Grooming: A Hair of the Dog Guilford, CT

We adhere to a strict policy of last minute cancellations. Please notify the shop by telephone 24 hours before your appointment to avoid a cancellation fee. 

• 1st missed appointment 50% of grooming fee due before rescheduling 
• 2nd missed appointment 100% the grooming fee due before rescheduling 
• 3rd missed appointment 100% grooming fee due before rescheduling in addition to 100% service required as deposit for any upcoming scheduled grooming. 

Deposits are nonrefundable for cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance. Because our appointments are reserved exclusively for each pet and our schedule is often booked well ahead of time, last-minute cancellations result in lost revenue and prevent us from accommodating other clients. We kindly ask that you respect the time and care we dedicate to each grooming session.

It is strongly recommended that all pets be current on all core vaccinations and are required to be up to date on their rabies immunization to receive grooming services. Thank you for your understanding.

Drop offs are staggered between 8/9 and 9/10 am. Your arrival time includes the wiggle room of an entire hour to eliminate late drop offs. Please arrive during your hour slot. Any appointment arriving 15 min past their drop off window will be up to the discretion of the groomer, may endure a $5/10 fee depending on size of your dog/or/will need to reschedule which will include a 50% service fee charge. 

Some pets may require additional support during the grooming process to ensure their comfort and safety. In these cases, an extra set of hands may be needed to gently hold, comfort, or assist your pet. We take a patient, slow-paced approach, incorporating breaks as necessary to help your pet remain calm and cooperative throughout the session.

If at any point we believe continuing the groom would compromise the safety of your pet or our staff, we reserve the right—and responsibility—to discontinue the session.

This is a $40/hour add-on service, assessed individually based on your pet’s ability to tolerate grooming. Special handling needs may include, but are not limited to:

• Seniors

• Puppies

• Pets with injuries or medical conditions (veterinary clearance required)

• Blind or deaf pets

• Anxious or behaviorally sensitive pets

Should your pet require this level of care, we will always discuss it with you respectfully and work collaboratively to create a handling plan that prioritizes the well-being of everyone involved.

Matting can cause trouble on the skin and coat, increasing the risk for injury, while requiring a higher tolerance from the pet the grooming process. The challenge in this lies when a dog is not on a regular schedule of grooming and/or at home maintenance, it will become matted. Dematting is asking the pet to stand for longer periods of time while permitting a process of brushing, conditioning, blow-drying while being brushed and combed more. It is unrealistic at the least. We are a comfort before vanity shop. We will within reason attempt to de-matt for an additional charge of $30/per extra ½ hour in addition to the regular grooming fee if it doesn’t cause extreme discomfort for the animal or overly stress them out. In severe situations we will request a SHAVE-DOWN and start the coat over.