Grooming Policies & Agreement

At Bubble Bark, every bubble adds joy and every bark tells a story.
Our goal is to provide safe, high-quality grooming experiences tailored to each dog’s needs.
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit for everyone, please review and agree to the following policies.
1. Appointments & Scheduling
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Grooming Cycle & Priority: To maintain optimal coat health (especially for Poodle coats), we strongly recommend a 4–6 week grooming schedule. Priority booking is always given to clients who return within this 6-week cycle.
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New Booking Status: Clients who fall outside this 6-week timeframe are considered "new bookings." Due to high volume, we unfortunately cannot always guarantee an immediate spot for appointments outside the regular cycle.
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Full Grooming (Standard/Reset Session): This is our base service for all new clients and any dog with a grooming interval of 4 weeks or longer. To maintain optimal coat health and shape, we recommend a Full Grooming every 4–6 weeks.
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Bath & Tidy (Maintenance Session): Exclusively reserved for our regular clients who maintain a consistent 2–3 week grooming cycle. This service focuses on maintaining the style, hygiene, and coat condition established during your previous session.
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The "Reset" Rule: If the interval since your last appointment exceeds 21 days (3 weeks), the service will automatically be categorized as a Full Grooming session.
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Rescheduling Note: To maintain scheduling fairness, if an appointment is rescheduled to a date that falls outside the 6-week priority cycle, the booking will be reclassified as a "New Booking" and subject to current "New Booking" availability and Full Grooming rates, regardless of previous client status.
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Other Services: Walk-in services depend on staff availability and may be refused or rescheduled.
2. Before Your Appointment
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💧 Please avoid feeding your dog within 1 hour before the appointment to prevent nausea during grooming.
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🚶♀️ Arrive a few minutes early to allow your dog a short walk and potty break nearby.
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💩 Kindly clean up after your dog — let’s keep the neighborhood clean and pleasant for everyone.
3. Drop-off Policy
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Strict Arrival Time: Drop-off time is strictly based on the specific time slot you selected during booking (available between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.).
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Personalized Intake: We do not accept open drop-offs within a window, as staggered arrival times allow us to have a focused, quality intake discussion with each owner.
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Late Arrival: If you arrive late, Bubble Bark Dog Grooming reserves the right to refuse service or charge a Late Check-in Fee at our discretion.
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Arriving earlier than your selected slot does not guarantee an earlier pick-up.
4. Health & Vaccinations
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Pets must be healthy and up-to-date on Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella.
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Inform us of any medical issues, allergies, or sensitivities.
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Dogs showing illness (vomiting, coughing, diarrhea, parasites, etc.) must stay home and reschedule.
5. Behavior & Handling
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We welcome all dogs; however, aggressive or excessively fearful behavior may require special handling or be refused.
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Behavioral Problems Fee: Additional time for calming or restraint: $10 per 15 minutes.
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For safety reasons (for both dogs and staff), Bubble Bark Dog Grooming reserves the right to refuse or discontinue grooming at any time. Even if the service is not completed, full or partial payment (at our discretion) will still apply.
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Owners are responsible for any injuries or damages caused by their pets.
6. Coat Condition & Extra Charges
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Prices shown are base rates and vary by coat condition, breed, and behavior.
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6a. Specialized Double Coat Handling Protocol (Mandatory for specific breeds)
To ensure skin health and coat integrity for double-coated breeds (e.g., Samoyeds, Belgian Shepherds, Pomeranians, etc.), Bubble Bark Dog Grooming follows a professional 3-stage process:
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Pre-bath Deep De-shedding: Approx. 30+ mins of dry brushing before bathing to prevent loose undercoat from shrinking and "felting" when wet. This is the primary work covered by the Handling Fee.
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Hydro-massage & Blowout: Loosening hair follicles during the bath and using high-velocity dryers to safely "blast" away dead hair.
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Final Post-bath Finishing: Includes 15 minutes of complimentary finishing to ensure a smooth, fluffy coat.
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Double Coat Handling Fees (Based on Size):
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XS/S: $30 | M: $50 | L: $65 | XL: $80 | XXL: $120
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Important Notes for Double Coats:
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100% De-shedding Reality: Shedding is a natural cycle. Our treatment removes 80%-90% of dead hair; however, 100% removal is impossible as healthy hair continues to grow.
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No-Shave Policy: Double coats are natural insulators. We do not recommend shaving or short clips unless the coat is severely matted beyond repair, as it can damage the dog's ability to regulate temperature.
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6b. Other Condition-Based Fees
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Matted Coat Handling Fee ($20 / 10 mins): This fee applies to both manual de-matting and shave-down procedures.
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The method used depends on the severity of the mats (e.g., mats too close to the skin) and the dog's tolerance level (e.g., if the dog is too sensitive for brushing).
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De-shedding Fee ($20 / 10 mins): Applied if de-shedding requires intensive work beyond the standard time included in the Double Coat Handling Fee.
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Regular brushing and grooming help avoid these issues.
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Skunk / Odour Neutralizing treatments are not included in Deep Clean Add-On. Skunk odour removal is a separate service and requires a separate quote.
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Deep Clean Add-On (sand / mud / heavy dirt / beach day)
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If your dog arrives with excessive sand, mud, soil, or other heavy contamination (e.g. after a beach day or camping trip), additional time and grooming steps are required to safely deep clean, effectively de-sand the coat, and protect our equipment.
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Additional fee: $20–$50 (assessed by the groomer upon check-in)
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7. Emergencies & Veterinary Care
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If an emergency occurs, we will attempt to contact you first.
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If urgent care is needed, we may seek veterinary treatment (your vet or nearest clinic).
All costs are the owner’s responsibility.
8. Accidents & Injuries
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We use the utmost care, but minor cuts, irritation, or stress can occur.
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Bubble Bark Dog Grooming is not liable for pre-existing conditions or reactions arising during or after grooming.
9. Punctuality & Cancellations
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Punctuality: Please arrive on time. Arrivals later than 15 minutes past your selected booking time may be rescheduled and will incur a fee.
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Cancellation Policy:
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Less than 24 hours’ notice: 50% of the grooming fee. The $30 deposit will be applied toward this fee, and the remaining balance will be invoiced via Square.
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No-shows: 100% of the grooming fee. The $30 deposit will be applied, and the remaining balance will be invoiced.
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Repeat No-shows: Pre-payment will be required, and future bookings may be declined.
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Cancellations & Rescheduling:
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Notice Period: We require at least 24 hours' notice for any cancellations or rescheduling.
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Communication Method: All requests MUST be made via a direct phone call to (778) 388-2275. Notifications sent through email, SMS, WhatsApp, or social media are NOT accepted as valid notice. If we do not receive a phone confirmation, it will be treated as a No-Show.
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Deposit Credit: In the event of a late cancellation or no-show, your $30 deposit will be forfeited and applied toward the cancellation fee. The remaining balance will be billed via Square Invoice and must be paid within 24 hours.
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10. Pick-up Policy
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Pick-up time is determined by our daily workflow and the dog’s service needs. It is not based on arrival order.
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Once grooming is complete, we will call and send a message (SMS or WhatsApp) to notify you.
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The official notification time is based on our company phone records.
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Pets must be picked up within 1 hour after notification.
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Late Pick-up Fees:
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During Business Hours: If pick-up is more than 1 hour after notification, a $50.00 late fee applies.
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After-Hours Surcharge: Once the shop is closed, a $100.00 base surcharge plus $2.00 per minute applies immediately. This covers mandatory overtime staffing and operational costs.
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City Regulation: Per City of Vancouver bylaws, no animals are permitted on the premises overnight. If the owner is unreachable after closing, the dog will be transferred to a boarding facility at the owner’s expense.
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11. Fleas / Ticks / Parasites
If fleas or ticks are found, a flea bath may be administered at the client’s expense.
For the safety of all pets, we may refuse service, and such an appointment will be considered a cancellation.
12. Photography & Media Use
We may photograph or video pets during grooming for client records, progress tracking, or promotional purposes.
Images may also appear within our secure client portal (“My Bubble Bark Hub”), visible only to the pet’s registered owner.
By submitting the booking form and paying the deposit, you authorize Bubble Bark Dog Grooming to use and display your pet’s images for these purposes, unless you request otherwise in writing. Such requests will not affect your ability to receive grooming services.
All images and videos remain the property of Bubble Bark Dog Grooming. Aside from the promotional purposes mentioned above, no media will be shared with third parties without your explicit consent.
13. Payment & Deposits
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Securing Your Appointment: A $30 strictly non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking. This deposit is a commitment fee; no cash or card refunds will be issued under any circumstances (e.g., change of mind, finding another provider). The deposit will be fully deducted from your total grooming fee on the day of your appointment.
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Rescheduling Policy: We allow one (1) reschedule per booking, provided notice is given at least 24 hours in advance. The new appointment must be scheduled within 14 days of the original date.
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Rolling Deposit Option: To ensure your dog always has a spot and to simplify the process, you may choose to transfer (roll over) your $30 deposit to your next appointment immediately after your session. This avoids the need to pay a new deposit online for every visit to maintain your 4-6 week priority.
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Note: Rolling over a deposit does not bypass the "one-time reschedule" or "14-day limit" rules.
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Forfeiture: The deposit is immediately forfeited and cannot be transferred if:
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The appointment is cancelled (even with notice).
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Rescheduling is requested with less than 24 hours' notice.
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A second reschedule is requested.
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The new appointment date exceeds the 14-day limit.
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Final payment is due at pick-up and must be made via Debit.
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For bookings paid by deposit link, please note that card information is not stored.
If payment is not completed at pick-up, the appointment will be considered unpaid and subject to follow-up billing through Square Invoice.-
Outstanding Invoices: If an invoice is issued for a cancellation or no-show and remains unpaid for more than 48 hours:
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The client will be permanently blacklisted from all future bookings.
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A $10 weekly late fee will be applied to the outstanding balance.
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We reserve the right to report unpaid balances to credit reporting agencies or third-party collection services.
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14. Full-Body Brushing & Special Notes
Available only for regular clients and includes brushing only (no bath or trim).
Additional de-matting / de-shedding fees may apply.
Pricing also varies by size and coat condition.
Acknowledgment
By submitting the booking form and paying the deposit, I confirm that I have read, understood, and agreed to all Bubble Bark Dog Grooming policies, terms, and conditions, including the grooming cycle recommendations and deposit handling procedures.
Last Updated: March 2026
(These policies reflect Bubble Bark Dog Grooming’s operational standards and professional practices established since our opening on October 28, 2025.)