Safe grooming comes first
Dog Safety Policy
A private one-dog salon is quieter than a busy shop, but every dog must still tolerate routine grooming and ordinary handling safely. Cosmetic detail is always secondary to the safety of the dog and groomer.
Health, handling, and coat limits
Complete safety standards
Vaccination
Proof of current rabies vaccination is required before every appointment. A paper certificate or copy from the veterinarian is acceptable. A minimum 48-hour interval applies after any vaccination.
Puppies 8–16 weeks old may be groomed without vaccination. Rabies is the only vaccination Green Dog requires; clients are encouraged to follow their veterinarian’s advice for other vaccines, but documentation is not requested.
Fleas and ticks
Dogs with fleas or ticks are not groomed. Green Dog does not carry or apply flea shampoo or other parasite treatment; that belongs with a veterinarian who knows the dog’s health and medications.
A mobile salon cannot isolate an infestation from later route appointments. If parasites are found, the groom stops and may be rescheduled after veterinary treatment. There is no judgment about the household—please disclose any suspicion before the visit.
Grooming versus veterinary care
Green Dog provides professional grooming and does not diagnose, prescribe treatment, administer sedation, or perform veterinary restraint. Observable concerns are shared with the client; medical interpretation belongs with a veterinarian.
A veterinary or supported setting may be safer for significant pain, acute injury, open or apparently infected skin, inability to tolerate ordinary handling, required sedation, or a condition making routine grooming unsafe.
Behavior and handling
A dog does not have to enjoy grooming, but must remain safely manageable. Ordinary movement, pulling a foot away, or dislike of dryer airflow can often be managed.
Repeated biting attempts, extreme panic, unsafe positioning, or escalating behavior may make the mobile setting inappropriate. The appointment may be modified or stopped if stress, physical condition, or handling risk makes continuation unsafe.
Prescribed calming medication
If a veterinarian prescribed medication specifically for grooming, disclose it before the appointment and administer it exactly as directed by that veterinarian.
Green Dog does not prescribe medication, advise on veterinary dosing, or administer sedation.
Breed and practical limits
Green Dog does not accept Akitas or Chow Chows. Very large dogs, exceptionally dense coats, substantial mobility limits, or major handling concerns may exceed what can be safely managed in the mobile salon.
If the van’s working space, equipment, drying capacity, or coat workload is not appropriate for a dog, Green Dog will recommend another setting rather than accept an unsafe appointment.
Matting and coat safety
Green Dog does not perform prolonged or painful de-matting to preserve length. When a clipper must pass beneath a matted layer, the finished haircut will be shorter than the matting.
Healthy double coats are generally preserved rather than shaved for seasonal reasons. Requested shave-downs must be discussed because regrowth may be affected. See the Matted Coat Policy.
Puppies and senior dogs
Puppies may receive a simplified appointment while learning to tolerate bathing, drying, nails, brushing, and table work. Long-term comfort matters more than a perfect first finish.
Senior dogs may need slower positioning, shorter standing periods, or a simplified plan within their demonstrated tolerance. Disclose arthritis, neurologic conditions, heart or breathing disease, pain, recent surgery, injury, and other relevant conditions.
Client disclosure
Provide reasonably accurate information about previous bites, severe fear or panic, prior sedation, significant health conditions, mobility limits, injuries, severe matting, and signs of fleas or ticks.
Disclosure before the appointment is safer than discovery during it. Green Dog may decline, modify, or stop a groom when another grooming or veterinary setting would be safer for the individual dog.
Core principle: A quieter one-dog salon can reduce stimulation, but it does not replace veterinary care or make unsafe grooming safe.
Related policies
Appointment standards in one place
Is mobile grooming the right setting?
Use the fit guide before booking if health, mobility, handling, size, or coat workload may affect the appointment.