FURST CLASS LOUNGE
HEALTH AND CONDITION
Grooming services assume reasonable conditions and temperament. Your dog must always be fit and healthy and in good health. If your dog is unwell, please call us to rearrange their appointment.
Reasonable condition refers to the general condition of the coat and skin. Please see the section below on coat condition. A healthy, well-cared-for dog coat should be brushed or maintained to meet the demands of the coat type and breed. Many coat types require time, consistent effort and appropriate tools to be maintained correctly. Skin conditions will be evaluated for suitability for grooming on an individual basis with the support of your veterinary professional in severe cases.
Temperament refers to behaviour. Physical: energetic, lethargic, aggressive, biting and state of health. Psychological: fear, anxiety and social conditioning.
Neglected (lack of effective brushing and maintenance), resulting in a heavily matted or felted coat.
Effective brushing (routinely brushing the entire coat with appropriate tools from the skin out) of long/double-coated and wool breeds, in particular, can only be achieved through daily or regular care. Neglecting to brush effectively for one week or more will result in mats forming in the coat. This is an essential part of the owners taking responsibility for the pets’ health in their care.
Severe matting/felting can be painful to your dog during brushing. Brushing causes live hairs to be pulled out of the skin with excruciating pain. Even mild matting can cause your pet a great deal of pain. Matting can cut off blood supply to extremities and deny regular air circulation in severe or prolonged cases. Skin denied of fresh air and stimulation from regular brushing becomes quite unhealthy and provides optimum conditions for fungus, bacteria & parasites. It can turn dark pink to red, and open sores can form, emitting foul odours. Organic matter, like grass seeds and sticky buds, can become embedded in the skin. Matted coats have been known to contain excrement of the pet and even fly larvae that further irritate the skin. Remember, sometimes these mats and their consequences can be completely hidden from view. If the coat has become felted, it may appear that you are brushing to the skin, but you are only brushing to the compacted hair accumulating on the skin. This is a severely neglected coat.
Due to our busy schedule, often booking ahead by several weeks, we cannot offer a clip-off service for matted and felted coats because they will need immediate and urgent attention.
Naturally coated dogs (where the coat grows to a predetermined length), such as Rough Collies, Golden Retrievers, Pomeranians, Spitz and German Shepherd dogs, will not be considered for a clip-off by Furst Class lounge due to the unpredictable or irreparable damage that would cause to the regrowth of the coat. Please consult your veterinarian if their coat has become heavily matted due to neglect.
For practical or health reasons, certain long-haired breeds such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Working Cocker Spaniels Coton-de-Tulear, Lhasa Apso, Yorkshire Terrier and the Shih Tzu may be clipped for easier maintenance.; You accept full responsibility for the unpredictable and possibly irreparable damage this may cause to the coat regrowth, colour and texture.
An exception will only be considered to clip off/shave off if immediate action is required for the welfare of the animal in the case of severe matting and felting, whether partial or entire and then only with consensual permission by a signed Furst Class Lounge Ltd consent form and subject to time/appointment availability.
This will add considerably more to the cost of grooming and will only be considered if the dog’s temperament is suitable to complete the procedure without causing stress, suffering and discomfort. While dogs are in our care, we reserve the right to take photographs and videos of neglected coats and keep the shaved-off coat. We may decline service at any time. If you have neglected to brush your dog’s coat, FCL will inform you of the fact in plain terms for your understanding of the situation. This is intended as educational development in recognition of the responsibilities of pet dog ownership.
We never intend to cause offence by refusing service or giving feedback.
By signing our customer record card and Terms & Conditions, you agree to accept personal responsibility for understanding the needs of your dog’s coat type, its function and proper maintenance for the health and well-being of your pet. You may consider arranging a free consultation with one of our qualified groomers to help.
We always recommend thoroughly researching a breed before committing to ownership.
Dogs are our passion. We take responsibility for their care seriously.
Your dog’s need for exercise, diet and grooming change from puppyhood to old age. The approach to each of these is essential, and in the case of grooming needs, FCL will adapt to those changing needs. Puppies can be very high-energy, and old dogs are limited in their ability to move and be handled. Senior dogs may have other health issues to consider, and visits for grooming are eventually not advisable. Please consider your dog’s age and health conditions before visiting for grooming. The salon environment could excite and stimulate an older or unhealthy dog too much at the later or end stages of life, therefor continuing to present an older, unhealthy or higher weight dog for grooming is done at your own risk. These considerations for the individual may affect how much can be safely achieved in one grooming appointment. We will never increase the risk to your dogs’ well-being purely for cosmetic reasons. Insistence or complaints regarding these limitations may result in FCL refusing grooming services. See limitations in the drop-down menu below for further details.
By signing your customer record card, you agree that the groomer (Furst Class Lounge Ltd) cannot be held liable or responsible for irritation, abrasion, patchiness or hair loss due to any pre-existing skin condition or as a result of the process of grooming, de-matting, thinning or stripping or shaving. The groomer (Furst Class Lounge Ltd) can not be held responsible for veterinary costs for these or any other reason due to the owners’ neglect in maintaining a healthy coat and skin. If your dog attempts to bite, the grooming process will be stopped and grooming up to that point will require payment. Further details regarding your consent to the groom can be found on your customer record card.