Tail Talk Grooming Chronicles with Hound Therapy

Humanity Over Vanity: Honest Booking Do's & Don'ts

• Shannon & Tanya • Episode 27

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What Is Your Booking Do's & Don'ts?

Ever thought your online booking was set, only to learn it was just a request? We pull back the curtain on how grooming schedules actually work and share the exact steps that turn a request into a confirmed appointment without surprises, stress, or last-minute chaos.

We start with the essentials: why clear details about breed, size, coat condition, and behavior shape the entire appointment, from time on the table to drying cycles and safety planning. You’ll hear how to choose the right service when your dog is a mix, why “mini standard poodle” isn’t a thing, and how honest info prevents price shocks and cancellations. We also talk practical tools—uploading a photo to align on haircut goals, adding notes for recent surgeries or matting, and using the platform’s messaging so questions don’t get lost in a noisy shop.

From there, we outline the timeline rules that keep everyone sane. Online systems often operate

To learn more about Hound Therapy visit:
https://www.HoundTherapy.com
Hound Therapy
3509 E Park Blvd.
Plano, TX
469-367-0009

SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to Tale Talk Grooming Chronicles with House Therapy, the podcast where we talk all things pet grooming, daycare, academy, and more. Hosted by Shannon and Tanya of House Therapy, serving pet owners across North Texas. We're here to share expert tips, hilarious pet stories, and the inside scoop on keeping your furry friends happy and healthy. Our motto, humanity over vanity. And don't worry, we don't fight. Let's get started. Who let the dogs go? Who let the dogs go?

SPEAKER_01:

Online booking should make life easier, but Shannon and Tanya reveal the common mistakes pet parents make and how to avoid them. Welcome back, everyone. I'm Sophia Yvette, co-host and producer, back in the studio today with Shannon and Tanya, Professional Groomers, Hound Therapy. Hi, ladies, how's it going today? It's fantastic. How are you? I'm also doing great and so excited to have you both back on today. Now let's dive into today's topic with QA's on dog grooming. What are the online booking do's and don'ts? So many.

SPEAKER_03:

So let's let's get started with um not every grooming shop offers an online booking system. Uh we do. Uh we find that it's easier. And um I think that it's um more convenient to be able to book on your time than it is on mine, on the hours that we're here. Not to mention that it's loud and we don't always get all of the information correct. So for me, I I prefer the online booking, but we're more than happy to answer the phone and make it for you online as well. So don't feel like you can't call in because you can. Um, but for those of you who you know are busy working and you're like, oh crap, I've you know, I've got to make my dog's grooming appointment.

SPEAKER_02:

I had someone make it at like 12 30 a.m. the other day.

SPEAKER_03:

I was like, oh, okay. It it makes it easier easier to do. So um we use uh a software that uh in fact, I don't think I have ever seen a dog grooming software that does not, it's it's more of a request. So let's start with just because you picked Friday at noon, you're not necessarily gonna get Friday at noon. We might call you back on saying, hey, look, can you come in earlier? Can you come in, you know, on a different day based on whatever type of dog that you have. Um, we might have that spot open and available, but you might have an animal like it's say if it's a cat or if it's you know a 300-pound dog that we haven't seen in a year. So those are those are reasons that it sends out a request. Very seldom do we turn down anybody. So we just may move the time, and that's not even frequent. Um just want you, just it is that's usually only for us for cats. Yeah, and it is making the appointment, but it's not necessarily um, it's not confirmed your appointment. So let's start with the it when yeah, the deuce. Let's start with the dues. Do be specific about your dog. Uh include the size, the coat, the condition, all of the stuff that you can get. Um, the more information that we have, the better, so that we can make sure that we put you in the right spot that we that that you need to be in.

SPEAKER_02:

Please mention if your dog has special needs.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, at this time. Um, if you're if if you're able, upload a clear photo so that we know, you know, what what dog that you've got that's coming in, or if you've got a special cut or something that you want, go ahead and put a photo in. And if it doesn't, then you know, bring it with you or bring a snapshot with you when you come in. Bonus points if it's a picture of your dog. Choose the right service. And this is the number one thing that I say. Do not have a Yorkie and you know, book it as uh a shepherd because it's the first one that came in. And more importantly, do not have a 150-pound doodle and try to tell me it's a mini uh standard poodle or something to that. There's a that doesn't exist, and and B, you're gonna get charged the appropriate price from what you're coming in. Yeah. Either way. So it you booking whatever price you want isn't specific. Book what your dog is. If it's got two breeds, pick the breed that it most resembles. If you have a lab pit mix, if it looks like a lab, say you have a lab. If it looks like a pit, say you have a pit. We don't care, we do it all. If it's a golden doodle and it looks like a poodle, go with poodle. Go with what it most looks like, like whatever breed is the more dominant.

SPEAKER_02:

Don't bring me a chow and say it's a shepherd.

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

Um, add notes for special requests. So there's a little note spot in there that's gonna ask, you know, hey, I've got I I missed a couple of appointments, you know, my dog just got neutered, my dog is going to get neutered, um, you know, whatever, whatever specialties is going on. If there's none, then don't worry about it. But if it's something that's that we're not used to, or if you're a new client and it's something that you have been told previously from another groomer that you have a specific problem with, please let us know because we can work around that also. Book in advance, um, we only offer ours for 48 hours in advance. Um, and that gives us a couple of days that we can work around with our scheduling. Um, and then 100% confirm the appointment. If you do not get a response, it says your appointment has been confirmed or your appointment has been made, you do not have an appointment.

SPEAKER_02:

Unless you get a confirmation, you don't have an appointment. You actually have to click the button.

SPEAKER_03:

So the don'ts, sir. Don't skip the details. Yep. Don't skip them. Don't go over the vet records, don't not sign the paperwork, don't don't make sure you go over all of the it's not a long process. Um, don't book the wrong service. Yep. Because if you book the wrong service, you may come in and it's gonna be a whole lot more than you thought it was gonna be. Uh, or we're not gonna be able to do your dog. Um, don't ghost us after booking. Don't not ghost us. Yeah. Do not not show up. You took the time to make the appointment online. It was literally you got the reminder 48 hours in advance. Just if if you can't come in, shoot us a text. Um, I mean, we understand life happens, things happen, we get it. And you just call us. We do have a cancellation fee on there. So that's really for no shows. That's for the ghosters out there. Um, if you have a legit problem and a reason why you can't come in, you're sick, your dog is sick, um, and it's you know, you don't call in every time. My car broke down on the way there. But all things that happen, like, no problem, we'll move you. There's no fee for that. So just be honest about it. We're honest with you, be honest with us. Um don't assume that you have the same day availability because it if you come in on the wrong day, I might be able to work you in. Might not. Might not. So we we work by appointment here 99.9% of the time. Uh, and once you've made your appointment, you've done all the steps, you've you've done everything you need to do, you've got a confirmation, look at it. Make sure you're on the right date, the right day, and the right time. Don't be late. And make sure your phone number is right.

SPEAKER_02:

We've had people double their phone number every day, and they're like, Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's my phone number, and I'm calling it. And they're like, You never called me. I mean, because it's wrong.

SPEAKER_03:

We've had a couple of people that we go, yeah, and and they entered the number in. Uh, they were just fast. So um there, there's a lot of it, it's it really is a very easy system. Um, it's not hard to use. And whether it's our system or and we've had we've had multiples, um, it's it's it's easy for you, it's easy for us, but it makes it a lot harder if um we don't have all of the information. And it's it's just so much more convenient, I think, for everybody that does want the one tap button. Once you've uh done it, it's it's not hard to do. So um it's a great way to communicate. And for us, it's it works as a text messaging system as well. So it's how we can um check in with you. We'll remind you for your vets, uh appointments if they're due.

SPEAKER_02:

We're gonna remind you when your appointment is, we're gonna run remind you uh a couple of or if it's two o'clock in the morning and you know your dog is throwing up and you have a vet appoint or a grooming appointment at eight o'clock the next morning, you're like, hey, I can't make it.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, and you can do it at midnight. You don't have to get up at eight and be like, oh crap. So so it it hopefully that it clears some things up. It's it's not a set-in-stone appointment until you get the confirmation. Once you get the confirmation, uh the rest of your paperwork. Uh we love the online booking. We want you guys to use it and do it. And um, it's a great place for us to save all your information uh and your photos. Um, but don't yeah, don't ghost after and don't don't try not to be late and and use that as a communication platform. Yep. Uh especially if you know your wife is sending you to drop off the dog, she can already have communicated and make the appointment. What haircut she's versus sending somebody who doesn't have a clue. So if you don't if you don't have the appointment making decision in your in your family, if you don't have that power and you're the one that's stuck bringing your dog in, then uh whoever made the appointment should be very um, you know, uh explicit on what it is that they're wanting done. So hopefully that answers some questions.

SPEAKER_01:

Most definitely does. Well, thank you, ladies, for those helpful tips, Shannon and Tanya. That's gonna make booking smoother for everyone. We'll see you next time. Thanks.

SPEAKER_00:

That's a wrap for this episode of Tale Talk with Hound Therapy. Ready to book your pet's next groom daycare stay or grooming academy tour? Call us at 469-367-0009. That's 469-367-0009 to schedule an appointment or visit us online at www.houndtherapy.com, serving North Texas with expert pet care. Until next time, keep those tails wagged.