My Policy
A few things I want you to know before I groom your dog
Here at Simply Dog Grooming, by Sarah my policy is simple (Obviously). The safety and wellbeing of your dog comes first. This means that comfort comes before style.
I love dogs, which is why I have chosen to work in this industry, and I make no apologies for putting the safety and comfort of your dog as my highest priority.
Please read the following so you understand prior to bringing your dog in.
Matting
If your dog is heavily matted (Knotted), they will tend to need a summer cut because it’s quite uncomfortable for your dog to have matting “brushed out”.
If the matting is only mild, I can usually brush these out with the help of some sprays or products however I will only attempt this for very mild cases.
For severe matting, I will have to clip the entire coat. This is the most gentle and humane treatment. Some owners might not like the “look” of a shaved dog but rest assured, your dog will feel much more comfortable and given a few weeks their fur will grow back to a lovely length again.
I will discuss this with you prior to starting the groom, however please be aware that there are times where I will commence a groom, only to realize that matting is more severe than first thought. In these instances I will do my best, but, again, for the safety and comfort of your dog, I will not attempt to de-matt a dog if I determine that this will cause unnecessary pain to the dog.
Just know, that I very much understand that sometimes we are too busy to brush and groom our dogs. This doesn't mean that you are a bad dog parent, and I won't pass judgement if your dog is looking a little shaggy. Especially over winter I see lots of dogs grow their coat long, and when the warmer months hit, I tend to get an influx of dogs that need to be shaved down. I sometimes hear, "Oh just a trim", and I know that it wont be possible. Please understand that this is not because I want to rush your dog, it is simply because I won't subject your dog to a very uncomfortable inhumane process.
This is my policy and I will not budge when it comes to the safety and comfort of your dog.
Drop off & Pickup
I work from home. My "Salon" is setup in a garage, and does not have a waiting room. When you bring your dog, I will come out and greet you outside. There is plenty of parking in front of my house and even on the driveway.
Please have your dog on a sturdy and safe leash, as dogs can tend to pull when their owners are leaving. For safety it's best to use a harness, or similar, especially if your dog is a bit hefty.
I ask that you don't wait on site while I groom your dog, as this can upset them if they know you are still nearby. If you live local, you can return home, and I will text you 10 mins prior to the groom being completed.
If you don't live close-by, I can suggest a coffee nearby or many of my customers leave their car parked and go for a walk on one of the nearby walking paths.
I don't book multiple dogs at the one time, so I generally finish one dog and have it collected before the next one arrives. I cannot house dogs comfortably for long periods, so please try and return to collect your dog when they are ready.
Complaints & Feedback
As a dog groomer, and animal lover, I do my best to keep your dog safe and looking nice while also maintaining their comfort.
I try as best I can to style a dog to their owner’s requests. If for some reason you are not satisfied with how your dog looks after their groom, please be honest with me, so I can endeavor to do better next time.
If it is something minor like wanting a shorter tail or ears for example, please let me know so I can assess whether we can fix this on the spot before you leave. If we cannot fix or change something, then if you choose to come back to me, please let me know what you would like me to do differently on the next groom.
Bear in mind that some dogs are very difficult to groom. This is especially true for puppies that haven’t had much time at the groomers. Some dogs may bite, squirm and cry and move about a lot which does sometimes result in a less than perfect haircut. Again, I do my best without subjecting your dog to being overly stressed out.
I also will not budge when it comes to heavily matted dogs.
Groomers are often subjected to angry customers who are not happy when their dog is shaved down. To avoid this, please keep up a regular grooming schedule and maintain your puppy/dog’s coat with regular brushing at home.