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Personal Appearance

The uniform, hygiene, and grooming standard every staff member is held to, and how much of it is left to management's judgment.

Overview

Clients meet Partners Dogs through whoever is standing in front of them, so appearance here is treated as a professional requirement, not a personal preference. The standard below covers the uniform, personal hygiene, and grooming expectations every staff member is held to, plus where management's judgment fills in what a written list cannot cover.

Uniform

  • Clean Partners shirt or jacket
  • Jeans, black leggings, or shorts below finger-length are acceptable
  • Closed-toe shoes

Personal Hygiene and Grooming

  • Shoes clean and free of dirt or debris
  • Shoelaces tied
  • Bottoms at fingertip length
  • Minimal dog hair, stains, stray threads, rips, or tears
  • Shirt worn tucked in or hanging at the proper length
  • Shirt buttoned appropriately, no buttons missing
  • Belt worn if the shirt is tucked and bottoms have belt loops
  • Face, neck, and arms clean
  • Fresh breath, no gum
  • No body odor or excessive perfume or cologne
  • Makeup and jewelry tasteful and professional
  • Nails clean and kept at an acceptable length, around 2cm, painted in a tasteful color
  • Hair clean and tidy
  • Colored hair subject to approval on a case-by-case basis
  • Tattoos subject to approval on a case-by-case basis; any potentially offensive imagery or language must stay covered at all times
  • Cuts or abrasions on fingers or arms bandaged properly

This list does not cover everything. Management makes the final call on anything it leaves out.

Falling Short of the Standard

Falling short of this standard leads to disapproval, and a manager will address it directly with you, appearance and hygiene both. Treat getting it right the first time as the easier path; a manager conversation about it is not where anyone wants to start their shift.

Working with a Positive Team

Personal appearance is part of a bigger picture: creating a culture of fun and positive dog care. A few things worth carrying into every shift:

  • Be a positive leader for yourself and others
  • Give a compliment or shoutout to a coworker each day
  • When frustrated, breathe and keep the bigger goal in view: giving guests the best experience possible
  • Smile

Smiling is contagious, it relieves stress, and it helps you stay positive across a long shift, not just look the part for a moment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take before colored hair or a tattoo gets approved?

No fixed turnaround is set. Both are handled case-by-case by management, so bring it up before you make the change rather than assuming it will be fine.

Who addresses it if my appearance falls short of the standard?

A manager will, directly and in person. It is treated as a normal part of running a shift, not a formal write-up process.

Why does this matter as much as it does?

Because every staff member is a potential client's first impression of the school, whether or not that staff member is client-facing that day. Looking the part is part of the job.

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