Biggzy's Bark 'n Bubbles

For the Love of Dogs

Reileigh and Don Biggs are different than most dog groomers. They are, perhaps, one of the few father-daughter dog grooming teams in Canada and it all came about by chance. Reileigh had just graduated from a post-secondary course at Fanshawe College and was working in London as a French language Early Childhood Educator. “I loved every minute of it, working with children was great,” she said. “But the thing is, I’m also very passionate about dogs.”

Ever since she was a toddler, Reileigh’s love for dogs was evident. By the time she was ingrade school she knew every dog breed and their traits, as listed in the Canadian Kennel Club. A lot of her reading material consisted of dog books, whether they be novels, dog training manuals or illustrated guides to different canine breeds from around the world.

“I actually hoped to take a Vet Tech course but they didn’t offer one in London, so when I realized that I wanted to work with dogs, I researched all careers and decided on grooming,” she added.

Meanwhile, Don had worked in the media business for the past 27 years and was the former editor of the St. Thomas Times-Journal, The Londoner, Strathroy Age Dispatch and the West Elgin Chronicle.

However, he realized that it was time for a change and that his tenure in the newspaper business was coming to an end. “I sat at a desk all day for most of my working career andI just wanted something completely different and out of my comfort level,” he said. “I thought that in a few years, when I retired, I would do something part-time and dogs werevery much in the picture. I was thinking maybe dog walking or something like that, but grooming wasn’t even a thought. When Reileigh said she wanted to be a dog groomer, I did some research, and well, things just came together.”

Reileigh showed him information about DogPort Academy in Woodstock and how she wanted to take the college-certified course. Don thought, “Why not?” “We drove to Woodstock in a snowstorm and talked with the owner/instructor John Hendy and we wereboth impressed with the class size and the fact that the course was registered as a private career college,” he said.

Reileigh and Don are the only father-daughter grooming team to have ever gone through the course curriculum at Dog Port Academy and the Biggs’s decided that upon graduationthey would open up their own business together.

“I was really surprised at how much I loved dog grooming,” said Don. “Every day is different, as is every dog, and I’m not sitting at a desk every day. My only regret is that I didn’t do this sooner.”

“I absolutely love it,” said Reileigh. “This is what I was meant to do and I look forward to working with my dad many for years to come, as well as serving the London community."

Biggzy’s Bark n Bubbles focuses on quality dog grooming not quantity. The business uses top of the line equipment in a welcoming and warm environment for dogs.

Grooming appointments can be made via email or phone.