every groomer is different so I would keep checking until you found one that was accommodating. I used to leave my past yorkies with the groomer I still use now, the dogs were fine and most of the time the hair was cut the way I wanted, but not always. Now I stay but since this is not her norm I go at the end of the day when she is wrapping up. I also wash, dry and brush Lola first. I sit right next to her at the grooming table and even sometimes hold Lola's head. My groomer is an owner operated shop and she is the only one there, I doubt a place like petco would allow it. Some dogs act up a lot less when the owner is not present so that is one of the reasons they like the owner to be gone, my last yorkie was a nightmare for me to groom, he barked, jerked his head around, tried to bite me, but he was a lamb at the groomers, I would never have sat with him during the grooming. The other reason they often don't want you there, is some work assembly line style, they bathe a bunch of dogs, then put them in cages with hair dryers attached while they work on the next dog, so it might be an hour or longer in between bath and hair cut. When I sit with her I know she takes longer on Lola so I pay a little more, which is fine by me. Your other option like someone suggested it to use a mobile groomer, but many do it in their van so make sure you find out if you can sit in. Good luck and let us know what finally happens |