What are Surcharges?
Surcharges are fees charged in addition to the cost of a groom. They reflect the dog's condition or behaviours and the amount of extra work involved.
There are no planned increases to current price list, however, the following surcharges will apply...
... After all, why should the majority of our lovely customers who stick rigidly to their grooming schedules, maintain their dogs beautifully at home and present them for grooming ~ clean, dry and knot free have to pay the same as the odd customer who constantly abuses the system?
"No-Shows", late arrivals/pick-ups, matted dogs, dogs outside the recommended breed schedule and dogs with dubious temperamental issues cost us 272 unpaid hours last year.
Clean and Dry
Avoid Surcharges
We bend over backwards for any client who presents their dog for grooming in the same condition that they present themselves to their hairdresser.
This link has further information.
We appreciate that this is difficult in the middle of winter, but there are customers who manage it.
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Muddy / Wet Dog - when a dog gets here it goes into a crate lined with clean lined mattress for its comfort. If the dog's condition is so bad that the mattress cover needs to be changed before it can be used by a clean dog, additional fees will need to be charged. Whilst we expect to wash the beds at the end of every day, we do not expect to have to do this between each and every dog, though of course we will do so if required.
A booby-trapped dog (burrs or brambles or other sharp debris in coat) A dog that has rolled in anything vile A dog with any parasites (fleas or ticks)
Removal of anything like paint or tar or oil (etc) from the coat.
Stay within the recognised Breed Schedule
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Stay within the recognised Breed Schedule - as discussed at the initial assessment or as recommended in peer-reviewed publications such as "Notes From The Grooming Table" (Verplank et al)
Incur Surcharges
Each breed has a recommended frequency for visits to a professional groomer. Dogs outside that schedule will be charged appropriately because the clipping pattern has grown out; we are basically starting from scratch and this groom has become a Restyle, not a Maintenance Trim. For example, a Cocker Spaniel that costs £85 at 6 weeks will cost £127.50 at 9 weeks and £140.00 at 10 weeks. There are no savings to be made by pushing out appointments as these dogs always take longer to do and undoubtedly place more strain on our staff and equipment.
Knot Free
Avoid Surcharges
Customers who brush their dog at home, right down to skin, then get a comb and check it will undoubtedly pay less.
Incur Surcharges
If he's "just a bit knotty" he'll be "just a bit more expensive". Dematting is charged at £1.00 per minute for a maximum of 20 minutes. If there is more than 20 minutes work we will offer a total shavedown instead (). This will always incur a surcharge in addition to the grooming fee for the breed.
Good Temperament and/or Training
Avoid Surcharges
If the dog is easy to do, it will not incur extra charges.
Incur Surcharges
The owner of a dog that needs muzzling for any part of the groom whether the threat is perceived or real or a dog that actually bites will incur EXTREMELY HEFTY SURCHARGES if we have not been prewarned about its behaviour. Whilst we are both qualified and willing to work with these dogs, we will not do so for the same price as a well behaved version of the same breed.
Exceptionally nervous or shy dogs or over-exuberant / untrained dogs are also welcome and again, we'll happily put the training in whilst the dog is with us and advise you how to do the same at home, though if the dog's behaviour increases the duration or difficulty of the groom it will be reflected in the price.
Correct Weight / Fit Dog
Avoid Surcharges
We have noticed, over the last 20 years of grooming all breeds that dogs fed a holistic natural (raw) diet generally have better coats. They are less porous, self clean more readily and dry more quickly. These dogs are also more likely to be at the correct weight for their height and build.
We can weigh small dogs (up to 15kg) and monitor their weight at their grooming appointments - this service is free.
Incur Surcharges
This sounds very harsh, but it's a sad fact that an obese dog with extra rolls of fat is not as straight forward to clip or groom as a dog of the correct weight and always take a lot longer to do. (It should be said that severely underweight dogs have bony protrusions which also need extra care, but are so rarely seen at this salon that this rule hardly ever applies).
Over Breed Standard - if your GSD/Cavalier/Labradonkey is heading for the Guiness World Records Book expect it to cost more than a dog within the normal height/weight for its breed!
Enormous effort and care is put into customers' geriatric dogs who definitely need extra TLC during their groom.
Blind and or Deaf dogs have their own special needs, which we are happy to cater for.
Please note that any dog that poops in the salon will incur appropriate cleanup charges.
Promptness
We expect dogs to be picked up at the time stated at drop off or the text we send to let customers know when their dog will be ready. Daycare will be charged at £10.00 per hour or part thereof from that point onwards.