Please read these common sense guidelines carefully. If you have concerns about any of the issues mentioned feel free to contact us to find out more.
IF YOUR DOG HAS BEEN ILL
If your dog has needed veterinary treatment for any problems 48 hours prior to grooming please let us know we reserve the right to consult your vet for grooming approval depending on the diagnosis given by the vet. In the case of Kennel Cough grooming will be refused until your dog is completely clear of the infection due to the highly contagiousness of the disease. In the cases of sickness and diarrhoea please cancel and rearrange your booking.
SKIN CONDITIONS
We regret we are unable to accept for grooming any dog with an undiagnosed skin condition. However a diagnosed skin problem is no problem please bring any shampoo that your vet has prescribed.
BITCHES IN SEASON
Please inform us if your bitch appears to be in season on the day scheduled for grooming, as sometimes it may be better to re-schedule the appointment, and in any case we need to be aware of the situation. Some bitches may feel under the weather or a little grumpy and it may be worth waiting those few extra days - a good bath will then be the best way to get rid of those "interesting smells".
DISABLED AND GERIATRIC PETS
We appreciate being notified in advance, if your pet is elderly, obese, blind, deaf, arthritic or has any other problem which may mean we need to budget for extra time or extra help. In the case of very frail or senile pets, there may eventually come a time when routine salon visits are more than they can cope with, and we will then suggest a few tactics to keep your pet freshened up at home, but in most cases, regular grooming can continue for the whole of your pet's life, and is indeed very important for his/her wellbeing. Grooming of the veterans is always high priority for us with the fastest possible turn round time.
EXERCISE
It is important to make sure your pet has been well-exercised before arrival at our premises, so that he/she has done everything a dog has to do, and does not present us with any nasty surprises. In cases of genuine emergency you may make use of our front lawn, ensuring that you pick up carefully afterwards - we have poop scoop bags available on request. Please do NOT roam around towards the neighbouring properties allowing your dogs to foul ,such irresponsible behaviour is what gives dog owners a bad name.
FEEDING AND WATERING
It is not advisable to feed your dog for at least 6-8 hours before grooming. He or she will normally be much more comfortable on an empty stomach. In rare cases, such as dogs suffering from diabetes, it may be necessary to give a small meal, if so please provide suitable food and we will ensure it is offered to your pet. Water will be available on arrival and at intervals through the time your dog is with us, especially if the weather is warm.
FLEAS AND OTHER PARASITES
If you suspect your pet has a problem, especially with fleas, please notify us beforehand so that your pet can be isolated from any others. We will use a medicated herbal flea shampoo when bathing but please be aware that this will provide temporary relief only, and you will need to tackle your pet's home environment as well.
LEADS & COLLARS
Please arrive with your pet on a suitable lead (preferably not a "flexi" type) and a well-fitting collar - many are much too loose and can easily pull off over the head, with possible dangerous consequences.
MUZZLES
We very rarely use muzzles as we find most dogs respond well to kind but firm handling. Occasionally we may need to pop one on briefly, perhaps while cutting nails or similar, but prefer not to use them, as they restrict the dogs' breathing and can cause some of them to panic. If your dog is a known biter then please let us know, we can then make a decision as to whether the grooming can be done safely. In extreme cases it may be necessary to groom very vicious dogs under sedation at the vet's.
SEDATIVES
We do not use sedatives of any kind when grooming, and will refuse to accept any pet showing signs of having been sedated, as this is a dangerous and mostly completely unnecessary practice. In extreme cases of very nervous or vicious animals, we can by arrangement groom under sedation at the premises of a local vet. If you wish us to use Rescue Remedy supplied by yourself, we are happy to do so.
