THE SMALL PRINT
Your Appointment
Appointments vary depending on a number of factors including the type of appointment & services booked, whether your dog has been groomed before, your dogs breed etc.
This is a rough guide to a standard appointment at Diamond Groomers for your information.
Initial Booking
When booking your appointment you will be asked important questions such as dogs breed, condition of coat, grooming history & temperament so that we can get a sense of what is required & make a plan for grooming.
The Appointment
Upon arriving for your appointment you will be asked to confirm the details already given & you will be asked to complete a ‘Customer Consent’ form for our records (all records are kept confidential).
The first appointment will include a ‘Free Consultation’, where we will discuss your requirements & the best approach for grooming, depending on its breed, coat type, your lifestyle & your requirements. The purpose of the pre-groom consultation is so that we can discuss everything & avoid ending up with a style you don’t want so please arrive expecting a lot of questions.
Your dog is safely put onto the grooming table so I can have a look at the dogs coat to confirm grooming methods discussed are the right route forward, whilst also giving your dog a quick health check. You will be asked to leave once your dog is settled & everything is discussed, please do this as calmly as possible to ensure your dog doesn’t assume its leaving time & get over excited! Long goodbyes will leave your dog anxious & won’t help them to settle!
Typically an appointment for ‘The Big Picture’ can last anything from 2 hours or more. I will give you a courtesy call about half an hour before the session is complete to allow you enough time to return & collect your dog & make payment (cash or card only please).
All add-on’s are at an additional cost on top of the standard grooming cost. Please check with your groomer for the final price.
Prices are reviewed annually & may vary depending on condition of coat & dogs temperament.
Payment can be taken by cash or card & must be made on collection of the dog.
Pets must be fit & healthy & walked prior to their appointments & any changes to their overall health status must be reported to the groomers prior to your visit.
The groomer will not be held responsible for irritation, abrasion, patchiness or hair loss due to any pre-existing skin condition, or as a result of the process of grooming, de-matting, thinning, stripping or shaving.
Photographs may be taken of your dog for the groomers records. These image may be used in publicity & advertising, including social media websites. Please inform the groomer if you would not like your pets image to be used on social media, prior to the appointment.
We reserve the right to refuse a dog that presents a risk of injury to itself or a member of staff.
Grooming of any kind cannot commence until the customer declaration has been signed.
Pre Groom Etiquette - The Do-do’s
Please make sure your dog has had a walk & chance to ‘relieve’ itself of any business before your appointment. We don’t mind the odd accident at the groomers, but would rather avoid it if possible!
Seasons
If your dog is in season it would be best to avoid coming to the salon, because bitches can be slightly more sensitive than normal & being groomed may become uncomfortable or upsetting for her. We are
a clean salon & hygiene is of utmost importance, but a bitch on heat will leave behind scents that will drive the boys crazy & make for an uncomfortable grooming session for them too, if they are following her appointment. Additional charges may apply if a dog is left for grooming without informing the groomer of being in season. Late cancellation charges may apply if appointment is cancelled with less than 24 hours notice.
Bugs
If you are aware of your dog being unwell or fighting some kind of infection/infestation, please inform us as soon as you can & do not bring your dog to the salon.
The shampoo we use includes natural flea fighting ingredients but it is not a cure so please
ensure your dog is up to date with flea treatments as we are not licensed to give them. If fleas are found, you will be informed via a polite phone call, as you will need to treat your home as well to get rid of the pesky critters.
Ticks are commonly found on the dogs skin during the warmer months, & we can remove these during the grooming session. You will be informed upon collection if we found any, as you will need to keep an eye on the site of the ticks bite for a couple of days just in case of any infection.
Post Groom Etiquette - The Do-do’s
Pick up time
We will contact you about half an hour before the grooming is finished, giving you enough time to return for your fur baby or you will be given a time to collect upon arrival. If you are having difficulties with collection please let us know so we can discuss alternative arrangements. Please respect the fact that we operate on an appointment basis so that every dog has a calm & relaxing experience & having other dogs in the salon, eager to see their owners doesn’t make for a very relaxing time for our next customer. If you are more than half an hour late for collection & we have not heard from you, there will be a charge of £5 per 30 minutes. Also, please do not show up early for collection as it gets your dog all excited & we may be unable to finish the groom.
Changes
If you are unhappy with your dogs groom please let us know so we can make changes next time. Remember, it will grow back! The purpose of the pre-groom consultation is so that we can discuss your requirements to avoid ending up with a style you don’t want, so please arrive expecting to answer such questions.
Aggression Policy
If your dog is extraordinarily difficult or aggressive towards staff you may receive a call to collect your dog, regardless of how far into the grooming we are. Upon collection we can discuss the best route forward to overcome the issues. In most cases, we try to continue calmly & work with your dog, however if they are too distressed & deemed un-groomable it is best not to continue for the safety of the dog & staff.
Missed Appointment / Cancellation Policy / Late Arrivals
We have a 24 hour cancellation policy. Please inform us if you’re unable to attend your appointment otherwise you may be charged up to 100% of the grooming fee, which will be requested prior to the next appointment booked & a deposit system may be required for repeat offenders! If you are running late for your slot please give us a call to let us know as soon as you can. We work to a very tight schedule throughout the day & being more than 15 minutes late can have a massive knock-on effect on the days appointments. If you are more than 20 minutes late you may be asked to rebook for another day & may have to pay a fee which will be added to your next visit.
Flea Removal Policy
We understand that dogs easily pick up such parasites and thus do not charge if a couple of fleas are found. However, if your dog is found to have fleas a charge of £5 will be added to your final bill, if your dog has a flea infestation £10 will be added to your bill to cover the expense & time having to decontaminate the salon & our equipment. If you are aware that your dog has a flea problem or you suspect that they may have fleas please let us know when checking in so we may isolate your dog from other pets.
After…
If there is anything you would like done differently with your dogs groom please take note & let me know next time. Please remember, hair grows back! Grooming is a learning curve for your dog & it will take a few sessions before he or she is used to being pampered, therefore your dog may not be finished perfectly until s/he settles in. We strive for perfection but not at the cost of the dogs comfort and trust in us.