WITH 20 years experience as a judge on the Canine Society dog show circuit and a working life tending to animals in kennels and zoos, Stuart Smith was ready to open his own pet grooming business.
He teamed up with fellow dog enthusiast Stewart Gardner and has now opened the Top Dog Grooming Agency in Raby Road, Hartlepool.
Stuart, 40, has four dogs of his own, but gets pleasure seeing other people's reactions to his work.
He said: "We have had owners who have cried with delight when they have come to pick up their pets. In fact, that is one of the best rewards of the job, just making people and their animals happy."
The two friends turned to InBiz, a national business support organisation, for help when they decided to become self-employed.
InBiz allocated them a dedicated business advisor and they were put on a Government New Deal 25-plus programme which helped them to gain the business skills needed for going it alone.
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