Owner & Dog Groomer


I'm Kathy, owner of The Handsome Hound. I trained under Julie Lalou, a Guild of Master Groomers educator and member of Groom Team England, and I'm proud to look after a salon and shop that has been part of the Balham dog community for almost 15 years.

My trusty sidekick is Barry, a rescue Chihuahua who has no clue how lucky he is, and who fully believes he's the boss here.

I cared for disabled dogs with My Disabled Hairy Friends in Koh Samui. It taught me how much patience and kindness matter to a dog, and I bring that to every dog here.

I love getting to know our regulars. Whether you have 2 legs or 4, you're always welcome.

Founder & Independent Dog Groomer


Andrew founded The Handsome Hound 15 years ago and built it into the much-loved Balham salon it is today. He now works independently from the salon, and his experience and standards are part of what makes it the place it is.

Andrew gained experience in a number of salons, including the Pet Spa at Harrods. He is a member of The Groomers Spotlight, a directory of fully qualified professionals.

Andrew also competes in grooming competitions, with a 1st place in the master groom workshop class (Welsh Terrier) and a 3rd place in the purebred workshop (Bedlington Terrier).

Outside the salon, he's the proud owner of Rita, his gorgeous black Miniature Schnauzer.

Independent Dog Groomer

Zosia brings a calm, gentle manner to every dog she works with. Her experience includes time in salons, including the Pet Spa at Harrods. She is a qualified dog grooming educator, having spent 6 years teaching the next generation of groomers at Capel Manor College.

She is also a certified dog trainer, so she understands how dogs read and respond to handling. That makes her especially reassuring with nervous dogs.

Zosia works freelance across several salons and joins us at The Handsome Hound on selected days. At home, she has a German Shepherd called Mia.

Dog Groomer

Melanie joins the team on Saturdays. She has been grooming for five years and spends the rest of her week walking dogs, so she's very good at reading what a dog is telling you, and at knowing when to slow down.

She works at the dog's pace, which is why even the wrigglers tend to leave in a good mood.