Temple of the Dog
What We Do, Why We Do It and How We Do It
PERSONAL BELIEF
Animals do not get the proper respect they deserve. Their souls are the same as ours. They have emotions and a working mind. They deserve to be loved and cared for, like humans, but also deserve the freedom to be animals. Animals are honest, kind and loving, but are not human. Expecting them to act or understand things, like a human does, is unfair to them, for they are not human.
Society has detached humans from nature, relying more on man made products, than what nature has intended. We believe that humans need to be more in tune with nature. Less synthetics, Less processed, Less fake.
Humans should live with a greater natural influence, and Animals should live with less man made influences. Bodies, minds and souls are natural, and are not built to consume or absorb artificial items.
PRODUCT SPECS.
Our retail items are all natural and are free of chemicals. They are made in North America, as locally sourced as possible. We try to carry items that are healthy for all dogs. We carry many supplements and natural remedies to skin conditions, flea deterrents, wellness and digestion issues. Every product we sell has been researched on quality, sourcing & business practices. We do not buy into trends or marketing gimmicks, we expect companies to up sell products. We will not stock a poor quality product just because it has a cute mascot, or is endorsed by a celebrity. The quality of the product is of the most importance to us.
Some people wonder why we do not carry many different types of kibble, and only carry Petcurean brand. We do support a raw diet over a kibble based diet, but we understand it is not for everyone. We have seen huge improvements in health & quality of life in many dogs, just by improving the quality in their diet. Although there are some other high grade kibbles out there, we have stuck with a brand that has been in business for 20+ years, will not produce their food anywhere but Canada, and have proven to have excellent standards in product and business practices. NO RECALLS & NO LAWSUITS IN OVER 20 YEARS!!
Although some of our clients have asked for us to bring in Acana or Orijen, by Champion foods, We cannot, based on current the lawsuits and possible sale of the company, especially when lawsuits are due to to finding pentobarbital (Euthanasia Drug!) in the food!! (https://www.chagrinfallspetclinic.com/2018/11/27/alert-orijen-acana-dog-food-euthanasia-solution/?fbclid=IwAR3QcqjNUZCWK6uZJlRTF1WgTDeX5mBqO_aEVpNxnbKiXGjIqe5N4mkR7xM) We will not support companies that have a poor business ethics, and can not support companies that have lawsuits against them for the quality of their food, possibly causing health issues/Fatalities, or the majority of company shares are owned by a financing company, to be sold off at their whim, to a possibly not so caring company. These types of business have proven in the past to be more about making share holders money than the animals, by distracting consumers with secrets and lies. Even those with an excellent reputation with the public, are only allowing the consumer to see what they portray, but those in the industry see past that and know there is more to that story.
JOB SUPPLY SPECS
Many salons tend to cheap out on the supplies they use to wash your dog. We do not. Every dog is bathed in high quality, natural shampoos and conditioners. Quality styling products are used. When delt with a difficult problem, like removing grease or tar from a dogs coat, we do use a diluted solution containing Dawn dish detergent. Once the grease and grime is removed, the dog is then washed with natural products.
GROOMING
At Temple of the Dog, We do things a little differently than at some salons. We have a free run environment, and do not have strict appointment times. We bring all the dogs in Tuesday-Saturday, between 8-9AM. This allows for play time with other dogs and gives the groomers a chance to create a bond with the dog, before working on them. Dogs are worked on in stages, receiving breaks between each step. If a dog needs an additional break during a step, they are given it. Once the dog is clean , they are sometimes caged to stay clean or keep others clean. When they are ready to go, we call the owners to come pick up the dog, but do not expect them to rush, allowing them to get things done while their dogs are with us. This process allows the dogs to stay calm, bond with the groomer to enjoy the process and returning to the environment. It also helps make the process more enjoyable for the groomer, especially if working with a stressed dog, and also for the owner, when they see their dog happy, making friends and looking good. If a dog is enjoying the environment and making friends, they are often worked on last, because they are having fun. Dogs that do play and run are sometimes with us for a long period of time. If a dog is not enjoying the environment, we try to get them back to their parents quickly and create them a quieter space of their own until they do go home. If you suspect that your dog will really not enjoy the company of other dogs, or you have scheduled plans, we have 3 early out appointments daily, that will have your pup out by noon. These must be booked when making an appointment, not at drop off. If your schedule is very busy and you need to leave your dog with us all day, just let us know so your dog is not clean and possibly caged all day if cooling or making groomed dogs dirty, we just give them extra play time. If your dog is not social or is traumatized by the experience, or is a cat, we keep Mondays quieter for these type of grooms.
HUMANITY BEFORE VANITY
In order to ensure that a dog is not traumatized by grooming, a heavily matted coat will be shaved off instead of brushed out. If brushing out matting causes your dog great distress, the coat will have to be shaved, for the benefit of the dog. Long coats require a lot of work. If you do not have the time to maintain this type of coat, but desire this look, we can set you up with a maintenance schedule.
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
We have gone to great lengths to ensure your Dog's safety. Besides our groomers being patient and trained, they are also trained in First Aid. We have several cameras recording the days activities, in case there is an incident, We have video to investigate what happened. We are also well insured so that your dog is covered, be it during grooming or while travelling in our vehicle, any time your dog is in our care. Although, we would not intentionally try to hurt your dog, accidents can happen. If there was to be an accident or injury while grooming is being done, We would deal with a minor injury and let you know about it at pick up. If the injury is serious, We would see a vet instantly, & let you know ASAP. Any charges for vetting will be paid by us, for any injury that is caused by grooming. Although We thouroughly inspect the dog before it leaves the shop, there are some minor things that can appear later, such as skin irritations from razor burn or shampoo sensitivity. If you get your dog home and see something, please give us a call and let us know. If you feel the need to see a vet, please let us know that too. If an injury appears many hours after your dog has left our shop, please let us know. We are willing to work with you, to find out the cause and nature. Occasionally a dog reacts to something that is not apparent to the grooming process, like a hand cream on groomers hands. If your dog suddenly has an injury appear after they are no longer in our care, We will request photos and vet information/bill, before we are able to do anything for you. For instance, a dog with a medical condition in the eye that requires special care while grooming, will be very carefully inspected before it leaves the shop to ensure that the dog is fine, no injury to the eye and face. It is also documented for reference in the future, to insure healing is going well and health is not deteriorating. If, after a couple of hours after leaving our care, the dog has a cut on its face that bleeds, we cannot assume that it was from grooming. The dog could rub on a couch button, or other rough object and cause this. It is a coinsidence that the dog was groomed that day. Same if your ancient dog dies, the day after grooming. It does not mean something happened during grooming, it means the dog is very old. In these instances, We will need to see photos and vet bills, in order to ensure that we are at fault. Unfortunately, if you deny us this, We will not be able to do anything for you, as some people will unfortunately make false claims just to have non grooming related, vet bills paid.
PHONE CALLS
There will be times when you call in and we do not answer the phone, as we are serving a customer, taking a dog outside or are unable to leave a dog/cat we are working on. We will not leave an animal unattended on the table or in the tub. If this is the case, please leave us a detailed message and we will get back to you as soon as we can. During busy seasons, we sometimes are unable to get to the phone until the end of the day. We occasionally receive crackly messages from cell phones, if we do not call you back, we may not be able to hear your message. Please call back.
Animals do not get the proper respect they deserve. Their souls are the same as ours. They have emotions and a working mind. They deserve to be loved and cared for, like humans, but also deserve the freedom to be animals. Animals are honest, kind and loving, but are not human. Expecting them to act or understand things, like a human does, is unfair to them, for they are not human.
Society has detached humans from nature, relying more on man made products, than what nature has intended. We believe that humans need to be more in tune with nature. Less synthetics, Less processed, Less fake.
Humans should live with a greater natural influence, and Animals should live with less man made influences. Bodies, minds and souls are natural, and are not built to consume or absorb artificial items.
PRODUCT SPECS.
Our retail items are all natural and are free of chemicals. They are made in North America, as locally sourced as possible. We try to carry items that are healthy for all dogs. We carry many supplements and natural remedies to skin conditions, flea deterrents, wellness and digestion issues. Every product we sell has been researched on quality, sourcing & business practices. We do not buy into trends or marketing gimmicks, we expect companies to up sell products. We will not stock a poor quality product just because it has a cute mascot, or is endorsed by a celebrity. The quality of the product is of the most importance to us.
Some people wonder why we do not carry many different types of kibble, and only carry Petcurean brand. We do support a raw diet over a kibble based diet, but we understand it is not for everyone. We have seen huge improvements in health & quality of life in many dogs, just by improving the quality in their diet. Although there are some other high grade kibbles out there, we have stuck with a brand that has been in business for 20+ years, will not produce their food anywhere but Canada, and have proven to have excellent standards in product and business practices. NO RECALLS & NO LAWSUITS IN OVER 20 YEARS!!
Although some of our clients have asked for us to bring in Acana or Orijen, by Champion foods, We cannot, based on current the lawsuits and possible sale of the company, especially when lawsuits are due to to finding pentobarbital (Euthanasia Drug!) in the food!! (https://www.chagrinfallspetclinic.com/2018/11/27/alert-orijen-acana-dog-food-euthanasia-solution/?fbclid=IwAR3QcqjNUZCWK6uZJlRTF1WgTDeX5mBqO_aEVpNxnbKiXGjIqe5N4mkR7xM) We will not support companies that have a poor business ethics, and can not support companies that have lawsuits against them for the quality of their food, possibly causing health issues/Fatalities, or the majority of company shares are owned by a financing company, to be sold off at their whim, to a possibly not so caring company. These types of business have proven in the past to be more about making share holders money than the animals, by distracting consumers with secrets and lies. Even those with an excellent reputation with the public, are only allowing the consumer to see what they portray, but those in the industry see past that and know there is more to that story.
JOB SUPPLY SPECS
Many salons tend to cheap out on the supplies they use to wash your dog. We do not. Every dog is bathed in high quality, natural shampoos and conditioners. Quality styling products are used. When delt with a difficult problem, like removing grease or tar from a dogs coat, we do use a diluted solution containing Dawn dish detergent. Once the grease and grime is removed, the dog is then washed with natural products.
GROOMING
At Temple of the Dog, We do things a little differently than at some salons. We have a free run environment, and do not have strict appointment times. We bring all the dogs in Tuesday-Saturday, between 8-9AM. This allows for play time with other dogs and gives the groomers a chance to create a bond with the dog, before working on them. Dogs are worked on in stages, receiving breaks between each step. If a dog needs an additional break during a step, they are given it. Once the dog is clean , they are sometimes caged to stay clean or keep others clean. When they are ready to go, we call the owners to come pick up the dog, but do not expect them to rush, allowing them to get things done while their dogs are with us. This process allows the dogs to stay calm, bond with the groomer to enjoy the process and returning to the environment. It also helps make the process more enjoyable for the groomer, especially if working with a stressed dog, and also for the owner, when they see their dog happy, making friends and looking good. If a dog is enjoying the environment and making friends, they are often worked on last, because they are having fun. Dogs that do play and run are sometimes with us for a long period of time. If a dog is not enjoying the environment, we try to get them back to their parents quickly and create them a quieter space of their own until they do go home. If you suspect that your dog will really not enjoy the company of other dogs, or you have scheduled plans, we have 3 early out appointments daily, that will have your pup out by noon. These must be booked when making an appointment, not at drop off. If your schedule is very busy and you need to leave your dog with us all day, just let us know so your dog is not clean and possibly caged all day if cooling or making groomed dogs dirty, we just give them extra play time. If your dog is not social or is traumatized by the experience, or is a cat, we keep Mondays quieter for these type of grooms.
HUMANITY BEFORE VANITY
In order to ensure that a dog is not traumatized by grooming, a heavily matted coat will be shaved off instead of brushed out. If brushing out matting causes your dog great distress, the coat will have to be shaved, for the benefit of the dog. Long coats require a lot of work. If you do not have the time to maintain this type of coat, but desire this look, we can set you up with a maintenance schedule.
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
We have gone to great lengths to ensure your Dog's safety. Besides our groomers being patient and trained, they are also trained in First Aid. We have several cameras recording the days activities, in case there is an incident, We have video to investigate what happened. We are also well insured so that your dog is covered, be it during grooming or while travelling in our vehicle, any time your dog is in our care. Although, we would not intentionally try to hurt your dog, accidents can happen. If there was to be an accident or injury while grooming is being done, We would deal with a minor injury and let you know about it at pick up. If the injury is serious, We would see a vet instantly, & let you know ASAP. Any charges for vetting will be paid by us, for any injury that is caused by grooming. Although We thouroughly inspect the dog before it leaves the shop, there are some minor things that can appear later, such as skin irritations from razor burn or shampoo sensitivity. If you get your dog home and see something, please give us a call and let us know. If you feel the need to see a vet, please let us know that too. If an injury appears many hours after your dog has left our shop, please let us know. We are willing to work with you, to find out the cause and nature. Occasionally a dog reacts to something that is not apparent to the grooming process, like a hand cream on groomers hands. If your dog suddenly has an injury appear after they are no longer in our care, We will request photos and vet information/bill, before we are able to do anything for you. For instance, a dog with a medical condition in the eye that requires special care while grooming, will be very carefully inspected before it leaves the shop to ensure that the dog is fine, no injury to the eye and face. It is also documented for reference in the future, to insure healing is going well and health is not deteriorating. If, after a couple of hours after leaving our care, the dog has a cut on its face that bleeds, we cannot assume that it was from grooming. The dog could rub on a couch button, or other rough object and cause this. It is a coinsidence that the dog was groomed that day. Same if your ancient dog dies, the day after grooming. It does not mean something happened during grooming, it means the dog is very old. In these instances, We will need to see photos and vet bills, in order to ensure that we are at fault. Unfortunately, if you deny us this, We will not be able to do anything for you, as some people will unfortunately make false claims just to have non grooming related, vet bills paid.
PHONE CALLS
There will be times when you call in and we do not answer the phone, as we are serving a customer, taking a dog outside or are unable to leave a dog/cat we are working on. We will not leave an animal unattended on the table or in the tub. If this is the case, please leave us a detailed message and we will get back to you as soon as we can. During busy seasons, we sometimes are unable to get to the phone until the end of the day. We occasionally receive crackly messages from cell phones, if we do not call you back, we may not be able to hear your message. Please call back.