Dog Grooming Agreement Template

Dog Grooming Agreement

1. 1. 1. Parties, Pet, and Emergency Contacts

   This Dog Grooming Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into on [EFFECTIVE DATE] between [GROOMER OR SALON NAME], located at [GROOMER ADDRESS] (the "Groomer"), and [OWNER NAME], residing at [OWNER ADDRESS] (the "Owner"). The pet to be groomed is [PET NAME], a [BREED OR MIX], [AGE] years old, [SEX AND ALTERED STATUS], weighing approximately [WEIGHT] pounds (the "Pet"). Owner contact details are [OWNER PHONE AND EMAIL], and the emergency contact authorized to make decisions if the Owner cannot be reached is [EMERGENCY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE]. The regular veterinarian of the Pet is [VETERINARIAN NAME, CLINIC, AND PHONE]. The Owner confirms being the legal owner of the Pet or being authorized by the owner to consent to grooming services.

2. 2. 2. Vaccination and Health Requirements

   The Owner certifies that the Pet is current on rabies vaccination as required by law, with a certificate available on request, and on the following vaccinations or titers required by the Groomer: [VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS, e.g., DHPP and Bordetella]. The Owner will provide documentation before the first appointment and after each renewal. The Groomer may refuse service to a Pet without current rabies vaccination. The Owner will disclose any current or recent illness, and will not bring a Pet showing signs of contagious disease, including coughing, nasal discharge, diarrhea, vomiting, or active external parasites. A Pet found to have fleas or ticks will receive a medicated bath at a cost of [FLEA TREATMENT FEE], which is necessary to protect the facility and other animals, and the Owner authorizes that treatment in advance.

3. 3. 3. Health Disclosure and Special Conditions

   The Owner will disclose all known health conditions affecting the Pet, including [DISCLOSURE CATEGORIES, e.g., arthritis, hip dysplasia, heart or respiratory conditions, seizures, diabetes, collapsing trachea, allergies and skin conditions, recent surgery, vision or hearing loss, cognitive decline, pregnancy, and current medications], recorded here: [HEALTH DISCLOSURE]. Senior dogs and dogs with medical conditions may be more sensitive to the physical handling, standing, drying, and noise involved in grooming, and grooming can occasionally reveal or aggravate an existing condition. The Groomer will use gentler handling and may split the groom into shorter sessions where appropriate, and may decline any service that appears unsafe for the Pet. The Owner accepts that the Groomer relies on this disclosure, and that an undisclosed condition may lead to an outcome that could otherwise have been avoided.

4. 4. 4. Behavior, Aggression, and Handling

   The Owner will disclose any history of biting, snapping, growling, fear reactivity, resource guarding, separation anxiety, or difficulty with specific procedures such as nail trimming, ear cleaning, or drying, recorded here: [BEHAVIOR DISCLOSURE]. The Groomer uses low-stress handling and may use a grooming loop, a second handler, or a properly fitted muzzle for the safety of the Pet and the staff, and the Owner consents to muzzling where needed. The Groomer does not use sedation and will not administer medication; if the Pet requires sedation, the Owner will arrange grooming through a veterinarian. If the Pet becomes unmanageable or unsafe, the Groomer may stop the groom at any point, and the Owner will be charged [PARTIAL GROOM FEE] for the work completed and collect the Pet promptly. A behavioral handling surcharge of [HANDLING SURCHARGE] may apply to dogs requiring extra staff or time.

5. 5. 5. Services and Pricing

   The requested service is [SERVICE SELECTED, e.g., full groom with haircut, bath and tidy, deshedding treatment, nail trim only], with the following style instructions: [STYLE INSTRUCTIONS, e.g., blade length on body, length on legs, head style, and finishing preferences]. The base price is [BASE PRICE] for this breed, size, and coat type. Additional charges may apply for [ADD-ON LIST, e.g., de-matting, deshedding, medicated or specialty shampoo, nail grinding, anal glands, teeth brushing, flea treatment, size or coat density, and handling]. Final pricing is confirmed after the Pet is evaluated at drop-off, and any increase over the quoted price will be communicated to the Owner before work continues where practical. Payment is due at pickup by [PAYMENT METHODS]. Prices may change on [PRICE CHANGE NOTICE, e.g., 30 days] notice, and gratuity is optional.

6. 6. 6. Matting, Shaving, and Humane Standards

   The Owner understands that mats tighten against the skin and cannot be brushed out safely once they reach a certain density. Where the coat is severely matted, the only humane option is to shave beneath the matting, and the Owner authorizes the Groomer to do so at a de-matting or shave-down fee of [MATTING FEE]. The Owner accepts that a shaved coat looks and feels different, may reveal pre-existing conditions hidden by the mats, and may grow back with a changed texture or color. Removing heavy matting can also cause or expose skin irritation, sores, hematomas, nicks from clippers passing over folded skin, and post-grooming itching, and the Pet may be sore or subdued for a day or two. Where the Owner requests brushing out of significant matting instead of shaving, and the Groomer judges that it can be done humanely, it is billed at [DE-MATTING RATE] per [TIME INCREMENT] and the Groomer may stop at any point on humane grounds.

7. 7. 7. Accidents, Injury, and Inherent Risks

   The Owner acknowledges that grooming involves sharp tools used on a live animal and that minor incidents can occur even with careful handling, including clipper nicks, cuts from scissors on moving skin, quicked nails, ear irritation, brush burn, and stress reactions. The Groomer will notify the Owner of any injury or unusual reaction as soon as it occurs and will document it. The Groomer will not be responsible for pre-existing conditions revealed during grooming, for the effects of matting removal described in Section 6, for reactions attributable to undisclosed health or behavioral information, or for the natural aging or decline of a senior pet that becomes apparent around a grooming appointment. The Groomer remains responsible for injury caused by negligence or improper handling, and maintains [INSURANCE, e.g., general liability and pet care coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence], with evidence available on request.

8. 8. 8. Emergency Veterinary Authorization

   If the Pet appears to require urgent medical attention while in the care of the Groomer, the Groomer will attempt to contact the Owner and the emergency contact immediately. If neither can be reached, the Owner authorizes the Groomer to transport the Pet to [PREFERRED VETERINARY CLINIC] or to the nearest available emergency clinic and to authorize examination and stabilizing treatment. The Owner is responsible for all veterinary costs incurred, whether or not the Owner was reached in advance, and authorizes the Groomer to be reimbursed for any amount paid on behalf of the Owner up to [ADVANCE LIMIT], payable within [REIMBURSEMENT PERIOD, e.g., seven days]. The Owner may set a spending threshold requiring contact before treatment here: [TREATMENT AUTHORIZATION LIMIT]. This authorization does not make the Groomer responsible for the underlying condition or its cost.

9. 9. 9. Appointments, Late Arrival, and Cancellation

   Appointments are scheduled for a drop-off time of [DROP-OFF TIME] with an estimated completion of [ESTIMATED DURATION]. The Owner will cancel or reschedule with at least [CANCELLATION NOTICE, e.g., 24 hours] notice; later cancellations are charged [LATE CANCELLATION FEE, e.g., 50 percent of the service price] and a no-show is charged [NO-SHOW FEE, e.g., 100 percent of the service price]. Arriving more than [LATE ARRIVAL THRESHOLD, e.g., 15 minutes] late may require rescheduling and may incur the late cancellation fee, because the schedule is built around drying and finishing times. Repeated no-shows may require prepayment or a card on file for future bookings. If the Groomer cancels, the Owner will be offered priority rescheduling at the earliest available slot.

10. 10. 10. Pickup, Late Collection, and Abandonment

    The Owner will collect the Pet within [PICKUP WINDOW, e.g., 30 minutes] of being notified that the groom is complete, because dogs waiting in a kennel after finishing are stressed and occupy space needed for the next appointment. Late collection beyond [LATE PICKUP GRACE] is charged a daycare or boarding fee of [LATE PICKUP FEE] per [TIME UNIT]. A Pet not collected within [ABANDONMENT PERIOD, e.g., 7 days] of the scheduled pickup, with no contact from the Owner, is considered abandoned, and the Groomer may transfer the Pet to a licensed shelter or rescue in accordance with applicable state law, with the Owner remaining liable for all fees incurred. The Pet will be released only to the Owner or to a person listed at [AUTHORIZED PICKUP LIST]. Unpaid balances must be settled before release.

11. 11. 11. Mobile and In-Home Grooming

    Where grooming is performed at the location of the Owner, the Owner will provide [MOBILE REQUIREMENTS, e.g., legal parking for the grooming vehicle within a stated distance of the entrance, access to a standard electrical outlet and water spigot where the unit is not self-contained, and a safe, dry area to bring the Pet in and out]. The Owner will secure other pets and will keep children away from the grooming vehicle or work area during the appointment. A trip fee of [TRIP FEE] applies outside [SERVICE RADIUS]. The Groomer may decline to work or may end an appointment where parking, weather, or site conditions make the work unsafe, and the standard cancellation fee applies where conditions were within the control of the Owner. The Owner will be present or reachable by phone throughout a mobile appointment.

12. 12. 12. Photographs, Records, and Privacy

    The Groomer keeps a record for each Pet, including the intake form, vaccination documentation, health and behavior notes, service history, and any incident reports, retained for at least [RECORD RETENTION PERIOD, e.g., three years]. The Owner grants or withholds permission for the Groomer to photograph the Pet before and after grooming and to use those images in salon marketing and social media here: [MEDIA PERMISSION: GRANTED / WITHHELD]. Images will not identify the Owner by name or address without separate consent. The Groomer will keep Owner contact and payment information confidential and will not sell or share it. The Groomer may photograph the condition of the coat and skin at intake for documentation purposes regardless of the marketing permission above, and those photographs are kept in the record rather than published.

13. 13. 13. Term, Termination, and Refusal of Service

    This Agreement applies to the appointment described and to all future grooming appointments for the Pet until replaced by a new agreement or terminated. Either Party may end the relationship at any time on written notice. The Groomer may refuse or discontinue service where the Pet poses a risk of injury to staff or other animals, where required vaccinations lapse, where the Owner is abusive to staff, where an account is unpaid, or where continued grooming would not be humane for the Pet given age or condition. Where service is refused, the Owner will be told the reason and, where possible, referred to a veterinary grooming service. Fees for work already performed remain payable, and the Owner will update the disclosures in Sections 2 through 4 whenever the health or behavior of the Pet changes.

14. 14. 14. Governing Law, General Provisions, and Signatures

    This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of [GOVERNING STATE], and any dispute will be brought in the courts located in [VENUE COUNTY AND STATE] after the Parties attempt informal resolution. Except for gross negligence or willful misconduct, total liability under this Agreement will not exceed [LIABILITY CAP, e.g., the amount paid for the grooming services at issue plus documented veterinary costs directly caused by the Groomer], and nothing here waives a right that cannot be waived under applicable law. This Agreement is the entire agreement between the Parties and may be amended only in writing. GROOMER: [GROOMER OR SALON NAME]. Signature: ______________________. Date: [DATE]. OWNER: [OWNER NAME]. Signature: ______________________. Date: [DATE]. By signing, the Owner confirms that the vaccination, health, and behavior information given is accurate and complete.

15. 15. Disclaimer

    This template is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal or veterinary advice. Requirements for grooming facilities, rabies documentation, animal abandonment procedures, lien rights over animals, and liability limitations differ by state and municipality, and abandonment provisions in particular must follow the specific statutory process in your state before an animal can be transferred. Review and adapt this document for your own jurisdiction, and consult a licensed attorney and your insurer before relying on it. Use of this template does not create an attorney-client relationship with ScanContract.