Your dog’s health and welfare is paramount. I will not force any procedure on your dog, therefore if your dog objects to any part of the groom, that part will not be performed. Price reductions will not be offered for incomplete grooms due to the dog’s behaviour.
Please keep me informed of any changes to your dog’s health prior to the groom. Please do NOT bring dogs for grooming who are exhibiting signs of ill health or have been recently neutered.
In the extremely rare event that an accident may occur, or a medical condition arises, you authorise me to seek emergency veterinary treatment. In the best interest of your dog this agreement will give me permission to obtain immediate Veterinary treatment for your pet should it be deemed necessary by me. I will do my best to contact you first, then take your pet to my authorised Veterinarian, or to the nearest Veterinarian that is available (All Creatures, Locksbottom or Windsor Drive). It is agreed that all expenses for Veterinary care will be covered by the pet’s owner. Owners must understand that dog grooming has lots of occupational hazards.
If your pet will not tolerate the presence of other dogs in the salon, please let me know at time of booking so I can ensure no other dogs will be present for the whole appointment. I work 1-1 but sometimes overlap is out of my control.
TIME KEEPING/LATE PICK UP
Appointment slots are timed to each individual dog, with a period of time to try and prevent any overlap. I will send a message to the owner 15 – 20 minutes before the end of the groom to avoid any early pick-ups or lateness. Please do not to return to the salon before this time, as your presence may distract your pet during the finishing stage of its groom. It is essential that you collect your pet at the agreed time as once the groom is finished your dog will be eager to go home and may become unsettled or anxious and cause a distraction to the next dog being groomed. Late collections incur a £5 fee for every 15 minutes late.
Customers who are 20 minutes late dropping off will be deemed a ‘no show’ and charged the full appointment fee as I can no longer offer the appointment and will have missed the opportunity to refill the slot.
I offer a free appointment reminder, by text.
Most grooms take between 1-3 hours or more depending on the size and temperament of the dog, and its coat condition. You will be advised what time to collect your pet.
Please phone me if you are running late.
CANCELLATION POLICY
I respectfully request 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel your dog’s appointment. The slot can then be offered to other clients. Failing in doing so will incur a fee depending on if that appointment is refilled.
BITCHES IN SEASON/PREGNANT PETS
If you notice your bitch is in season, I reserve the right to rearrange an appointment if it will interfere with the working day (such as having an entire male in next). If a bitch is groomed whilst in season, she may be more irritable, and the results achieved may not be to the normal standard.
If you believe your bitch may be in season, contact me as soon as possible and I can rearrange your appointment if necessary.
I do not groom pregnant pets and reserve the right to refuse a groom and implement the cancellation policy.
PICKING UP & DROPPING OFF
It is so important to walk your dog before a groom! The high sensory environment can cause more accidents and wetting the table. A local park is a 2-minute walk from my salon should you need the space for this before the groom.
There is plenty of car parking space at the front of the salon.
- Do not park on or blocking my drive.
- Do not park across my neighbour’s drive.
AGGRESSIVE DOGS
I must be informed prior to your appointment of any previous history of biting or aggression to people, other pets, or specific grooming procedures. Muzzles will be used as a last resort but will only be used if necessary. I reserve the right to refuse to groom any dog if I believe it may cause injury to itself or myself. If a dog exhibits aggression or behaviour that I have not been informed of prior to the groom, the session will be stopped immediately, and the full fee incurred. Your attention is drawn to the dangerous dog’s act which holds owners liable for bites and injuries.
SALON EXCLUSIVITY
Use the side entrance/ramp for entry to the salon. Please ring the bell on the gate and wait. I will be with you shortly – I may have to shut the rear doors, and secure any lose dogs first. DO NOT just walk into the salon. There are always dogs lose inside and if you open the door and walk in, they may escape onto the road.
Dogs will only be returned to the known owner or representative unless prior arrangement has been made with myself and the pet parent.
FLEAS AND TICKS
If you suspect your pet has fleas DO NOT bring them into the salon. You must treat them at home and only after then can your grooming request take place. Proof of treatment will be required. If your pet is found to have fleas during the groom the groom will be stopped straight away (for the safety of other dogs entering the salon and for my own dogs) and there will be an extra charge of £15 on top of the full price of the groom. The charge is for deep cleaning, a flea bomb, and for any cancellations of any dogs later on that day as it is very unsanitary.
If ticks are found, they may be removed depending on which option chosen on dog’s record card. An additional £5 will be added for their removal. Please check for ticks prior to appointment.
- I do not pluck ears for dogs, but I cut the hair shorter instead.
- I do not express anal glands.
Although I do not perform these procedures, I am knowledgeable and can advise on both ear plucking and anal glands and recommend when this may need some attention.
PHOTOGRAPHY
I may use photos of your pet for social media purposes.
You are given the opportunity to refuse photographs of your pet on the record card at first appointment.
GROOM FEEDBACK
You will be given detailed feedback after every groom. If you have any queries or need further clarification, please just ask, or contact me at a later stage. If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of your pet’s groom, please let me know before you leave. Any alterations to the groom after leaving the salon should incur a further fee. Reasonable requests to alter the trim will noted for the next groom. I am more than happy to disclose any details of your pet’s groom or advise you about how best to care for your pet’s coat.
PUPPIES
If you would like me to groom your puppy, it must have had all its vaccinations. If they have not yet been vaccinated, they will not be groomed until one week after the last vaccination is given. The price depends on the size of the dog and not their age.
MATTING
Matted coats always cause discomfort, preventing exposure of skin to sunlight and fresh air, causing sweaty areas, providing optimum conditions for fungus, bacteria and parasites. Neglected coats eventually matt to the roots. De-matting by combing becomes far too traumatic for the dog. The only realistic solution then is to shave off the entire coat, sometimes to the skin. However, dense matting pulls, twists and ridges the skin, causing clippers to graze, catch or mark, usually occasioning discomfort. If a dog becomes distressed or upset then treatment will be stopped and continued at a further appointment. After completion, your pet’s relief is obvious (and the coat will soon re-grow. Your pet depends on you to keep it comfortable and healthy so your job is to organise a regular grooming programme, agree a shorter coat tyle and/or pre-booking your dog’s next grooming appointment so matting has less chance of recurring. You can also help by brushing your dog’s complete coat every day.
Shaving short is normally a treatment of last resort. It is agreed that I will not be held responsible for any uncovered skin problems or injuries caused by short shave and any extra care will be covered by the pet’s owner. Consent must be given on your dog’s record registration card.