate about her craft, Robyn regularly competes in grooming competitions across the UK. At her very first event, the prestigious Mastergroom, she took first place in one of the largest classes recorded. She continues to earn placements at national events and also shows both her standard poodles, Jaxson and now Tequilla with great success.
Since 2018, Robyn has helped support the smooth day-to-day running of the salon space as a lead figure among the independent groomers working from Dandini’s. While she operates her own grooming business independently, she shares a deep commitment to the high standards and welcoming environment Dandini’s is known for.
🐾 Jessica Peppall
Independent Groomer at Dandini's
Jess first came to Dandini’s for work experience in April 2011 and instantly fell in love with dog grooming. While studying for her Level 3 Diploma in Animal Management, she continued volunteering at the salon during holidays. After achieving a distinction in her course, she joined Dandini’s part-time while also working as a dog walker, and eventually trained as a groomer under Caroline’s guidance.
In 2014, Jess began working full-time from the salon and later completed her Level 3 Introduction to Dog Grooming at Brinsbury College. Since then, she has continued to build her skills and qualifications, proudly gaining her full Level 3 Diploma for Professional Dog Stylists.
Jess now runs her own grooming business from the Dandini’s salon and specialises in hand-stripping. She works closely alongside Robyn and is a key part of the salon’s close-knit community of independent groomers who maintain the high standards Dandini’s is known for.
🐾 Columbya Dunn
Independent Dog Groomer at Dandini's
Columbya has been part of the Dandini’s community for nearly ten years, having joined the salon at just 18. After starting out in a local doggy daycare, she discovered a passion for grooming and joined Dandini’s initially as a grooming assistant. With a natural talent for handling and styling dogs, she quickly progressed under the guidance of Caroline, Robyn, and Jess.
Columbya has since achieved her full Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming and also holds a Level 3 Award in Education and Training, enabling her to teach and support grooming students in Dandini’s Training Room. In 2023, she took her first steps into competitive grooming — entering directly into the experienced class and earning two awards within her first two shows: second place in Open Poodle and a special recognition for Best Overall Finish in the competition.
Now running her own grooming business from the Dandini’s salon, Columbya continues to grow her skills while contributing to the friendly, high-standard environment that the salon is known for.
🐾 Alice Smith
Head Grooming Assistant
Alice joined the Dandini’s salon seven years ago, having previously trained with Caroline and shown a natural flair for handling and dog care. When the opportunity arose to support the grooming team as a bather and dryer, Alice was a perfect fit — already familiar with the salon and its values.
She now works as the head grooming assistant for two of our independent groomers, Jess and Robyn, helping ensure dogs are beautifully prepped and comfortable before styling. Alongside this,
Alice kindly volunteers her time to support Caroline during the early stages of student training — guiding learners through the basics of bathing, drying, and preparing dogs for grooming.
With her Level 2 qualification in dog grooming and a calm, thoughtful approach, Alice plays a valued role in the day-to-day rhythm of the salon.
🐾 Sarah Vince
Independent Dog Groomer at Dandini's
Sarah joined the Dandini’s salon in 2019 after deciding to make a complete career change. A lifelong dog lover and owner, she first discovered her passion for grooming through one of our Groom Your Own Dog training days. It was clear from the start that she had a natural connection with dogs, and after completing her Professional Training course with Caroline, she knew she wanted to pursue grooming professionally.
Sarah fitted in beautifully with the calm, welfare-focused environment at Dandini’s, and we were delighted to offer her the opportunity to become an independent groomer operating from the salon. Since then, she has become a trusted part of the grooming team, caring for a wide variety of clients introduced via Dandini’s.
Known for her gentle approach and attention to detail, Sarah treats every dog she grooms as if they were her own and brings a kind, grounded energy to the salon every day.