Grooms and Grooming 

Please read the grooming policy below 

It must be clearly understood and agreed that whilst we are a fully insured salon, and although we give your dog our upmost care and attention while they are with us that occasionally an accident may occur. Working on any live animal will always hold an element of risk. Extreme care and caution are taken during a groom but occasionally scratches, nicks, cuts or quickening of the nails may occur during a groom. This is to be understood by the owner.

 

The owner agrees that their dog is fit and healthy enough to attend their grooming session.

Grooming of any dog, especially but not limited to elderly dogs or dogs that have health concerns/behaviour issues, is entirely at the owners’ risk. It is imperative for owners to notify us of any concerns or issues prior to their appointment commencing. This enables us to evaluate the situation and to accommodate where necessary. The grooming procedure may reveal undiagnosed skin or health conditions that Dolman Dog Grooming cannot be held liable for. Dolman Dog Grooming reserves the right to refuse a dog for grooming if we feel it presents a risk to itself or others.

 

Our priorities are with the welfare of your dog, so in the unlikely event of any health issues, illness or injury, a vet may be called for advice or we may need to attend a veterinary practice for administrative care on your behalf. Unless it can be clearly proven that we are liable, all costs in connection to this will be at the owner’s expense. We always recommend that your dog is insured. In the event that we are unable to contact your registered vet, or in an emergency situation, it must be understood that we will seek assistance from our own local veterinary practise, (usually Wilmington/Etwall vets) It is paramount that we are updated with any medical concerns (past or present) and that you provide us your own vet’s details in the event we may need to contact them.

 

 

ELDERLY DOGS AND/OR DOGS WITH HEALTH CONDITIONS

These dogs run a higher risk of possible complications during their grooming session. For example and not limited to, skin and coats may change and become thinner over time causing more sensitivity, or joints can become sore so they may struggle to stand or be handled for longer periods and some health conditions may also minimise the grooming they can cope with.

 

Haircuts and styles may have to be adapted to help keep grooming sessions to a minimum and to help keep them as comfortable and safe as possible. We will always discuss with you and explain what we think is the best approach for your dog, and why. It is especially important in these circumstances that owners are easily contactable, and we may also ask owners to stay in the surrounding local area during grooming in case their presence is required at short notice.

 

In some circumstances where we feel the dog is no longer coping with grooming Dolman Dog Grooming reserve the right to discontinue services a dog if we feel it is unsafe and all other options have been explored. This will be discussed with the owner and our help and guidance will be given for future grooming care.

 

Top of page is an example of Max who I groom

grooming many elderly types here's ,each is groomed to there capabilities 

 

 

 

 

 


Can you just keep him looking like a puppy (he’s 14)?

I don’t want him to look like a poodle, can you make him look like a teddy bear (he’s a poodle)? 

Why is my dog’s haircut more expensive than my own?
(Did you bite your hairdresser? Did he trim your privates? Have you trained him to sit/stand completely still? Does he know my tools won't hurt him ?)

These are just a few of the questions that we get asked at least once a day. They are very common and go with many other questions that are of the same ilk.

All breeds of dog, except mixed breeds, have a breed standard haircut. This is the haircut that you might see in Crufts or at your local dog show. The breed standard is there to accentuate your dog’s genetic build and muscle structure. It is considered that the breed standard is the best look for each individual breed. We as groomers are trained to make your breed of dog the best that it can possibly look for the coat and genetics that it has been given.

 

I understand theses cuts aren't suitable for everyday country living and will groom to owners requirements hair grows back but ultimately there your dog and it's your choice.
We all want low maintenance happy dogs after all.

I do alot of beautiful English weather cuts as I call them here. This is a same length all over cut to help keep them Matt free and much cleaner.

Different breeds have different coat types and take a different amount of time to groom. For example a Yorkshire Terrier with a nice silky straight coat may take 5 minutes to dry whereas a Poodle of the same size with a dense curly coat may take 45 minutes to completely dry. All of the dogs are different. We may get a dog in that doesn’t like the blaster (high velocity dryer) and so may take a lot longer than a dog of an even calm temperament as the drying process is less intrusive.

All dogs need grooming and should regularly attend the groomers. A good dog groomer could possibly spot changes in skin and coat as well as behaviour that you may not have spotted. Remember, we have our hands all over dogs for 8 hours a day, 6 days a week. If anything is going to be flagged up, we may well spot it. We have spotted lumps and bumps in many dogs, most of which are harmless fatty lumps but some of which are cancers that if treated early can be cured. We have helped dogs tell their owners of the tooth pain that they are suffering and the gum disease that they are having to live with. Sometimes your groomer can be the voice of your dog.

“Sometimes your groomer can be the voice of your dog.”

“I have a Staffy, he doesn’t need a groom” this is not true. Staffordshire Bull Terriers and other short coated breeds benefit from a groom too. They enjoy feeling clean and pampered as much as the most coiffured poodle. These breeds have an undercoat that can be effectively removed with a coat rake or Furminator. Also, the blaster can get rid of the undercoat. Also small double coated breeds ie : pug shed a lot of hair alongside the much bigger breeds.

my deshedding grooms are highly rated .


Any hair that sheds is effectively dead hair. No one wants that lying around their house. Let us deal with that for you.

Matted Dogs:

“My dog has a few knots, I have tried to cut them out myself but I can’t, I don’t want him shaved though” This is a very common problem and one that I can sympathise with.

i also understand we have busy life's 

We as groomers love dogs, we wouldn’t be in this business if we didn’t. Everyone wants their dog to look like a teddy bear or a puppy all the time but the reality is, they like to roll in poo. They love a good old forage and a muddy puddle. All longer haired dogs need to be brushed every day to achieve a constant knot free coat. Poodles and Cockerpoo’s or anything with a curly coat, twice a day. If this isn’t performed, your dog is likely to get matted or knotty. Matted dogs can get very uncomfortable and some of the most severe cases have had to have limbs amputated as the Matt has got so tight, it has cut off the blood supply to the specific area. Groom Dog City follows the 5 Freedoms set out by the Animal Welfare Act.

The 5 Freedoms are:

FREEDOM FROM HUNGER AND THIRST
FREEDOM FROM DISCOMFORT
FREEDOM FROM PAIN, INJURY AND DISEASE
FREEDOM TO EXPRESS NORMAL BEHAVIOUR
FREEDOM FROM FEAR AND DISTRESS

De-Matting a dog can be a very painful process, it consists of pulling on the matted hair a bit like trying to comb a knot out of your own hair. Imagine that all over your body!!! That’s why we don’t do it. If your dog has a few knots, sure, well get them out, but for a dog that is matted, this would be a hellish few hours and not something that we as dog lovers are prepared to do.

The alternative is to shave your dog, a much better idea. We use blades that can seamlessly get under those pesky matts leaving your dog a lot happier to come back in to the salon and have another groom at a later date. Yes, you may have a short dog for a while but guess what…..IT GROWS BACK!!! Hooorrraaayyyy. (thank goodness, because if it didn’t, we’d be out of a job).

So please remember, when your groomer says that your dog has to be shaved, it’s not to get at you, no one is judging, it is simply what is best for your beloved doggy. We all have one main thing in common and it has four legs and a waggy tail!