Frequently Asked Questions.
When I come into your salon what do I do?
You will be welcomed and I will make friends with your pet and whilst I take him/her into the grooming room you will be asked to fill in the
service acceptance form which consists of your pets details and your contact details.
How long will it take to groom my pet?
It all depends on the condition of your pets coat and what service you have booked. Generally clip/styles are 2 hour appointments but if your
pet just needs bathing then the drying time is the factor - short coats can be ready in as little as 20 minutes and long thick coats can be 2 hours
plus.
Can I stay with my pet whilst you groom him?
Generally no, as pets tend to be distracted by their owners presence and I need them to fully co-operate with me whilst I am using the
clippers and scissors. You are welcome to see the grooming area and grooming is undertaken in view of other customers visiting the salon but I
prefer pets to be left alone with me so that I can complete the pamper without any distractions.
What is included in my pets pamper?
As standard all my services include nail clipping and ear plucking/cleaning if these are found to be required. Shampoo, conditioner and any
other animal products which may be required to treat your dogs coat or skin are also inclusive. The pet also receives a refreshing cologne too at
the end of the pamper. Please note however, that flea shampoo if required does incur a surcharge of £2.00.
Will my pet be put in a cage?
Wherever possible I try not to use the cages unless absolutely necessary. The way I work is to generally book one pet in at a time so unless
appointments overlap then your pet won't be caged unless they are nervous, aggressive or it is felt they will be happier in a cage rather than
running loose in the salon.
I find it difficult to get to you for an appointment due to work commitments as I work full time. Do you work outside your listed hours?
I used to but due to my own commitments with animals and family I can not always offer an appointment outside normal office hours. I work full
time not just in the salon but with dealing with accounts, restocking etc so I have to draw the line somewhere. However, if you or a friend can
drop your pet off at 10am and pickup no later than 5.30pm on your appointment day then I can in most circumstances accomodate your pet as I
have a large indoor unit available so that they will be comfortable before and after their grooming session, this must be arranged at the time of
booking your appointment. Unfortunately if your pet is known to be noisy (ie a constant barker) then I can not accomodate him all day as I have
to be considerate to my neighbours.
Will my dog be muzzled while you groom him?
I do not muzzle dogs unless I feel it is absolutely necessary. I try wherever possible to gain the pets trust and have managed even guard
dogs without muzzles but I do have comfortable muzzles of all sizes just in case I think it is safer for me to complete the grooming process
with all my fingers in tact! If you know your dog has an aggression problem or has bitten before you must respect my safety and tell me so that
I can allow you to put the muzzle on before you leave.
My dog has been to another groomer but they said they would not do him again unless we get him sedated, will you do him?
Yes if you get him sedated. Groomers do not tell you to sedate without reason, it must have been felt the pet was very distressed or aggressive
and will need sedation to make it safe for him and the groomer to complete the service. It is not fair on your dog to put him through something
which is clearly upsetting to him and it is certainly not fair to request any groomer to deal with a dog which offers problems. Groomers rely on
their hands to work and if hands are bitten it can put them out of action for a very long time. I would also prefer you to return to your first
groomer as they obviously had your dogs best interests at heart and have not actually declined to do your pet.
My dog has been given prescription shampoo by my vet but I can't manage to do him, will you?
Of course, that is no problem at all. The only time I can not accomodate this request is if your dog has an infectious skin disorder such as
Mange as I have to safeguard my other customers.
What happens if my dog has fleas?
All pets presented to me with fleas will be treated with a flea shampoo (£2.00 extra). I regularly treat my premises for fleas to safeguard
myself from bites and my clients from becoming infested.
I can not manage to bath my dog due to his size, he is a very big dog who does not like being picked up, can you bath him?
I do not need to lift large dogs as I have a large walk in wet room suitable for the biggest of dogs. Most dogs are happy to just walk straight
in and love the massaging shower.
How old does my pet have to be before they can be groomed?
As long as your pet has been fully vaccinated then I welcome them at an early age. Dogs should be introduced to the grooming process as
young as possible and you should already be brushing your puppy regularly with a comb, not just a brush, to ensure you are brushing the hair
completely through from the skin outwards, even young pups can become severely matted if not brushed properly. Handling your dogs paws
and touching around their nails is beneficial too as I am presented with far to many older dogs who have a real problem having their feet
handled and their nails clipped.
I have inherited a very old dog which is in a mess and needs clipping, can you groom old dogs who can't stand for long?
Yes, but only if it is in the dogs best interests. If your dog has problems standing then I can groom him lying down but he will
need to be capable of staying still as the clippers and scissors can do serious damage to a dog which is infirm or shakes all the time. If I feel
that I would hurt the dog whilst trying to perform clipping or styling then I will politely decline my service. I hope that my clients will
understand this condition as the DOG is the most important factor in my business.
