FDM Retreat and Academy Reviews

Crystal Hewitt 2026.01.26

     

I went to fdm retreat and academy for first aid training , it was a days course which was filled with so much information as well as practical elements , even with all the hands on learning and theory the course was all so well explained and detailed in ways that are easy to remember . I have left with so much knowledge and I feel confident that I could carry out first aid if I ever did need it. Thank you so much , I highly recommend this academy if your looking to gain or extend your knowledge Both Kayleigh and Kara are amazing teachers and they were both willing to answer any questions I had throughout the day , I will definitely be returning ☺️

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Reply from FDM Retreat and Academy 2026.01.27

Thank you so much for your lovely review, Crystal!
We're so pleased you've had a lovely and beneficial experience. We hope to welcome you back to FDM Academy again soon! 🎓🐶✨
Kayleigh & Kara 🐾

mia mortimer 2026.01.26

     

Did a canine first aid course today with Kayleigh and she was so informative whilst being engaging and fun! It was a really interesting course and I would recommend this to anyone in animal care or a pet of your own!

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Reply from FDM Retreat and Academy 2026.01.27

Thank you so much for your lovely review, Mia!
We're so pleased you've had a lovely and beneficial experience. We hope to welcome you back to FDM Academy again soon! 🎓🐶✨
Kayleigh & Kara 🐾

Hannah Monk 2026.01.26

     

I attended the Cut Above the Rest Seminar on Sunday and it was great fun. Both Mandy and Kara are super friendly and have extensive knowledge in the industry. Can't wait for the next one!

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Reply from FDM Retreat and Academy 2026.01.27

Thank you for your lovely review, Hannah! We are so pleased that enjoyed your Seminar and look forward to welcoming you back soon for next seminar! 🐶✂️🐩
Kayleigh & Kara 🐾

Jessica Burrows 2026.01.25

     

Thank you so much FDM Academy! Bella and Amber came out so happy, wagging their tails and smelling amazing! An absolutely outstanding groom for them both from your student groomers! They are booked in ready for their next groom! ❤️

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Reply from FDM Retreat and Academy 2026.01.27

Thank you for your lovely review, Jess! We are so pleased that you are happy with Bella and Amber’s groom and look forward to welcoming the perfect pair back soon! 🐶✂️🐩
Kayleigh & Kara 🐾

Sal Roden 2026.01.11

     

Our dog, Albie, has previously been to Fairy Dog Mother so we thought we'd give the Academy a try. We were so pleased with his groom. Details of drop off and collection were super prompt and easy. The student groomer interviewed us and settled Albie beforehand. The groom was nothing short of excellent and Albie (who can be a bit nervous) was so happy when we collected him. What a fantastic idea and we will definitely be back. A very reasonably priced groom for such excellent service and results!

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Tracy Jordan 2025.12.08

     

We all really enjoyed our visit to Christmas at the Retreat. Very well put together, but then I’d expect nothing less from FDM.

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Shannan Hart 2025.12.08

     

Beautiful place the ladies have built, it looks very modern and very safe for pets! We visited the santa paws grotto this year and it was absolutely lovely!! Thanks so much, amazing job cant wait for the next one!! Highly recommend

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Stephanie Pearson 2025.11.24

     

Very informative training day, lovely atmosphere, great setup and knowledgeable instructors. Highly recommend anyone to book a course here, I already plan on attending more.

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Reply from FDM Retreat and Academy 2025.11.28

Thank you for your lovely review, Stephanie! We are so pleased that enjoyed your Seminar and look forward to welcoming you back soon for next seminar! 🐶✂️🐩
Kayleigh & Kara 🐾

Chris Moller 2025.11.17

     

Beyond satisfied with the service we received. My cat’s fur had become matted on her back, and she was too stubborn to let us care for her or treat the problem ourselves. The vets suggested sedating her and then charging a fee that increased every 10 minutes. Thank goodness we decided to keep looking for alternative options. The team at FDM Retreat and Academy handled our cat Bonnie with the utmost care and professionalism, and they did not require sedation—just a gentle touch was enough. Not to mention, they only charged us £50, a fraction of the price we were quoted by our vets. We will be bringing Bonnie here for all her future grooming needs, and I suggest anyone reading this do the same for their pets!

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Reply from FDM Retreat and Academy 2025.11.28

Thank you for your lovely review, Chris! We are so pleased that you are happy with Bonnie’s groom, and the difference we could make, and look forward to welcoming Bonnie back soon! 🐱 ✂️ 🐈
Kayleigh & Kara 🐾

Maisie D 2025.11.14

     

My dog Gabriel came for a student groom and he came out so happy and smelling lovely. He is not a fan of having his nails trimmed but the groomer did a great job of this! The place was super easy to find and decorated really nicely. I was greeted by Kara who is always really friendly and answered any questions I had. The student grooms take a couple of hours so I was able to explore st Ives a little bit and grab some lunch whilst I waited for him. I also loved seeing Gabriel on the Facebook stories and got sent a email with a photo of him with his groomer which was so sweet to see. Thank you!

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Reply from FDM Retreat and Academy 2025.11.28

Thank you for your lovely review, Maisie! We are so pleased that you are happy with Gabriel’s groom and look forward to welcoming Gabriel back soon! 🐶✂️🐩
Kayleigh & Kara 🐾

Andrea Flack 2025.11.14

     

Absolutely fantastic service! Vicky was brilliant. Rocky looked and smelled amazing afterwards, and I've been getting so many compliments on his gorgeous coat. Really happy with the experience.

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Reply from FDM Retreat and Academy 2025.11.28

Thank you for your lovely review, Andrea! We are so pleased that you are happy with Rocky’s groom and look forward to welcoming Rocky back soon! 🐶✂️🐩
Kayleigh & Kara 🐾

Gemma 2025.11.12

     

I’ve had an amazing experience with FDM Academy! Kara and Kayleigh are warm, welcoming, incredibly professional and genuinely lovely people who make you feel right at home. Enrolling in my course was simple and stress free and the team has been wonderfully flexible in tailoring the learning schedule around my full-time job and other commitments. The academy itself is a beautiful, clean, and calm space to learn. My lessons so far have been both informative and fun. From day one, I’ve felt completely supported and at ease. You can tell you’re learning from the best in the business! I’m so glad I enrolled with FDM and would recommend their services in a heartbeat!

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Reply from FDM Retreat and Academy 2025.11.13

Thank you so much for your lovely review, Gemma!
We're so pleased you've had a lovely experience so far and can't wait to see you shine throughout your iPET Network Qualification! 🎓🐶✨
Kayleigh & Kara 🐾

Jacky Males 2025.11.09

     

Kara & Hannah made the seminar for Don’t Cock it up! fun and easy to understand. It was lovely to meet them and to watch and pick up tips. Thank you so much for a great day and I will be booking another seminar.

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Reply from FDM Retreat and Academy 2025.11.13

Thank you for your lovely review, Jacky! We are so pleased that enjoyed your Seminar and look forward to welcoming you back soon! 🐶✂️🐩
Kayleigh & Kara 🐾

Vicki Myers 2025.10.22

     

I have been wanting to per-sue my carer in dog grooming for a long time, finally with my youngest children off to school I decided now was the time. I am so pleased I have chosen Kara & Kayleigh’s academy they are both so friendly and welcoming,I love that it is a smaller academy as I personally find big spaces with a lot of people a really hard learning environment & you really do get the 1-2-1 feel.The academy is a beautiful space with such lovely personal touches you can see how hard Kara & Kayleigh have worked to transform this into the best place for learning and for the doggies & cats 🙂 I am so excited to continue my course learning from one of the best groomers around!

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Reply from FDM Retreat and Academy 2025.10.23

Thank you so much for your lovely review, Vicki!
We're so pleased you've had a lovely experience so far and can't wait to see you shine throughout your iPET Network Qualification! 🎓🐶✨
Kayleigh & Kara 🐾