Salon Polices

Here at Ultimutt Canine Services I believe strongly in working only for the comfort and safety of the pets in my care. I will not push them past what they are ready for if I feel it will be detrimental to their emotional health or affect their trust in grooming long term. For their benefit it may be necessary to split their appointment into multiple sessions across several days to allow them breaks in between to decompress. My goal is to help your dog(s) see grooming as a positive - or, at the very least, neutral - experience. Because of this, I cannot guarantee what can be done at each appointment and ask for your understanding and patience when some things are not possible or take longer to achieve in order to create a positive impact on your dog's association with grooming.

With that, your dog is an individual! They have their good days and bad days too and factors outside of grooming may contribute to the stress they are feeling while inside the salon. Because of this I cannot always guarantee the same detailed finish per groom and there may be days where your dog needs more time to complete their groom than usual. I will always be honest and communicate if there is a change in their usual behavior that may affect the time or outcome of the groom.

Please understand that grooming equipment is sharp, and although I use extreme caution and care in all situations, possible problems can occur including, but not limited to, irritation, nicks, quicked nails, cuts, etc. In the event an accident does occur, you will be notified right away of said accident. If I feel it is serious I request permission to seek immediate veterinary care. Medical expenses that arise as a result of situations such as these will be covered by Ultimutt Canine Services.

Should I as your groomer decide that veterinary care is not needed for an injury, but you as the dog owner choose to seek veterinary care anyways, Ultimutt Canine Services will cover 50% of medical costs ONLY if said injury is not the result of a pre-existing condition or matting, medical attention is given within 3 days of your appointment, and a copy of the bill is sent to Ultimutt Canine Services in a timely manner.

It is important to understand that on occasion grooming can expose a hidden medical problem or aggravate a current one. This can occur during or after grooming. Such pre-existing conditions include, but are not limited to, allergies, matting, behavioral issues, bone or joint sensitivity, heart conditions, seizures, etc. Because senior pets and pets with health problems are at greater risk of stress and injury, these pets will be groomed for cleanliness and comfort, in styles that will not add to their stress.

In the best interest of your pet, I request permission to seek immediate veterinary care at your expense should it become necessary. I also retain the right to turn away pets or end services at any time should I feel it is too much of a risk for either the dog or me. To prevent this as much as possible, please make sure to let me know about any health conditions (including medication) and behavioral issues before your appointment, and anything that arises after. Please understand that as your groomer I will take every care and precaution, but I am not liable for injury or death resulting from a pre-existing condition.

If you plan on breeding your dog, please have her groomed before she takes to ensure her comfort and safety during the pregnancy. It is my policy that I do not groom pregnant dogs I do not know. The added stress from grooming, even for a dog that is used to the process, can cause complications to the pregnancy. Please let me know ahead of time if your dog is pregnant and when she is due so that I may decide for myself if she is safe to groom, but please understand that it will be a groom for comfort and not for style if I choose to go ahead with her appointment. I will do my utmost best to ensure that she is safe and comfortable throughout her appointment but will not be liable for any pregnancy complications that may arise after her groom. For the best interest of the mother and the puppies, I require puppies to have been weaned before I will accept the mother dog back for grooming after giving birth.

Mats cut off the air flow in your dog's skin and can trap moisture, which can cause irritation and sores on your dog. Even mild matting can be painful, but in severe cases matting can cut off circulation to your dog's skin and cause hematomas. Here at Ultimutt Canine Services I strongly believe in "Humanity Over Vanity." Should your dog come to me with mats I will do what is in the best interest of the dog and shave them out. By booking an appointment with me you are agreeing that as your groomer I am not liable for cuts, irritation, bruising, and other such injuries caused by matting, nor am I liable for old injuries that may have been hidden by the matted hair.

Shaving your dog's double coat may put them at risk of shave shock, in which case the hair may grow back patchy, a different texture/color, or not at all. Many vets and groomers believe that shave shock is a myth and a dog is only at risk if there are underlying health conditions that prevent the coat from growing back healthy; others believe it can happen to any dog. While I cannot say which case is correct, my job here at Ultimutt Canine Services is to equip you with the knowledge to make the best informed decision about your dog's coat that you can.

​

If you decide to shave your double-coated dog, Ultimutt Canine Services is not liable should their coat experience shave shock.

To ensure a safe and clean environment, kennels and tables are sanitized between every dog. Additionally, I require all dogs being groomed to be current with their Rabies vaccination, and strongly recommend that they also be up to date on their Bordetella and DHLPP vaccinations as well. If your dog cannot be vaccinated due to health concerns, appointments can still be made if a note from your vet is provided. Please bring proof of vaccinations in the form of paperwork (tags are not accepted) or a vet note to your appointment, or you can email it to me ahead of time at clara@ultimuttcanineservices.com. Failure to do so will result in an automatic cancellation of your appointment.

If fleas, lice, or excess ticks are found on your pet during the grooming process, you will be contacted to pick up your pet immediately. You will be charged for any time already spent with your dog or 50% of the groom price, whichever is greater, to cover missed wages and cleaning costs. A grooming appointment can be rescheduled after your dog has been cleared by a vet. Because I am a small in-home salon I cannot risk an infestation inside my salon or to other dogs on site. If you suspect that your dog may have fleas, ticks, and/or lice, but are not sure, please reschedule until your dog can be checked out by a vet.

Late cancellations leave an empty block in the schedule that could have otherwise been filled. To avoid this, I ask that any appointment cancellations or reschedules are made at least 48 hours in advance. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in a cancellation fee of 50% of your dog’s average or estimated groom price. This must be paid by Square or Venmo before your next appointment. The same applies if you do not show for your appointment and do not warn me ahead of time. I understand that sometimes things happen, so please talk to me if you think you will miss your appointment. After multiple cancellations or reschedules you may be removed from my client books.

Please understand that pricing is subject to change. Additional fees and charges may be added to the price of your groom based on, but not limited to, the following conditions: late cancellations, pick ups, or payments; missed appointments; etc. Refunds are not given for any reason. Your payment, including all additional fees and charges as outlined within this agreement, are due within 24 hours of the service being completed. If payment is not received within 24 hours of services being rendered an additional $10 will be added to your invoice. If payment is not received within 48 hours of services being rendered, an additional $15 will be added to your invoice. If payment has not been received within 72 hours of services being rendered, an additional $25 will be added to your invoice ($50 total) and you will be reported for theft of services. I require clear communication at all times, so please let me know if you have any trouble paying the invoice and I'm happy to help you figure it out.

While I do not charge an additional fee for your being late to your appointment, please keep in mind that as I charge by the hour, my rates begin at your exact appointment time. Arriving more than 10 minutes late to your appointment will result in an automatic cancellation of said appointment (please refer to the above cancellation clause). Always let me know ahead of time, if possible, if you think you might be late. 

Ultimutt Canine Services does not provide daycare or boarding services. As I am one-on-one, it is very important that my appointments do not overlap. As such, picking up on time is mandatory. You are expected to pick up your dog within 30 minutes of receiving notice that your dog is ready or within 10 minutes of the estimated end time given to you in advance unless arrangements have been made with me ahead of your appointment time. Failure to do so will result in a daycare fee of $1 added to your bill for every 1 minute over that you are late, starting immediately after the 10 or 30 minutes are up (depending on which notice you were given). If you are unable to pick up your dog yourself, please let me know who will be picking up instead, along with their contact information. I will not release any dogs into the custody of people who were not approved ahead of time. If I am unable to reach you and your dog is left with me for longer than 2 hours past their appointment time, Animal Control may be called for pick up instead. All resulting charges and fees will be paid by the pet owner.

Your satisfaction is important to me and I will do the best I can to meet your expectations. To avoid any miscommunications, I will abide by the simple rule of whoever drops off the dog decides the haircut. If you are particular about your dog's look, please drop them off yourself or text me ahead of time what you want.

​

Your feedback helps me learn and grow! Please check your dog over carefully at pick up and let me know if you want something fixed or noted for future visits. If there are any changes you wish me to make, let me know before leaving the salon. Most requests are reasonable and can be accommodated right then. If there is anything else I can assist you with, I require that you let me know within 48 hours of your service.

​

Please keep in mind that I have a zero tolerance policy at my salon. This means that any disrespect in the form of insults, threats, or rude comments will not be tolerated. Any client who acts out against my Zero Tolerance policy will automatically be removed from my client list and be banned from booking with me. If you have any questions or concerns about your groom, I am happy to help as long as I am shown the respect that I deserve. Thank you.

This release authorizes Ultimutt Canine Services to photograph and/or video your pet for your client file, the company website and social media pages, and possible advertisement. Your dog's name may be used when photos/videos are shared, but yours will not be. All photos/videos taken are the property of Ultimutt Canine Services.