Matted Pet Philosophy and Procedure

Scheduling an appointment signifies your acceptance of our Matted Pet Policy. This policy addresses situations where pets arrive with matted fur, often caused by infrequent grooming (puppy cuts every 4-6 weeks) or insufficient brushing.

We understand that matting can be a concern for your pet's health. When fur becomes matted, it can restrict airflow to the skin, impacting overall skin and coat health.

Unfortunately, brushing out severe matting can be uncomfortable for most pets, often causing them to become stressed and potentially fearful within 10 minutes. This can lead to negative associations with grooming in the future, making future appointments difficult and stressful for both the pet and the groomer.

Our priority is your pet's comfort and well-being. In cases of severe matting, we believe a gentle shave-down is the most humane option to minimize stress and discomfort.

Therefore, we firmly adhere to the following regarding matting on your pet:

Our groomers will recommend a total shavedown if:

The matting is a 4+ on a scale of 1 to 10
The matting cannot be brushed out within 20 minutes
Your pet reacts negatively to the attempt at de‐matting.

If your pet cannot tolerate brushing out mats on the body, your pet will not tolerate de‐matting of the face.
Your groomer reserves the right to stop the attempts and recommend a shavedown.
If you are not the only pet parent in the house, your agreement is considered permission on behalf of other family members so consider
If the matting is severe, as in a 6+ on a scale of 1 to 10, the groomer may assess extra charges.
Matting that is close to the skin creates risk, will require extra time to work through the matts, and often dulls our tools.
Shaving a matted pet may expose health conditions that you did not see under the coat such as scabs, poor skin health or open sores.
Matting also prevents the groomer from seeing skin tags and these can be nicked during the shave.
Shavedowns can also cause post‐groom irritations, especially in sensitive areas. It is important to keep your pet from licking, chewing, rubbing, or scratching.
Shavedowns are not pretty when completed. Yes, your pet will look noticeably different. We realize this and we empathize with the visual shock. We also know that hair grows back.
Shaving off matting will help your pet’s skin and coat return to a healthier state in a few weeks.
Shavedowns are done to start a healthy return of the coat and skin, they are not intended to be attractive.

Please be sure to reach out to us if you need any further clarification on the above and be sure to ask us questions prior to agreeing to a shavedown.