Every night during Paris Fashion Week last March, I followed the same routine: return to the hotel, work, eat a tasty (though slightly depressing) dinner from Cojean—France’s answer to Pret—that I’d stashed in the minibar earlier, work a little more, and then, as a reward for surviving another grueling day in fashion, unwind with YouTube and Girl With the Dogs.
The channel features a petite Canadian woman—she probably weighs less than 100 pounds—battling massive, fluffy beasts like a 220-pound Caucasian Shepherd (or Ovcharka), or sweet-natured Chows that defy their breed’s bad reputation. Through her videos, I’ve learned about breeds I’d never heard of, like the majestic Leonberger, thanks to her grooming session with a dog named Loki. There’s also Pablo, a Chihuahua with breathing issues, and Angel, a senior rescue who lost an eye but still looks happy, loved, and well cared for.
The woman behind Girl With the Dogs is Vanessa De Prophetis, a groomer based in Niagara Falls, Canada. For years, she’s posted videos at an impressive pace (on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram) of her grooming sessions with dogs (and cats) that travel from all over Canada and the U.S. Each video walks you through the transformation process—brushing, clipping, bathing, blow-drying, and plenty of treats—while being equal parts educational, hilarious, and heartwarming (or sometimes heartbreaking).
Fans know all her signature references—happy hoodies, murder mittens, Nasty Critter shampoo. The videos are so addictive that even non-dog owners (like me, a hopeful future pet parent) get hooked. I once found myself explaining the channel to fellow dog lover Demi Moore at the Met Gala. Vanessa doesn’t charge for her grooming services—instead, pet owners agree to let her film and share their dog’s makeover. Simple, yet brilliant.
In each 20-minute episode, you witness a miracle worker with the charm of Dr. Dolittle—soothing nerves, reading emotions, and bonding effortlessly with even the most challenging (or as she calls them, spicy) pets. Her fun, informative videos should be mandatory viewing for anyone considering pet ownership because they highlight the reality of the human-dog relationship: it’s a long-term commitment built on responsibility, care, and choosing the right breed. That might sound obvious, but how often do people forget that when faced with an adorable face? (We could even add a fourth C—compassion—because Vanessa treats every pet, no matter how difficult, with kindness.)
If Dogue has you dreaming of getting a dog (like me, constantly), do yourself a favor: watch Girl With the Dogs first. Actually, second—read what Vanessa has to say here first.
Vogue: Vanessa, how did Girl With the Dogs begin?
Vanessa De Prophetis: I ran a grooming business for about 12 years, handling 15 pets a day. When social media took off, I started making videos while running the business for two years. Eventually, I was working seven days a week with insane hours, so I had to close the shop. Now, I still groom, but every pet is new, and the grooming is just for the videos. The only repeat clients are friends and family—so if you see a familiar face, like Leo the Chow (who’s absolutely heart-melting), it’s because they belong to someone close to me.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who keeps an eye out for regulars like Leo. I—I first saw him when he was just a few months old, then again at a year and a half. I do this to show people how puppies grow into adults—especially when they’ve been introduced to grooming early. It highlights the difference between well-trained adult dogs and those who struggle because they’ve only been groomed once or twice since puppyhood. It’s about educating owners on what to expect when raising a puppy—or even a kitten.
It’s like going to the dentist—you have to keep up with it.
How do you choose which animals to feature in your videos?
I prioritize certain cases. If a rescue reaches out about an animal needing grooming, I’ll help—it benefits the pet and raises awareness for adoption or the rescue itself. Through our channel, we’ve raised over $200,000 for rescues, which is amazing.
I also offer free grooming for two reasons: First, I earn from the videos, so it wouldn’t be right to charge. Second, after years as a groomer, I’ve seen too many pets in terrible condition—ear infections, overgrown nails, severe matting. Some owners can’t afford regular grooming, so I want to help them.
I also focus on puppies and kittens to teach the importance of early grooming. And I like featuring lesser-known breeds so people make informed choices. Too often, pets are chosen for looks, not lifestyle fit, leading to rehoming or shelters. I hope my work helps reduce that.
You mentioned loving Rottweilers—what other breeds do you feature?
I have my favorites—Rottweilers, Yorkies, Pomeranians, German Shepherds. I also love giant breeds like Newfoundlands, Central Asian Shepherds, and Caucasian Shepherds, though I’d never own one myself.
That Caucasian Shepherd in your video was stunning but intimidating!
They’re rare but gaining popularity. They can be aggressive, just like Rottweilers were unfairly labeled in the past. The issue is when inexperienced owners get these breeds. My goal is to show that with the right commitment and knowledge, they can be great pets—but safety comes first.
You recently groomed an American Akita and a Neapolitan Mastiff with that dramatic muzzle—are you trying to change perceptions about certain breeds?
Partly. Take Pit Bulls, for example. They’re banned in many places because they were bred for fighting. Saying they’re not aggressive is misleading—they were bred for blood sports. That doesn’t mean they can’t be good pets, but owners need to understand their nature and take precautions. It’s about honesty, not fearmongering.Here’s a more natural and fluent version of your text while keeping the original meaning:
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Don’t let your dog off the leash—it could attack another dog or a child. Pit Bulls can also become more aggressive in groups, so having more than one increases the risk of them ganging up on a person or another dog. Of course, many Pit Bulls are great with people and other dogs—it’s just about being aware of these risks to make responsible choices that keep everyone safe and help improve their reputation.
Since you work with so many new pets, how do you assess their temperaments?
I always talk to the owner first. If someone calls and says, “My dog has been turned away by other groomers,” I ask what the issue was. Usually, it’s something like not liking nail trims or the blow dryer—not actual aggression, just resistance to certain parts of grooming. When I seem confident, it’s because I know the dog is fine with bathing. If another groomer could bathe them, so can I. I also watch for stress signals: Is their tail up or down? Are they panting, licking their lips, or giving me side-eye? We joke about the side-eye in videos, but it’s a real sign of nervousness. If I see that, I’m more cautious. Sometimes they might snap as a warning—dogs don’t “accidentally” miss a bite. If they do, they’re saying, “I don’t like this; stop.”
I have to say, I’m always impressed by how in control you seem—you never look scared.
Saying I’m never scared isn’t true—I just don’t let the dog see it! The moment they sense fear, they think, If I scare her, she’ll back off. Staying calm is key. Of course, if they lunge, you might flinch—that’s human nature. But if you don’t react, most dogs realize their tactic isn’t working and give up.
Have you ever had to stop a grooming session?
A few times, yes—but only when continuing would put the dog at risk of hurting itself. In those cases, I suggest sedation for future grooms. Once, I turned a dog away before even starting. In all my years, I’d never seen such aggression. The moment I opened the gate, it lunged at my face. The muzzle wasn’t secure, and the owner had no control. I said no immediately—no way was I touching that dog. Surprisingly, it was a Portuguese Water Dog, which rarely act like that.
One thing I’ve noticed from your videos is that doodles—often seen as sweet and gentle—can have surprisingly mixed temperaments.
I’ve groomed plenty of great doodles and plenty of difficult ones. The issues? Owners often don’t realize how much maintenance they need, so many arrive badly matted from lack of grooming. But the bigger problem is irresponsible breeding. Doodles are a fad, and many breeders don’t test for health or temperament—they’re just in it for profit. They don’t warn buyers about shedding or behavior, leading to anxious, stressed dogs. Ethical doodle breeders are rare. At the end of the day, they’re mixing two breeds…
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Let me know if you’d like me to continue or adjust anything!Here’s a more natural and fluent version of your text while keeping the original meaning:
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Some dogs shouldn’t be bred together. If you’re getting one, choose a breeder who does proper health and temperament testing.
How can owners help their pets with grooming at home?
Start grooming your pet from day one. When you bring your puppy home, give it a bath—but maybe skip the blow-dryer the first time to avoid overwhelming them. You don’t need shampoo every bath, either. Get them used to having their paws handled. If your dog will need haircuts, try using an electric toothbrush to mimic the sound and vibration of clippers. Teaching a simple command (like “Inspect” for standing still) can also help—just let your groomer know.
I once had a client who’d never owned a dog before and got a Cane Corso. My first thought? “What kind of puppy did you just get?!” I was sure it’d be a disaster—these dogs can be aggressive, and she had no experience (she’d only had cats). But she brought him to the salon daily for socialization with safe, friendly dogs, and it made all the difference. That dog, Gucci, turned out amazing. She did everything right.
Important note: Socializing doesn’t mean just taking your dog to the park. That can backfire—you don’t know if other dogs are vaccinated or friendly. A bad experience (like an attack) can traumatize your puppy. Instead, introduce them to trusted people and dogs you know.
Top three favorite grooms?
1. Romeo, a Sarplaninac—typically a guard dog breed, but he was surprisingly calm for grooming.
2. Dodge, a massive Caucasian Shepherd with the sweetest temperament.
3. My new British Longhair cat—a lazy, gentle breed. She’s still a kitten but hasn’t scratched me once!
About my videos:
A colleague asked if I use a special voice for animals. In voiceovers, I slow down and keep it monotone (since I usually talk fast). With pets, I might raise my voice to excite them or lower it to calm them—but honestly, I talk to animals and people the same way!
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This version keeps the tone conversational while smoothing out awkward phrasing and tightening the structure. Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About The Girl With the Dogs Works Grooming Miracles
General Questions
Q Who is The Girl With the Dogs
A A professional pet groomer known for her viral videos showcasing incredible dog grooming transformations
Q What kind of grooming does she do
A She specializes in deep cleaning deshedding nail trimming and styling dogs with extreme matting or neglect
Q Where can I watch her grooming videos
A Mostly on YouTube TikTok and Instagram under The Girl With the Dogs
Grooming Process Techniques
Q How does she handle severely matted dogs without stressing them
A She uses patience gentle handling and sometimes sedation for extreme cases
Q What tools does she use for tough matting
A Highquality clippers dematting tools and conditioners to safely remove knots
Q How often should dogs be groomed
A Depends on the breedshorthaired dogs every 23 months longhaired dogs every 46 weeks
Common Problems Solutions
Q Can matting hurt my dog
A Yes it causes pain skin infections and restricts movement Severe cases need professional help
Q My dog hates bathsany tips
A Use treats slow introductions and lukewarm water A groomer can help with fearful dogs
Q How do I prevent matting between grooms
A Brush regularly and use detangling sprays
Advanced Grooming Questions
Q Can I shave my doublecoated dog at home
A Not recommendedit can ruin their coat and affect temperature regulation Consult a groomer
Q Whats the best way to clean a dogs ears
A Use a vetapproved ear cleaner and cotton ballsnever Qtips which can damage ears
Q How do groomers keep dogs calm during sessions
A Positive reinforcement breaks and sometimes calming aids
Practical Tips