Grooming Policies & Procedures
- Upon arrival
All dogs must be on a lead when bringing them into the salon. Even if your dog listens well off lead, the car park can be busy at times and we don’t want to see any accidents happen. Also, there may be another dog inside when you enter and even though your dog may love everybody, the dog inside might not. Dog safety comes first. - Toilet prior to entry
Please make sure your dog has done his/her business before coming in. If your dog leaves us a gift at the entrance to the building, we ask that you please pick it up and dispose of. - Grooming time
We like to ask for AT LEAST 1 hour for bath only dogs, 2-3 hours for most dogs getting haircuts and possibly more time for very large dogs or pets that are in bad shape. We make every effort to give you an estimated time for grooming, but unforeseen things can disrupt that timing and we will try to give you as much notice as possible to any changes in grooming time. We want to make grooming as enjoyable as possible for your pet. We will especially not rush a nervous or elderly dog through grooming, most of the time they need a break between different grooming processes. But at the same time, we don’t want to keep a pet here longer if they are stressed or barking. The groomer will discuss potential timing with you at drop off and you will receive a call or text when your pet is done with a scheduled collection time. - Professional bath guarantees satisfaction
All pets being groomed must be bathed here at Hairy Styles Dog Grooming Parlour, there is no “discount” for dogs bathed at home before their groom (the ONLY exceptions will be at the discretion of the owner, based solely on dogs with special needs).
A professional bath, brush and blow out is included with every grooming appointment. We strive to cut your pet’s hair as close to what you would like, but sometimes it’s easier to notice things at home than during the excitement of reuniting with your pet. If for any reason you would like us to tweak your pet’s haircut, call us within 48 hours and we will correct any issues at no charge, not including a bath.
No-show & Cancellation Policies - Appointments
Making an appointment reserves that space for your pet, but when someone cancels last minute or does not show, we not only lose money from that pet but also from the pet we could have put in that spot. Everyone can run into a problem sometimes, us included, but just as your time is important, so is ours, and when we work on such a tight schedule, we need to make the most of our time. Making or changing appointments must be made over the phone. We do not set up, cancel or change appointments via Facebook, e-mail or text. - Cancellations
We ask for at least 24hrs notice for an appointment cancellation or change, if we are not given the allotted notice then we will be required to charge a 50% fee at your next appointment. (We may excuse it if we feel there is a TRUE emergency but that is at our discretion). - No-show
As a small business, no-shows can have a detrimental effect on us. We will charge a 100% fee that must be paid at your next appointment, after a second no show we require you prepay at time of booking your appointment. We do operate a no further appointments policy for no shows. - Punctuality
We are a small establishment with 1 groomer. We must keep everything flowing on pace so that we are able to serve you, your pets and other clients efficiently. We are on a tight schedule, so if you’re late dropping off our timing is off, or if you show up early to pick up, it takes us additional time to settle your pet down to get back to grooming, therefore we are behind in our grooming’s, and this trickles down throughout the rest of the day. We ask that you please try to be as punctual as possible, please do not show up earlier than 10 minutes before your scheduled drop off or pick up time, and no more than 10 minutes after your scheduled time. If you are more than 10 minutes late for, drop off, we may not be able to take you that day and you will need to reschedule with a 50% of grooming rate fee for second and third late arrival. If you are late more than 3 times in a calendar year you will need to pre-pay in full at time of making your next appointment, with no refund. Also, being punctual for picking up your pet helps us greatly. Most dogs know when they are done and are ready to go home and they can become impatient. Their noisy behaviour can cause stress to the other dogs, and we may also need their space for dogs coming in later that day. - 8-week Policy
We care about your pet’s overall care and want them to enjoy grooming as much as possible. We want to give you the haircut you want to see your dog in.
In order to provide you and your pet with the best experience possible, we expect you to come in on a schedule. The longer the hair is left on your pet, the sooner you need to come in.
Our recommendations:
Short all over: 8 weeks maximum
Short but a little fluffy: 6 weeks maximum
Long all over: 2-4 weeks.
Anything over these timelines is subjecting your pet to matting. A more frequently groomed pet is more accepting and cooperative of the process. We work with sharp tools, so your pet needs to be comfortable with being groomed.
If your pet is between the ages of 6 months and 2 years, it’s going through coat change and will require more frequent visits to avoid de-matting or short clip all over.
Grooming should be started at an early age and done on a routine, like everything else you do with your dog. - Matted Dogs
We know that no owner deliberately lets their dog become matted, but it does happen quite easily, and it can be very difficult to groom a dog with a matted coat. So, we wanted to give you some information on how we deal with a matted coat and what you can expect from a groom if your dog does have a matted coat. The most important thing to understand is that we will always prioritise the welfare of your dog and that we will not inflict any excessive stress or discomfort to your dog whilst in our care.
We practice humanity before vanity. Should a dog be presented with a matted or neglected coat, if our opinion is that it will be kinder to shave the fur back completely, this will be done in compliance with The Animal Welfare Act 2006. It incurs extra charges due to time and excessive wear and tear on equipment. We photograph and record any such cases which fall under Sec 4 – Unnecessary suffering, Para – Prevention of Harm and our obligation under Sec 9 – Duty of person responsible for animal to ensure welfare, Para – Promotion of welfare.
When a dog’s coat is matted it may need to have a very short clip, this can cause irritation as the blades have to run below the matt very close to the skin which takes longer than a regular clip and means the clipper blades can get very hot so the groomer has to take regular breaks in order to let the blades cool to avoid burning your dog’s skin. It is also possible that we may uncover nicks, cuts or other potential problems which have been hidden by the matted hair.
As the owner, we ask that you agree that Hairy Styles Dog Grooming Parlour cannot be held liable for any after-grooming effects of matt clipping procedures or problems uncovered on a badly matted, neglected coat, which could include, but are not limited to, the following: itchiness, skin redness or self-inflicted irritations/abrasions from excessive rubbing.
Please be aware that there is a much higher risk that the dog’s skin could be nicked with the clippers as we have to get the blade underneath the matt in order to remove it, and although we will make every effort to avoid it, it does occasionally happen. Hairy Styles Dog Grooming Parlour cannot be held liable for any injuries or nicks that occur, as a result of a clip off due to matting. Mats are difficult to remove, and it may be kinder for your pet to be shaved. It is not uncommon for underlying skin problems to present once mats are shaved off, including parasites (fleas/ticks, infections (yeast/bacteria) or wounds.
The groomer will contact you with any such findings. If fleas or ticks are found on your pet during the grooming process, your pet will be treated with a Flea and Tick Shampoo to kill the parasites (there is an additional £10 fee for this treatment, which includes the costs of decontaminating the grooming area). If ticks are found, we will advise you to take your dog to be checked by your vet, who will suggest the best course of action for your pet. Please note that parasites are a health hazard to your pets as well as to humans.
If a dog has excessively matted ears, bleeding at the tips of the ear can occur when the matting is removed, this is because the delicate blood vessels have been restricted by the tight matted hair and releasing this pressure means blood rushes to the tips of the ears and can cause the ears to split at the tip. Obviously, we will do everything we can to avoid this happening, but it is sometimes unavoidable, so please be aware that there is a possibility it could happen. If it does happen, we would recommend taking your dog to the vet for a check-up, explaining that the ears have been trimmed due to excessive matting.
Hairy Styles Dog Grooming Parlour will always act in the best interests of your dog, and we reserve the right to interrupt or abandon the groom of any dog for the safety of the groomer and the dog, as we believe that no dog should be subjected to undue stress or discomfort during a groom. - Double coated Breeds
Shaving a double coated breed can result in slow regrowth or occasionally failure of the coat to regrow at all. This has nothing to do with the method of grooming but rather the growth pattern of these types of coats. In some cases, the coat regrows but the colour and texture may be different. This is an inherent risk of shaving these types of coats and should be seriously considered prior to proceeding with the shaving. Shaving down heavy coated dogs does not usually offer relief from heat, it can result in dogs being less able to regulate their body temperature. If shedding is the concern other methods may be used. - All Prices Assume a Reasonable Condition and Temperament
Additional charges will apply for the extra time and products involved in grooming neglected coats, in-particular those which require clipping off due to severe matting and for dogs whose temperament or health also requires more time to complete. - Anal Glands
Hairy Styles Dog Grooming Parlour does not offer any anal gland emptying as this procedure is recommended to be carried out by a veterinary surgeon. (This is confirmed in law by the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966) - Ear plucking
We do not pluck ears unless there are loose hairs that gently come away from the ear when rubbed. Ear plucking is painful for the dog and can further irritate an ear canal already prone to irritation and lead to ear problems that may not have occurred otherwise. Plucking the hair from a dog’s ear canal leaves minute openings (essentially, tiny wounds) in the skin where bacteria can simply settle more quickly.
Additionally, because:
(a) dogs generally don’t like the feeling of hair being plucked out of their ears and
(b) plucking can leave the skin irritated, a dog may be more likely to scratch at his ears and shake his head, which will only make any ear problem worse.
Seek advice from your vet regarding ear plucking. - Vaccinations
By using the services of Hairy Styles Dog Grooming Parlour, owners must confirm that their dog is up to date with their annual vaccinations against Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Canine Parvovirus and Canine Kennel Cough.
An unvaccinated dog will put itself and others at risk. Hairy Styles Dog Grooming Parlour takes no responsibility for any dog that may contract any disease. You might be asked for proof of vaccination and veterinary information which must be provided. - Fleas/ticks
Hairy Styles Dog Grooming Parlour strives to be a flea/tick-free salon. If your dog has a flea or tick infestation, we will ask that you reschedule your grooming appointment once the flea or tick problem is under control. Dogs with a flea or tick infestation carry a risk of anaemia, infections, tapeworms and other health problems. We recommend that you contact your veterinarian for advice on the best treatment for your situation. A topical monthly flea preventative may be the most effective choice. Treating all pets in the family, as well as treating your home will help in keeping fleas and ticks under control for the long term. If fleas are found on your dog, we will bathe your dog in flea shampoo and have to treat the salon; this will incur a £10 charge on your grooming bill. If ticks are found an additional charge of £5 will be added for their removal. - Refusal of service and aggressive dogs
Hairy Styles Dog Grooming Parlour have the right to work in a safe environment and therefore reserves the right to refuse any groom or treatment, at any time. If any member of its staff feels they are unable to carry out or continue a groom or treatment will stop immediately, and you as the owner will be responsible for payment of the work carried out up until this point. -If your dog is showing signs of aggression and/or biting but the groomer feels they can continue, then an appropriate muzzle may be used during any groom or treatment. -If your dog has behaviour problems, please let us know when the upon initial registration or when the appointment is made. Please also ensure that the member of staff to whom you give the dog is informed as to whether your dog has ever bitten another human or dog or has shown any signs of aggression in the past. –
Additional charges may apply for extra time required due to a dog’s temperament and or behaviour during a groom or treatment. -You, as the owner agree to be held solely liable for any harm, injury or damaged caused by your dog and any costs thereafter incurred.
We must be informed before the grooming of any previous history of biting or aggression. Your attention is drawn to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 which may hold owners liable for bites and Injuries. - Dogs in heat
We do not accept female doggies (bitches) in heat. If you bring your dog to our salon and she is in heat, you do so at your own risk and we do not accept any liability arising from issues related to the dog in heat. - Final Price
This will be determined taking all factors into consideration. A well cared for pet which is maintained in a reasonable condition between grooming appointments and exhibits normal behaviour is usually the price shown on our starting from price list. All dogs are assessed and priced individually and on an on-going basis.
If we cannot safely complete your dog within the guidelines of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 due to behaviour, aggressive or otherwise, we will call you to let you know. Fees will apply. If this is the case, behavioural training is normally recommended as a course of action for you to take. - Photographic and video imagery
Hairy Styles Dog Grooming Parlour and its employees and agents are proud of their work and use photographic images of pets on whom they have worked to promote their services on the Hairy Styles Dog Grooming Parlour website or social media. These images may also be used, in any form or format, at any time, in any media, marketing, advertising, illustration, trade or promotional materials relating to Hairy Styles Dog Grooming Parlour. If you do not agree to Hairy Styles Dog Grooming Parlour using your pet’s name and any images of your pet, which are taken while he/she is at Hairy Styles Dog Grooming Parlour, please let us know.
Images taken from the CCTV system will be used for security purposes only. - Our Code of Practice and Animal Welfare Needs
We abide by sector specific charters to demonstrate good practice. Our aim is to educate the public about responsible pet ownership through guidance and advice. - Accidents/Incidents
Accidents, however rare, may happen with pets who are extra wiggly, or overzealous during a grooming procedure.
Generally, these nicks are determined to be not serious, and the grooming process can continue. In the event of a serious injury, we will follow our emergency protocols where your pet will be given medical treatment based on the “Emergency Treatment Consent Form” filled out and signed by the registered owner. This may involve first aid on the premises or seeking medical treatment from a veterinary practice.
_______________________________________________________________ I have read and understand the above Policies and Procedures and agree to them in full.
Signed: …………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………. Date: ……………….
Print Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Service
Provider: ………………..…………………………………………………………………………………. Date: ……………….
Print Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
We reserve the right to change any part of our terms and conditions policy at any time.
Get In Touch
