Dog Grooming FAQ

Help For Your First Grooming Appointment

Do I need to make an appointment?

Yes! We operate an appointment only system. Please contact Suzie on 02891 874240 to arrange an appointment at a time to suit you. There are certain times of the year when it is impossible to get an appointment at short notice, e.g. Christmas.

PLEASE BE PUNCTUAL BOTH FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT AND WHEN COLLECTING YOUR DOG. LATE COLLECTIONS WILL BE CHARGED FOR AT A RATE OF £15 PER HALF HOUR.

What if I need to cancel my appointment?

Please remember to give me as much notice as possible if you cannot make your appointment. Failure to keep your scheduled appointments at Wags hinders my ability to provide the best service to my customers. I ask that you kindly show me and other customers consideration by calling at least 24 hours prior to your appointment if you are unable to attend. If less than 24 hours notice is given then a cancellation fee will be charged unless in exceptional circumstances. Equally if you are running late or have a last minute emergency, please also let me know. If you are running especially late, we may have to reschedule depending on the next customer’s arrival time. PLEASE NOTE THAT NON-ATTENDANCE WILL RESULT IN A CHARGE.

What do I do if my dog is unwell or my bitch is in heat?

If your dog has been unwell please call and reschedule your appointment. As I am sure you will understand other owners do not want their dogs to catch viruses etc. If your bitch is in heat, please call to reschedule as male dogs may be in the salon at the same time.

How long will the appointment take?

This is obviously dependent on the breed of dog, condition of the coat etc. As we operate an appointment system, please be assured that your dog will only be kept at Wags for the duration of their appointment, they will not be kept sitting around. Once the condition of the coat etc has been assessed you will be asked to return at a given time. Normally for small dogs the grooming process will take approximately 1.5 hours - 2 hours.

How much will it cost?

All dogs are different and without seeing your dog I am unable to give you an exact price. I am happy to give you an estimate on the phone based on breed of dog, but will need to assess the dog's coat condition & temperament, and discuss with you the style you require. Some scissored styles can take much longer than shorter styles and matted coats will also require extra work. I do not undertake extensive de-matting - if your dog is severely matted the most humane solution is to clip the coat back and start again, with regular home brushing between grooms. If this is the case then we will work together to get your dog's coat back into great condition. PLEASE NOTE: PRICES ARE BASED ON THE TIME TAKE SO SEVERELY MATTED COATS, OR DOGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH, WILL COST EXTRA.

What do I do on arrival for my appointment?

Please be punctual. Your dog’s coat should be dry on arrival, no swims on the way please! Please make sure that you allow your dog to relieve itself before you leave home. When you arrive at Wags, please do not allow your dog to run around the yard, PLEASE MAKE SURE HE/SHE IS ON A LEAD. This is purely for their safety as there is a road nearby. If your dog goes to the toilet on my property, please pick it up.  If you don't have a poo bag, please ask for one.

How many other dogs will be in the salon at the same time?

Due to the appointment system operated there will be no more than 3 dogs in the salon at any given time. If you would prefer an appointment with no other dogs in the salon, this can be arranged at an additional cost. One to one appointments can be arranged but there will be an extra cost for this service. (One to one appointments will not be available at extremely busy times e.g. Christmas).

Can you keep my dog for the entire day?

No! Your dog will only be kept for the time it takes to complete the grooming process. Apart from the fact I do not want your dog to be kept in a cage for an unnecessary amount of time, I only have limited cage space, therefore please do not assume that I can keep your dog longer than their appointment will take. If you are having difficulty making it back in time to collect your dog, please ask in advance of your appointment as this may not always be possible.

Can I leave my dog with you earlier than my appointment time?

Due to limited cage space this is usually not possible. However, if a situation arises that you may have to leave your dog in slightly earlier than scheduled, please call me in advance to see if this is possible. PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME THAT YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR DOG OFF EARLY - PLEASE CALL TO ASK! Please also ensure that you collect your dog at the requested time. If you are having difficulty with this, please let me know as a matter of courtesy to my time. **EARLY DROP OFFS AND LATE COLLECTIONS ARE NOT POSSSIBLE AT PRESENT DUE TO COVID-19 PROCEDURES***

When should my puppy have his/her first groom?

After your puppy has had two sets of vaccinations. Grooming for a pup should start as soon as possible; this helps to let the puppy become acquainted with the sounds of the salon environment, noises such as dryers, clippers, other dogs etc. For a puppy's first grooming I will probably NOT do a full haircut. Please see the “grooming process” section on the website.

Will my dog be muzzled?

Not as a rule however, as I am sure you will understand, dogs that show signs of aggression or biting/licking at me, the clippers & or scissors may be muzzled for both their safety and mine.

Can I stay with my dog?

This is not usually a good idea as to get the full co-operation of the dogs I must have their undivided attention. Most dogs behave much better without their owners there to distract them. I will be happy to show you around my salon when you come to arrange your first appointment. Please be assured that if a difficulty with a dog arises, the owner will be called at once. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS OF COURSE POSSIBLE FOR THE OWNER TO STAY - PLEASE DISCUSS AT TIME OF BOOKING.

What if my dog has fleas?

If your dog has a flea infestation on arrival I will reschedule your appointment for you to have the fleas treated before your return. I cannot take any chances that other pets in my care will get fleas. If I uncover fleas during a groom which were not visible on first inspection, I will wash the dog with a shampoo which will kill all fleas on the dog. There will be an additional charge for this. I also take measures to ensure that my salon environment is flea free.

Do you sedate dogs?

NO! I do NOT sedate dogs - this is a job only for your vet.

Please Do...

1. Please be punctual both for your appointment and when collecting your dog after their appointment. Late collections will incur a charge of £15 per half hour. Equally, please do not be extremely early for your appointment. IF YOU NEED TO DROP YOUR DOG IN EARLY, PLEASE ASK, IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE POSSIBLE.
   
2. Make sure your dog has been to the toilet before you leave home.
   
3. Make sure you warn the groomer if your dog can be aggressive or does not like a particular area being handled.
   
4. Ring in advance if your bitch has gone into heat. (If male dogs are also booked in, your appointment may have to be re-scheduled).
   
5. Ring to cancel if your dog is unwell on the day, we do not want other dogs catching a bug!
   
6. ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOUR DOG IS ON A LEAD. This is for their own safety.
   
7. Let us know if for any reason you are unable to make your appointment. Someone else could avail of the appointment time. NO SHOWS WILL BE CHARGED AT THE FULL RATE.
   
8. Ring and let us know if you are running late, as we operate an appointment system, we may have to reschedule.
   
9. Inform the groomer of any ongoing health problems e.g. diabetes, epilepsy, heart problems etc.
   
10. Always bring your poo bags, if you don't have one please ask. If your dog goes to the toilet in my yard PLEASE PICK IT UP.

Please Don't...

1. Wash your dog the night before a grooming session.
2. Wash your dog the morning of its grooming session and bring it in wet or allow them to have a swim on the way.
3. Allow your dog to run around the yard, please make sure he/she is on a lead, this is for their own safety as there is a road nearby. If your dog goes to the toilet, please use a poo bag! If you don't have one, please ask!