Grooming Policy

Please fully read the following prior to booking and attending appointments:

1. Dogs must be fully up to date with flea and worm treatments
2. Ensure the dog has up to date vaccinations. An unvaccinated dog puts itself & others at risk.
3. Dogs must be healthy. Grooming sick and elderly dogs are at the owner’s risk.  Grooming can expose underlying health and skin issues which Snip Doggy Dog cannot be held liable.
4.  Please ensure that your pet has been toileted before bringing them to the Spa. 

Matted Coats: Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, all matted coats will be clipped off. We will always prioritise your dog’s welfare and safety, we will not inflict excessive stress or discomfort to your dog whilst in our care. We endeavour to make your dog’s experience at Snip Doggy Dog as positive as possible and the process of brushing out matts can be painful and stressful for them. 10 minutes is the maximum time to try de-Matt fur. As matts cannot be effectively brushed out, the only way to get on top of them is to ensure they are removed completely. The safest (and fairest) way to remove matts is to clip them out. This usually leaves the coat very short, some coats can go as short as 1.2mm depending on the severity of the matting. It is essential from a safety perspective to clip under the matting; otherwise you may risk catching the dog’s skin and potentially causing injury.

We recommend owners check the skin regularly after the groom as it is possible that we can uncover nicks, cuts or other potential problems which have been hidden underneath the matted hair. As the owner, we would ask that you agree that Snip Doggy Dog cannot be held liable for any after-grooming effects of matt clipping procedures or problems uncovered on a matted coat. This could include, but is not limited to, the following: itchiness, skin redness or self-inflected irritations/abrasions from excessive rubbing/chewing. 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. 

Common areas for matting are behind the ears, armpits, face, feet and rear end, however, it can occur anywhere on the body. You can prevent matting by thoroughly brushing the dog regularly (we recommend at least once a week and can advise you on the best tools to use for your dog’s coat). As well as by taking the collar off at home, when it is not needed and limited use of coat and jumpers as they rub the coat/skin when the dog moves. We are happy to create a grooming plan to ensure the dog’s coat does not get to the point of matting but this would also include at home management.

Snip Doggy Dog cannot be held responsible for any adverse reactions to products used; this includes but not limited to shampoos, colognes and ear cleaner. Any known allergies should be disclosed to the groomer prior to appointment.

Accidents: There is always a possibility that accidents can occur during a groom. Grooming scissors and equipment are sharp, even though we use extreme caution and care in all situations. Dog’s that move or wriggle around can increase the chances of nicks, scratches and quickening the nails.  Should an incident occur no liability will be accepted.

We make every effort to ensure the safety of your dog but grooms may be refused if it is too dangerous to carry on. Our first concern is for the welfare of your dog so in the event of an injury or illness a vet may be called by us and unless it can be clearly shown we are liable, all costs in connection with and in the carrying out of his instructions shall be at the owner’s cost. We recommend all dogs are insured.

Aggressive or Dangerous Dogs: Owners MUST make groomers aware if their dog bites, has bitten or aggressive towards people and/or other dogs and whether a muzzle can be used.  Additional charges of £10 may occur as grooms will take longer with dogs who present with behavioural problems, extra staff may be needed to assist and other dogs cannot enter the salon for the entirety of the dogs groom.

Fleas / Ticks:  We aim to have a flea and tick free salon. We kindly ask that all dogs are up to date with their flea and tick treatments. If fleas or ticks are discovered during the groom, the dog will be bathed with a flea shampoo and the salon will have to be thoroughly cleaned and treated. This will incur a £15 charge to the grooming price as the whole salon will have to be treated and flea bombed to prevent passing on to other dogs. Ticks will be removed and the area sprayed with an antibacterial disinfect At £5

Collection: We kindly ask all clients to collect their dog in a timely manner and allow sufficient time for traffic / parking. 

 Cancellation / No Show Policy: Please understand that when you forget or cancel an appointment without giving enough notice we miss the opportunity to fill that appointment time, and clients on our waiting list miss the opportunity to receive our services. As our grooming time is reserved specifically for your pooch we cannot provide any exceptions to this policy and the following fees and terms apply:

• There are no fees applied for cancellations or reschedules that have given 48 hours or more notice.
• Cancellations or reschedules giving less than 48 hour notice will result in a charge equal to 50% of the grooming price.
• No shows & cancellations within 24 hrs of the appointment will be charged 100% of the booking. 
• Clients arriving more than 15 minutes late for an appointment may have to rearrange (payment still due) or their appointment service reduced.
• Clients who have missed a previous appointments may be asked to pay in full when booking all future appointments. These payments are non-refundable in the instance of a no show. 
• In order to book your next appointment cancellation and rescheduling fee’s must be paid in full.

New Clients:  New clients must sign a disclaimer form and some personal details will be retained by Snip Doggy Dog. Clients data will be treated in accordance to the data protection principles of the Data Protection Act and will not be shared with 3rd parties.