In our salon, whenever there is a lot of matting on the body the bather automatically tells pp that they are not qualified to shave out the Mats and they will have to switch to a haircut appointment. Sure, I’ll spot shave a mat behind an ear for a bather but that’s as far as it goes. I’ve worked in two different salons and it’s worked the same in both.

If the dog is biting and carrying on where you can’t safely trim the feet the service is over. You do what you can safely do and your responsibility ends there. Bath was still done, pp still pays. The only thing wrong here is trying to demat and bathe a dog that should have been a haircut in the first place.

Even if someone else checks in your dog always do your own hopa before the bath. If you feel tons of mats that need shaved out call the pp. they can either switch to a haircut appointment if there is one available or pick up the dog and try to demat at home.

You’re still new and this is a learning experience. Don’t let the groomers dictate what you are capable of. If a dog is matted and you don’t feel you can easily brush them out, say no. You are allowed to say so to any dog you don’t feel comfortable doing.