Maybe it wasn't Buddy's fault after all

[ARCHIE]

I brush Buddy's teeth and comb him every morning. I have not combed him
since last Fri because he was groomed last Sat.
I posted a thread telling all of you he bit the groomer, which surprised me
because he has never done this before. She mentioned to me also that she
did not hit him. I found that strange to say because why would you hit someone's else's dog. I let it go because I was just shocked he bit her.

Tell me what you think about this?
I haven't combed him until this morning since he was just groomed.
This mornig I got the comb out ,dropped to my knees, like always and
his ears went back and he looked so frightened! I said, Buddy what's the
matter and he jumped into my arms. What the heck! He never minds being
combed, ever. I found that very strange and couldn't help wondering if
something happened BEFORE he bit the groomer! I put the comb away
right away and let it go for now.
I really like this groomer she is full of spunk and seems so sweet.
Maybe if it's too good to be true, it is!
Is it me or would you feel the same way thinking possibly something happened
before to make him bite. It's upsetting to think maybe he was hit making him
so frightened. No sence in calling her because i will never get the truth if something did happen but Buddy has never reacted like that in the 3yrs
of me combing him.
What would you think?

[browniesmom622]

omg it sounds like she hit him and hard to make him scared like that
i wouldnt take him back there or ask if you can stay and watch ....if not then leave and i saw on the other thread she wants to muzzle him i wouldnt allow that not only is it gonna make grooming a bad thing for him then if she does hit him again he cant defend himself !!!

i always say if a dog bites theres ALWAYS a reason they dont just do it for the fun of it

[ARCHIE]

Originally Posted by browniesmom622

omg it sounds like she hit him and hard to make him scared like that
i wouldnt take him back there or ask if you can stay and watch ....if not then leave and i saw on the other thread she wants to muzzle him i wouldnt allow that not only is it gonna make grooming a bad thing for him then if she does hit him again he cant defend himself !!!

i always say if a dog bites theres ALWAYS a reason they dont just do it for the fun of it

I can't believe this could have happened! She seemed so very sweet.
I guess I'll use the in home groomer next time and see how she is.
There is one in the area. This groomer is a very good one but now I'm
not so sure of how she treats those she is grooming.

[ladyj]

Originally Posted by browniesmom622

omg it sounds like she hit him and hard to make him scared like that
i wouldnt take him back there or ask if you can stay and watch ....if not then leave and i saw on the other thread she wants to muzzle him i wouldnt allow that not only is it gonna make grooming a bad thing for him then if she does hit him again he cant defend himself !!!

i always say if a dog bites theres ALWAYS a reason they dont just do it for the fun of it

I agree. Both of my dogs go to the groomer every 4 weeks and they come back happy and not fearful. If one of them suddenly became a biter or came home fearful, I would never take them back. There's a reason your Yorkie suddenly bit the groomer. I also would not consent to using a muzzle. If he's that fearful, there's a reason.

[red98vett]

Carol - I had a similar experience with a groomer. I didn't SEE what she did but I knew in my heart she was too rough with Chanel and hurt her - it was 3 years ago (maybe less) but it took me 6 months to get her to like going in the car again. the day she was groomed she whimpered when I held her on the way home - and her side was very sore - I don't know what that groomer did but my baby was hurt and fearful when I picked them up and I was SO livid. That was when I started grooming myself. I don't trust anyone anymore....there is one groomer that I stop in and cold call on and HE would be the only one I'd take my girls too - he always seems so gentle and has his table set up where you can stand outside and see what he's doing - Vets refer timid dogs to him he's that gentle.

I think the groomer DID do something to Buddy - Most dogs are a bit intimidated by strangers grooming them and ususally act very docile. This doesn't sound like buddy at all and we really don't know what these people are like behind closed doors. If hes showing signs of fear then chances are she caused it. I hate to thing ANYONE would ever strike a dog and especially YOUR dog - but I know it happens. Poor Buddy....For now - I'd try to groom him your own self or start finding a new one. You probably won't ever know what happened but you know him better than anyone and if you think she did something - chances are she did.

[jp4m2]

I think there's a lot of rough treatment going on at some groomers...mine won't let me touch their feet AT ALL...I believe their nails where cut too short & it was painful for them...about 2 yrs. ago, it was the second groomer I had been to & I know she drugged my dog w/o my consent...a few weeks a go I went to Petco & stopped to watch the groomer through the glass, she was grooming a small dog & he jerked his foot away from her, she raised the brush & she had a very angry look on her face she looked toward the glass & saw me & my DH standing there then lowed the brush I think she was going to bop him on the head....I don't take mine in anymore...I believe you need to follow your gut at times...

[ARCHIE]

Jeez I feel so bad for him now! Here I am repremanding him all weekend
telling him he has to like the groomer because she makes him look so
pretty. After thinking about it, of couse there is always an afterthought,
she is the only groomer I ever used that I could not see from the front
She is behind shelves of Science Diet dog food! Oh well hopefully he will
forget and I will not be able to use her again for sure. He looks so
great. Cut was great, price was great but here handling of the dogs may leave something to think about.
Sorry V your pups went through an awful experience as well. If only
they could talk. I think Buddy did talk to me this morning glad I listened.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by browniesmom622

omg it sounds like she hit him and hard to make him scared like that
i wouldnt take him back there or ask if you can stay and watch ....if not then leave and i saw on the other thread she wants to muzzle him i wouldnt allow that not only is it gonna make grooming a bad thing for him then if she does hit him again he cant defend himself !!!

i always say if a dog bites theres ALWAYS a reason they dont just do it for the fun of it

I agree. If a dog bites, there is always a reason WHY ... and I hate to say it but I think now we know why Buddy bite the groomer.

Buddy has never bitten a groomer before and he has never been afraid of you brushing him before. Then for the first time he bites a groomer and now he's afraid of the hair brush ... way too suspicious for me! I bet anything that the groomer got rough with him. Maybe she even hit him with a hair brush and that's why he was so scared and cowered right in front of you. Poor baby.

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by jp4m2

I think there's a lot of rough treatment going on at some groomers...mine won't let me touch their feet AT ALL...I believe their nails where cut too short & it was painful for them...about 2 yrs. ago, it was the second groomer I had been to & I know she drugged my dog w/o my consent...a few weeks a go I went to Petco & stopped to watch the groomer through the glass, she was grooming a small dog & he jerked his foot away from her, she raised the brush & she had a very angry look on her face she looked toward the glass & saw me & my DH standing there then lowed the brush I think she was going to bop him on the head....I don't take mine in anymore...I believe you need to follow your gut at times...

I TOTALLY Believe that. We don't know what goes on behind closed doors and thats one reason I'm glad Petco has that glass - I don't take my girls there but at least they (Petco Groomers) know they're being watched. You really have had bad experiences....I'm so sorry. I only had one but man it stuck with me for a long time and I know if I was face to face with that groomer that hurt Chanel again I'd want to really let her have it ....Words just didn't seem enough at the time LOL

Carol - Hugs to Buddy. I'm with you - something happened.

[jp4m2]

It's kinda funny how we judge someones character on how "nice" they appear to us....as if being pleasant qualifies them to preform any type of job or service for us.... we give them our complete trust just for being "nice"...serial killers can be nice at times ...

Children & animals can't speak up to defend themselves so all we have to go on is their behavior...listen to it...I would rather error on the side of safety for my pet, rather than give some one another opportunity to possibly hurt them again...

[mistyinca]

Originally Posted by ARCHIE

I brush Buddy's teeth and comb him every morning. I have not combed him
since last Fri because he was groomed last Sat.
I posted a thread telling all of you he bit the groomer, which surprised me
because he has never done this before. She mentioned to me also that she
did not hit him. I found that strange to say because why would you hit someone's else's dog. I let it go because I was just shocked he bit her.

Tell me what you think about this?
I haven't combed him until this morning since he was just groomed.
This mornig I got the comb out ,dropped to my knees, like always and
his ears went back and he looked so frightened! I said, Buddy what's the
matter and he jumped into my arms. What the heck! He never minds being
combed, ever. I found that very strange and couldn't help wondering if
something happened BEFORE he bit the groomer! I put the comb away
right away and let it go for now.
I really like this groomer she is full of spunk and seems so sweet.
Maybe if it's too good to be true, it is!
Is it me or would you feel the same way thinking possibly something happened
before to make him bite. It's upsetting to think maybe he was hit making him
so frightened. No sence in calling her because i will never get the truth if something did happen but Buddy has never reacted like that in the 3yrs
of me combing him.
What would you think?

Carol,
I don't know what to say. A while back, Chloe went to the groomer and came back and started cowering under people's hands. She has never been the same since.

[Erin]

Even if that groomer didn't do anything, it's still best to change because he will associate whatever feelings he had with that groomer.

The first groomer I took Loki to traumatized him. Most of the other dogs she did were probably fine with her methods (she clipped them all and caged them, then bathed them all at once - it was like a 4 hour long process). He would shake when I dropped him off AND when I picked him up.

The groomer we have now is AWESOME. She cuddles my dogs and gives them treats. They run into her shop to see her. Loki stands better on her table than he does for me at home! She lets me stay and chat while she clips them.

Don't be afraid of muzzles though. Loki gets grouchy when I cut his nails and even though I know he won't bite me, he sure acts like he wants to. If a groomer felt safer muzzling him than worrying about him possibly biting, I would be OK with that. Luckily he only does that TO ME and he lets her do it just fine (little brat!). Wouldn't you rather the groomer be relaxed when cutting nails, etc. than being all anxious and having your dog pick up on that?

[Ozzie'sperson]

POOR BUDDY! Definitely don't go back, Carol.

Last spring, my mom took Ozzie to a new groomer. It was someone she has known forever who opened a new shop and she was being supportive. I know the lady is very nice and I really don't believe she would do anything to purposely hurt my boy, but ...

they apparently have some kind of weird tub (my mom's description wasn't very helpful) and Ozzie was terrified of it. As a result he was "difficult." I think that set the tone for the rest of his experience. She expressed his anal glands (something I NEVER knew anyone did, much less that a groomer was doing it to my dog). Shortly thereafter is when our butt troubles started.

The vet said it could have been because she was too rough or because Oz was struggling.

Needless to say, he will never go back. That said, I wouldn't take Buddy back either.

[ARCHIE]

Originally Posted by mistyinca

Carol,
I don't know what to say. A while back, Chloe went to the groomer and came back and started cowering under people's hands. She has never been the same since.

That's so sad. Poor Chole! Oh how I wish they could talk to us.
I bet there would be more groomer's out of business than in!
I hope in time she will get better towards people. Poor pup.

[IluvLucy]

Poor Buddy I couldn't use that groomer ever again, either!