We Care: Health & Welfare
At Dog House it is standard procedure to carry out a health check at the start of each dogs groom. Health checks allow opportunity to review dogs health, age, medical conditions, awareness of lumps, bumps, skin conditions to be mindful of, any behavioural issues and opportunity to discuss any concerns with the owner. When your dog is with Dog House, its health and welfare is our main concern at all stages of the grooming process.
Owners must disclose any behavioural or medical condition that may make their dog unsuitable for any service offered by Dog House – this would include, but is not limited to: antisocial behaviour, aggression, separation anxiety, possessive behaviour, incontinence/lack of housetraining, tendency to run away or escape on walks or in the home, chronic vomiting or travel/ mobility problems, destructive behaviour inside or outside the home, or excessive loud barking/whining.
We welcome elderly dogs, at your own risk. To prevent increased pressures or stress we will always factor in and allow for extra time. In the best interest of your dog, Dog House will obtain immediate veterinary treatment for your dog should it be deemed necessary by us. We will do our best to contact you first, then take your dog to our authorised veterinarian, or to the nearest veterinarian that is available. It is agreed that all expenses for veterinary care will be covered by the Dog’s owner.
Accidents: There is always the possibility an accident could occur. Possible problems that could occur include cuts, nicks, scratches and quickening of the nails. In most cases this can happen when a dog is moving around. We make every effort to ensure your dog is groomed as safely as possible, but if your dog does not accept the process it can be dangerous to continue the groom. Protection:
Vaccinations & Pests
Vaccinations: By using our services, owners verify their dog is up to date with vaccinations for canine parvovirus, canine distemper virus, leptospirosis and infectious canine hepatitis and kennel cough. Hollingbury Dog House may request proof of Vaccinations and veterinary information which must be provided.
Fleas &Ticks & Worms
Hollingbury Dog House is a flea and tick free environment, we have standard procedures in place to help us keep it that way. If your dog has a parasitic infestation, we ask that your grooming appointment is rescheduled allowing for 24hr notice period to avoid a cancelation charges. If fleas are found on your dog during the groom, Dog House will bath in flea shampoo and be required to do additional disinfection of our premises and equipment. An additional £15 will be charged to your bill. If ticks are found an additional £5 will be charged for their removal. We will not be held responsible for any infection caused by the tick or for the removal of.
Coat Condition
At Hollingbury Dog House, if presented with a neglected coat and believe in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is kinder to remove the coat than dematt then we will do so. We try to eliminate these surprises and make every effort to identify this as part of the pre-groom consultation but there may be occasions where the degree of matting cannot be fully identified until we commence the groom. In this event we will make every effort to contact you however if this is not possible we will, in our professional opinion, do what we believe is in the best interest of the welfare of the dog. By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions you are expressly agreeing to our De-Matting disclaimer.
Animal Behaviour: Aggressive, Dangerous, Nervous, Anxious Dogs
Owners have the obligation to inform Hollingbury Dog House of any known aggressive behaviour traits their dog may have to other animals or humans. Dog owners must inform Hollingbury Dog House if they have been advised by pervious groomer(s) of any of the aforementioned behaviours.
Hollingbury Dog House welcomes dogs with nervous traits, however owners have the obligation to inform us of any such behaviours in order for us to cater to their needs to the best of our ability.
We reserve the right to refuse or stop services for your dog at any time before or during the grooming process if we believe your dog may become a danger to itself or those within the groom studio and will charge an Aggressive Dog Fee of £15 in addition to the regular grooming charge. If your dog should bite you agree to be responsible for all related medical bills, loss of earnings and equipment damage.
Wag Wag Tick Tock: Time Keeping
Hollingbury Dog House works to a monitored time frame to ensure that your dog receives ample grooming time and one-to-one care. We expect to admit you at your given appointment time, if you are early we may not be able to grant immediate access and would ask that you wait until your allocated time. Likewise, if you are more than 15 minutes late we may have to refuse your groom on welfare grounds as rushing the groom may lead to unnecessary stress and possible injury. A fee equal to the cost of the groom will be incurred. If you are more than 15 minutes late collecting your dog a late collection charge will be incurred. Cancellations within 24 hours of your appointment incur a 50% charge. No show or missed appointment 100% of the charge will incur and must be paid prior to making another booking.
Pricing
Any prices provided are an estimate only. Before each groom starts a guide price will be agreed. During the groom, if any issues arise the owner will be notified and may incur additional charges. Additional charges may be incurred due to: • Overweight dogs or oversized for the breed • Unkept/neglected coats • Aggressive, senior, nervous or timid dogs that require additional handling • Fleas and/or ticks • Dogs that require additional handling
Offers
Offers are at the discretion of Hollingbury Dog House and may be withdrawn at any time. 20% Off Your Dog's First Groom: New clients may have 20% off their first groom. All grooms thereafter will be charged at full price. Cancellation and missed appointment charges apply. Discount subject to condition of dogs coat, matted coat charges may still be applied.
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 15 minutes of de-matting work, we are required by the Act to clip your dog short humanely or refer you to your vet to do the same. At Hollingbury Dog House we will only attempt to de-matt 5% of a dog – which equates to about 50p sized mat behind each ear, same size in the armpits and perhaps one or two in the groin or tail area. We have assessed your dog’s coat and found it to be matted, therefore it needs to be clipped short. This can be prevented by daily brushing with a slicker brush and comb. 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 our 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 occasional 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, additional products used, as well as time and skill needed to remove matting so a further fee 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 relive itching and irritations. Should you have any concerns you should seek advise from your usual vet.