Okay my eyes have been opened...
I have never taken my yorkies to the groomers b/c I have always doen their hair at home, a passion of mine.
I decided to go to school to learn dog grooming and after reading so mnay posts about the horrors of the dog groomers and yorkies I thought, no problem! I will be the type of groomer people wish for....LOL!!!!!
Right...then reality bit me (literally).
So, far at school I have done a yorkie almost everyday. Most of the girls at the shop (I study at a really busy shop with several groomers) do not like to handle the small dogs, whereas I prefer them.
The owner wants them to look cute, only take off an inch or less...look like they did when they were a puppy only with a longer cut.
9 out of 10 of these yorkies are matted, not just a little knot but to the skin with pink sore skin underneath.
They have been bathed in overly harsh shampoos at home and have not been rinsed very well (when the water hits them they have bubbles coming off their coat and no shampoo has been added by me) and they skin pays for it (flaky, sore in spots).
Nails are so long there feet are splayed...argh!!!
I refuse to dematt if it takes more then 5 mins. I know I could spend 2 hours dematting their dogs and make them look sweet but it is TOO PAINFUL!!!! Humanity before vanity! I shave it off to ease the poor dogs suffering.
Or my favorite, there are no matts but huge gaps where the owner chopped the matt out and now the haircut is all uneven and funny looking...so we go shorter to make the dog look decent.
Of these dogs 50% or nasty, spoiled, or a biter. We are very firm, we tell them no, some then lash out and attack our hands. So we humanly muzzle them with a correctly fitted muzzle. Funny thing is the majority of the dogs them completely stop, calm down and are angels for the rest of the grooming. With new dogs or puppies we only muzzle for a minute, take the it off and try again without it, some learn not to bite others must be remuzzled. A lady today was horrified to learn I muzzled her yorkie...the dog started to growl when I picked up the brush, it then lunged at me when I stepped forward. I explained that I cannot get bit...she then asked if that was not part of my job! Ah..no..if I get bit I can possibly be out of work, get an infection and teach the dog that it is acceptable to bite...ah no it is not part of the job to get bit.
We do not allow owners to stay and watch because the dogs go nuts when they are there!!! people have a hard time believing us but once they leave most of the dogs calm down, are angels, stand still. When they hear mommy's voice it becomes dangerous...they bounce around, try to find them...and we are trying to not cut them with out very sharp scissors..
And fat dogs! Good lord I know they are loved, no question but it is sad when they cannot stand for more then 5 mins and collaspe from shear exhaustion! I have never seen rolls on a dog till now!
When people buy a yorkie they are thrilled they they are no shed but that means they are more likely to matt!!!
They is so much to grooming, the studying I am doing is unreal, the care and training is intense...I love making dogs feel good!!!
I am amazed at how many owners come in for their baby's first trim, a matted to the bone 8 months old cotton coat yorkie, who is terrified. And they are so angry when we say the dog will be naked. If we cannot run a comb through then there will be a problem with the owners dream of a fluffy puppy.
People please go and get your dogs groomed! If you do not know how go to the groomers! There are some good (and bad) groomers out there. Ask to see the shop, ask for referrals. If you hated the cut before go again and tell them! Let them know what you want and do not be insulted if they tell you that you have to do some work at home too to acheive your puppy's desired look!
Our yorkies should at a minimum go 6 weeks...some people say that is too $$$ well that is part of owning a yorkie!!
I did a lovely yorkie this afternoon, she was a princess, good as gold, beautiful full coat (every 4weeks), nice dog. She had been going since she was 16 weeks, and comes every month, her owners work well with the staff and the dog is is joy to see and be with.
I wish it were like that all the time!