Pricing:
All prices provided are an estimate only. Additional charges may be incurred due to:
- Oversized for the breed
- Neglected coats
- Aggressive/Nervous dogs that require additional handling and a slower approach to perform the groom
- Fleas and/or ticks
- Dogs that require additional handling for whatever reason
Cancellations
I require a minimum of 24hrs hours notice for cancelled appointments or the full grooming charge will apply and must be paid in full before re-booking.
Behavioural Awareness:
Aggression
Owners have the obligation to inform Top Dog Groomers of any known aggressive behaviour traits their pet may have to other animals or humans. Specifically, the owner must inform Top Dog Groomers if they have been advised by previous groomer(s) of any of the aforementioned behaviours.
Nervous/Anxious Dogs
Although Top Dog Groomers caters to dogs with nervous traits, owners have the obligation to inform me of any such behaviours in order for me to cater to their needs to the best of my ability and allow more time for the groom so I can work at a slower pace to help keep your dog as calm as possible.
I reserve the right to refuse service if we believe your dog may become a danger to itself or those within the salon. In the event any of these behaviours present during the groom the session may stopped at anytime and the full fee incurred.
Please toilet your dog before attending their appointment. Persistent Fouling at your appointments may result in additional charges.
Time Keeping:
Top Dog Groomers works to a strict time frame to ensure that your dog receives ample grooming time and one-to-one care. Please come to the salon for your appointment time. If you need to drop off early, or if you believe you may be late for collection, please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate. I understand that unexpected delays can happen, however if this becomes a frequent occurrence a late collection charge of £5 will be incurred for every 30 minutes, after 15 mins of the agreed collection time. If you are more than 20 minutes late we may have to refuse your groom on welfare grounds as rushing the groom may lead to unnecessary stress and possible injury, plus this will impact the following client who will expect their grooming appointment to start on time. A fee equal to the cost of the groom will be incurred.
Health and Medical Conditions:
Procedures within the grooming environment can be stressful for some dogs, especially for senior, young, overweight dogs or those with medical concerns. The process may expose unknown medical conditions or aggravate a current one during or after the groom. In the best interest of your pet this agreement will give Top Dog Groomers permission to seek emergency veterinary treatment if I deem it necessary for whatever reason. I will do the best to contact you first, before taking your pet for treatment, however this may not always be feasible. Unless I am deemed to be negligent all medical expenses are the responsibility of the owner.
Vaccinations:
By using my services, owners confirm that their dog is up to date with their annual vaccinations against Canine Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, and Canine Parvovirus. An unvaccinated dog may put itself and others at risk. Top Dog Groomers takes no responsibility for any dog that may contract any of the aforementioned diseases.
Top Dog Groomers may ask for proof of vaccination and veterinary information which must be provided.
Fleas & Ticks
Top Dog Groomers is proud to be a tick/flea free environment. If your dog is known to have a parasitic infestation, I ask that your grooming appointment is rescheduled to a time when your pet is free from said infestation. 48 hours notice must be provided to avoid a cancellation charge. I recommend that you contact your veterinary surgeon to provide you with the best recommended treatment. If fleas are found on your dog, I will use a flea shampoo and be required to do additional disinfection of our premises and equipment. An additional £15 will be charged. If ticks are found an additional £5 will be charged to include removal. I will not be held responsible for any infection caused by the tick or removal thereof.
General:
I am unable to groom pregnant or in season bitches and will not provide services for any dogs noted under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Should your Bitch be in season during the time of a pre-booked appointment 48 hours notice must be provided to avoid the cancellation charge noted above.
Photos:
Top Dog Groomers reserves the right to use photos from the grooming session with your dog on our websites and social media. Please notify Top Dog Groomers if you wish to opt-out of this.
GDPR Statement:
In order for us to provide the requested services, we are required to obtain and store a limited amount of your personal information. Such information will be stored in accordance with all relevant legislation, will never be shared with any 3rd parties or organisations and will only be used for the purposes of providing the requested or related services. You have the right to request and review any of your personal information. Please make any requests to hello@topdoggroomers.uk
Matting Policy:
Top Dog Groomers practices ‘humanity over vanity’. If presented with a severely neglected coat (mats that are tight against the skin in a large area, or lots of smaller tight mats all over the body) and believe, in my professional opinion, it is kinder to remove the coat than it is to de-mat this will be done in accordance with The Animal Welfare Act 2006. Whilst I will make every effort to identify this as part of the pre-groom consultation and coat assessment there may be occasions where the degree of matting cannot be fully identified until I commence the groom.
In this event I will make every effort to contact you however if this is not possible I will do what I believe is in the best interest of the welfare of the dog. By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions you are expressly agreeing to the following De-Matting disclaimer.
De-Matting Disclaimer:
Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal: – this includes prolonged ‘de-matting’ which is painful and detrimental to the welfare of the dog. If you bring in your dog with more than 20-30 minutes of de-matting work, I am required by the Act to clip your dog short humanely or refer you to your vet to do the same, This can be prevented by daily brushing with a slicker brush AND comb. I will be happy to explain the correct way to brush your dog and suggest a grooming programme that will allow us to achieve the look you would like for your dog, this may involve more frequent visits to the salon and will certainly involve daily grooming at home. When a dog’s coat becomes matted, it causes discomfort as the matts pull tightly on the skin and underlying health conditions may not be visible. When a matted coat is clipped short, it may occasionally reveal sore, reddened and irritated skin, this is due to the fact that the skin has not been able to breathe, and air circulation is not restored. Clipping a matted coat can take longer and cause additional wear and tear on our equipment so a further fee from £10 may be chargeable in addition to the normal groom price.
The process of de-matting increases the risk of injury including but not limited to cuts and grazes, skin irritations caused by the shortness of the clipper blades that will be used as well as possible haematomas. In addition, you may see some behavioural changes such as head shaking, excessive scratching, licking and “scooting”. This is where the dog will scrape their back end on the floor to relieve itching and irritations. Should you have any concerns you should seek advice from your vet.
Additional charges from £10 may be incurred due to the wear on equipment, additional products used, as well as time and skill needed to remove matting.
