Our Promise

Every decision we make during your dog’s visit is guided by kindness, patience and your dog’s individual needs.

These guidelines help us create a calm, safe and enjoyable experience for every dog who visits the Temple, while making sure you always know what to expect from us in return.

What to Expect

🐾 Before Your Visit

A little preparation helps every Temple visit start on the right paw. From booking changes to arrival times, here’s everything you need to know before your dog’s appointment.

  • Each Temple appointment is reserved especially for your dog. As a one-dog-at-a-time studio, every booking is carefully planned to give each visitor the time, patience and attention they deserve.

  • We understand that life happens. If you need to change your appointment, we kindly ask for at least 48 hours’ notice wherever possible.

    Providing enough notice gives us the opportunity to offer the appointment to another dog waiting to visit the Temple.

  • Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice may incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the booked service.

  • If you don’t arrive for your appointment and we haven’t heard from you, the full appointment fee may be charged.

  • If you’re running behind, please let us know as soon as possible.

    Depending on the schedule, we may still be able to accommodate your appointment. However, if there isn’t enough time to safely complete the groom, your appointment may need to be shortened or rescheduled.

  • To reserve your dog’s appointment, we ask for a 50% reservation deposit when your booking is confirmed.

    Your reservation deposit is deducted from the total cost of your dog’s groom, with the remaining balance payable upon collection.

    If you need to reschedule more than 48 hours before your appointment, your reservation deposit will simply transfer to your new booking.

    Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice will forfeit the reservation deposit, as this time has been specifically reserved for your dog and is unlikely to be filled at short notice.

    We understand that genuine emergencies happen and reserve the right to waive this policy at our discretion.

💛 During Your Dog’s Visit

Every dog is unique, and no two grooming experiences look exactly the same. Some dogs bound through the door ready for a spa day, while others arrive feeling unsure. Wherever your dog starts, we’ll meet them there.

  • At Temple of the Dogs, your dog’s welfare will always come before completing a groom or achieving a particular style. We’ll work patiently, take breaks when needed and adjust our approach to suit your dog’s comfort and confidence throughout their visit.

    Some dogs need a little extra time, encouragement or reassurance - and that’s completely okay. We believe positive grooming experiences are built through trust, not force.

    If your dog becomes overly distressed or it is no longer safe or kind to continue, we may pause or end the appointment. If this happens, we’ll discuss the next steps with you and work together to make future visits as positive as possible.

    Sometimes the kindest grooming decision isn’t the quickest or the prettiest one - but it will always be the one we believe is in your dog’s best interest.

    Looking beautiful is lovely. Feeling safe enough to come back is even better.

  • Sometimes, despite everyone’s best intentions, coats become tangled or matted. It happens more often than people realise, and there’s absolutely no judgement.

    Severe matting can be uncomfortable and may even cause pain by pulling tightly on the skin. In these situations, removing the matting as gently and safely as possible is the kindest option for your dog.

    In some cases, this may mean clipping the coat shorter than originally planned. While we always aim to achieve the style you’ve requested, your dog’s comfort and welfare will always come first.

    Removing a heavily matted coat can sometimes reveal skin irritations, redness or sores that were hidden beneath the coat. While these conditions aren’t caused by grooming, they may only become visible once the matting has been safely removed.

    Depending on the condition of the coat, additional grooming time and charges may apply. We’ll always discuss this with you wherever possible.

    If your dog’s coat has become matted, please don’t let that stop you from booking. We’re here to help, not to judge. Together, we can create a grooming routine that’s comfortable for your dog and easier to maintain at home.

    A shorter coat will always grow back. Your dog’s comfort shouldn’t wait.

  • Every confident adult dog starts as an uncertain puppy.

    Your puppy’s first visits to the Temple are about so much more than a haircut. They’re an opportunity to build trust, confidence and positive associations that can last a lifetime.

    If your puppy wiggles, gets distracted or needs a few extra cuddles, that’s completely normal. Every puppy learns differently, and we’ll celebrate their progress every step of the way.

    Depending on your puppy’s confidence on the day, we may adjust what we do during the appointment. Sometimes the biggest achievement is simply helping a puppy feel safe, relaxed and ready to come back again.

    Positive grooming experiences aren’t always built in a single visit - they’re built over time.

    Today’s trust is tomorrow’s beautiful haircut.

  • Your dog’s health and wellbeing - and that of every dog who visits the Temple - is always our priority. If your dog is feeling unwell, has a contagious condition, or we discover something during their appointment that may affect their comfort or the wellbeing of other dogs, we’ll talk it through with you and decide on the kindest way forward.

    🐜 Fleas & Other Parasites

    Finding fleas can happen to any dog, and there’s absolutely no judgement.

    Because Temple of the Dogs welcomes one dog after another into the same space, we have a responsibility to protect every visitor. If we discover fleas or other contagious parasites during your dog’s appointment, we’ll need to take extra steps to keep the studio safe for everyone.

    If fleas are found during the groom, we’ll contact you to discuss the best way forward. Depending on the situation, we may recommend ending the appointment early so your dog can begin appropriate treatment before returning to finish their groom.

    Additional cleaning, treatment or decontamination of the studio may be required after fleas are discovered, and an additional cleaning fee may apply.

    Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is press pause, treat the problem, and welcome your dog back when they’re feeling their best.

    🤒 If Your Dog Is Unwell

    If your dog is unwell, has vomiting, diarrhoea, a contagious cough or another illness, we kindly ask that you let us know before your appointment. In many cases, we’ll simply find another time once they’re feeling better.

    ❤️ Senior Dogs & Medical Conditions

    Older dogs, dogs with arthritis, injuries or ongoing medical conditions are always welcome at the Temple. Knowing about your dog’s health beforehand helps us adjust the groom to keep them as comfortable as possible.

    Some dogs may need more breaks, shorter appointments or a simpler groom - and that’s perfectly okay.

    ✂️ Skin Lumps, Bumps & Changes

    During grooming, we occasionally notice lumps, bumps, skin changes or sore spots that owners haven’t seen beneath the coat. While we’re not veterinarians and can’t diagnose medical conditions, we’ll always let you know if we notice anything we’d like you to keep an eye on.

🏠 Heading Home

Visits to the Temple don’t end when the groom is finished. Whether it’s settling in for an afternoon nap, showing off a fresh haircut, or reaching out with a question afterwards, we’re here to help make the journey home just as positive as the visit itself.

  • The remaining balance for your dog’s groom is due at collection. If additional grooming time or services become necessary during the appointment, we’ll always discuss these with you before any additional charges are applied.

    We accept cash and bank transfer, or we can simply charge your card on file.

  • We love celebrating the wonderful dogs who visit the Temple. From sleepy towel wraps to fresh grooms and happy smiles, we occasionally capture photos or short videos during appointments to share on our website and social media.

    Your dog’s comfort always comes first. If they’re feeling unsure or simply not in the mood, the camera stays away.

    If you’d prefer your dog not to appear in photos or videos, just let us know. We’re always happy to respect your wishes.

  • Every dog reacts a little differently after a grooming appointment. Some head home ready for a nap, while others celebrate with a spectacular case of the zoomies!

    If you notice anything that concerns you after your visit, or simply have a question about caring for your dog’s coat at home, we’d love to hear from you.

  • We genuinely want you to love your dog’s visit to the Temple. If something isn’t quite what you expected, please let us know within 48 hours. We’ll always do our best to understand your concerns and find a solution together.

    Honest conversations help us learn, improve and care for dog even better.

Thank you for trusting Temple of the Dogs with someone so important to you.

We know that every booking represents something much bigger than a grooming appointment - it’s an act of trust. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your dog’s story. It’s a privilege we never take for granted.