If your pup tucks their tail at bath time, or paces by the door when you leave home, there's a spot in North Curl Curl worth knowing about. Waggle House is the dog grooming and doggy daycare built around freedom and fun, where nervous dogs learn there's nothing to worry about.

There is a particular kind of mayhem at Waggle House. Dogs wander freely around the Curl Curl studio, greeting old friends, chasing toys and asking for pats. For owner Juliana, that is exactly the point.

"It's a little chaotic and very fun," Juliana says. "Once they make new friends, or recognise friends from previous visits, they engage in crazy playtime."

"It's the freedom for them to be themselves, at their own pace, that translates to calm, as crazy as it sounds."

Nervous dogs get space before anything else. "Sometimes it takes a long cuddle, sometimes a game of fetch. It changes from dog to dog."

"I always dreamt of a career in animal care," she says. "When the time came for me to have my own business, I wanted to create a space that focused on making them comfortable, happy and beautiful."

Juliana came from Brazil more than a decade ago and never left. After COVID, she committed to grooming, took courses and found an incredible apprenticeship.

Of more than 1,000 clients, many are senior or challenging dogs, and Juliana remembers every one. Take Lilly, who arrived for her first visit shaking and refusing to come inside. Now she visits every month, tail wagging.

"Seeing them change their behaviour shows us that they know they are safe here."

FOUR STAGES

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Grooming runs in four stages: wash and blow-dry, brushing, body groom and final face trim. Between each one, dogs head back to the floor to decompress and play.

A DAY OUT, NOT A DAY IN

The crate-free daycare runs Monday to Saturday for small and medium dogs, with an outdoor area for exercise and cosy indoor spots to rest. Staff dog Milly runs the show, alongside Juliana's own dog Zoe.

MORE THAN A MAKEOVER

"Working with animals is a privilege," Juliana says. Treating every dog like family means knowing their personalities and quirks, and the reward comes at pick-up. "When pawrents say, oh my god, my dog looks happy, that's when you know we did a good job."

Give your dog the care they deserve. Call Juliana on 0404 441 430 for less fear, more freedom, and plenty of pats.

Waggle House | Shop 9, 142 Pitt Road, North Curl Curl | 0404 441 430 | wagglehouse.com.au