The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. Policies

Comfort & Safety First

Your dog’s comfort, emotional wellbeing, and safety are always my top priorities. Grooming involves working closely with live animals using sharp tools, so creating a calm and low-stress environment is essential for a safe grooming experience.

At The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co., I work one-on-one with each dog and adjust the grooming process to their individual comfort level and needs. My goal is not only to help your dog look and feel their best, but also to build trust and create positive grooming experiences over time.

If your dog becomes overly stressed, fearful, anxious, or unsafe during any part of the groom, I may need to slow down, modify, pause, or stop the service. In some cases, breaking services into multiple shorter appointments may be the safest and most comfortable option. While I always strive to achieve the desired service outcome, a calm and safe experience will take priority over perfection — especially for puppies, senior dogs, nervous dogs, or dogs learning to feel more comfortable with grooming.

Because I work alone and provide one-on-one care, I reserve the right to decline or discontinue services if I feel continuing would place your dog, myself, or others at risk of injury. Service charges will reflect the time spent working with your dog during the appointment.

Medical Release & Pre-Existing Conditions

Every effort will be made to groom your pet as safely and comfortably as possible. However, grooming does carry inherent risks, including but not limited to minor irritation, nicks, clipper irritation, nail quicking, or reactions related to pre-existing medical or skin conditions.

It is extremely important that you inform me of any medical conditions, injuries, sensitivities, behavioral concerns, medications, and/or past grooming difficulties before your appointment. This information allows me to safely modify the grooming process to your dog’s individual needs.

In the event of an injury or medical concern during the grooming process, you will be contacted immediately using the phone number provided on file. If veterinary care is deemed necessary, you authorize The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. to seek appropriate medical attention for your pet.

If veterinary care is sought against my professional recommendation following a grooming-related incident, The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. may cover up to 50% of eligible veterinary costs at my discretion. This does not apply to complications related to pre-existing conditions, underlying medical issues, matting, skin conditions, senior-related conditions, or other health abnormalities that may have been present before or during the grooming appointment, whether known or unknown.

To be considered for reimbursement, your dog must be evaluated by a veterinarian within 24 hours of the grooming appointment, and a copy of the veterinary invoice must be provided to The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. within one week of the grooming visit.

The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. is not liable for complications resulting from pre-existing conditions, including but not limited to matting, skin conditions, allergies, heart conditions, seizures, joint issues, pregnancy, senior-related conditions, or other underlying medical concerns.

I reserve the right to refuse or discontinue grooming services if I believe continuing would not be in the best interest of your dog’s health, comfort, or safety.

Senior Pets

Senior pets often require additional time, support, and accommodations during the grooming process. As dogs age, they may become more sensitive to standing for long periods, grooming procedures, handling, temperature changes, stress, or medical conditions such as arthritis, hearing loss, vision loss, heart conditions, or mobility concerns.

The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. will always prioritize your senior dog’s comfort and safety throughout the grooming process. However, due to the increased health risks associated with aging pets, grooming senior dogs may involve a higher risk of stress-related illness, injury, or medical emergencies during or after the appointment.

For the wellbeing of your dog, grooming services for senior pets may need to be shortened, modified, broken into multiple appointments, or stopped if I feel continuing would be unsafe or overly stressful. In some cases, achieving a perfectly finished groom may not be possible, and comfort-focused grooming may be recommended instead. In other cases, a vet-assisted grooming may be recommended to reduce safety risk.

By scheduling an appointment for your senior pet, you acknowledge and accept the inherent risks associated with grooming elderly dogs. The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. is not responsible for complications related to pre-existing or age-related conditions that may arise during or after the grooming process.

Matted Coats

Matted coats can cause significant discomfort and may lead to skin irritation, bruising, restricted airflow to the skin, hematomas, or other health concerns. In many cases, shaving the coat is the safest, most humane, and least stressful option.

By scheduling an appointment with The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co., you acknowledge that severely matted coats may need to be shaved shorter than expected in order to safely remove the matting and prioritize your dog’s comfort, and you agree to do so when necessary.

Mat removal can occasionally reveal pre-existing skin irritation, sores, bruising, redness, hot spots, lumps, cause hematomas to form, or reveal other conditions hidden beneath the coat. While every safety precaution will be taken, The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. is not responsible for skin irritation or medical issues discovered as a result of mat removal.

Additional fees may apply depending on the severity of matting, coat condition, extra handling required, and the additional time needed to safely complete the groom. If matting is too severe to safely remove within the salon setting, I may recommend veterinary-assisted grooming instead.

Calming Medication

If your dog requires calming medication in order to be groomed safely, the medication must be prescribed to your dog by your veterinarian. Medication should be trialed at home prior to the appointment to ensure your dog does not experience any adverse reactions.

Dogs must arrive responsive and able to walk normally. For safety reasons, The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. reserves the right to reschedule or decline services if a dog appears overly sedated or medically unsafe to groom. Standard cancellation or no-show policies may apply.

The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. is not responsible for adverse reactions related to medications administered before the appointment.

Double-Coated Breeds

Double-coated breeds have coats that are naturally designed to insulate. Their coats help to regulate body temperature in both warm and cold weather while also protecting the skin from environmental exposure and sunburn. Because of this, shaving double-coated dogs is generally not recommended unless medically necessary.

If you request that your double-coated dog be shaved, please understand that doing so may permanently affect the texture, quality, and regrowth of the coat. In some cases, the coat may grow back unevenly, patchy, thinner than before, or not fully regrow at all. Skin issues, irritation, and increased sensitivity may also occur following shaving.

The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. is not responsible for coat or skin changes resulting from the shaving of double-coated breeds. I reserve the right to refuse shaving services if I believe doing so would be detrimental to your dog’s health, comfort, or coat condition.

If you are unsure whether shaving is the best option for your dog, I am always happy to discuss in more detail how their coat works to protect them and suggest alternative grooming solutions to help keep them comfortable.

Pregnant Dogs

For the safety of both mother and puppies, The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. does not groom pregnant dogs. I am happy to groom your dog prior to pregnancy or after puppies have been fully weaned.

If a pregnancy is unknown or undisclosed to me at the time of the appointment, The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. is not responsible for complications related to grooming during pregnancy.

Puppy Introductions & First Groom Expectations

A puppy’s first grooming experiences can have a lasting impact on how they feel about grooming for the rest of their life. This also applies to dogs of any age who are visiting the salon for the first time. Because of this, my goal during puppy & first time appointments is to create a calm, positive, and low-stress experience while slowly introducing your dog to the grooming process at a pace they can comfortably handle.

First grooms are focused on building trust, confidence, and familiarity with me, grooming tools, handling, sounds, and sensations. Some puppies may not be ready for a full haircut or perfectly finished groom during their initial appointments, and that is completely normal. Creating a safe and positive experience will always take priority over achieving perfection.

Depending on your dog’s comfort level, appointments may need to be shortened, modified, or broken into multiple visits to avoid overwhelming them. Puppies are still learning how to stand, be handled, and tolerate grooming procedures, so patience and consistency are extremely important during this stage.

Early and regular grooming appointments help puppies to become more comfortable with the grooming process over time and often lead to safer, less stressful grooming experiences as adults.

Fleas & Ticks

If your dog has fleas, please contact me to reschedule your appointment prior to arrival. Because The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. is a home-based salon with pets of my own on the property, maintaining a clean and parasite-free environment is extremely important for the safety of all animals in my care.

If fleas or any parasites are discovered during your dog’s appointment, the grooming service may be stopped immediately and you will be contacted for prompt pick-up. Standard no show/cancellation fees may apply. Flea treatment in your home, car, and veterinary clearance may be required before rescheduling.

Ticks will be removed during the grooming process when safely possible. However, if a large number of ticks are present, or if removal may pose a health concern for your dog, I may recommend veterinary care instead.

Vaccination Requirements

Massachusetts state law requires proof of a current rabies vaccination before any grooming services can be performed. Rabies tags alone cannot be accepted, as they do not include the full expiration date.

Please provide documentation from your veterinary office showing your dog’s rabies vaccination expiration date prior to your appointment. This may be sent electronically or brought with you at check-in. Some veterinary offices also provide vaccine records through online client portals. I offer to call your veterinary office only to gather this information when requested with your expressed permission.

Vaccination records only need to be submitted again once the current rabies vaccination on file has expired. Failure to provide proof of a current rabies vaccination may result in cancellation of your appointment and applicable cancellation fees.

Late Arrivals & Pick-Up Times

If this is your dog’s first appointment at The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co., arriving a few minutes early is recommended so we have time to review your dog’s coat, haircut preferences, and any necessary paperwork.

I understand that delays occasionally happen. However, because I provide one-on-one grooming and prioritize safe, unrushed handling, late arrivals may affect the services I am able to complete during your scheduled appointment time.

Appointments arriving 5-10 or more minutes late may be adjusted to a modified service based on the remaining time available. This may include a bath and tidy rather than a full haircut. Full appointment pricing will still apply.

A pick-up time will be provided at check-in. Because I work on a one-on-one schedule, timely pick-up is extremely important in order for e to stay on schedule for the next dog. A late fee of $1 per minute will apply beginning 10 minutes after the scheduled pick-up time. I thank you for your understanding.

Cancellations & No-Shows

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, I kindly ask for at least 48 hours notice. This allows me the opportunity to offer the appointment time to another guest.

The first late cancellation or no-show fee will be waived as a courtesy. Any additional cancellations made within 48 hours of the appointment time, or missed appointments without notice, may result in a fee equal to 100% of your dog’s usual grooming cost. Payment of outstanding fees will be required before scheduling future appointments.

Snow days resulting in school cancellations in Auburn or your town are exempt from cancellation fees if you feel unsafe driving in the weather. Whenever possible, please communicate with me directly - I understand that emergencies and unexpected situations can happen, and I will always do my best to work with you.

Drop-Off & Pick-Up

If someone other than the owner will be picking up your dog, please provide me with their name and contact information at or before drop-off. For safety reasons, dogs will only be released to approved individuals.

Because The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. operates on a one-on-one grooming schedule, timely drop-off and pick-up are greatly appreciated. I schedule small breaks between appointments to properly sanitize and prepare the salon for the next dog, and late pick-ups may impact the remainder of the day’s schedule.

A late fee of $1 per minute will apply beginning 10 minutes after the scheduled pick-up time.

If I have not heard from you within two hours of your scheduled pick-up time, Animal Control may be contacted for assistance. Any related fees or charges will be the responsibility of the owner.

Pricing & Service Estimates

Pricing provided before your appointment is considered an estimate and may vary depending on your dog’s individual needs at the time of service. Final pricing is determined during the appointment based on factors including, but not limited to, breed, size, coat condition, matting, behavior and handling requirements, service frequency, haircut complexity, and the amount of time needed to safely and comfortably complete the groom.

Additional charges may apply for excessive matting, extra de-shedding, behavioral handling, extended appointment times, special accommodations, or other services requiring additional time, products, or care.

The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. is committed to transparent pricing and will always do my best to communicate any significant pricing adjustments before completing the service whenever possible.

Payment

Payment is due at the time of pick-up unless otherwise discussed in advance. Accepted payment methods include debit/credit cards, Venmo, Cash App, and checks.

Grooming prices may vary between appointments depending on factors such as coat condition, matting, behavior, handling requirements, and the time needed to safely complete the groom.

Future appointments cannot be scheduled until outstanding balances have been paid in full.

Satisfaction & Respectful Communication

I truly care about the dogs that I get to work with, and want you to feel happy with your dog’s experience and appearance. Please feel free to look over your dog at pick-up and let me know if there is anything you would like to be quickly adjusted or noted for future appointments. If a touch-up is needed, please contact me within 48 hours of your dog's service pickup time so we can arrange a time to address the concern.

Kindness and respectful communication are expected from everyone at The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. I am committed to treating both you and your dog with patience, care, and respect, and I ask for the same in return. Harassment, threats, aggressive behavior, or disrespectful communication may result in refusal of current or future services at my discretion.

Media Release

By signing the client agreement, you grant The Bubbly Puppy Luxury Grooming Co. permission to photograph your dog for use in client files, social media, marketing materials, and the company website.

Your dog’s name may occasionally be used in posts or captions; however, your personal information will never be shared publicly unless with your expressed permission beforehand.

For the Comfort & Safety of All Guests🐾

My goal is to provide calm, one-on-one grooming specialized to each dog’s individual needs. The following policies are designed to help create a safe, low-stress experience for pets while ensuring clear communication and full transparency.

To help establish a relationship built on trust and understanding, all guests are required to review, date, and sign the policies below prior to their dog's first appointment (please scroll to the bottom to submit your signature).

Thank you for trusting me with your dog’s care - it truly means so much to me.