Identification
La Maison du Chien will not accept any dog for grooming without proof of identification in either the form of microchipping (now obligatory by law) or by identity tag/collar.
Toileting
Please allow time for your dog to go to the toilet before the appointment as there are no facilities at the premises. Due to being situated in a residential area, I would ask that you do not use the street outside. If a little accident occurs, PLEASE ask for a poop bag and dispose responsibly!
Medical Conditions
You are required to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions or health issues. 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 La Maison du Chien 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. By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions you are expressly agreeing to the following disclaimer:
Elderly, Infirm, Overweight or Young Dogs Disclaimer
A full groom can take in-excess of 3 hours and is physically demanding as well as stressful for some animals. Whilst I make every effort to provide additional support to elderly/infirm/overweight and young dogs I cannot guarantee that your dog will be able to adequately support themselves for the duration of the groom which may result in a delayed groom as extra time for breaks will be given. With young puppies or dogs unused to being groomed, more patience is needed and there is also an increased risk of other injuries such as cuts and grazes from jumping around. La Maison du Chien reserves the right to stop the grooming process at any time with payment in full being due on collection of your dog.
Drop Off/Collection Times
Your appointment time has been booked exclusively for your dog. Late drop offs will affect the other appointments and may mean that your dog's groom is not completed at collection time. Rushing stresses out both dog and groomer so please be considerate! A delay of longer than 15 minutes may mean that the appointment is rescheduled and a fee equal to the cost of the groom is charged. Late collections are charged €5 per 15 minute increment as there is no kennelling of dogs on the premises.
Deposits
In order to discourage 'no shows' and prevent loss of income, a 50% deposit is required to secure every grooming appointment, unless you are on a Payment Plan (please enquire about this service). For rescheduled appointments the deposit will apply to the next appointment booked. This deposit is non-refundable if the appointment is cancelled within 48hrs and also if you fail to show up for your appointment.
Cancellations/No Shows
A minimum of 48 hours notice is required to cancel your appointment. Cancellations within 24hrs may not allow time for your appointment slot to be refilled, incurring loss of income and you may be charged the equivalent of a full groom. For no-shows, see above.
Fleas/Ticks
If your dog is scratching but is not on a regular flea/tick preventative, I would ask that you pop a treatment on them a few days before their appointment (as some treatments are inactivated by bathing too soon after application). If there is a large flea burden, I will reschedule the groom to prevent having to deflea the entire salon (at your cost) and your deposit will be carried forward. If many fleas are found on your dog during the groom, a suitable flea shampoo will be used and extra precautions taken with disinfection of salon and bedding. This incurs a €10 fee. If ticks are found,an additional €5 will be charged to include safe removal. I will not be held responsible for any infection caused by the tick or removal thereof.
Matted Coats
With the rise of the poodle crossbreeds, regular grooming is now an essential facet of dog care for many dogs. Many owners are unaware of the discomfort of a matted coat or how easily it occurs. If I am presented with a coat which is infrequently groomed and believe in my professional opinion that it is kinder to remove the coat than it is to de-mat, this will be done in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2013. 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 Section 12 of the Animal Welfare Act of 2013, 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, I am required by the Act to clip your dog short humanely or refer you to your vet to do the same. I will only attempt to de-matt 5% of a dog – for example, mats behind ears or some throughout coat. Any matting in the groin or armpit area will be shaved as these areas are delicate and dematting would be painful. Some knots will be dematted but if I feel that it is out of your pet's comfort zone, I will cease. If I have assessed your dog’s coat and found it to be matted, it will be clipped short. I will be happy to explain the correct way to prevent a shavedown again 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 occasional reveal sore reddened skin, infections or parasites, this is due to the fact that air circulation to the skin has been impeded by the matted coat. Clipping a matted coat can take longer and cause additional wear and tear on our equipment so a further fee may be chargeable in addition to the normal groom price. Your dog may look very different to how you imagine but will be much more comfortable, which should be our focus.
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 (bruises). 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 advice from your usual vet and I will be happy to provide photographic records should they be required for the correct treatment.
Aggression
Not every dog enjoys the grooming experience, but I reserve the right to stop the process if I think that either of us is in danger. Clients are obliged to disclose any behavioural traits discovered by other groomers or at home. Extra charges may be in incurred if more time is taken to complete a groom, depending on the severity of the behaviour and the time, skill and equipment required to groom a difficult dog. If your dog should bite, you agree to be responsible for all related medical bills, loss of earnings and equipment damage.
Vaccinations
La Maison du Chien recommends that yearly vaccinations are kept up to date to prevent infectious diseases such as parvovirus, leptospirosis, canine hepatitis, distemper and kennel cough. While contact with other dogs will be kept to a minimum due to one-at-a-time appointment system, La Maison du Chien takes no responsibility for unvaccinated dogs contracting any of the above diseases. Yearly vaccinations are also vital to monitor the ongoing health of your dog by your veterinary clinic.
GDPR
The information you provide will never be shared with any third parties and is stored safely. By agreeing to the Terms & Conditions you also give permission for use of photographs for gallery or social media purposes. Please indicate at the time of the groom if this is not acceptable to you.
