Thank you for choosing Paws For Thought Grooming. Please ensure you read and understand the terms and conditions.
By making a booking and/or attending, you accept and agree to the following terms. Please check this page regularly, as these terms are subject to change without notice.

Location
Paws For Thought Grooming is based in The Barkham Place Estate, some sat-navs may not have the address on at this time. Google is the most accurate so try to use this when possible and use road signs when available. I am of off Biggs Lane >> Oak Drive >> Princess Marina Drive >> 11 Archer Grove, Arborfield Green, Reading, RG2 9TB.

Weight restrictions
I only accept dogs up to 20kg. I apologise for any inconvenience, but I will turn away any dog over the threshold.

Parking
Please use the parking bays opposite or my driveway -  be courteous & do not block or park in neighbouring shared driveway.

Schedule & Booking Frequency 
Please ask how often your dog should be booked in as all breeds, coat types, lifestyles etc differ. To remain on my books, you must schedule your dog/s in frequently. Any dog not booked in for 4 months or more will be removed from my books and no longer be able to have a time slot allocated to them until my books re-open and will be treated as a new client.

VIP Terms & Conditions
All VIP's must attend between 4-8 weeks depending on coat type and be booked in for a minimum of 6 months. If the dog becomes matted, they will need to attend more frequently. Home grooming and brushing is still required between grooms 
Frequency: Long/Silky/Wool Coats: 4-6 weeks. Wire/Double: 6-8 Weeks. Smooth/Short: 6-8 Weeks 

Rescheduling & Cancellation Policy
A courtesy of 48 hours notice of an appointment change is greatly appreciated. Any appointments changed or cancelled within 48 hours of the scheduled appointment will be subject to a reschedule fee equal to 50% charge of what your pet was booked in for. This must be paid before another appointment can be made.
 
No Show Policy
Any ‘no show’ or missed appointments, with no attempt to contact me, will be subject to a reschedule fee equal to 100% charge of what your pet was booked in for. This must be paid before another appointment can be made. Even though you may reschedule to another time, cancellations are difficult to fill at short notice and result in a financial loss to my small business.

Health Of Your Pet
Paws For Thought Grooming is primarily concerned with the health and well-being of your pet. Please inform me of any recent veterinary care or noticeable change in your pet’s health so I may best assess how to proceed with our service. Despite my high standards of hygiene, contagious diseases are a risk for puppies, elderly and Immunol-compromised pets. Please inform me if you discover your pet has a communicable disease, fungus or skin condition, worms and fleas. Please ensure your pet has toileted before your appointment.
 
Dematting Policy
I will NOT demat a pet that has extreme matting (heavily knotted). Excessive dematting is a painful, time-consuming, and costly procedure that may cause extreme discomfort and can aggravate (or cause) skin problems. When the pet is so badly matted, the hair must be completely clipped off, allowing new, healthy hair to grow. Excessive matting can be avoided with regular brushing and grooming, and I am happy to show you brushing techniques and the correct type of brushes required for your dogs coat type. I reserve the right to stop service at any point of the groom, and will always put humanity before vanity.

Payment
Full payment MUST be made on day of service. You may pay prior to your dogs appointment, during, or upon collection. You can pay via cash, card or Bacs payment. If someone if taking/collecting your dog on your behalf, ensure they have a method of payment or you have paid in advance. Failure to pay within 24 hours or service will mean you will not be able to book future appointments and any currently booked will be cancelled. A late fee of £10 per day is incurred to late payments (after the first 24 hours onwards). Remember, non-payment is a theft of service, not to mention disrespectful, and will be met with a letter of invitation to the small claims court to recover the cost of the groom, court fees and late fees. 

Biting, Stress, Fear & Aggression
Most dogs simply tolerate, and do not enjoy grooming, and may display moderate signs of stress such as lip-licking, yawning, tail-tucking and avoidance/wriggling. Dogs that exhibit higher levels of stress such as shaking, inappropriate toileting, standing rigid and severe vocalising may be referred to a specialist groomer, or have their grooming appointments altered to accommodate. I do NOT use punishment to simply ‘get the job done’ as this often exacerbates any underlying behavioural/emotional condition.

A dog bite to a groomer’s hand can happen in a split second and the consequences vary from a week off work with stitches, to career-ending permanent nerve damage. For this reason, dogs that bite or display fear and/or aggression simply for being handled, or dogs being managed using balanced/punishment-based methods will be referred on to a veterinary behaviourist and cannot be groomed. I reserve the right to cease the groom at any point if behaviour issues become evident and you may still be charged full price for the service that your dog was booked in for.
 
Bookings & Alteration to Service Policy
As I provide a 1-to-1 service, bookings are required. I recommend booking several weeks in advance to avoid disappointment. I allocate a time and price depending on the service after assessing the dog in person. Sometimes I may give a rough quote over the phone or various messaging service, keep in mind these prices are FROM and varies due to coat condition, size, style and temperament.

If you are unhappy with the groom for whichever reason, you have 48 hours to let me know so I can adjust to your requirements. This does not include dogs who do not tolerate the grooming session. After this time there will be a charge to alternate the groom. If the dog is dirty a bath may be required which will incur a fee.