Policies

Policies, terms & conditions

Circle of Fluff Dog Grooming abides by the RSPCA Codes of Ethics. Please read our policies before booking — by requesting or booking an appointment you agree to abide by these terms and conditions.

The five freedoms

We abide by the RSPCA Codes of Ethics

01

Freedom from hunger and thirst — ready access to fresh water and a healthy diet.

02

Freedom from discomfort — an appropriate environment with shelter and a comfortable resting area.

03

Freedom from pain, injury or disease — prevention through rapid diagnosis and treatment.

04

Freedom to express normal behaviour — sufficient space, proper facilities and company.

05

Freedom from fear and distress — conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

Before your visit

Important appointment info

Before Arrival

Please avoid feeding your dog within 3 hours of their appointment to help prevent any mid-groom accidents.

At Arrival

  • Ensure your dog is on a leash or safely contained (crate or carrier).
  • Arrive a few minutes early so your pup can have a toilet break before entering.
  • Please bring your own waste bags and pick up after your dog.
Policies & procedures

The fine print, in plain sight

Summarised from our published policies — the signed consent forms remain the full terms.

Cancellations Policy

We understand that life happens and sometimes appointments may need to be cancelled or rescheduled due to unexpected emergencies. To help us manage our schedule and accommodate clients on our waitlist, we kindly ask for at least 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.

If less than 24 hours’ notice is given, and the situation does not constitute an emergency, we reserve the right to request a 50% fee of the total groom cost.

Missed Appointments / No-Shows

We send reminder messages prior to all appointments to give you plenty of time to confirm, decline or reschedule. If you do not respond to the reminder and fail to attend your appointment, we reserve the right to request full payment of the scheduled groom.

Late Arrivals

We provide private, one-on-one grooming appointments in a calm, unhurried environment — so appointments must run on time. If you are running late, please call or message us as soon as possible.

  • Arriving more than 15 minutes late may impact the quality of care we can provide and may affect the next client’s appointment.
  • More than 15 minutes late without notice: we reserve the right to refuse the appointment or request full payment.
  • Repeated late arrivals without notice may require pre-payment for future appointments.

Pick Up / Collection

You’ll be notified approximately 30 minutes before your dog’s grooming session is complete.

  • A $15 fee applies for every 15 minutes you are late beyond the agreed pick-up time without prior communication.
  • If your dog is not collected by closing time, an additional $50 wage charge may apply to cover staff overtime.

Dangerous or Aggressive Dogs

For the safety of all pets and staff, owners must inform us at the time of booking if their dog bites or has bitten in the past, displays aggression toward people or other animals, or reacts negatively to certain grooming procedures (e.g. drying with a high-velocity dryer).

Muzzles may be used if necessary — muzzling does not harm your dog; it is a standard safety measure. We reserve the right to refuse or stop grooming at any time if a dog displays aggressive behaviour; an aggressive dog handling fee will apply in addition to the regular grooming cost.

Pricing & Payments

All prices provided are estimates only. Final pricing is confirmed once the groom is completed on the day. Factors include coat condition, time between grooms, behaviour and temperament, age, weight and health, special needs, parasites, style requested and specialty products.

If the condition or behaviour of your dog makes it impossible to complete the groom, the full quoted price still applies. Full payment is required upon collection of your dog, before leaving the premises.

Client Records & Privacy

All clients complete forms covering emergency contacts, vet and pet insurance details, microchip number, vaccination and flea/worming records, and consents. All personal and pet-related data is treated as strictly confidential, stored securely and never shared with third parties, in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988.

Double Coat Shave-Down

We do not shave double-coated breeds as this is not to the benefit of the dog. At the owner’s request, and only for medical reasons or with the permission of a vet, we may on a rare occasion perform a shave-down — with a signed waiver acknowledging the risks: coats may grow back unevenly or not at all, skin irritation, sunburn risk, and no reduction in shedding.

Dematting & Restyling

Brushing out mats and loosening knots is a standard part of our grooming process, but dogs with severe matting may require a close shave clip (see the Matted Coat Consent Form). Mats left untreated only tighten over time and can cause serious discomfort or injury. We do not repeatedly de-mat your pet.

Additional charges apply for pets with matted coats due to the extra time and care required. Coat maintenance between grooms is the owner’s responsibility.

Health & Safety

While we take every precaution, grooming is carried out at the owner’s risk. Grooming may expose hidden medical conditions or aggravate existing ones. Unless a vet can clearly confirm Circle of Fluff is directly responsible, veterinary costs are the owner’s responsibility.

  • Please do not bring dogs that are unwell — notify us and reschedule.
  • We do not accept dogs that are pregnant or in heat.
  • We do not groom dogs undertaking chemotherapy.
  • Dogs must be up-to-date with vaccinations (including C5), flea, tick and worming treatments.

Parasites Policy

If any parasites are discovered at any stage of the grooming process, the groom will be immediately stopped and you will be contacted to collect your dog. The full grooming fee applies regardless of completion, plus an additional fee covering parasite elimination: deep cleaning and disinfection of the salon, specialist cleaning products, pest control and sanitisation of equipment.

If parasites are found on more than one occasion, we reserve the right to refuse future grooming services.

Special Pups

If your dog is a puppy, senior, geriatric or has special needs, we’ll take extra time and care during their groom — this may incur an additional fee. We do not provide services to pregnant dogs, dogs that have recently given birth, or dogs in heat.

Please ensure you have read the policies of Circle of Fluff Dog Grooming prior to booking an appointment. By requesting or booking an appointment you agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions of our policies and procedures.