Norwich: Lauren Starling opens The Dog Pod in Taverham

Lauren Starling initially wanted to be a vet, but after realising her fear of blood, trained in dog grooming at Easton College when she was 16.

After dabbling in the business for a number of years, she then went back to her college for a four-year stint in teaching up-and-coming groomers the trade, which ended 18 months ago.

Lauren Starling opened The Dog Pod in Taverham on March 27 (Image: Lauren Starling)

Now 30, the Sprowston woman has established The Dog Pod in Taverham, a venture she said "has started small but is growing every day".

Lauren, who has a pooch of her own - a Beagle called Bagel - works full-time as a training coordinator, fitting in dog grooming at The Dog Pod on weekday evenings.

Lauren's main goal is to ensure the dogs feel as good as they feel (Image: Lauren Starling)

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As well as launching her own business, which opened on March 27, she also volunteers every Saturday at PACT animal sanctuary in Hingham, sprucing up pooches who have never been groomed in a bid to find them a new, loving forever home.

"My dream since leaving college was to open my own salon, I just never got around to it.

Lauren Starling with Bagel the Beagle (Image: Lauren Starling)

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"I'm so proud I made the jump - it was scary but it's been so rewarding.

"As is volunteering at PACT. The dogs there - most of them have been found in horrible conditions.

Lauren is a dog groomer now based in Taverham (Image: Lauren Starling)

"If they're in real need of a tidy-over - often they're feeling quite uncomfortable as they've never been groomed before - I'll give them a little TLC.

"You'd think they'd be nervous or aggressive, but they're just incredible. Most I've groomed have now been adopted and it feels great to give back."

Lauren, 30 has been in the dog grooming business for 15 years (Image: Lauren Starling)

Through her Instagram, Lauren shares expert advice with dog owners on how to keep four-legged friends in tip-top condition so they look great but mainly with their welfare in mind.

As well as running The Dog Pod, Lauren volunteers each weekend at PACT (Image: Lauren Starling)