Mr Clippy Client Agreement

By signing this client agreement, you are agreeing to the following terms regarding Mr Clippy Services.

The following agreement aims to:

1. Set expectations of the services Mr Clippy offers.
2. Inform customers of the risks involved in dog grooming.
3. Request information about a dog’s history, behaviour and health issues that could influence the grooming outcome and procedures used.
4. How Mr Clippy works to mitigate any risks and liability.
5. Policy’s surrounding cancellations, information privacy and payments.

Mr Clippy Services

Mr Clippy offers a mobile grooming service:

• Mr Clippy requires a space for a car and trailer to park at the address the groom has been booked at.
• Driveway access is preferred as this is often a flatter surface. Street parking areas are often on a slant which leave the dog grooming trailer on a slant, which can inhibit functionality.
• Mr Clippy requires access to electricity and water at the address of the groom booking.
• This has been factored into the pricing.

Mr Clippy offers a safe and kind experience for dogs to be groomed. Whilst an owner may have an aesthetic desire, It is the role of the groomer to balance this with any factors that may inhibit this goal and find a balance between the dogs ability to be groomed and the desired outcome.

• Mr Clippy will consult with an owner should any issues arise before making a decision that has not been agreed upon as an expectation prior.

Matting

Where a dog’s coat is deeply matted to the skin a short shave is recommended as brushing and other methods will be unable to de-matt a coat in this condition.

A matted coat can lead to:

• Bacterial infection also known as ‘hot spots’, as well has fungal and mould infestation due to moisture and urine being trapped near the skin.
• Skin strain, skin tearing, skin rashes, muscle restriction, temperature regulating problems etc.

Once a short shave has been completed, regular grooms every 6 weeks will allow you to regrow your dog’s coat without matting reoccurring. It is also recommend that the owner brushes their dog every day.

• For dogs with longer coats or that have coat dirtying habits that need more regular maintenance, it is common for an alternating 3-week grooming schedule to be in place. This involves a simple bath and then a full groom 3 weeks later.

Mr Clippy does not offer de-matting services due to the stress and harm that a dog must endure during this process.

A coat free from matts or tangles can have a silver comb glide threw a dogs coat without being caught or inhibited.

 

Dog Behaviour

It is a requirement that potentially problematic behaviours of dogs be disclosed to Mr Clippy prior to a grooming appointment. The following behaviours should be brought to attention:

 

Aggressive and Dangerous Behaviours

• Aggressive behaviour such as biting, scratching, jumping and full body tantrums.
• In these situations, Mr Clippy will use muzzles, body harness and other restraints to ensure safety of both the dog and the groomer. Only the bare minimum is used as excessive restraints can escalate problem behaviours. Where suitable brakes from restraints are taken. Praise and empathy is always shown to dogs regardless of their behaviours.
• The long-term goal is that these dogs will learn that a grooming experience is not a threat and overtime the need of safety restraints may not be required.
• Where these known behaviours have not been disclosed to the groomer, and result in injury to the groomer, the customer may be liable for medical costs.

Anxiety

• Anxiety relating to previous grooming experiences, being bathed, being blow dried, new people etc.
• This information allows modifications to be made to the grooming experience that will diminish anxiety for your dog. It is important to build trust and familiarity for dogs with bad previous grooming experiences or have an instinctive fear/aversion. Over time anxiety will diminish.

Female Dogs in Season, Pregnant or Weaning

• If your dog is in season, pregnant or weaning, please reschedule your grooming appointment as this can cause problems for your dog.

Pregnant and Breast-Feeding Dogs

• Mr Clippy recommends having your dog groomed as soon as you find out they are pregnant as grooming could be a stressor that leads to gestation complications or miscarriage.
• Once the puppies are born, a simple groom to maintain the coat could be completed, but there is the risk that grooming may act as a stressor that results in inhibited milk production for the puppies.
• If bathing is required, a simple rinse would be suggested as dogs’ teats and skin can become very sensitive during this time.
• For further advice please consult with your vet about the best approach during these times.

Costs associated with Problematic Behaviours

• Please note that to safely and efficiently groom dogs with these behavioural issues, extra time may be required. Extra time to complete a groom is charged in 15-minute segments at $20 per segment. This is at the discretion of the groomer. Extra charges are only to cover time.

Accidental Injury or Death

Whilst Mr Clippy makes every effort to ensure your dog’s grooming experience is injury free, it should be noted that due to dogs unexpected movement or inability to stay still small cuts and grazes may occur. These can be from:

• Nail cutting where the quick (the nails blood vessel) is cut and may bleed. This is often only the tip, and a coagulant is used to stop the bleeding.
• Scissoring where a dogs unexpected movement may result in a cut or nicking of the skin. A coagulant is used to stop minor bleeding and band aids for slightly larger wounds. Where an injury has been sustained beyond these measures, the owner will be immediately contacted for veterinary care.
• Clippers can nick or cause skin burns on sensitive skin. These are often minor and will heal within a few days.

Liability

• In circumstances where major injury occurs due to a dog’s unexpected movement Mr Clippy cannot be liable for the costs associated with veterinary care. Please be aware of this risk and responsibility as an owner.
• All efforts are taken to mitigate potential injury/harm, but unfortunately accidents do happen.
• Mr Clippy is insured for circumstances where the groomer is at fault.

Dog Illness or Infection

It is a requirement that all dogs book in with Mr Clippy for all and any grooming services are healthy, parasite free and fully vaccinated.

 

Parasites

• Mr Clippy cannot groom a dog that is infected with fleas, mites, or ticks.
• Dogs should also be up to date with worming tablets.
• Where a dog a has been handed over to Mr Clippy and upon inspection has been found to have one of the above parasite infections the dog will be returned to their own and a cleaning fee of $100 will be charged. This is because a full deep clean and sanitisation of the grooming trailer will need to take place to ensure cross contamination does not occur with other dogs. This cost also covers loss of other grooming appointments that may have to be cancelled that day with leads to financial loss for Mr Clippy.

Dog Health

• If your dog is unwell, please cancel and reschedule your grooming appointment for when your dog is better.
• Grooming can add extra stress to an ill dog during their recovery which could lead to worsening the illness, other complications and even death.
• Mr Clippy holds no responsibility or liability for these risks and outcomes in circumstances where illness has not been disclosed.
• Mr Clippy holds no responsibility or liability for outcomes that occur for undiagnosed or unknown illness of a dog. It is the owners responsibility to ensure regular vet check-ups occur and to know the health status of their dog.
• Mr Clippy will stop grooming and contact the dogs owner if signs and symptoms of illness present themselves during a grooming session.

Older Dogs and Dogs with Long Term Conditions

• Whilst all care is taken to accommodate older dogs and dogs with long term conditions, it should be noted that grooming may act as a stressor that can exacerbate a condition or potentially lead to death.
• If signs of stress by any dog are shown Mr Clippy will stop grooming and consult with the owner about the their concerns and plans to move forward or continue. However Mr Clippy cannot be held liable for outcomes that occur due to a dogs age, long term illness or undiagnosed health condition.
• It is the owners responsibility to notify Mr Clippy of any conditions that need to be monitored during the dogs groom.

Fully Vaccinated

• It is a requirement that all dogs groomed by Mr Clippy are fully vaccinated.
• This includes but is not limited to:
  • Canine Distemper virus
  • Canine Hepatitis
  • Canine Parvovirus
• Please consult with your vet if you are unsure of your dog’s vaccination status.
• This also extends to ensuring your dog is up to date with worming medication. In circumstances where a dog defecates in the grooming trailer and worms are present, a deep cleaning fee and sterilisation fee of $100 may be charged to ensure cross contamination does not occur to future Mr Clippy clients.

Cancellation and No-Show Policy

Please ensure that if you need to cancel or reschedule your grooming appointment that you provide notice 24 hour prior to the time of your grooming appointment. This allows other clients to take your booking.

A 50% cancellation fee applies if:

• Cancel within 24 hours to 1 hours of your appointment.

A 100% cancellation fee applies if:

• If you give 1 hour or no notice of cancelling your appointment.
• If unpaid you will not be able to make future bookings with Mr Clippy.
• This is due to travel time, loss of income and costs associated with mobile grooming services.

Information Privacy and Use

Information

• Information provided to Mr Clippy is stored on the data base of MoeGo, which is the scheduling program used by Mr Clippy.
• Mr Clippy may store mobile numbers of clients in a secure and password protected phone for the sole purpose of contacting clients.
• Mr Clippy does not share this information with any other parties.

Photography

• Unless specified, Mr Clippy holds the right to photograph dogs that have been groomed and use them for social media promotion and posting.
• If you would not like your dog to be photographed and used for Mr Clippy social media, please let Mr Clippy know and this will be added to your client profile.

Code of Conduct

Mr Clippy has a zero-abuse policy from clients. For dissatisfied customers, Mr Clippy will make every effort to rectify the problem. But will not tolerate verbal or physical abuse.

Such situations will result in Mr Clippy discontinuing their relationship with said clients and further legal action may be taken if required.

All problems and complaints regarding a groom must be made known to Mr Clippy within 48hours of the groom being completed.

 

Agreement

By making an appointment with Mr Clippy it is assumed you have read, understood and agreed to the terms and conditions of this client agreement.