All prices discussed are estimates and assume that you will bring your dog to the salon in reasonable condition, the dog is within the standard size for the breed, and that the dog is happy to be groomed.
When the coat is maintained and in reasonable condition between grooming appointments and the dog exhibits normal behaviour the price is usually the estimate. The price reflects the amount of time taken to complete the groom, as well as any additional product used to achieve the required trim.
Please note that if you extend the intervals between grooms, the coat condition is significantly different from previous grooms or if your dog arrives in a particularly dirty state you may be charged additional costs on top of your usual grooming price to cover the additional products used and/or time needed to complete the groom.
If I cannot safely complete your dog’s groom within the guidelines of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, due to behaviour, aggression, or otherwise, I will halt the groom and will call you to let you know your dog requires collection. There will be a charge for the appointment based upon the amount of time spent on the groom prior to collection. Please be aware that there is a legal obligation under the Dangerous Dogs Act to notify me in advance of any behavioural issues around grooming that may put me at risk of injury.
Price Increases – As business expenses continually increase, I need to keep my prices under constant review. Any price increase will be communicated to you prior to your next appointment.
Please ensure that you drop off and pick up your dog at the appointed time. Arriving early or collecting late may lead to appointment overlaps and disruption to another client’s groom. Arriving more than 10 minutes late will impact the quality and finish of your dog’s groom, I therefore reserve the right to cancel your appointment if you exceed this and you will be charged 60% of your usual grooming fee for the missed appointment.
Appointment reminders will be sent out via email and text 3 days before an upcoming groom. Please ensure I have an up-to-date phone number and email address and give 48 hours’ notice if you wish to cancel your appointment. If you do not give sufficient notice or fail to attend, you will be charged 60% of your usual grooming fee for the missed appointment and further bookings will only be confirmed once payment has been made.
If you have booked a full groom for your dog and change the groom to a bath and brush/tidy on the day of the appointment, you will be charged the price of a full groom as a time slot in accordance with a full groom has been reserved for your appointment.
I accept cash and card payments on collection.
To protect your dog and help prevent the spread of infections, your dog should be up to date with vaccinations, worming and flea treatments. If I discover fleas or ticks on your dog during the groom, then I will use a flea/tick shampoo and remove any ticks. I do not accept responsibility for any adverse reaction caused by the product/treatment. You will need to seek veterinary advice and prescription products to eliminate the parasites from your home.
Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 I am unable to express anal glands. This should only be carried out under veterinary supervision.
I will not pluck ears, and if the ears appear to be very dirty and smelly, then I will not clean them but will refer you to your vet for investigation.
It is not advisable to bring your in-season dog for a groom. The season usually lasts around 3 weeks and can affect their behaviour during a groom. When your dog is in season, they can become anxious, fidgety and defensive.
Do not bring a pregnant dog for a groom. Pregnant dogs need to be protected from stress and infection until their puppies have been born and fully weaned.
As a dog ages, its ability to stand for long periods of time lessens and I may need to find a way to accommodate your dog safely so that it’s essential grooming requirements are achieved without causing harm. I will discuss the options available with you, taking into consideration my knowledge of your dog, and any health issues. Your dog’s welfare is my primary concern.
I will often take photographs of dogs that I groom for my own records and to be used in social media and for marketing purposes.
Additional charges will apply for the extra time, products and equipment involved in grooming a neglected, very dirty, or very overgrown coat.
I will not de-matt neglected coats as this can be very painful for the dog. In accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 these coats will be clipped off as short as is required to get underneath the mats to protect the dog from any unnecessary pain. Matting can hide skin conditions such as hot spots, infections, warts, and parasites, and can cause muscular and mobility issues. Matted ears in
particular can become very swollen and sore once matting is removed (haematoma) and the blood is able to flow freely back into the ear leather.
I will not accept responsibility for small nicks or injuries caused during a remedial clip off process as it can be impossible for me to see where the skin has been pulled together by the matting – a shorter blade helps to reduce the risk of injury. This is different to removing small knots and isolated matted hair from a coat which can be achieved quickly without causing stress or pain to the dog. The health and condition of a dog’s coat and skin are the responsibility of the owner, together with the physical and psychological health.
Wool coats and their mixes like poodles, bichons and doodles are very high maintenance, and unless kept short, they will require very regular grooms to avoid clip offs due to matting. I recommend a maximum of 4 to 6 weeks between grooms. This will vary depending on your trim requirements and the effectiveness of your brushing between grooms. If the brushing and grooming schedule is not maintained, then my work takes longer, and it will be reflected in the price of your groom. If you prefer a long trim and are good at brushing your dog, I am happy to maintain the long coat, but it will take longer to bath, dry, brush out and trim and this will also be reflected in the price.
