What Happens When Your Dog’s Groom Runs Over 2 Hours

Most full grooms at Vroom Grooms LLC finish within the 2-hour appointment window. Most, but not all. Some dogs need more time than others, and when that happens, the Terms and Conditions spell out exactly what to expect. There is a $50 overage fee for each 20 to 30 minutes over the 2-hour mark, and there is a separate $50 “after hours” fee that applies automatically if the groom runs past the scheduled end time. Here is what those fees mean, why they exist, and how you can avoid them.

The $50 Overage Fee

If the groom takes 20 to 30 minutes more than 2 hours, you are charged a $50 overage fee. If it takes 40 to 60 minutes more than 2 hours, that is two overage fees. The math is simple: $50 for each 20 to 30 minute block over the 2-hour appointment.

This fee is not a punishment. It is the cost of the groomer’s time. When a groom takes longer than expected, I am not doing anything else. I am not booking another dog. I am not running errands. I am sitting with your dog, working through whatever is taking the extra time. That time has a real cost, and the overage fee covers it.

The most common reasons a groom runs over:

– A heavily matted coat that needs to be cut or shaved out instead of brushed through

– A dog who needs extra breaks to stay calm during the groom

– A double-coated dog in the middle of a seasonal blow that needs extra brushing time

– A dog who is anxious or reactive and needs slower handling

– A coat that is thicker or denser than expected based on the owner’s description

None of these are anyone’s fault. They are the realities of working with living animals whose coats and temperaments vary from dog to dog.

The “After Hours” Fee

After hours are a separate situation from the overage fee. After hours apply when I am running behind on the route and a groom is taking longer than scheduled. The $50 after hours fee is automatic, no matter how long the groom runs over, unless I have approved an extension in advance.

The reason for this fee is that every minute a groom runs late affects the rest of the day’s appointments. The dog after you is waiting. The dog after them is waiting. By the time a single groom runs 30 minutes over, the entire route is shifted, and clients at the end of the day are getting groomed an hour or more later than they were told to expect.

The after hours fee acknowledges that disruption and covers the cost of rescheduling or rushing the rest of the day to catch up. It is not applied to every overage. It is specifically for situations where the groom is taking time that affects other clients.

How to Avoid Overage Fees

The best way to avoid overage fees is to keep your dog on a regular grooming schedule. Mats do not form overnight. Coat blow-outs are predictable. Behavioral issues can be worked on between appointments. If your dog comes in every 4 to 6 weeks for a full groom, the groom is almost always going to stay within the 2-hour window because the coat is being maintained and the dog is used to the routine.

If your dog has been off schedule for a while and the coat is matted or overgrown, the groom is going to take longer. That is the reality. You can either accept the overage fee or work with your groomer to get back on a regular schedule so the next appointment stays within the window.

You can also help by being honest about your dog’s behavior, coat condition, and any changes since the last appointment. If your dog has been difficult to brush at home, if the coat has changed, if there are new mats or tangles, tell me before the appointment. The more I know going in, the better I can plan, and the less likely it is that we will run over.

What If the Dog Is Difficult?

If your dog becomes difficult, fighting, or biting during the groom, you are charged on the higher end of your dog’s price range. If that pushes the groom past 2 hours, the overage fee applies as well. This is in the Terms and Conditions because a difficult groom takes real time, skill, and patience, and it deserves to be priced accordingly.

I will not force a dog to do any part of the groom that they are too stressed with. I will complete what I am able and charge accordingly. If by the third or fourth groom the behavior has not improved and you have not addressed it with your vet, I may have to drop your services. I would rather lose a client than be associated with a dog being forced through a stressful experience. That is the Humanity Over Vanity rule, and it applies here too.

The Bottom Line

The overage fee and the after hours fee exist because the groomer’s time has value. When a groom takes longer than expected, that time is still being spent with your dog, working through whatever the situation requires. The fees make sure the groomer is compensated fairly for that work, and they make sure the rest of the day’s appointments are not silently subsidized by one difficult groom.

If you have questions about timing or fees, ask before the appointment. I would rather walk you through it than have it come up at the end of the groom.

Stay fresh and furry, Nicole / Vroom Grooms LLC