I haven't stopped crying since yesterday!
 

Dear All YTer's:

I had the WORSE expereince yesterday with a groomer and what she did to my furbaby! I investigated and researched groomers in my area (Boston) area. I chose a groomer through the recommendation of local other Yorkie owners who trusted this woman with their babies.

I dropped my Barclay off and explained that I wanted him trimmed and cleaned up (he had all his beautiful puppy hair and he was looking scruffy). I combed and brushed him everynight as he chewed his Dingo on my lap, but he still needed a cut. She looked him over and said she could do it but he did have a small mat on his head. She said she could cut it out and work around it. She told me to come back in 2 hours to pick him up. Within 20 minutes she called me and said that the mat on his head was more than she expected and the overall cut would have to be "shorter" than we agreed. I returned in 2 hours to find my baby completely sharved!!!! Face and all. I haven't stop crying. . .he doesn't look like the little boy I dropped off, in fact he looks like a completely different dog and I am having a hard time recognizing him. . .if I didn't hear him bark I would never have know that this was my baby. I was so angry and in shock, I was shaking all over and couldn't wait to run out of this place with my baby. I took him home and he hasn't stop licking himself and rubbing himself against the bottom of the sofa. Prior to leaving she kept saying to me, "sorry, it had to be done. . .I know you're shocked but we had no other choice. . .Shouldn't she have called me to tell me that they were going to completely shave him. I feel so shocked and hurt that I trusted them and they did something I didn't want. Have any of you had this experience? If so how long did it take for their fur to grow back? I can see his skin on his belly, back and legs!!!! It's hot here and I am so afraid to take him out, he is so vulnerable to the sun. My poor, poor baby. The only positive thing about this disaster is that he is getting neutered on Thursday, at least he will be clean around the surgical area. He looks depressed to me, he is not eating and I am in shock everytime I look at him because he looks so different. I am crying as I write this because I feel so guilty about taking him. Please let me know if ANY of you had this experience. I am most interested in his coat growing back. He use to be black and brown, now he is silver and skin. Thank you for reading I know it's long but through my tears I feel this forum is the best place for support and answers. I will NEVER take him to get professionally groomed again, I am going to read and learn how to groom him on my own, which is what I should have done in the first place. Thanks for reading:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(

I know how you feel...but it will grow back. He may be acting depressed...but you are so upset. If you rave about his haircut...he'll feel better and you may too.

Two of mine have gotten haircuts I was less than thrilled over.

i know it must be shocking to see him with no hair. But you can be thankful that he's a puppy and its only hair. it will grow back soon.

Honey, I'm so sorry that your baby was shaved. Yes, she should have
mentioned the shaving to you when she called and told you the matt
was larger than first thought. You will read many times on YT that the
same thing has happened to other's. Fortunately for your little one the
coat will grow back. So many of us YT'ers have learned to groom on our
own because of trouble with groomer's. Coat's do grow fast so hang
in there. With the summer months here your little one will be cool however
you will have to be careful with him in the sun.
I bet he's still adorable.

I've had this happen with Grayson he looked like a baby deer! It will grow back quickly, your baby prob feels good running around naked! Hang in there ((big hugs)) to you

I am so very sorry that you had this bad experience with the groomer. Your sweet little Barclay's hair will grow back sooner than you think and I bet it will be more beautiful than ever.

She definatley should have called you before shaving him. It will grow back pretty quickly. I groom my own now, even if they are not perfect.

I have been reading the replies to my post as they come in. . .thank you to everyone who has answered so quickly. . .I am still in shock when I look at him and I know it's only hair, but I feel like I took away his puppyhood when they shaved him. He looks like a little "old man". Yesterday morning he was a moppet and now he looks like an adult dog. . .I think that and the fact that I thought I was providing him with a positive experience is what's bothering me . . .and I fogot to tell you in my oriignal post. When she turned the corner and placed him on the counter her first comments to me were . . .he's scrawny isn't he and those ears, there HUGE, he'll never grow into those ears!!!! Those words are ringing in my ears. . .when I tell you that I am shocked with this experience, I mean I am REALLY shoced. . .I wish I had paid with a check and not cash. . .I threw the money on the counter $38.00 and ran. . .
He is sleeping right next to me, I plan on spending the day with him and trying to reinforce how cute and lovable he is to me. . .Thanks everyone, keep the replies coming, I appreciate it!!!

awww sorry for your bad experiance!!! Good thing hair grows back! I guess when things get bad think of all the sick babies out there and be thankful he has his health and all is actually going to be ok. Just try and stay positive :)

Im sure your baby is just as precious with or without hair! :p

I am so sorry about your baby!!

Really makes me nervous, as Pepper will be going to the groomer for the first time this Thursday.

I'm so sorry you had a bad experience. I think the important thing, is not to let him know how upset you are. You don't want him to not enjoy being groomed. He if senses you are upset he will assume grooming as a bad thing. It will be easier to maintain a longer coat if he likes to be grommed, which may prevent having a groomer shaving him in the future.

Sounds like you and your baby need some shopping therapy :)
 

I would be sooooo mad!!! Well, the only thing I can add is that if he seems depressed it's not because he thinks he is ugly or has bad hair or anything like that-it's because he's picking up on your emotions. Try to see the bright side of it-now you have a clean slate to brush every single day (even though there is hardly anything to brush) and keep every single matt out for life :)

It will grow back :) Go out and buy him some cute outfits to distract from the fact that he is "naked"

Heart Breaking
 

I went through this with my first one and was sick about it.

It's quite a shock but here's the upside. You will probably read many other posts about 'how do you keep them from matting?' You may find that as the new coat grows in you will have much fewer problems because it will have the adult consistency, this isn't universal but it's pretty common. When the puppy coat is growing out and the adult coat is coming in the difference in the two textures of hair make this the most difficult time to maintain the coat. During this time many first time Yorkie owners get frustrated and decide they can't keep a long coat. It may seem a small consolation but it's something.

When Callie got groomed for the first time it was a shock when we went to pick her up afterwords mostly because all the puppy hair was gone and it was really really short but she looked more grown up to me not such a baby which was hard on me because she is my little baby but like my mom has always said to me when I screw up my own hair due to wanting to try something different or just not getting it done the way I thought, is that its just hair and it will grow back. Callie acted really sad and tired after being left at the groomer the first time and any other time she had to be left and I think it was because she was left and wasent used to being with out me or my family and after doing that a few times I realized leaving her at a groomers was not a good idea she would be shakie when we got her back and sad and sleepy so I found a mobile groomer and that worked sooooooo much better because she goes in they groom her and then bring her back to me there is no sitting around by herself and stuff. Anyway I hope I helped some.

If you are going to petsmart or petco I would stand there in front of the glass windows and watch. it's really important that their first time is positive, and you standing there will increase the likelyhood that the groomer will be gentle with your baby :) Believe me, they aren't always very nice with the dogs they groom.

Yep - this happened to us too.

I cried and cried. I took my puppy to the groomers and picked up a stranger!! I was sooo upset. Only you (and others with the same experience) can understand. I'd share some pics - but Bailey wouldn't appreciate it. :eek: I refused to go back to that groomer and found another one. Yep, she looked like a deer - its amazing how big their ears are when they are shaved :)

All that said - the good part is that we haven't had any mat problems since. I keep Bailey in a puppy cut with a bear face (love it!)- her fur is about 2 inches long and I dont have to comb her. She is the most adorable yorkie in the world!!

Please don't worry - it does grow back fast.

I mentioned this in another thread recently, but it's relavent here too. About three weeks ago, I took Isabel to a new groomer. (Isabel is 6 yrs. old) I agreed on an *all* over puppy cut, so I can't blame the outcome on the groomer, but I know what you're going through when you talk about the shock of seeing your dog without hair. It was her face that was the most shocking! To encourage you, Isabel's hair has been growing in remarkably fast and I think yorkies hair in general does grow back quickly. You will begin to see improvements within a couple weeks I'm sure! And I agree with the previous advice given, keep your spirits up as your little one may read into your upset. I'm going to PM you a picture of Isabel after her grooming...so you can see what I mean and it might make you feel better knowing that some of us have also had "bad" experiences. Keep your chin up!

You have to be happy and tell him how beautiful he is even if thats not how you feel. He doesnt feel cute because you keep crying. Since the RE market fell apart I have been grooming my girls on my own and even if I jack them up they prance around like they are the most beautiful because I tell them they are. Be positive because no matter how bad it is it will grow back and it will look even better than before. Im sure it doesnt look as bad as you think. cheer up doll

Hi...

So sorry to hear about this...the same thing happened to me not in Boston but on the South Shore...and I cried too and I wanted to "kill" the person..my boys were both in full coats...and we were going to a dog show to see the former breeder of one of them..my regular groomer was away..so I brought them here (which I had before but different groomer) and I asked for a sanitary only...and the girl asked ..do you want them trimmed...I replied NO..well I came back a few hours later and did not recognize them!

I only knew they were mine because they were excited to see me..then the lady was rude when I questioned why she did this..she told me they were matted..which was not true (maybe one matt) they had been professionally groomed 2 weeks earlier...and she said she is a groomer and does not de-matt...so she cut their hair off..what did not make sense to me was that luckliy she did not shave them but wouldn't you have needed to if they were matted to their skin?

They also have nice sily coats easy to brush out... Everytime I would look at them after the haircuts...I would get sick to my stomache.... but then I remembered that it was only hair and it would grow back..one of my dogs has MVD (liver issue) and one cannot compare that to a horrible haircut...that helped alittle but I was still very upset... so I know exaclty how you are feeling.... I know the shocked feeling when you look at them...

There hair has grown back in but I have to be honest it did take some time......

I do not know how to resize or I would post their before and after pics...just looking at these would make anyone feel better....

Where did you go to? Just want to make sure I dont go there :-)

Oh, I understand how you feel, and I've read about this happening so many times. Don't feel guilty for taking him there. I've read threads where people were thoroughly convinced the groomer knew what they were talking about and also gave the groomer pictures, so it happens no matter how careful at conveying your wishes. I do Joey's grooming myself because of this, and I've made a few mistakes, but usually they aren't big enough for me to get "too" upset. There hair color will look different after shaving, but shaving won't effect the new growth, and the color will come in the way its suppose to. Joey's saddle is blue/black, but if you look close to the skin it seem lighter instead of darker like human hair. I've often wondered if shaving him would make him look grey. I agree with the others, that he's picking up on your mood, so try to feel better about this, and maybe you could get him a onesie for his impending surgery. You're right about the surgery, Joey couldn't have a bath for two weeks, and he looked like a mangey rat by bath time, at least Barclay won't be all grungy looking, and by the time he's healed from surgery his hair will have grown quite a bit. Hugs to you, but remember, he's still the same doggy in there!

Grooming Horror story in Boston Area...
 

I'm sooo sorry to hear about your baby's experience...
I live in the Boston area, is there any way you can tell me which place it was or the street it was on in Boston???
I would hate to take my Jack there...
Kat

That is the exact thought we had when Reese received...the bad hair cut. He looked like a little ol' man. But he did wiggle and wiggle...if you told him how cute he looked. (consider it a white lie to a girlfriend's new do...oh, I love your hair...lol).
Within a month it'll look more like a puppy cut. Mine did....and it was the puppy cut I'd wanted in the first place.

Here to make you feel better Piper had mats when she was a baby I will show before and after.. in the puppy pic she is the one to the left black and silver then after she had huge elephant ears and she was all silver... I looked on the bright side and her little ear fur grew and the elephant ears were covered.
I tried to attach but its too big so go to my profile pics and you can see them (baby girls) and (Baby Piper with ears)

This happened to Zoe...and alot of others on here...I do all my grooming myself now. At least if it is messed up..I know why. I still think that all these groomers should be required to have a license to groom animals. For the prices that are charged...I expect the same in results...and most groomers seem to know two different cuts on yorkies...shave or the chihuahua~Shnauzer(Sp?)~Westie cut.

I am sorry it happened to you too...it will take awhile but it will grow back and he will be just as pretty, if not more so!

Me too!
 

This happened to me too, I used to take my first Yorkie "Artie" to Petco, I got high recommendations from other Yorkie owner's as well I trusted their word. I used to live in Boston too, in Cambridge. I thought I gave specific enough instructions but they took it upon themselves to completely shave him! He was a puppy then about 6 months old, his hair grew back pretty quickly but he has always been lighter more silver and blonde. It makes me wonder what he would have looked like if it had not happened?
Your puppy is most likely depressed and acting like that b/c of the way you are reacting to him and his haircut! Sorry you had to go through this, I know it's pretty Traumatic for you. After it happened to me I swore I would never go to a so called "Groomer" again! Luckily, I was and still am very close to "Abigail's" Breeder my 2nd Yorkie, we have been Friend's now for 3 yrs.
she taught me how to "Groom" them and since they all have long coats that I have been growing since they were puppies I did'nt have to learn specific "Haircuts", but I shave their ears, private parts, trim their feet with scissors in between their toes. They Love to be bathed/blow dryed once a week, they are brushed twice a day and their teeth brushed and eyes cleaned
w/a wash cloth daily. I bought Abigail specifically to Breed w/Artie and I have a 3rd Yorkie compliments of them, Tiffany Aloha is almost 2 yrs. old now.
So I "Groom" all 3, it never seems over whelming b/c they enjoy it and let me do it, both Abigail and Tiffany have long coats too but I trim their eyes and bangs since they don't like wearing a Topknot. Artie wears a Topknot and has his Tail braided every day. Besides I only trust myself w/my Dogs, since I know how I want them to look. I have 8 Yorkie books and I do extensive research on what they are supposed to look like? I get alot of compliments and other Yorkie Owners always ask who is my Groomer? It's very easy once you do it consistantly and Train them to accept it, most people go to a Groomer b/c they don't know how to do it themselves. I do it mainly to save money and b/c it is another way to "Bond" w/them. I believe the more you do w/them the better it makes them even closer. It is very easy you should have no problems, I hope this makes you feel better? Don't worry it will grow back!

Now as a groomer I know there are good and bad groomers out there.
When someone brings in their dog and only wants a trim I ALWAYS have my fine tooth comb in my pocket and in front of th owner I start combing through the dog.

For those that brush I am pleased as punch, cause I can give them any style they want as long as the coat is knot free....

But (not saying this is you) I have run across tons of new clients with yorkies puppies that swear the dog is not matted and I have to show them with my comb how matted they really are...some people are amazed and didn't relaize there were knots...they only comb the back of the dog.
Some people are in denial and refuse to be humane and let me shave the dog down and start fresh with a new coat (VERY rarely I will demat a pup...not how i want them to remember being groomed) so those people I send away because we cannot compromise.
And some dogs I find a few areas that are matted, either I will 'try' to demat (see how the pup handles it, or thin it out gently, the hair will be thinner in the area but will not be obvious that a matt was removed.

Every situation depends but I NEVER shave a dog down without informing a client, I am never had someone complain that I have taken the dog too short or shaved them. I reappy try my best to communicate with the owner the options and results.

I would keep calling around to salons, find a groomer who is willing to work with you and communicate.

Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice. Just for those of you who live in the Boston, MA area. Do NOT go to SANDY's in Quincy, MA.

And again, for those of you from the Boston, South Shore area, can anyone recommend a groomer who LISTENS and does what the owner wants not what they perceive is best???? If you do have suggestions, I would love to hear from you. And since I am highly considering taking this task on my self, are there any groomers in the Boston/South Shore area that give lessions on grooming your Yorkie. If anyone out there provides lessons I would be happy to sign up and pay whatever you charge.

Many, many thanks to everyone. . .wish us luck with the neuter on Thursday. I was just reading the saddest post from the woman who lost her baby last week during a neuter . . .scary!!! My heart goes out to her. . .I just said a prayer for her and her husband. . .I can't imagine!!! Her loss has made me put a lighter perspective on my situation. . .Barclay is healthy with a bad hair cut!!!! It's all going to be OK!!

Thanks again:)

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

That is a great suggestion for groomers as well as mommies. I didn't know I had to follow up brushing with a comb, and was quite surprised that this is really the way you can see if there are any mats. Personally, I would be sure and take all mats out before taking my dog to the groomer.

I'm glad to see that you are beginning to put it all in perspective. Hopefully the shock of it is wearing off and you are adoring him and playing with him like he's the most handsome little guy in the world. Having a first haircut (and such a surprise one at that)must seem like an end to "puppy-hood", but surely it is not. If you haven't already seen the thread "Leo's new hair cut" in the Photo section, take a look at it and see all the compliments Leo is getting, and how proud his mommy is. I'll try to insert a link here: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/my-...-hair-cut.html

Perception has a lot to do with it. And you are so right, compared to the loss of Sammy due to anesthesia, this is nothing. Good luck with the neuter, and give you little guy a hug for us. Tiki would just think he is handsome, and want to play with him!

Aww sorry to hear this. The upside is..they grow out quickly. It seems like the first time they get groomed is a little shocking under normal circumstances. I have a question though....you said he sits in your lap every evening chewing his chewie while you brush him, so how could he have had a matt? I'd think you would have known if he had one or not. It makes me wonder if she made a goof and to cover it up she shaved him down and told you he had a matt!? One time roxie's groomer shaved too close on her eye and nose area but she told me she was sorry that roxie had moved right at that moment. Of course that wasn't as big of a deal as what happened to you and it did grow back so fast. Can you interview some groomers and let them know what happened to you and how devastated it has made you? Maybe that will help you find someone you can trust.