Is it ok to pluck whiskers??
 

Last Saturday I took Katie to the groomer but Katie's regular groomer was out sick, so someone else worked on her. Anyway, Katie got her bath, blow dry and trim and everything was going fine until I saw the groomer take out a pair of tweezers and PLUCK OUT one of Katie's whiskers!! I stopped her because I have NEVER seen anyone do this before and it totally freaked me out! I said to her "Are you crazy?!?!?! Don't pluck her whiskers - you're hurting her." And she said to me "It's part of the grooming process. Every groomer does this. Don't be paranoid". DONT BE PARANOID???? Needless to say she got a severe tongue lashing and NO tip! How dare anyone tell me now to care what happens to my baby??

I have NEVER seen ANY groomer do this and I've never even heard about it! I have 2 dogs and I've been taking them to a groomer for over a year and this is the FIRST time I ever saw something like this being done. I always stay for their appointments because I don't like them being put in the cages and I also want to make sure that no one ever hurts them (or someone tries to steal them - hey, you never know!). But is this normal? Could plucking out whiskers damage her little face somehow? It must have hurt her! My poor baby!! :mad:

I've NEVER hearde of that either. Now I am not a groomer so I wouldnt know but that just sounds odd to me!

I don't think that's normal. Poor baby!! That must have been painful. I would be so upset if someone did that to Otis.

Whiskers are there for a purpose, to help them "feel" and aid their senses!

Good question
 

Both my babies go to the groomers tomorrow morning. Silk's first time since I have gotten her. She came to me in March and her hair had been shaved down. I took her one other time to a groomer that I ususally don't use but I had to kennel them and thought I would give them a try. I told them not to cut any hair on her....guess what she came back with bangs. I did not want bangs. Anyways I never knew that they pluck thier wiskers.

Chris

Both of mine were groomed recently and she didn't pluck their whiskers.

Their never plucked Maximus whiskers...they are everywhere..lol...but no I have been to 2 different groomers and both times they didn't

I don't think yorkies need or should have those plucked - if someone wants the face CUT - thats fine -but plucking face hair ? It sounds like it may hurt on top of not being something any of the groomers I've been have ever done - They DO pluck the hair inside the ears - that's normal and should be done...

It's really hard to find a good groomer - Writing down what you WANT done in easy to follow instructions may help a bit - I bet your yorkie looks cute but no that doesn't sound normal to me....course I could be WAY wrong.

Thanks guys! So basically this lady is off her rocker! I know it hurt because Katie JUMPED when she plucked the first AND ONLY whisker - she didn't have a chance to pluck a second because I was up and yelling like a bat out of hell. I didn't know what the tweezers were for when she took them out so I hesistated to watch and see what she would do. I was so SHOCKED and mad because it was obvious that it hurt my girl. I told my mom what happened and she went out and bought Katie a bunch of treats as a "get well" gift. :D

Villette is right..I started making a list 2 weeks beforehand..and carrying it everywhere that way I addressed everything..I then gave it to the groomer...after the horror experiences I had..I found a groomer where I can stay and watch and I made sure my list was right there next to her..call me crazy!!!!

Thanks Vilette. I think you're on the money because what sane person would rip whiskers off a tiny 2.6 lbs yorkie baby? I'm still mad over it. But now I know not to allow anyone else but my usual groomer to work on my dogs. Plucking ear hair is normal and healthy but whiskers? It's painful and cruel.

I remember on Showdogs Moms and Dads they showed a person who plucked their dogs whiskers so some people do this. I just don't think it is necessary.

I totally agree - I ALWAYS stay and watch everything that they do to my babies (just to be safe). My friend's cousin had a tragic story. She brought her pomeranian to a groomer and left her there just for a bath, blow dry, clean her ears and trim her nails (basic stuff). She got a phone call about 25 minutes later saying her pom Maxie was dead. Apparently there were no more cages available so some stupid person working there put another dog in the same cage as her pom. By the way, her pom Maxie was a BABY - only 4 months old. The dog attacked her pom and killed it. Stuff like this just makes me SICK to my stomach!

I also heard another story from my groomer where someone came to pick up a dog but it was not their dog - they stole it! Some guy must have heard the lady who dropped her poodle off say the dogs name. Then he came in later after the grooming and said his girlfriend sent him to pick up the dog for her. Can you imagine that happening to you? Totally disgusting!

It is horrible...the things that go on...I watch from behind the wall so Maximus doesn't see me because otherwise he is totally distracted..but they have seats and magazine and you can hear and see everything..but it is angled so they can't treally see you...I slipped up last time and walked up to ask something and he saw me and he was barking like a madman...lol

I pluck a few hairs on my chin, but not Maggie's

lol :D