About Us

Marlee Du Preez

I emigrated to Ireland from South Africa with my family at the beginning of 2020. I started showing and breeding my own Chow-Chows in the late Nineties and competed at many shows.

I studied Genetics and Animal Husbandry at the University of Stellenbosch and I qualified as a Utility Group Judge in 2007. I spent time as an Animal Welfare Society Inspector and have always been involved in breed specific rescue and rehoming.

Since arriving here in Ireland my daughter and I are showing competitively with Floki, our Flat Coated Retriever as well as Meria and Nimue, our Standard Poodles. I am interested in and participate in a wide variety of activities with my dogs including Dog Showing, Mantrailing and General Obedience Work. We are currently in training to become a Burns By Your Side therapy team for reluctant readers. My ambition is to get both Floki and myself fit enough to try Canicross…

I achieved my Level 5 Grooming Qualification in 2021 which has enabled me to work alongside Ilse in the Grooming Salon where I specialise in large breed grooming and I also enjoy taking part in Grooming and Creative Grooming competitions. I have a current Canine First Responder qualification.

Ilse Sas

Originally from Belgium, I hold qualifications in Dog Grooming, Dog Training, Behaviour and Instructing, as well as Animal Welfare. I have been working with dogs in various capacities since 2003.

I have worked in Kennels, Grooming Salons, Rescue Centres, an Assistance Dog Charity, a Veterinary Clinic and as a teacher of Fetac/QQI courses in Animal Welfare, Grooming and Training.

I am obsessed with Dog Grooming and Training, so I grab every opportunity to attend seminars and workshops all over the country. I love learning the newest techniques and styles, but my heart lies in teaching pups and adult dogs to enjoy the grooming process. I will always take my time with your dog and use all the tricks in my book to make the grooming session as stress-free as possible.

My life revolves around dogs. At the moment I share my house with 5 dogs of my own, ranging in ages from 4 months to 12 years. I have 2 Standard Poodles, a Miniature Poodle and 2 Italian Greyhounds. Many of my dogs are rescues, and I usually have a few foster dogs as well.