Everything you wanted to know before your pup's appointment...

And probably a few things you didn't 😂

📅 Booking & Appointments

How do I book?
Easy! You can book by WhatsApp, phone or email — just head over to the Book Now page and choose whichever you prefer. 🐾

Do you take a deposit?
New customers are asked to pay a £10 deposit to secure their first appointment. This is deducted from the total cost of the groom.

What's your cancellation policy?
Please give at least 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel or rearrange. Late cancellations or missed appointments may be charged 50% of the appointment fee.

What if I'm running late?
Life happens! Please just let me know your ETA as soon as you can. I work to scheduled appointment times, so significant lateness may mean I need to shorten or rearrange the appointment rather than delay the dogs booked after you.

Can I stay with my dog?
Usually, no. Dogs tend to settle much more quickly once their humans have left (rude, but true 😂). I work on a 1:1 basis in a calm salon and I'll let you know when your pup is ready for collection.

Will there be other dogs in the salon?
Appointments are 1:1, or I can accommodate multiple dogs from the same household. However, my own Cavapoochons Maple & Indy are with me on Mondays and Fridays. If your dog is reactive to other dogs or would be happier having the salon completely to themselves, please choose a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday appointment. 🩷

🛁 Before Your Visit

Should my dog arrive clean and dry?
Nope — that's literally my job! 😂 Please don't bath them especially for me. If possible, arrive with your dog toileted and on a secure lead.

Can my dog eat before their groom?
A small meal is absolutely fine, but I'd avoid a large meal in the couple of hours before their appointment.

What should I bring?
You don't normally need to bring anything. If your dog has a favourite treat that works wonders, you're very welcome to bring some along. Please let me know about any allergies, medical conditions or sensitivities before their groom.

Does my dog need to be vaccinated?
I recommend that dogs are kept up to date with their vaccinations, but proof of vaccination isn't required to attend the salon.

Does my dog need to be neutered/spayed?
No. As I work 1:1, dogs don't need to be neutered or spayed. If your girl is in season and it's affecting her behaviour or comfort, though, it may be better to rearrange — just message me and we can decide what's best for her.

✂️ During the Groom

What's included in a Signature Full Groom?
Every groom is tailored to the individual dog, but a Signature Full Groom typically includes:

• Bath & condition using products selected for your dog's skin and coat
• Blow dry and thorough brush-out
• Nail clip
• Paw pad and hygiene tidy
• External ear clean
• Haircut/trim where appropriate for the coat type
• Finishing spritz
• Bow, bandana or accessory 🥰

If your dog needs their coat cutting or styling, please select a Long Hair Signature Full Groom.

Do you pluck ears or express anal glands?
I can remove small amounts of excess ear hair if needed and if your dog comfortably tolerates it. Larger build-ups or sore/problematic ears are a job for your vet.

I don't routinely express anal glands. If I spot anything that concerns me, I'll let you know so you can speak to your vet.

How long does a groom take?
Usually around 1.5–3 hours, depending on your dog's size, coat, condition, chosen groom and — most importantly — how they're feeling on the day.

I'm not interested in rushing a dog just because the clock says I should be finished. 🩷

Can you shave my double-coated dog?
I don't recommend routinely clipping or shaving double coats such as Huskies unless there is a genuine welfare or veterinary reason. A proper de-shed treatment removes loose undercoat while preserving the protective topcoat.

🪮 Matting & Coat Condition

My dog is matted. Can you help?
Absolutely — and this is a judgement-free salon. 🩷

Dogs get matted for all sorts of reasons. My priority is getting your dog comfortable again, not making you feel bad about it.

Where matting is tight to the skin, I won't put your dog through prolonged or painful brushing just to preserve a longer hairstyle. Sometimes the kindest option is to clip the coat short and start again.

Humanity before vanity, always.

Severe matting may require additional time and therefore an additional charge, which I'll discuss with you.

How can I prevent matting between appointments?
Little and often is much easier than one enormous brushing session!

The right brush plus a metal comb makes a huge difference, particularly with curly and wool coats. Regular professional grooming also helps — many curly-coated dogs benefit from appointments around every 4–8 weeks, depending on coat length and your home-maintenance routine.

And if you're not sure what you should be doing at home, ask me! I'd much rather show you than have you battling knots with the wrong brush. 😂

🩷 Nervous, Reactive & Older Dogs

Do you groom nervous, reactive, elderly or first-time dogs?
Yes. In fact, they're some of the dogs I particularly enjoy working with.

I use gentle, dog-led handling, allow breaks when they're needed and adapt the groom to the dog in front of me.

Sometimes success isn't a perfectly finished haircut. Sometimes it's getting one more nail clipped than last time or discovering that the dryer isn't actually a terrifying monster. Those wins count too. 🥰

What happens if my dog won't tolerate part of the groom?
I won't force them through it for the sake of finishing a groom.

I may change technique, take a break, use appropriate safety equipment where necessary, adapt the haircut or stop altogether if continuing isn't in your dog's best interests.

We can always try again. Trust takes longer to build than hair does to grow. ❤️

My dog is reactive to other dogs — can they still come?
Absolutely. Please tell me when booking so I can plan appropriately.

For dogs that need a completely dog-free environment, I recommend booking on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday, as Maple & Indy are in the salon with me on Mondays and Fridays.

🦟 Fleas, Health & Safety

What happens if you find fleas or ticks?
Please don't panic — but please do tell me beforehand if you already know they're there! 😂

If I discover fleas during a groom, I'll contact you and use an appropriate flea treatment shampoo/soak so I can safely complete the groom where possible.

A £5 treatment charge and £10 deep-clean charge will apply because the salon and equipment need to be thoroughly cleaned before the next dog arrives.

Salon treatment only deals with the immediate problem and doesn't break the flea life cycle, so you'll still need to treat your dog and home appropriately afterwards.

Do you groom pregnant dogs?
Please contact me before booking. Grooming can be physically demanding for a pregnant dog, so depending on her stage of pregnancy and what she needs, I may recommend postponing or adapting her groom.

Can you groom a dog that's in season?
Potentially, yes, as appointments are 1:1. Please let me know beforehand. If she's uncomfortable, stressed or behaving very differently from normal, rearranging may be kinder.

What if my dog has a medical condition?
Please tell me before the appointment about any relevant medical conditions, injuries, allergies, medications or recent veterinary treatment.

It doesn't necessarily mean I can't groom them — it just helps me make the safest decisions for your dog.

💷 Prices & Payment

How are your prices worked out?
My core prices are based on your dog's coat type and weight, which makes things much clearer than trying to guess purely by breed.

However, every dog is different. Coat condition, matting, behaviour, additional handling and services such as de-shedding can affect the final price.

You can see the current guide on my Services & Prices page.

Can there be additional charges?
Sometimes. Additional charges may apply for things such as:

• Severe matting
• Flea/tick treatment and deep cleaning
• Significant additional grooming/handling time
• Additional de-shedding

Wherever possible, I'll discuss this with you rather than springing a surprise on you at collection!

How can I pay?

Cash is king 👑 and is my preferred payment method on collection. Bank transfer is also accepted.

🐾 After Your Groom

How will my dog feel afterwards?
Most dogs leave feeling fabulous and approximately 73% more important than when they arrived. 😂

Some are sleepy afterwards, while others apparently leave with enough energy to run a small country. Both can be completely normal after the excitement and stimulation of a grooming appointment.

What if I'm not completely happy with the groom?
Please tell me!

If there's something you'd like adjusted, contact me within 24 hours and I'll happily arrange a little tweak where possible.

I'd always rather you speak to me than go home wishing you'd said something. 🩷

🦷 emmi®-pet Ultrasonic Teeth Cleaning

What is emmi®-pet?
emmi®-pet uses ultrasonic technology with a specially designed toothbrush and toothpaste to help maintain your dog's oral hygiene.

There's no traditional brushing action or vibration, making it a lovely option for many dogs who aren't keen on having their teeth brushed.

Does it replace veterinary dental treatment?
No. emmi®-pet is an oral-hygiene maintenance service, not veterinary treatment.

If your dog has significant tartar, painful or inflamed gums, loose teeth, suspected dental disease or anything else that concerns me, I'll recommend seeing your vet.

How many sessions will my dog need?
Every mouth is different.

We start with an initial consultation/introduction, then dogs requiring more work may benefit from a short course of appointments before moving onto maintenance sessions, typically around every 4–6 weeks.

I'll recommend a plan based on what I can see and, crucially, what your dog is happy to tolerate.

Do you scrape tartar from the teeth?
No. I don't manually scrape tartar from teeth.

The aim is gradual oral-hygiene maintenance using the emmi®-pet system, and results vary between dogs. Established dental disease needs veterinary assessment and treatment.

Is it suitable for puppies?
I recommend waiting until your puppy's adult teeth have erupted before starting emmi®-pet sessions.

🐶 Still got a question?

Just ask!

There is genuinely no such thing as a silly question when it comes to your dog. Drop me a WhatsApp, email or give me a call and I'll be happy to help.