12/05/2026
We’re excited to welcome Tartan & Thistle Spa & Boutique to Bank Street, opening June 2nd 🐶✨
It’s always great seeing passionate local businesses bring something new to Whangārei, and their focus on luxury grooming, skin & coat care, fear-free certified grooming and premium NZ-made products looks like an amazing addition to the area.
We’re looking forward to having more fellow dog lovers on the street and supporting another local business focused on quality care and community 💛
And of course, Biggie Bagels remains proudly dog friendly too! water bowls always outside for our four-legged visitors… although we can’t promise your dog won’t start dragging you in here for bagels after their spa appointment 😂
Go give Tartan & Thistle Spa & Boutique a follow and show them some local support before they open!
🏴 What Happens at Your Dog’s First Appointment? 🏴
I know trying somewhere new can feel a little nerve-wracking, both for dogs and their guardians so I wanted to share a little about what you can expect during your dog’s first visit to Tartan & Thistle!
For some of you, this won’t be completely new as we already know each other from previous salons and years of grooming together (though we are upgrading some things!), but for others, this will be your very first visit with me, so I want to make the experience feel as comfortable and reassuring as possible.
From the moment you arrive, the goal is to create a calm, welcoming and low-stress experience.
🐾 Meet & Greet
We’ll take a little time to get to know your dog, chat about their grooming history, lifestyle, coat maintenance, and any concerns or goals you may have.
If possible, we’d also love for you to pop in prior to your appointment for a quick visit (just a chat, no grooming). This helps us get an idea of how your dog may cope within a grooming environment and allows us to better tailor their first experience with us. For some dogs, going straight into a full groom may be absolutely fine, while for others it may be more beneficial to begin with a Grooming Confidence Session first to help build trust and comfort in the salon environment.
🐾 Skin & Coat Assessment
Before we begin, we’ll assess your dog’s skin and coat condition so we can tailor the groom and bathing process to suit their individual needs.
🐾 Settling In Time
Not every dog walks into a salon feeling confident, and that’s okay. Along with our Grooming Confidence sessions, every dog is allowed the time to settle, explore and get comfortable with the environment.
🐾 Tailored Grooming Approach
Every dog is different, so we adjust our handling, pacing and grooming approach based on what your dog is telling us throughout the appointment.
🐾 A Calm Environment
We’re mindful about how dogs enter and exit the salon, noise levels and creating an environment that feels safe and comfortable rather than overwhelming.
🐾 Communication & Grooming Notes
We use Savvy Pet Spa which allows us to keep detailed grooming notes, skin and coat records and before & after photos linked directly to your dog’s profile so we can track progress and preferences over time.
Before your appointment, you’ll also receive a form via email where you can send through grooming notes, preferences, medical information and anything else you’d like us to know in advance, all of which connects directly to your dog’s file.
🐾 Updates During the Groom
We’re also contactable via WhatsApp or text/imessage and are more than happy to send photos or little updates during your dog’s appointment where possible as long as it doesn’t interrupt the grooming process or your dog’s experience.
At Tartan & Thistle, grooming is never just about the end result, it’s about making sure your dog feels safe, comfortable, and genuinely cared for every step of the way 🖤
📅 Opening June 2nd 2026
🏴 Bookings now open!
📧 [email protected]
