Terms & Conditions

Bookings & Appointments

Bookings can be made online through our booking system and are confirmed once you receive an appointment confirmation.

Appointment reminders are sent automatically as a courtesy. Clients are responsible for keeping track of their appointments and booking their dog at the frequency they require. The Kind Canine does not provide individual reminders to book or personalised advance notice to allow rescheduling.

Dogs must be booked into the correct service and size category. If you are unsure which service to select, please contact us before booking.

Weight Limit & Suitability

The Kind Canine is a small, one-on-one grooming salon and can accommodate dogs weighing up to 20kg, subject to suitability.

Dogs weighing 15–20kg are accepted selectively. Size, breed, coat, behaviour and physical handling requirements will be considered when determining suitability.

20kg is the maximum weight limit, not a guide. Dogs over 20kg cannot be accommodated and bookings made for dogs exceeding the weight limit will be cancelled.

Rescue Greyhounds booked under the dedicated Rescue Greyhound service are a specific exception to this weight limit. This exception applies to Greyhounds only.

Cancellation & Rescheduling

At least 24 hours' notice is required to cancel or reschedule an appointment.

Cancellations or rescheduling within 24 hours of the appointment may incur a fee of 25% of the booked service price.

Frequent cancellations, rescheduling or no-shows may affect future booking availability.

Late Arrivals

Please arrive on time for your appointment.

Arriving more than 15 minutes late may result in the service being shortened or the appointment being rescheduled where there is no longer sufficient time to safely complete the booked service.

Late arrival does not guarantee that the full booked service can be completed.

Collection / Pick-Up

Owners will be notified when their dog is ready for collection. Dogs must be collected promptly so we can maintain a calm, low-stress, one-on-one environment.

Dogs not collected within 30 minutes of being notified that they are ready will incur a late collection fee of $15 per 15 minutes or part thereof, unless prior arrangements have been made.

Repeated late collection may affect future booking availability.

Behaviour & Safety

You must tell us before your appointment if your dog:

• has bitten or attempted to bite;
• displays aggression, reactivity, significant anxiety or fear;
• has difficulty with particular grooming procedures;
• has previously required a muzzle for grooming;
• has previously been refused or unable to be completed by another groomer;
• has a medical condition, injury or other issue that may affect grooming.

Muzzles and appropriate grooming restraints will be used when necessary for safety.

Failure to disclose significant behavioural or safety concerns may result in the groom being stopped, and the full booked fee may still apply.

Dogs requiring a modest amount of additional handling may incur an Additional Handling charge of $20 per additional 15 minutes.

Dogs requiring significant behavioural support, specialised handling or substantially more time than a standard appointment allows may be required to book Remedial Grooming for future appointments.

Matted & Poorly Maintained Coats

The Kind Canine does not perform extensive dematting. Humanity comes before vanity.

Matted coats may need to be clipped shorter than requested where necessary for the dog's comfort and welfare. Hand scissoring will not be used to preserve length on a matted coat.

Additional coat work is charged at $20 per additional 15 minutes.

Where the coat condition requires substantially more work than the time booked allows, the service may need to be altered, shortened or stopped.

By booking, you acknowledge that coat condition may affect the achievable length and finish and consent to humane coat removal where necessary.

Pricing & Additional Time

Listed prices are based on dogs with reasonably maintained coats, standard grooming requirements and sufficient tolerance of the grooming process.

Final pricing may vary where additional time is required due to coat condition, excess coat, matting, behaviour, handling requirements or other factors affecting the time and work required.

Where additional coat work or handling is required, this is charged in 15-minute increments at $20.

Dogs booked into an incorrect size or service category will be charged according to the appropriate category.

Health & Welfare

Please advise us of any medical conditions, injuries, allergies, medications or other health concerns relevant to your dog's groom.

Dogs who appear unwell or injured may be refused or have their groom stopped.

Senior dogs and dogs with medical conditions will be groomed according to their individual needs and tolerance. The service may be modified or stopped if continuing is not in the dog's best interests.

Appropriately prescribed anxiety medication is welcome and does not prevent a dog from being groomed.

Your dog's welfare takes priority over completing a particular style or service.

Regular Client Priority

The Kind Canine is a low-volume, appointment-only salon.

Priority availability may be given to clients who maintain an appropriate regular grooming schedule.

Infrequent or one-off bookings may have limited availability. Clients who repeatedly cancel, reschedule at short notice, arrive late or collect late may lose priority booking access.

Respectful Conduct & Right to Refuse Service

The Kind Canine reserves the right to refuse, modify or stop a service where continuing would be unsafe, excessively stressful or not in the best interests of the dog or groomer.

Abusive, threatening, aggressive or disrespectful behaviour towards the groomer will result in refusal of service and may result in future bookings being cancelled.