Dear Pet Carer/Professional,

Please read for more information on The HGA's Code of Ethics and Members Pledge.

An HGA Student/Graduate is invested in learning ways to enhance the service they provide in ways that consider and respect other animals as sentient, emotional beings.

Because of this, they are taught ways to increase safety in the professional grooming environment by utilising the benefits of a more cooperative-based practice. 

Our students and graduates must agree with our Code of Conduct and sign the Members Pledge (below) to demonstrate their commitment to using only positive and compassionate methods of care while working with animals. 

Failure to comply to these very strict ethical standards would result in the immediate termination of their membership/graduation status. 

We have two different logos you should look out for:

1. Our Members Logo is for individuals who have subscribed to our monthly membership or who are actively learning via our Accreditation and have access to our CPD events throughout the year. This logo doesn't guarantee a dog groomer is competent but does show their interest in learning more holistic, science-backed methods of grooming. It's up to the dog professional/carer to do their own due diligence in this instance.

2. Our HGA Certified Logo is for individuals who have underwent our advanced Accreditation and passed the course. These individuals have demonstrated a thorough understanding of our approach and are competent in their roles as Holistic Groomers.

If you have any concerns about the conduct of your HGA groomer, you can follow the guidelines provided in our Complaints Policy (see Footer). 

Equally, we LOVE to hear all of the good experiences dog carers/professionals have with our HGA groomers, and welcome you to share with us your experiences and thoughts on their services via our e-mail ([email protected]) and/or socials (@theholisticgroomingacademy).

Rest assured all HGA students are against the use of punishment, and will not use any aversive tools in their practice. 

Finally, if you are reading this as a dog carer we would like to politely remind you that your dog's progress relies on you having an open heart to the unorthodox processes of The HGA - we may not be what you first expect, but we promise to uphold our duty to safeguard the health and wellbeing of your dog while we work on helping them to truly enjoy their grooming sessions.

If you are looking to find your nearest HGA member/graduate groomer, please follow the 'Directory' link below.

The HGA Code of Conduct

The Holistic Grooming Academy prides itself in being a community with unwavering integrity. Our charter is in place to safeguard the reputation and ethos of our establishment, and to encourage our associates and students to uphold the same high standards in their own practices. We strongly believe in being a positive, encouraging and supportive learning hub for all walks of life.

  • Inclusive and Supportive Community: we welcome and embrace all walks of life and strive to develop our compassion, understanding and acceptance of other perspectives, experiences and backgrounds. We are active advocates against any form of ill-treatment whether that be actions towards our peers or our furry companions.

  • Professionalism, Transparency and Integrity: it is crucial to all at The HGA to conduct our business and nurture our relationships honestly and with the utmost respect. As ambassadors of our organisation, we also ask that you uphold your promise to ensure that your behaviour and actions support this ethos, and that you remain accountable for your actions with clients, peers, the general public and other animals. We rely on our associates to be the best representatives and take misconduct seriously.

  • Commitment To Learning & Developing Our Skills: we believe that there's no such thing as an "expert" in any field and that in order to be the best versions of ourselves we must strive to be the forever student. We ask that our staff, students and members continue to invest in their own professional development, and seek out reputable training providers in order to do so. We believe that it is imperative to the standard of education we provide, that we continue to invest in learning more as science continues to evolve. Our promise is to ensure all of our training resources are regularly reviewed and updated as necessary to reflect this.

  • Collaboration, Networking & Synchronised Care: one of the pillars of our approach is to strive for synchronised care through the nurturing of our professional relationships, and the relationships we have with our clients and dogs. With this in mind, we actively contribute to the wider canine community through many online resources offering our support, advice and guidance all over the world. We take pride in working together with all sectors to raise awareness of the significance of the 'whole' dog. As students/graduates of The HGA, you too agree to contribute and support other students and those looking for help within our safe community.

  • Global Warming & Environmental Duty: We recognise the impact our roles may have to the environment and promise to pursue measures to reduce our own carbon footprint when carrying out our daily roles. As such, we will commit to learning more about products and the other ways our day-to-day activities may hinder our environment, and promise to explore different ways to make our daily tasks more environmental friendly. The HGA respects Mother Nature and we feel strongly about helping to make this world a greener place.

Members Pledge:

Disclaimer: The HGA must stress that although we have measures in place to safeguard the pledge and ethics, we rely on an element of trust and cooperation from both the general public and our members.

  • To only use positive, non-dominant based methods when caring for an animal.

  • To be totally transparent with their approach to caring for an animal and to devise a bespoke care plan that suit the individual needs of an animal.

  • To work with an animal using consent and choice to encourage cooperation and trust.

  • To only use our approved handling devices when faced with Welfare cases, and to strive for a restraint-free grooming environment that respects boundaries and an animal's need for agency.

  • To be honest with both carers and other pet care professionals and only offer advice to the limitations of their expertise, and otherwise refer a dog carer and dog to the appropriate pet professional in times they feel it's required.

  • To adhere to The Holistic Grooming Academy's Code of Ethics of the HGA for the duration of their membership/graduate status.

FAQ

  • It says 'behaviourist' in the Certified Groomers Logo, what does this mean?

    Our graduates have been taken through an advanced education in canine behaviour and positive training methods within the context of professional grooming. As such, the term 'Holistic Grooming Behaviourist' refers to the graduates ability to risk-assess, observe and communicate with a dog within a professional grooming environment to devise a bespoke care plan based on the dog's individual needs. This should not be confused with a qualified clinical behaviourist.

  • Does HGA Membership guarantee a groomer works within your guidelines?

    Unfortunately not. While we do all that we can to safeguard the integrity of our establishment we cannot guarantee that all of our members invest time to attending our events, or that they will indeed practice as per our Code of Conduct and Members Pledge Ethics. With that in mind, we always recommend that you do your own due diligence before entrusting a professional to care for your dog, and should you have any concerns about one of our HGA members, students and/or graduates, that you contact us immediately with as much evidence to support your complaint. Our email is: [email protected]

  • What's the point in the logo if you cannot guarantee competency?

    We strive to raise awareness of the need for a more cooperative and canine-centred dog grooming world. Our establishment represents a future where dogs come first and as such, we strive to welcome as many individuals into our community as possible so that they have access to the relevant and reliable resources to further expand their knowledge and skillset. We rely on our members/students/graduates being honest but we do dedicate time to mystery shop and spot check at random in hope this might encourage them to adhere to our policies. their promise.