• Release Form for Shaving Various Coat Types

  • Shaving a Short-Coated Dog

    Shaving a short-coated dog like a pug, Frenchie, chihuahua, short haired dachshund, etc is highly ill-advised and the groomer at Faith & Fido is extremely against it for many reasons. Contrary to a strange rumor it DOES NOT reduce shedding – the hair continues to shed and feels like tiny needles that get stuck in your skin (and the pets skin).

    Alternatives to shaving:

    There are other safer and more effective grooming options that are less risky, such as brushing every few days with a rubber curry or a groom block, or establishing a monthly schedule for a deshed bath.

    Potential for skin irritation:

    Shaving can cause clipper burn, nicks, cuts, and razor burn, especially on sensitive skin. It can also cause in-grow hairs that are painful.

    Sunburn and skin damage:

    Short coats offer less protection from the sun, and shaving can expose the skin to sunburn and potential skin cancer.

    Hair growth issues:

    Shaving can sometimes affect hair regrowth, texture, or pigmentation.

    Client expectations:

    This waiver clarifies that the groomer is not responsible for these potential issues, managing client expectations about the outcome of the shave.

    Acknowledgment of risks:

    The owner acknowledges the potential for skin irritation, sunburn, and other complications.

    Release of liability:

    The owner agrees to hold the groomer harmless for any issues arising from the shaving process.

    Understanding of aftercare:

    Reading and submitting this is acknowledgement and commitment to properly tend to your pet’s skin post-groom, limiting time out in the sun and cloudy days and applying pet safe sunscreen. Groomer may request to see proof you’ve purchased sunscreen – otherwise – it is a form of neglect.

    Consent to shave:

    The owner gives consent for the groomer to shave the dog, despite the known risks.

    In short, this waiver is a way to ensure both the groomer and the owner are aware of the potential downsides of shaving a dog and to protect the groomer from liability if problems arise.

  • Double Coated Shave Down

    It is known that there can be a variety of skin and hair coat care problems that may occur after a complete shave down of a dog, particularly the double coated dogs (like huskys, shepherd) or those often referred to as the fur bearing rather than hair bearing dogs. This also includes short-haired dogs (chihuahuas, labs)

    Those problems may be the following but not limited to:

    • Loss of hair growth
    • “Coat Funk”- the coat not growing back in the same texture and/or color prior to shaving, making matting a bigger possibility than it would be otherwise
    • Bald patches
    • Hyper pigmentation of the skin- Darkening of the skin where the coat has not grown back
    • Sunburn
    • Loss of Guard Coat - Top Layer of Coat
    • Coat re-growth in different direction (cowlick’s)

    Knowing that any and all of the above conditions can occur I, the owner of this pet, authorize Faith & Fido to shave down my pet.
    I hold Rachel and Faith & Fido, LLC, harmless of any liability should any of the mentioned conditions occur to my pet at any point after the groom.

    I know and understand that after being shaved, if the shave is extremely short, I should apply sunscreen to my dog prior to them going outside for at least the next three weeks to protect them.

  • Matted Dog Shave Down

    Animals with matted coats need special attention and tend to take longer to groom than a non-matted pet. Mats are painful for the animal, and we will not leave mats on a pet that comes to see us. "Humanity over vanity" is our motto. We will not cause your pet any major or unnecessary stress by dematting (using a tool to cut through and brush out mats/pelting).

    Why Mats are Serious Business
    Mats in an animal's coat can become so tight that they pull at, damage, and tear the skin.
    Heavy matting can trap moisture and biological matter on the pet's skin, causing mold, fungus, or bacteria to grow and cause skin irritations. Pelting is matting that covers the majority of parts of the body. This kind of matting is the most painful and difficult to remove from the pet.

    Best Practice Solutions
    When possible, we will spot shave or mildly demat by brushing out very small patches. “Very small” is relative but usually the size of a marble behind an ear, or a golf ball size bunch on a tail. These kinds of mats are easily hidden by other fur so shaving out is an option.
    Pelting cannot be spot shaved as it will look patchy and daft.

    The best and most comfortable solution for the pet is to be shaved all over, and that is what the owner should expect when there is thick matting over the majority of the dog.

    Dematting a large area/areas can actually do more damage than good, breaking and splitting the hair, making it mat faster in the future. A shave down is a full reset to help grow back healthy hair!

    Warnings and side effects
    Removing a densely matted coat might result in nicks, cuts, or abrasions. Itching, skin redness, self-inflicted irritations or abrasions, and hematomas especially on the ears are all possible side effects of mat removal.
    Pets may also experience short behavioral changes in some situations.

    Prevention and Defense Against Mats
    Grooming visits should be scheduled every 4-8 weeks for the best defense. We offer full grooms but also bath and tidy services, as well as between-groom brush out services. At-home brushing and combing 1-3 times a week is also highly urged. The groomer will be happy to go over how to properly line brush and comb with you.

    By checking the box below, you acknowledge that your pet may need to be shaved to remove matting, and that you understand the risks involved.

    Matted grooms incur an additional fee because it is time intensive and causes additional wear and tear on grooming equipment.

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