Intake
Dog grooming new-client intake form: short and sharp
A practical new-client intake form for dog groomers that captures the details a groomer actually needs before the first appointment.
Short answer
A dog grooming new-client intake form should collect owner contact info, pet name, breed, size, age, coat condition, behavior notes, health concerns, requested service, timing preference, and permission to contact by text. Keep it short enough to complete before motivation fades.
A form is a filter, not a wall
The intake form should make the first appointment better. It should not make the owner feel like they are applying for a mortgage.
The best form asks the questions that change the groom: size, coat, matting, temperament, health, and what the owner actually wants done.
The core fields
If you are starting from zero, use the smallest set of questions that helps your team prepare.
- Owner name, phone, and email
- Pet name, breed or mix, age, and approximate weight
- Requested service
- Coat condition and matting notes
- Behavior or handling concerns
- Health issues, allergies, or medications
- Preferred appointment days or times
- Text permission for confirmations and reminders
Ask sensitive questions calmly
Do not make behavior questions sound accusatory. A good phrasing is: 'Anything we should know to make the groom easier for your dog?' That invites useful detail without making the owner defensive.
The same applies to matting. The goal is not to shame the owner. The goal is to avoid surprise pricing, unsafe expectations, and rushed decisions at check-in.
Phone intake and form intake should match
If the website asks one set of questions and the phone asks another, the shop creates duplicate work. Use one intake model across online booking, phone calls, and follow-up.
That is exactly the kind of structured front-desk work Woof is built to handle on calls.
Questions owners ask
What should a grooming intake form ask?
It should ask for owner contact details, pet details, service need, coat and matting notes, behavior, health concerns, and preferred timing.
Should dog grooming intake happen online or by phone?
Both can work. The key is using the same questions and keeping the handoff clear so the groomer sees the important notes before the appointment.
Collect the right notes before the first visit.
Woof asks the grooming intake questions on the call and turns them into a useful team note.