Dog Grooming Intake Form: Free Template & Tips 2026

Every new dog that comes through your doors is an unknown quantity. You don't know their grooming history, their anxiety triggers, their health issues, or whether they've ever bitten a groomer. A dog grooming intake form is how you find out — before you're already mid-groom and dealing with a situation you weren't prepared for. It also protects your business legally if something goes wrong, which in any service involving animals is always a possibility.

This guide gives you a complete dog grooming intake form template you can use today, plus advice on what to include, what questions actually matter, and how to move from paper forms to digital without losing the information you need.

Why a Dog Grooming Intake Form Matters

Some groomers skip the intake form because it feels like extra admin. Here's why that's a mistake:

Liability protection. If a dog has a pre-existing condition — a heart murmur, a skin issue, a history of seizures — and something happens during the groom, your intake form documents that you asked and the owner disclosed (or failed to disclose) the relevant information. Without it, you have no documentation of what you knew and when.

Better grooms. Knowing that a Goldendoodle is anxious about blow dryers, or that a senior Shih Tzu has arthritis in her back legs and can't stand for long, lets you plan the groom accordingly. You'll do better work and the dog will have a better experience.

Client trust. When a new client sees that you're asking detailed questions about their dog before the appointment, it signals professionalism. It tells them you care about more than just getting the dog in and out.

Record keeping. Intake forms become part of the client's permanent file. When they return six months later, you can pull up the form and see exactly what you noted last time — breed cut preferences, sensitivities, behavioral notes.

What to Include in a Dog Grooming Intake Form

A complete intake form covers five areas: pet information, health and medical history, grooming history and preferences, behavioral notes, and owner consent.

1. Pet and Owner Information

• Owner's full name, address, and phone numbers (primary and emergency)
• Email address for appointment confirmations and reminders
• Pet's name, breed, age, and weight
• Spayed/neutered status
• Veterinarian name and phone number (for emergencies)

2. Health and Medical History

This is the section most groomers underweight, and it's the most legally important.

• Does your dog have any health conditions (heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, skin conditions, allergies)?
• Is your dog on any medications?
• Any recent surgeries, injuries, or illnesses?
• Any known sensitivities to grooming products (shampoos, conditioners, sprays)?
• Is your dog up to date on vaccines? (Many salons require proof of rabies, Bordetella, and DHPP)
• Any history of ear infections, eye problems, or dental issues?
• Does your dog have any lumps, bumps, or skin irritations we should know about?

3. Grooming History and Style Preferences

• Has your dog been professionally groomed before? If yes, where and how recently?
• Any previous issues with grooming (biting, excessive fear, bad reactions)?
• Preferred groom style or cut (include specific breed cut names if relevant — "puppy cut," "teddy bear cut," "kennel clip," etc.)
• Blade length or scissor length preferences for specific areas
• Any areas the dog is particularly sensitive about (paws, ears, face, rear)
• Photo reference for cut style (space for attaching a photo or noting a reference style)

4. Behavioral Notes

• How does your dog behave during grooming? (calm, anxious, reactive)
• Does your dog have a history of biting or snapping?
• How does your dog behave around other dogs?
• Any fears or triggers (blow dryers, clippers, nail grinding, etc.)?
• Does your dog require a muzzle? Are you open to using one if needed?

5. Owner Consent and Acknowledgment

This section converts your intake form into a legal document. It should include:

• Acknowledgment that the groomer may need to stop a groom if the dog becomes too stressed or is in distress
• Acknowledgment that matted coats may require dematting fees or may need to be shaved, and that this is at the groomer's professional discretion
• Acknowledgment that senior or special-needs dogs carry additional risk during grooming, and the owner accepts this
• Acknowledgment that the groomer is not liable for pre-existing conditions undisclosed by the owner
• Permission to obtain emergency veterinary care if needed (specify who pays)
• Signature line and date

Free Dog Grooming Intake Form Template

Below is a complete template you can copy, paste, and adapt for your salon. Use it as a paper form, a Google Form, or import the fields into your grooming software.

[YOUR SALON NAME] — New Client Intake Form

Owner Information

Name: ___________________________
Address: ___________________________
Primary Phone: ___________________________
Secondary/Emergency Phone: ___________________________
Email: ___________________________

Pet Information

Pet's Name: ___________________________
Breed: ___________________________
Age: ___________________________
Weight: ___________________________
Color/Markings: ___________________________
Spayed/Neutered: ☐ Yes ☐ No
Veterinarian Name: ___________________________
Vet Phone: ___________________________

Health & Medical History

Does your pet have any health conditions we should know about? ☐ Yes ☐ No
If yes, please describe: ___________________________

Is your pet currently on any medication? ☐ Yes ☐ No
If yes, please list: ___________________________

Any known product allergies or sensitivities? ☐ Yes ☐ No
If yes, please describe: ___________________________

Any recent surgeries, injuries, or illnesses in the past 6 months? ☐ Yes ☐ No
If yes, please describe: ___________________________

Any lumps, bumps, skin irritations, or sores? ☐ Yes ☐ No
If yes, location/description: ___________________________

Vaccines up to date? ☐ Yes ☐ No
Rabies: ☐ Yes ☐ No | Bordetella: ☐ Yes ☐ No | DHPP: ☐ Yes ☐ No

Grooming History & Preferences

Previously professionally groomed? ☐ Yes ☐ No
If yes, last groomed: ___________________________
Any issues during previous grooming? ___________________________

Preferred groom style/cut: ___________________________
Any specific length or style notes: ___________________________
Sensitive areas: ___________________________

Behavior

How does your pet behave during grooming?
☐ Calm and cooperative ☐ Mildly anxious ☐ Very anxious ☐ Reactive/aggressive

History of biting or snapping? ☐ Yes ☐ No
Any known fear triggers (dryers, clippers, nail grinding)? ___________________________
Has your pet ever worn a muzzle? ☐ Yes ☐ No | Are you open to muzzling if needed? ☐ Yes ☐ No

Owner Consent

I understand and agree to the following:

1. The groomer reserves the right to stop the groom at any time if my pet becomes excessively stressed or poses a safety risk.
2. Severely matted coats may require additional dematting fees or complete shave-down at the groomer's discretion.
3. Senior, special-needs, or health-compromised pets carry additional risk during grooming. I accept this risk and release [SALON NAME] from liability for complications arising from undisclosed conditions.
4. In the event of a veterinary emergency, [SALON NAME] is authorized to seek emergency care. I accept financial responsibility for any veterinary costs incurred.
5. I certify that the information above is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Signature: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________

How to Go Digital With Your Intake Form

Paper forms work, but they create problems: they get lost, they're hard to search, and you can't pull up a client's history from your phone between appointments. Digital intake forms solve all of these.

Most grooming software platforms — including Teddy, MoeGo, DaySmart, and Gingr — allow you to send digital intake forms to new clients before their first appointment. The client fills it out on their phone, the information saves automatically to their profile, and it's there every time they come back.

With Teddy, digital intake forms are part of the core platform. You can send a form link in an automated pre-appointment text, the client fills it out, and the responses populate directly into their pet profile in your CRM. No paper, no data entry, no lost forms.

If you're comparing salon software options for digital forms and scheduling, check out Best Grooming Scheduling Software for Salons in 2026 for a breakdown of the top grooming platforms this year.

If you're not using grooming software yet, Google Forms or JotForm are free ways to create a digital version of the template above and share it via a link in your booking confirmation text.

Tips for Using Your Intake Form Effectively

Send it before the appointment, not at check-in. If you hand someone a clipboard the moment they walk in with an excited dog, they'll rush through it and miss details. Send a digital link 24–48 hours before the first appointment.

Review it before the dog arrives. Take 2 minutes before each appointment to read the intake form for that dog. If they noted anxiety around nail grinding, plan your workflow accordingly.

Update it every 6–12 months. Dogs change. A two-year-old lab who was calm on his first visit might have developed leash reactivity by year three. Ask returning clients to confirm or update their form annually.

Store it with the client record. Your intake form is useless if you can't find it. Whether it's a physical file or a digital profile, it should be linked to the client's appointment history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a dog grooming intake form legally required?

No law requires groomers to use intake forms, but they're considered standard professional practice and provide critical liability protection. Without documentation of what you were told (or weren't told) about a dog's health and behavior, you have no defense if a client blames you for an injury or incident.

What's the difference between a grooming intake form and a grooming waiver?

An intake form collects information — health history, preferences, behavioral notes. A waiver is a legal document where the owner consents to services and acknowledges risk. Many groomers combine both into a single document, which is practical for most small operations. Larger salons sometimes keep them separate.

For a deeper breakdown of waivers and what language to include, see Dog Grooming Waiver: Free Template for Salon Owners.

Can I use a digital intake form instead of paper?

Absolutely — digital is better in almost every way. It's searchable, never gets lost, and integrates directly with your scheduling software. Most grooming platforms let you send a form link via text or email before the first appointment.

What should I do if a client refuses to fill out an intake form?

You can choose to groom the dog anyway, but document that the owner declined the intake process. More practically, consider making the form a non-negotiable part of your booking process — most professional clients understand and respect this.

How often should I update intake forms for existing clients?

A quick review or update every 6–12 months is good practice. Health conditions, medications, and behavioral changes can develop between visits. A simple check-in text asking clients to confirm their pet's info is current is enough for most returning clients.