posted 02-07-2004 02:04 PM         

I'm a newcomer to this board, having just posted a couple of times in response to a few people's disappointing experiences with grooming.

As a shop owner, I am always looking to improve my skills, whether they be technical or with dogs or people. I'd like to know about your grooming experiences, good and bad. What you like, what you don't in terms of quality, professionalism, shop appearance, handling, courtesy, time spent, etc.

Anything you can think of! Does your groomer work out of home or a commercial shop? Do they ask you what type of cut you'd like, or just take the dog and do it their way? For those with purebreeds, do they follow the pet profile to your satisfaction?- or does this not matter to you? What about the silly little bows? Pricing? Atmosphere? Other services?

posted 02-07-2004 02:54 PM         

You should look up the recent post called:AWWWWW, or something like that, it was all on grooming experiences. There were alot of different views and comments. It was very helpful to me!

I have had good and bad experiences with groomers. Recently I took my shi tzu in for grooming, Long story short: I had to be away from home for approx. 3wks, husband doesn't brush the dogs. So needless to say Freebie was very matted! When I dropped him off I told the groomer not to shave him, but to do the best she could with a shorter cut.
She did call me to say that they needed to cut him shorter than I wanted, and she gave me a # of the blade cut. (I didn't know what that meant at the time...do now)

anyway- I said: that's fine just don't shave him. When I picked him up, he was shaved! I was very upset, and she then proceeded to tell me he wasn't shaved, my responce was: the dog has no hair! I paid for the service and left. I posted my responce to the post called: AWWWW,
and I learned a great deal about what groomers go through, not to mention the dogs.

But! what would have been helpful to me was: explaining what the #s of the blade cut meant! It was obvious "I thought" when I said "fine but dont shave him", that I didn't know that # "was" shaving.

I was told of a good groomer by a co-worker recently, I will be trying her next time. I have been educated a little about what you groomers go through, and so that will also help me!

I love the bandana's they put on my boy, and the good smelling conditioner. I also think it would be helpful to have some before and after pictures of different cuts, so you can get an idea of what you would like.

As well as suggesting the best brushes, shampoos, conditioners and that sort of thing.

Thanks again for asking!

Susan

posted 02-07-2004 03:14 PM         

I'm one of the groomers who responded to the post you're talking about, from a couple of days ago.

As I said there, your groomer definitely should have told you if he/she felt your dog needed to be shaved. And saying "shorter" is not the same thing as saying "shaved!" Communication is so important in this (well, in all!) businesses. Also, I don't know why they would think you would know what a particular blade # means. I never get technical with people, unless I know that they have a grooming background or experience- otherwise you just get that glazed-eyes look- and you're asking for trouble.

Well, I'm sorry that you had that bad experience. It's a lesson to all in good communicating skills. I'm glad you've found someone you think will be better- word-of-mouth is usually a dependable way.

posted 02-07-2004 05:20 PM         

Sorry i went on and on I love the bandana's on dogs oh yea i have a question if rubber bands are bad for people hair wouldnt' it be bad for dog hair also. in my opinion bows are cute but not if you have to put a rubber band first i would rather have a bandana

thanks for listing and welcome to the board i took alot of your advice about the brushes hopefully Jasmie will calm down so i can make her not have to be shaved anymore

posted 02-07-2004 06:30 PM         

I'm wondering why the groomer is calling you with questions? Is she not there when you drop the dogs off? I try to get all the info when the owner brings the dogs in, that way we can have a back-and-forth exchange with the dog right there so I can get all the info I need.

About the rubber bands, I don't ever put them in the hair myself. I make bows with them and put the bows on the collars. I don't think the kind groomers use would be bad for hair, though, as long as they don't pulling the hair out (of course,)

posted 02-07-2004 11:42 PM         

P.S. Where I live it is very expensive for a bath and grooming, $54.oo and that's without the tip! I haven't found anyone much cheaper yet, but am looking. I'm hoping this new groomer won't cost so much. Even at Petsmart it's $43.00

I live at the coast and almost everything is more expensive here. My sister lives in Fresno, and it only costs her $18.00 what a difference!

posted 02-08-2004 01:12 PM         

Then theres the time factor....groomers usually have other animals to do and dont always catch every little thing. If I want EVERY matt out of my poodle...I'd better do it myself as 100% of the groomers I've ever taken to her have missed at least one decent sized matt every single time.

I worked in two different grooming shops in my time. From what I've seen..I think a person has to be absolutely nuts to be taking their dog to a petco/petsmart type place. Its NOT that much cheaper and the majority of the workers there are brand new to the business and barely making over 7 bucks an hour. In rare cases a person will find a decent groomer there and its fine to take your dog back there....but for the most part...the individual shops are MUCH more professional and much more interested in your dogs.

Never pay for the premium bath or shedding or toothbrushing services. They are not worth it. Shedless simply means they spend an extra 20 minutes brushing the animal then they spray something like hairspray on the animal (a cheap and not very effective product). Teethbrushing is ONLY effective if you're doing it at home as well. Once a month is going to do nothing for your dog. And the premium bath includes nothing more than the use of a shampoo that costs the shop slightly more.

I love bows....LOVE them. I used to love making them when I worked in grooming. I put them on every dog that I could.....but usually only on their collars. I had certain customers that would request me simply because I would get bored and creative sometimes and make extra fancy bows.

Anyways....what I said might be location specific...i know about 3 petcos and about 3 petsmarts and they all fall into the same category. I've worked in two individual shops and maybe the rest are no good. I think everyone should learn to groom their dog themselves if they choose to buy a breed that needs to be groomed. If they dont do it every time...at LEASt they should know how long and difficult it is to groom their animal.

posted 02-08-2004 01:16 PM         

It's hard to say why it takes 4 hours at the groomer's for your dogs. This is for both of them?

There is great variation in the ways that different shops are run. Some are multi-groomer shops that have a lot of support staff. These places usually have bathers to "prep" the dogs, and the groomers may do the finish work (the clip.) Some groomers take all the dogs in the morning, bathe them all first and then do mostly finish work in the late morning and afternoon. If this is the case with the place you go to, that would explain the long time they're there.

Even single-groomer shops are sometimes run this way.

And finally, some groomers are simply slower in their work than others. If there's only one groomer and no support staff, 4 hours is not all that unreasonable to groom 2 dogs, but of course it depends upon their condition and type as well as the speed of the groomer. 2 labs may take about an hour while 2 standard poodles may take 4.

I've definitely had dogs similar to yours who take 2 hours. If I get a small matted dog in, and I work only on that dog, it may take 1 1/2 - 2 hours. And that's with me working only on that dog (but don't forget the phone rings, etc.) During that 2 hours, the dog doesn't spend a lot of time in the crate. I fluff-dry right after the bath, then begin the clip.

Most dogs do stress at the groomers to varying degrees. Few actually love being there. But I do believe it's good for dogs to give them new experiences, with new people. It will make them more tolerant to other new situations and more accepting of handling by strangers.

posted 02-08-2004 01:39 PM         

I truly don't believe I've ever sent a dog home with mats. But, sure, anyone can make a mistake. The last thing I do is go over them with a comb to check. If you've been left with mats after every grooming, that's rather appalling. I can see why you don't have a great picture of groomers.

Tips seem to be a very personal issue. People have even asked me if they're supposed to tip me. I always say, "It's perfectly fine if you do and perfectly fine if you don't." The only think I expect is the full price of the grooming.

One more thing about haircut communication- I've run across one or two people who seems to have VERY specific ideas of what their dog's cut should be like. I do my best. Not every groomer can please every person, and I don't lie awake nights worrying about it. I don't want any customers who aren't happy with my work. I agree that there are some people who really would be better off (and happier) if they learned to groom their own pets.

The only thing I will say about Petsmart, et al vs. private groomers- I'm sure there are good and bad at each.

posted 02-08-2004 09:27 PM         

Karma I would like to commend you on what a great job you have done on explaining the different aspects of the grooming business. "JOB WELL DONE"

I believe it is very imortant to tip your groomer! it's like any other service where you pay the little extra to show your satisfaction. And how much depends on the quality of the cut, like anything else.
You have to make a living too!

Did you concider the idea of pictures, to show the different styles? I thought that if you had an istant or digital camera at your place of business, that would be a way of taking before and after shots. If you had a large board to post them on, I think the customers would love to see not only thier own dog, but others as well! just a thought!

posted 02-09-2004 08:08 AM         

If someone tells you something and you don't understand some jargon they used - ASK! Better to feel stupid than to cry over a bald dog for 2 months.

posted 02-09-2004 08:35 AM         

When I take my son to get his hair cut, I always say something like "3 on the sides and 6 on top, leave the bangs longer" - took some experimenting to figure out the right numbers, though. The smaller numbers are shorter cuts - I think a 6 is an inch...or maybe that's an 8? I can't remember now.

posted 02-09-2004 08:49 AM         

Thanks for your nice comments!

I have a poster of poodle styles up, so people can pick out the clips they want.

That's a good idea, to take before and after photos. I've thought of doing it, just haven't implemented it yet.

posted 02-09-2004 03:36 PM         

I've never dyed a dog, but I know there are groomers who do. You can look into a groomer doing it, or if you want to do it yourself, go to: