Deposits

For all first-time clients booking baths or full grooms, a non-refundable deposit equal to 50% of the estimated groom fee will be required to be paid via Venmo to secure an appointment. Deposits may also be collected at my discretion for non-regular clients and for those who have a history of no-shows or frequent cancellations/reschedules. The deposit amount will be applied to the total when the groom is completed.

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Deposits may be transferrable for up to two reschedules only if you really need to change your booking, which must be done at least 48 hours before your original appointment time. The deposit is NOT refundable for cancellations—no exceptions. This policy is to ensure serious bookings only and to prevent shop hopping. Shop hopping and flaking out on appointments is extremely costly to the business and holds valuable time slots from other clients needing to schedule their dogs in. Therefore, deposits will be forfeited if you cancel or no show for your appointment.

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Punctuality, Cancellations, and No Shows

Please be on time for your appointment, as my 1-on-1 back-to-back system relies on punctual drop off and pick up by everyone for the day to run as scheduled. Excessive tardiness will throw off my entire schedule and push back all appointments after yours. Tardiness in excess of 5 minutes will incur a late fee of $1/minute to be added to the groom fee. If you fail to show up within 15 minutes past your appointment time, your appointment will be cancelled and you will be required to pay the cancellation fee before another groom may be scheduled.

 

To cancel or reschedule your appointment, please text at least 48 hours in advance. Failure to provide adequate notice for cancellations or failure to show up to your appointment will result in a cancellation/no-show fee to be paid via Venmo before another appointment may be scheduled. The cancellation/no-show fee amount will equal 75% of the total groom fee for your dog. In the case of a no-show, in addition to the 75% fee, a deposit will be required to schedule another appointment.

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An appointment reminder/confirmation text will always be sent to you at least 2-3 days before your scheduled appointment. You must respond to confirm the appointment on your end; a lack of response to the confirmation text will be considered a cancellation and your appointment will be forfeited. 

 

Pricing & Payments

Pricing varies based on the services requested and each dog’s breed, size, coat type, coat/skin condition, temperament, and/or special handling needs. Any pre-quoted grooming prices are estimates only and are not final until after the groom is completed. All services must be paid in full upon completion of the groom at the time the dog is picked up. 

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No Owners On Site

For the safety of both the dogs being groomed and the groomer, I do not allow owners to stay on site inside my studio during their dog's appointment—no exceptions. It is very important to prevent interruptions or distractions while I am working. Dogs tend to be anxious and excited to see their owners and may jump around or try to hop off the table to get to their owner, making it extremely difficult and even dangerous to groom them. Some dogs can also be protective of their owners and will exhibit aggressive behavior towards the groomer in their owner's presence, and this behavior usually subsides as soon as the owner is out of sight. 

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Matting & Shave Policy

Dogs with severely matted coats require extra time and attention. Mats in a dog’s coat grow tight and can eventually damage and tear the skin, leading to a variety of health issues: parasite infestations, infections, irritated/sensitive skin, scabs and sores that are hidden beneath the tangled hair, foxtails/burrs imbedded in the skin and ears, and many more. Heavy matting can also trap moisture near the dog’s skin, allowing mold, fungus, or bacteria to grow, producing skin irritations that exist prior to the grooming process. Removing a heavily matted coat can cause nicks, cuts, or abrasions due to skin growths trapped in the mats. 

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I will not cause serious or undue stress to your dog by de-matting excessively matted or pelted coats. Although I will do my best to keep as much coat as possible, the severity of matting may require the dog to be shaved, as the only way to humanely remove mats is to clip the coat off all the way down to the skin. After-effects of mat removal procedures can include itchiness, skin redness, self-inflicted irritations or abrasions, and failure of the hair to regrow. Dogs will usually scratch and chew on themselves after grooming because the skin can breathe and feels different. If your dog needs to be shaved to remove matting, you acknowledge that you agree to this procedure and any risk presented. There will be added time and cost required to slowly and carefully tend to matted coats. The owner is responsible for the condition of the dog’s coat and may not hold me responsible in the event of adverse effects of mat/pelt removal. 

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Pre-Existing Conditions

I will not be held liable for any pre-existing conditions and injuries that may be aggravated during the grooming process. I take every effort to handle, move, and restrain your dog safely and comfortably during the grooming process, but owners are responsible for disclosing and notifying me of any pre-existing conditions and known or suspected injuries suffered by their dog. Conditions and injuries include, but are not limited to, the following: neck or back issues, orthopedic issues such as arthritis, previous surgeries, seizures, breathing or heart issues, skin issues, etc. 

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Senior Pets

Grooming procedures can sometimes be stressful, especially for senior dogs or ones with health problems. I will use extra care and patience for older dogs; however, I will not be held responsible for any reaction due to the mental or physical stress of the procedures. Older dogs will be groomed for cleanliness and comfort, in styles that will not add to their stress. If in my judgment, brushing or clipping is determined to cause too much stress to the pet, I will modify or terminate the haircut. 

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Accidents & Injuries

Your dog’s safety and comfort is my number one priority. Although accidents are very rare, there is always a risk when handling animals. I use extreme caution and care in all situations, but grooming equipment is sharp and possible problems could occur including cuts, nicks, scratches, kwiking of nails, etc. In most cases, this occurs when the dog is wiggling, moving around, or struggling against the groomer. In the event that an accident does occur, you will be notified of the accident. If I feel it is necessary and the owner is not on site, I will seek immediate veterinary care for your dog with the closest vet clinic and the owner agrees to pay for all expenses.​

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Aggressive Animals & Refusal of Services 

Owners must disclose any previous dangerous behavior exhibited by their dog. Restraints such as muzzles may be used to perform grooming services to ensure the safety of the groomer, and I will not continue working, or may skip stressful procedures, if your dog’s behavior is compromising their or my safety. 

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I have the right to refuse services at any time. In the event that your dog is too stressed or becomes too dangerous to groom, I have the right to refuse, stop, or cancel grooming services at any time before, during, or after grooming and the client will be charged a fee for the services rendered until that point. 

 

Current Vaccinations

All dogs being serviced must be current on all core vaccinations, which includes rabies, DHLPP, and bordetella (not a core vaccine but highly recommended). 

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Fleas & Flea Prevention

All dogs being serviced must be on flea prevention and must be completely free of fleas when coming into my studio. I will not accept dogs with fleas and risk transferring them to other clients' dogs.​