posted 02-10-2004 06:32 AM         

I've posted this on the other board so if it's a repeat for you I apologize.

I am a professional pet groomer and I'm always looking for ways to improve my relationships with the owners who bring their pets. So I'm wondering if you could take a couple of minutes and post about your experiences with groomers. Anything you can think of would be helpful to me.

What do you think of your groomer's:

Handling of your dog, time spent at the shop, courtesy, professionalism, appearance of shop, willingness to listen to you, willingness to explain what they will be doing? How do you like the cuts you get? Does your groomer just take your dog and give you a clip, or do they encourage your input?

What are any other likes and dislikes?

posted 02-10-2004 07:50 AM         

By the way, Should we tip?

posted 02-11-2004 10:27 AM         

Karma....I'm very picky about my groomers and have tried just about everyone in my area. I like to visit with the groomer first and see the shop- all areas. A little fur here and there is not a problem, but one time I walked in and saw several animals very matted. The groomer commented that they were just her personal pets. Not a good example.

Also....if you notice anything different about the pet when you groom, such as a lump, that they seem bloated or that you've shaved a dime size piece of skin and left a gaping hole in the cat's side, just be honest about it and own up. Everybody makes mistakes and I wouldn't hold it against you. But when I get home and find it and the groomer didn't say anything....either they didn't want to be honest about it or they didn't notice it when they were grooming. I changed groomers immediately.

I have also changed groomers based on my dog's reaction. I know she doesn't like to be groomed, but when she comes out terrifed and trembling, that's not a good sign. If there was some kind of accident that happened that scared my dog, just tell me about it.

My current groomer (or should I say my poodle's current groomer) always listens to what I say and will ask me if I'm sure I want to do that (such as the time I shaved Abbie bald when she started getting into the chiggers and fireants). She's not afraid to tell me that what I want is not a good idea.

I guess the main thing is be honest and build a good rapor with your regular clients.

posted 02-11-2004 11:46 AM         

Thanks for your response. I'll respond to each of your comments.

About seeing a matted pet when you walk in, that belongs to the owner, well, yes, I guess one would expect a groomer to stay on top of her own dogs. But I'll point out that owning a matted pet doesn't necessarily make one a poor groomer.

About noticing things and not saying anything- I've always made a point to let owners know if I saw something. To be fair, not even a good groomer will always notice every lump or other abnormality.

A groomer who causes an abrasion should always own up to it. Mistakes happen, but it does make us look bad to not tell the owner.

Dogs tremble for many reasons. Fear, definitely, but they also tremble with excitement. I cannot tell you how many dogs will shake like crazy when they see their owners, but I will say that, knowing that NO kind of mishap or mishandling caused the shaking, I would be very sorry to hear that a customer of mine would necessarily infer that something had gone wrong. There are many other factors that could contribute to shaking that we aren't aware of- maybe a smell in the room, another dog's particular bark, having to go to the bathroom. And many, many dogs are fine the whole time they're here (no shaking, I mean) and as soon as Mom shows up they begin to shake!

I'm certainly not saying that your dog's shaking wan't because of undue poor handling- I'm just presenting the other side. We can run our shops perfectly, and not be able to control that.

posted 02-17-2004 02:43 PM         

All the nails should have been done, of course.

There isn't really a specific type of cut for a dog like yours. Most are done in what's called a 'puppy' or 'teddy bear' clip, which basically means the same length all over, usually about an inch of hair is left, give or take.

How did you end up at this groomer? I really think the best way to find a good groomer, is to ask other people who they like, if possible. The grooming trade is not licensed or regulated so just about anyone can groom.

Another thing is that groomers have different styles and preferences- if you took your dog in and asked for a 'puppy' clip at two different groomers you could conceivably end up with two very different clips, with neither of them necessarily 'wrong.'

As for the eyelashes- most owners want them trimmed back, because they can get very long, however, I've had a customer or two who give me very explicit instructions to not touch the eyelashes. It's basically whatever you want. Again, no right or wrong.

Sometimes you need a couple of 'back-and-forths' with a groomer before he or she completely understands exactly what you want.

posted 02-18-2004 02:05 PM         

As for the mats behind his ears, you have to be careful about cutting them out with scissors. If they're not really tight up against his skin and you're sure you can see hair in between the mat and the skin, go ahead and cut the hair. But please be careful! People have cut skin doing this- they pull out the skin with the hair and end up cutting the skin.

If you're not sure, you may want to go to a groomer. I use clippers on mats like this - it's often faster, easier and safer.