- GROOMING POLICY-
Bubbles and Paws
APPOINTMENTS & BOOKING CONFIRMATION -
Bubbles and Paws operates by appointment only.
Appointments can be requested through the online diary or arranged with me directly by text message/ email/ phone call or after an appointment.
Your appointment is only confirmed once you have received an official booking confirmation via text message from BubblesPaws and/or email.
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PET HEALTH & WELFARE -
Please ensure your dog is microchipped, fit and healthy and up to date with appropriate vaccinations and parasite treatments.
You must let me know about any relevant information before the appointment regarding your dog, including medical conditions, allergies, recent surgery, wounds, matting, fleas/parasites, aggression or previous difficulties with grooming.
I do not groom pregnant or in season bitches and may be unable to groom dogs with recent surgery or unhealed wounds.
Grooming can occasionally reveal or aggravate previously unknown or existing health/skin conditions. Elderly dogs and dogs with medical conditions may require an adapted groom and I will stop at any time if continuing would compromise their welfare.
In an emergency, I will contact you. If you cannot be reached and urgent veterinary treatment is required, you authorise me to seek veterinary assistance on your behalf. Veterinary costs remain the owner’s responsibility,
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BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT -
Prior to grooming, please ensure your dog is exercised and toileted. I also advise that you don’t feed your dog 30 minutes before their scheduled grooming appointment. Fresh drinking water will always be available.
Please do not arrive more than 5 minutes early, as I will be preparing the salon.
Dogs must arrive securely on a lead.
Please walk down the driveway towards the right side garage door and there is a gate. Ring the Bubbles and Paws Dog Grooming doorbell. Please do not knock on the main house door. Collection is from the same gate.
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LATE DROP-OFF -
Please arrive at your agreed appointment time and contact me as soon as possible if you are delayed.
Arriving 15 minutes or more late will incur a £10 late fee if your appointment can still go ahead.
I will never rush a groom or compromise your dog’s welfare, safety or the standard of my work. Depending on the time remaining, I may offer an amended or reduced service, meaning some elements of the booked groom or your requested finish may not be achievable.
If there is insufficient time to safely carry out the groom without affecting other appointments, it will be treated as a missed appointment and 100% of the cost of all services booked will be payable.
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LATE COLLECTION -
I will give you at least 20 minutes notice before your dog is ready. If you need longer than 20 minutes to reach me, please let me know at drop-off so we can agree the notice time that is needed.
As Bubbles and Paws offers one-to-one grooming with no crates or holding areas, prompt collection is essential.
A 15-minute grace period applies from the agreed collection time. After this, a £10 late collection fee applies for every additional 15 minutes, or part thereof.
Please contact me as soon as possible if you are delayed. I understand that genuine emergencies happen and may use my discretion to waive a late fee.
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CANCELLATIONS & MISSED APPOINTMENTS -
I understand that plans can change and unexpected situations can happen, so please give as much notice as possible if you need to cancel or rearrange your appointment.
Genuine emergencies will always be taken into consideration when applying a cancellation charge.
- More than 48 hours - No charge
- More than 24 hours, up to and including 48 hours - Up to 50% of the cost of cancelled services
- 24 hours or less - Up to 100% of the cost of booked services
- Non-attendance / missed appointment - Up to 100% of the cost of booked services
Repeated missed appointments may result in Bubbles and Paws being unable to offer future appointments.
If I need to cancel your appointment, I will contact you as soon as possible and offer a replacement appointment.
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PRICING -
Grooming prices vary depending on factors including your dog’s breed, size, coat type and condition, coat length, grooming frequency, time since their previous professional groom, age, temperament, behaviour, requested style and the time required to complete the groom safely.
Dogs that go longer between appointments may require additional bathing, brushing, drying, coat preparation, de-matting or clipping and may therefore cost more than a dog maintained on a regular grooming schedule.
A previous grooming price does not guarantee the same price at future appointments if your dog’s coat condition, grooming frequency, behaviour, size, parasites, service requirements etc or the time required to complete the groom has changed.
Where reasonably possible, I will make you aware of any significant additional charge.
Puppy Pamper prices apply to puppies under 6 months old.
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MATTED COAT POLICY -
At Bubbles and Paws, I practise humanity over vanity. In keeping with the welfare principles of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, your dog’s comfort and welfare always come before preserving coat length.
If tangles cannot be brushed out gently and comfortably, the coat may need to be clipped or shaved short. This may mean your preferred style cannot be achieved.
Removing severe matting may reveal skin irritation, redness, sores or bruising. Every reasonable care will be taken, but Bubbles and Paws is not responsible for skin conditions arising solely from pre-existing matting.
Additional matting charges start from £15, depending on the coat’s condition and work required.
I will advise you of additional charges wherever reasonably possible.
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FLEAS, TICKS & OTHER PARASITES -
I reserve the right to refuse to groom a dog with a flea or other parasite infestation.
If fleas are discovered after grooming has begun, a £30 flea treatment and salon cleaning fee will be added to the appointment.
This fee covers deep cleaning, flea bombing and disinfecting the salon to protect other dogs
For severe infestations, I reserve the right to stop the groom and ask for your dog to be collected.
Tick Removal:
If I discover a tick during your dog’s groom, I will contact you and with your permission, I can remove it using an appropriate tick-removal tool.
Every reasonable care will be taken; however, part of a tick’s mouthparts can occasionally remain in the skin despite appropriate removal. If this happens, I will let you know.
Owners should monitor the area following tick removal and seek veterinary advice if they have any concerns.
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BEHAVIOUR & SAFETY -
Please tell me before your appointment about any known behavioural issues, including biting, snapping, aggression, extreme anxiety or previous difficulties during grooming.
I reserve the right to stop a groom if your dog’s behaviour creates an unacceptable safety or welfare risk. Where appropriate and safe, a suitable muzzle may be used.
Behaviour may affect the style or services I am safely able to complete.
Additional Behaviour Fee on top of booked services— From £15
The fee may increase depending on the additional time and work required.
If your dog’s behaviour means that the groom cannot be safely completed, I reserve the right to stop the appointment. Up to 100% of the cost of all services booked may still be payable, depending on the work undertaken, appointment time lost and circumstances involved.
If your dog continues to find grooming difficult or presents a safety concern, I may be unable to offer future appointments.
As Bubbles and Paws operates within a residential area, I am unfortunately unable to accept dogs that bark continuously or create excessive noise.
Dogs I Am Unable to Accept:
Bubbles and Paws is unable to accept dogs of any type prohibited under Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, including those with a Certificate of Exemption, or dogs subject to a court order relating to dangerous behaviour under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 or Dogs Act 1871.
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PAYMENT & GROOM FEEDBACK -
Payment is due on collection by cash or bank transfer.
I want you to be happy with your dog’s groom. If you have any concerns or would like something adjusted, please let me know as soon as possible so we can discuss them and, where appropriate, put things right.
Your grooming preferences are recorded for future appointments.
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ACCIDENTS & EMERGENCIES -
Every reasonable precaution is taken to protect your dog’s health, safety and welfare while they are in my care.
Grooming involves working with live animals and carries inherent risks, particularly with severe matting, existing health conditions, elderly dogs or unpredictable behaviour. Minor nicks, cuts or nail quicking may occasionally occur.
If an accident or medical issue occurs, I will contact you as soon as possible and seek veterinary assistance where necessary.
Bubbles and Paws cannot accept responsibility for conditions or injuries arising solely from pre-existing health problems, severe matting or unpredictable behaviour where reasonable care has been taken.
Veterinary costs relating to pre-existing conditions, severe matting or undisclosed issues remain the owner’s responsibility.
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SMART CAMERAS, PHOTOS & PRIVACY -
Bubbles and Paws operates from a residential property. Smart cameras are in use for the safety and security of pets, clients and myself as a lone worker.
The camera inside the grooming salon has the audio turned off. The outdoor cameras record both video and audio for security and personal safety purposes and to allow me to communicate with clients.
Your dog may be photographed or filmed before, during or after grooming. Images may be used on the Bubbles and Paws website and social media alongside your dog’s name and breed.
If you would prefer your dog not to be photographed or filmed for promotional use, please let me know. Your preference will be respected.
For further information about how your information is handled, please see the Bubbles and Paws Privacy Policy.
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AGREEMENT
By booking an appointment with Bubbles and Paws, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to this Grooming Policy.
Thank you for your understanding and helping me maintain a safe, calm and professional one-to-one grooming environment for every dog that visits Bubbles and Paws.