Terms & Conditions

Bookings & Deposits

• A 30% deposit is required for all bookings to secure your appointment.
• Deposits are deducted from the final grooming price.
• Bookings are not confirmed until the deposit has been received.

Deposits are non-refundable in the following situations:

• Cancellation with less than 24 hours notice
• Failure to attend your appointment (no-show)
• Arriving too late for the groom to proceed
• Providing incorrect or incomplete information that prevents the groom from being safely completed

Clients who repeatedly cancel late, fail to attend, or arrive late may be required to prepay in full for future bookings.

Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy

• We require at least 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment.
• Cancellations made with less than 24 hours notice will result in the loss of the 30% deposit.
• No-shows will result in the loss of the deposit and may require full prepayment for future bookings.
• Frequent cancellations or rescheduling may affect future booking availability.

Appointment Times & Late Arrivals

• Please arrive on time for your appointment.
• Late arrivals may result in a shortened groom or the appointment needing to be rescheduled.
• If the appointment cannot go ahead due to late arrival, the deposit may be forfeited.

Collection / Pick-Up Policy

Owners will be notified when their dog is ready for collection. Dogs must be collected within a reasonable time so we can maintain a calm, low-stress environment for all dogs in our care. If you are running late, please let us know as soon as possible.

Late Pick-Up Fees

• Dogs not collected within 30 minutes of being ready may incur a late collection fee.
• Late collection is charged at $15 per 15 minutes (or part thereof).
• Extended delays may result in additional handling or daycare fees.

Repeated late pick-ups may affect future booking availability.

Behaviour & Safety Disclosure

The Kind Canine specialises in low-stress, one-on-one grooming. For the safety of your dog and the groomer, you must inform us before the appointment if your dog:

• Has bitten or attempted to bite
• Has behavioural or anxiety issues
• Dislikes grooming procedures
• Has medical conditions
• Is elderly, injured, or unwell
• Has previously been refused by another groomer

If significant behavioural or safety concerns are not disclosed, the groom may be stopped and the full grooming fee may still apply.

We reserve the right to use muzzles, restraints, or to stop the groom if required for safety.

Matted Coats

• Severely matted coats may require shaving for the comfort and welfare of the dog.
• We do not do demattings as we believe in humanity over vanity. Dematting can be painful and stressful, and we will not continue if it is not in the dog's best interest.
• Additional charges may apply for heavily matted coats due to extra time, wear on equipment, and increased handling.
• By booking, you consent to the coat being clipped short if necessary for humane reasons.

Pricing

• Prices listed are estimates only.
• Final price may vary depending on: coat condition, behaviour, size, time required, matting or special handling.

We will always aim to be fair and transparent with pricing.

Health & Welfare

• Dogs must be in good health at the time of grooming.
• We reserve the right to refuse or stop a groom if a dog appears unwell, injured, or overly stressed.
• Senior dogs and dogs with medical conditions are groomed at owner's risk.

Your dog's welfare will always come first.

Regular Client Priority

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

• Priority booking is given to clients who maintain a regular grooming schedule.
• Infrequent or one-off bookings may have limited availability.
• Clients who repeatedly cancel, arrive late, or collect late may lose priority booking access.

Right to Refuse Service

The Kind Canine reserves the right to refuse or stop a groom at any time if it is unsafe, overly stressful, or not in the best interest of the dog, the groomer, or other animals.