Grooming Policies and Practice

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

• Dogs must be fully up to date with flea and worm treatments
• Dogs must be up to date with all vaccinations.
• Dogs must be healthy. Grooming sick and elderly dogs are at the owner’s risk. Grooming can expose underlying health and skin issues which Bella’s Dog Boutique cannot be held liable.
• A £10 deposit is to be paid prior to any grooming appointment. There is a 24 hour cancellation policy.

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 our salon as positive as possible and the process of brushing out matts can be painful and stressful for them. 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 Bella’s Dog Boutique 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. This is because matts normally form in a mass close to the skin which causes a webbing effect.

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.

Aggressive or Dangerous Dogs:

Owners MUST make groomers aware if their dog bites, has bitten or aggressive towards people and/or other dogs. 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. If your dog should bite, the owner agrees to be responsible for any and all related medical bills, recovery costs, loss of income and equipment damage.

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. 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.

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 £5 charge to the grooming price. Ticks will be removed and the area sprayed with an antibacterial disinfectant. This will incur a £3 charge.

Cancellation and Late Charges:

Bella’s Dog Boutique requires a £10 deposit for any grooming appointment. There is a 24 hour cancellation policy. Any reschedules or cancellations before the 24 hours do not incur any charges. Reschedules or cancellations within the 24 hour period results in the deposit lost, and any new appointments made would need a £10 deposit. We understand that unforeseen circumstances occur, please let us know as soon as possible. We kindly request that owners arrive on time to their dog’s appointment and pick up at the agreed collection time. There is a charge of £10 for the first 30 minutes over the agreed time and then an additional £5 every 30 minutes thereafter.