Website Terms

Your Pet's Health and Welfare

Whilst your pet is in our care, their health and welfare is our primary concern. Your pet will only ever be groomed according to their tolerance of the process. If your pet is fearful of any procedure used during grooming, we will consider an appropriate workaround or alternative.

Occasionally, grooming may reveal a pre existing condition that you were not aware of. We will let you know so that you can seek veterinary advice where appropriate.

Although accidents during grooming are extremely unlikely, they can happen. In the event of an accident or a serious medical issue arising during your pet's groom, you authorise BARKERS Pet Stylists to seek emergency veterinary treatment.

Groom Feedback

We will provide feedback following your pet's groom. If you have any questions or would like further clarification, please ask us.

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of your pet's groom, please let us know before you leave or as soon as possible, and no later than 48 hours after the groom. Reasonable requests to alter the trim will be dealt with where practical, or changes can be noted for the next appointment.

We are happy to explain details of your pet's groom and advise you on caring for their coat between appointments.

Pricing

We do not publish a full price guide because every dog and every groom is different. The price of an appointment may vary according to your pet's breed, size, coat condition, chosen style, time required, behaviour and any additional handling needs.

Additional charges may apply where a coat is matted, poorly maintained or overgrown, where additional time or product is required, or where a pet requires extra handling, support or breaks.

If we are unable to complete a groom because of behavioural problems or aggression, the appointment may still be chargeable.

Fleas are not permitted in the salon. If fleas are found during your pet's visit, appropriate action will be taken to protect other dogs and the salon. Flea shampoo may be used and, depending on the severity, we may need to ask you to collect your dog. Additional charges may apply.

All charges are payable in full when you collect your pet.

Time Keeping

Please be punctual. We work by appointment and the time allocated for your pet has been reserved specifically for them.

Most grooms take between one and three hours, and sometimes longer, depending on the size and temperament of the dog and the condition of the coat. We will advise you when your pet is ready for collection.

Please avoid returning to the salon before the agreed collection time unless asked to do so. Seeing their owner can distract or unsettle some dogs during the finishing stages of their groom. Repeated calls to check progress can also take the team away from grooming.

It is important that pets are collected at the agreed time. Once a groom is finished, some dogs become eager to go home and may become unsettled. Late collection may incur an additional charge.

Please call us if you are running late. We understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise.

Clients arriving more than 15 minutes late may be treated as a missed appointment and may need to rebook. If you require an earlier drop off or later collection because of other commitments, please discuss this with us when booking.

If your pet is collected after closing time, currently 4:30pm, a late collection or sitting fee of £10 per 30 minutes, or part thereof, may apply. Any additional fees are payable when you collect your pet.

Cancelling Your Dog's Appointment

We respectfully request at least 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel your pet's appointment so that the slot can be offered to another client.

For cancellations made with less than 48 hours' notice, a charge of 50% of the groom cost may be payable before future appointments can be booked.

For cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice, same day cancellations or failure to attend, the full price of the groom may be payable.

Neglected, Knotty and Matted Coats

If your pet's coat needs to be clipped short to release it from significant matting or coat neglect, BARKERS Pet Stylists, its owner and team are not liable for post grooming effects that arise as a consequence of the pre existing coat condition or the matt release procedure.

Any humane de matting or knot removal will be undertaken at our discretion with your dog's welfare as the priority. Where knotting is limited, and your dog is comfortable and cooperative, we may be able to brush out affected areas safely. Additional time may incur an additional charge.

We would normally consider extensive brushing out as a one off option where circumstances such as illness or an owner being away have disrupted the usual coat care routine. It is not intended as a regular alternative to appropriate home care and professional grooming.

Where de matting would cause unreasonable discomfort, the humane option may be to clip the affected coat shorter. We will discuss what we find and, where possible, explain the likely approach and additional cost.

Matt release and shave down appointments can require significantly more time, labour, product and equipment wear than a routine groom. Additional charges may therefore apply and are payable when you collect your pet.

Aggressive and Poorly Socialised Dogs

We reserve the right to refuse to groom any pet where we believe there is a risk of harm to the pet, our team or others.

You must tell us before the appointment if your dog has previously bitten or displayed aggressive behaviour. If a dog is accepted for grooming and displays aggression that was not disclosed, we may terminate the groom and ask you to collect your dog. The appointment may still be chargeable.

Failure to disclose a known history of aggression may result in refusal of future services.

Dog owners should also be aware of their legal responsibilities in relation to dogs that cause injury.

Toilet Before You Visit

Please give your dog the opportunity to go to the toilet before arriving at the salon. We understand that accidents happen, but this helps us keep the salon as clean and comfortable as possible for every client and dog.

Feedback and Photography

As a small business, feedback is important to us. We value both positive and constructive feedback because it helps us maintain and improve the salon. If you are unhappy with any aspect of our service, please contact us directly so that we have the opportunity to address your concerns.

We use Facebook as one of our main communication channels for salon news, availability, annual leave, last minute appointments and photographs of dogs we groom.

If you do not want photographs of your dog shared on our social media, please tell us.

If you have had a positive experience, reviews on Facebook and Google are always appreciated and help other owners learn more about BARKERS.

Thank You

Thank you for choosing BARKERS Pet Stylists and for supporting our small business. We are grateful for the trust you place in us to care for your dog.