A decade of double coats, fearless dogs, and raising the bar for specialist grooming in Australia.
Ten years ago, Rebecca Oberin opened the doors to a small grooming salon, with a clear vision and a refusal to do things the easy way. Today, Spitz Groom is one of Melbourne’s most respected specialist dog grooming salons, a benchmark for double-coated breed care, fear-free grooming, and the kind of considered, science-based practice that the broader industry is only now beginning to catch up with.
This is not a story about luck. It is a story about expertise, conviction, and what happens when a woman decides that the standard simply isn’t good enough.
Where It Began
Spitz Groom was founded on a straightforward but radical premise: that dogs, particularly double-coated and long-coated breeds, deserve grooming that respects their coat, their nervous system, and their individual history.
In an industry that had long prioritised volume and speed, Rebecca built something deliberately different. Low volume. High care. Breed-specific. Fear-free. From the very beginning, Spitz Groom operated on the belief that a well-groomed dog starts with a dog that feels safe.
That philosophy didn’t just attract clients. It built a community.
A Woman-Owned Business in a Changing Industry
Rebecca Oberin is the founder, owner, and driving force behind Spitz Groom, and her influence on Melbourne’s dog grooming industry over the past decade has been significant.
In an industry that can be dismissive of those without formal certification, Rebecca built her reputation the hard way: through relentless self-education, hands-on experience, attendance at specialist workshops, investment in the best tools, and a commitment to understanding canine anatomy, behaviour, and coat science at a level that rivals formally trained professionals.
She has done this while running a business, managing a team, building a loyal client base, and advocating, and consistently, for better industry standards.
Spitz Groom is not just a salon. It is a reflection of what one woman’s standards look like when she refuses to compromise on them.
The Spitz Groom Difference: Double-Coated Breed Specialists
Ask any owner of a Samoyed, Japanese Spitz, Pomeranian, Husky, or Malamute in Melbourne where to take their dog, and Spitz Groom’s name comes up, reliably, repeatedly, and with genuine enthusiasm.
That reputation has been earned through a decade of specialisation in double-coated and long-coated breeds: the dogs whose coats are most frequently misunderstood, most often damaged by incorrect grooming, and most in need of a groomer who actually knows what they’re doing.
At Spitz Groom, that means:
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No unnecessary shaving of double coats, a practice that can permanently damage coat structure and disrupt a dog’s natural temperature regulation.
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Breed-specific techniques tailored to coat type, condition, and individual dog history.
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Advanced coat knowledge understanding the difference between a blown undercoat and a matted one and knowing exactly how to address each.
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The right tools curated, professional-grade brushes, combs, rakes, and de-matting equipment, many of which are also available in the Spitz Groom retail boutique.
This is specialist grooming in the truest sense. Not a label. A practice.
Fear-Free Grooming: Before It Was a Trend
Fear-free grooming is having a moment in the industry right now. Spitz Groom has been doing it for ten years.
Rebecca’s approach to low-stress, fear-free grooming was not adopted because it became fashionable. It was built into the foundation of the salon because it is the right way to work with animals, full stop.
The Spitz Groom salon was designed in collaboration with animal behaviourist Nicola Gunton. Nicola worked with Rebecca to create a physical environment that minimises stress triggers from the moment a dog walks through the door. Every element, from the layout to the lighting to the handling techniques, has been considered through the lens of canine behaviour and emotional wellbeing.
For dogs that need more than a standard appointment, Spitz Groom offers:
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Desensitisation programs, slow, progressive exposure to grooming tools and processes for anxious or reactive dogs.
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Day-care sessions, trust-building visits that allow nervous dogs to become comfortable in the salon environment before grooming begins.
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Extended appointments, because some dogs need more time, and rushing them is never the answer.
This is not a workaround. It is a methodology. And it has transformed the grooming experience for hundreds of Melbourne dogs who were previously labelled as ‘difficult’.
Setting the Industry Benchmark
Over ten years, Spitz Groom has become a reference point, not just for clients, but for the broader grooming industry in Melbourne and beyond.
The salon’s low-volume model (1 to 3 dogs per groomer, per day) is a direct rejection of the high-throughput approach that dominates the industry. It is also the reason Spitz Groom’s results are consistently exceptional. When a groomer is not rushing, they can do their best work. When a dog is not stressed, they can be groomed properly.
Clients travel from across Victoria and interstate, specifically for Spitz Groom’s expertise. That kind of loyalty is not built through marketing. It is built through results, trust, and a decade of doing the work.
Rebecca and her growing team have also invested deeply in owner education: teaching clients how to brush correctly at home, which tools to use, how to spot early signs of coat or skin issues, and how to maintain their dog’s coat between appointments. An educated client is a better partner in their dog’s care, and that partnership is central to the Spitz Groom philosophy.
A Decade of Growth
What began as a solo operation has evolved into a refined, multi-faceted brand. It is home to a team of highly skilled groomers, a trusted and meticulous operations team, a curated retail boutique, an online store, and a reputation that extends well beyond Carlton North.
Spitz Groom now offers:
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Specialist in-salon grooming for all breeds, with its speciality being double-coated and long-coated breeds.
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Desensitisation and fear-free programs for anxious dogs.
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A retail range of professional grooming tools, premium coat care products, leads, harnesses, and 100% Australian treats.
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Owner education and one-on-one training
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A trusted referral network of specialist vets, rehabilitation professionals, and animal behaviourists.
The business has grown because the standard has never dropped. Ten years in, the same care and attention that defined the first appointment at Spitz Groom defines every appointment today.
Here’s to the Next Ten
To every client who has trusted Rebecca and the Spitz Groom team with their dog over the past decade, THANK YOU. To every nervous dog who walked in uncertain and left calm, this was always for YOU🥰.
And to Rebecca: ten years of setting the standard, refusing to cut corners, and proving that a woman with a vision, an uncompromising commitment to her craft, and love of dogs can build something genuinely remarkable ❤️.
The industry and our dogs are better for it.
Spitz Groom is a specialist dog grooming salon and boutique located in Carlton North, Melbourne. Celebrating ten years of double-coated breed expertise, fear-free grooming, and raising the bar for dog care in Australia. Book a consultation or join the waitlist at spitzgroom.com.au