Bathing Services: Standards & Responsibilities
Our own standard for bathing services: communicate first, choose products and handling to fit the dog in front of you, and never leave a dog unsupervised in the tub.
Purpose
Every bath at Partners Dogs starts with the same expectation: staff who know the dog in front of them, know the standard they're held to, and don't skip either. This is our standard for bathing services, covering everything from the first conversation with a client to the water temperature in the tub.
At a Glance
- Talk to other staff and to the client before you start: exchange what matters about this dog's bath and nails, and confirm the bathing style that fits the dog's age, breed, coat, skin, and overall health.
- Choose grooming agents and tools based on the individual dog, not a default routine.
- No dog is ever left unsupervised on a grooming table or in a tub.
- Dogs are monitored closely and frequently during drying.
- Every dog is handled safely, humanely, and compassionately, at every step.
- Equipment (dryers, muzzles, grooming loops, restraint or support tools) has to be safe, humane, and kept in good working order.
- Water temperature is set appropriately for the dog, and dryers run on minimal or no heat.
- For the procedures this standard governs, see Bathing Services: Bathing Process, Bathing Services: Drying Process, and Bathing Services: Nail Process.
Standards & Responsibilities
- Communicate with other staff and exchange vital information regarding the dog's bath and/or nails.
- Communicate with each client to determine the appropriate style of bathing their dog needs, based on the dog's age, breed, and the condition of the dog's coat, skin, and overall health.
- Demonstrate a priority of care, selecting grooming agents (shampoos and similar products) and tools based on the individual needs of the dog.
- No dog is left unsupervised while on a grooming table or in a bathing tub.
- All dogs are closely and frequently monitored during the drying process.
- All dogs are treated and handled safely, humanely, and compassionately at all times.
- Muzzles, grooming loops, and other restraint or support tools are safe, humane, and used in a way that's compassionate, so they ease the delivery of spa services instead of working against it.
- When brushing, combing, dematting, bathing, topically conditioning skin and coat, grooming, or styling a dog, all products, tools, and equipment used must protect the dog's safety and health.
- Dryers and other equipment are kept in good working order.
- Water temperature is set at an appropriate level for the dog, with care taken to prevent discomfort or injury from water that's too hot or too cold.
- Dryers run on minimal or no heat settings.
Edge Cases
- If a client's dog needs a different approach than the default routine, that's the point of the pre-bath conversation: confirm the right shampoo, tools, and handling for that dog's age, breed, coat, and health before you start, not partway through.
- If a dryer or other piece of grooming equipment stops functioning properly, that's a repair to report, not something to work around for one more bath.
Who to Ask
Your manager owns this standard day to day. If a client's request or a dog's condition doesn't clearly fit a normal routine, ask before you improvise.
What should I do when a client's dog needs something different from our routine?
Talk with the client first. Confirm the right shampoo, tools, and handling approach for that dog's age, breed, coat, skin, and overall health before you begin, rather than defaulting to the standard routine and adjusting mid-bath.