What would you do?
 

So I usually take my yorkie, Hatton, to get groomed at a groomers that is about an hour away from where I go to school, he's been going since his first groom, and he does well with the groomers. I ask for a puppy cut and he looks great... I dont' have any great pictures of just a groom... but this is how he looks:
Picasa Web Albums - Kimberly - Hatton 1

Shaggy, but shorter.

Well, I am having a super busy semester at school and against my better judgement I took him to Petsmart because it's the only place that I know that is near where I live. I asked for a puppy cut, and she "checked" with me on exactly what I wanted, shorter but still shaggy, trim the hair around his eyes... etc. I left feeling ok, like she knew what I wanted. (Let me stress that I am not a fan of Petsmart grooming to begin with, but had heard ok things about this one). I wasn't expecting him to look the same as when he gets done normally, but I wasn't expecting this either!!!

Picasa Web Albums - Kimberly - Hatton1

Does this look like a puppy cut, or a summer shave? I am not the type of person to speak up about stuff, but do you think I should go complain?? I really want my money back, and my poor puppy's hair!!

Opinions please!

I think he looks adorable! His body is shorter than what is in that first picture but I still like it. If you are really unhappy about it and it makes you feel better, then say something to them. In my opinion though, he is still a cutie!

Thanks!

I know he doesn't look THAT bad, but I'm just not used to him being cut that short. I really felt like she knew what I wanted, and she wrote everything down and read it back to me.

The other thing that really annoyed me was that when I picked him up she had left me a note saying that she enjoyed working with him, blah, blah, blah, but he was a very difficult groom, etc... and that I really need to bring him in once a month. When I asked if I could talk to her she had already left, so I don't know what the problems were.

I know he wasn't matted, because I went over every inch of his body with a flea comb before I took him... I always like to check for matts before I get him groomed, I don't mind taking time to pick them out, but I don't want someone pulling them out.

He gets groomed once a month, and usually a mantainance groom in between.

I give him a bath once a week and blow dry him.

I told her that he wouldn't bite or snap, but doesn't like his nails cut and thinks the blowdryer is something to bark at and attack... other then that...

It just frustrates me when somone tells me my baby is difficult! I feel like it had to be something that he didn't like about her.

Or... maybe I'm just crazy!:rolleyes:

First, I want to say how adorable he is!!! He looks a lot like my Smokey...

But you are right, that cut is NOT a puppy cut. That is a shave down!!! I'd talk to the grooming manager!! :mad:

Hatton is adorable either way, But it was not what you specifically asked them to do. There are so many stories of this happening whether @Petsmart or groomers. I can't for the life of me understand "why" or "how" this keeps happening. Is it just easier for the groomer? Inexperiened groomers? What are the rules/guidelines @these places? I've been shopping @Petsmart before & seen cases of dogs being shaved down. There are so many instances where it was obvious that the furbaby was Not matted. Even if that were the case, I would want to be called first before they thought it was necessary to shave them down. I'm so sorry this happened to you. I would definitely let management know how upset you are and how you told them specifically what you wanted. Definitely huge difference in "puppy cut" and a shave down. Don't feel bad about voicing your grievances. Hugs to cutie Hatton!

every groomer has their vision of a puppycut...but he is still adorable!

I long ago started to groom my own dogs 100%. If you mess up the first few times...oh well - it grows back! I took my Gizmo to get his hair cut - with a PHOTO of what I wanted it to look like AND direct instructions NOT to cut his face hair. I came back and he was shaved all over. I was so upset although I just paid and vowed NEVER again!!

PS I think your baby looks adorable either way!

Thanks guys, I think I will say something...

And on that note I've been looking at grooming equpiment online and think that I would like to start doing it myself. I know for one it'll save money in the long run, plus, it's totally different if he has a bad haircut because of me... and not because a professional had their own vision of what to do.

Right now I'm a very full time student with no job, so I've gotta talk my fiance into some clippers! Any suggestions? (On types of clippers, not how to talk fiance into it :D)

Or if anyone does grooming themselves in San Antonio, TX and wouldn't mind me giving it a whirl with their stuff before I buy my own... that would be awesome! :-)

I would dearly Love to be able to groom myself too! Thought you might find this thread helpful:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ght=marcella02

It sounds a lot like my experience with Petsmart's groomers except my dog came back with very uneven hair. It was an inch in some places and about 1/8 in others. She cut off her right eyebrow and eyelashes. She was supposed to be the "yorkie" lady, too. She also said the my dog is hard to work with (which is actually true), but it was her first grooming ever. She attacks scissors, brushes and clippers... and she trys to run away from hairdryers.

Your pup is very cute!!
I can't even stand to be in the check out at Petsmart because you are looking right at the groomers there. I have to turn my head. Where ever my Pebbles had been groomed before I got her, shaved her too & it took forever to even be able to handle her paws and touch around her face.
I'm for grooming at home - these sites helped me get started..... :)

Yorkie Maltese Products and Bows: Grooming Instructions

or

Paws Awhile: How to Wash Your Dog - The Right Way

I don't know where you are from, but where I am from Petsmart is the best by far when it comes to grooming. Okay, not like I have a lot of experience since we always did Kiwi's hair ourselves until she got a bit older. We tried the fancy groomer once, she sucked and cut Kiwi so short she looked like a chihuahua! I didn't recognize her and the poor baby walked with her head down for a week! It grew out and the next time we tried another well known 'professional' groomer and again....they sucked. She came back looking like an alpaca. No joke!! Plus...both of these so called experienced groomers must not know how to use thinning shears because she was so choppy. They didn't listen to my instructions either. I was so disappointed.

I desperately tried Petsmart one day and they did exactly what I asked for. She was perfect!! I took her there a few more times before she passed. We normally only went once a year. (Summer) and did the rest of her trims ourselves. Now with our new babies...we just went this last weekend and they did a great job again! So pleased! :)

I don't think he looks bad. It is rather short, but it will grow. If it was a bad cut or they ignored your specific instructions then I would complain if you are very unhappy. Or instead of complaining, the next time you could be more specific and/or bring a picture of what you expect. :) Maybe that would help. Good luck! And...he is beautiful even with really short hair!

I will say that not ALL petsmart groomers are bad. When Chip was little we used to take him to the PetSmart in a nearby town, but not the one closest to us. There was one groomer in particular that he took a liking to and she did a great job with him time and time again. Now we take both boys to a private groomer and she is great too.

I think that groomers are just like hairstylists. You have to find one that cuts it the way you like it. everyone does it differently.

I think that Hatton looks cute! It is shorter than you like, but it will grow back. :)

As far as saying anything to the groomer, I guess I would find out what he was difficult about too.

It's certainly is hit or miss with petsmart. I took Breyli to one a couple of times when she was a pup and was very satisfied with the results and prob would still go there if we lived in the area still. My sister, on the other hand, took her puppy, Leila to Petsmart and got a shave down... and not just her body either. The groomer shaved her head area too just leaving a little poof of a hair around the mouth. The first time I saw Leila I could help but laugh, bad I know... It was a good thing I saw her when my sister wasn't around.

PetSmart and PetCo have a pretty set in stone policy about refunding money if someone is not happy with the groom...the customer is always right. If you feel unhappy about the trim just let them know. They will give you your money back and the groomer will not be paid for the groom. Just be sure that you gave clear instructions and the groomer made a mistake because it also isn't fare to the groomer if you were vague and the misunderstanding is not her fault.

That's what I was afraid of, I don't want someone to get in trouble and lose pay... she did do the work on my dog, she just didn't do it how I asked. I know I was very explicit and annoying with telling her what I wanted done and i read what she wrote down. I told her I still wanted him to be shaggy, and leave the legs longer then the body, so I don't know what happened between the discussion and the haircut. It's hair, it'll grow back... It's just so frustrating to spend almost $70 bucks on my dog when I'm a student and live on $900 a month (so glad I'll be graduating and making a real paycheck soon!).

As far as groomers at Petsmart, I don't really have anything against them, and like someone commented, it's just like someone doing your hair... you just like the way one person does it over another. I really don't like how the company's 'rules' won't let them take them out to the bathroom (which I think was probably mine's problem, he's pretty wiggley when he's gotta go.) and the fact that they can't take you on a tour of the back room. I like to see were my dog is kept and all the behind the scenes stuff... but that's just me.

Anyway, thank's for all the feed back and the link about grooming. I am seriously thinking that I'm going to start doing that! :aimeeyork

Hon, I would not feel bad for wanting my money back. It sounds like you were explicit in voicing what you wanted. For $70, I would have expected more time to be spent on my furbabies grooming, rather than being shaved.
If it were me, I would show the manager the before/after shots like you showed here & explain just as you have here. I wish you the Best!

70$$$?? wow thats alot...i paid 40$ for Pasquale's haircut and that was WITH dematting him (it was his first cut) and she said it took a long time to do it. I go to a woman who owns her own grooming service and i swear the entire town goes to her..she's THAT good! The thing i dont like about petco or petsmart is the chances of you getting the same person twice are very slim. I really want my dog to establish a relationship with the person he gets a haircut from..kinda like i do with my hairdresser. I trust her...he should be able to trust his hairdresser. If he was getting someone new everytime...i think he'd be a little frightened too and probably behave badly.

$70 is alot of money... that's one reason (very small reason) that I'm happy we got Smokey. Smokey's rescuer is a private groomer. Not only do we not have to pay $70 a dog, but she does Smokey for FREE for his life, and does Chip for $35! It is a bit of a drive to get them there, but hey, to save $115... I'll take it!

summer shave
 

That is a summer shave. I took my Westie ONCE to Petsmart they shaved one streak down his back and said he was bad and they could not finish it. He was 6 months old. I have never had a problem before. I think Petsmart groomers are all the same. Just out of school or no school at all. Not sure but thats my opinion..

$70 is too much money---but I find petsmart to be too expensive.
I took my first poodle to Petsmart (was a new dog owner) and it was torturous for her (she got worms, they kept her in cage for long periods of time,and they would always give her funny haircuts)...so i looked for another and they charged me $35. This groomer was much better, had a double fenced yard to let them out... she even had a little yorkie for my Molly to play with.
I since moved out of state an my current groomer charges $35 for Izze and $37 for the poodles... which isn't bad. He follows my exact directions and doesn't keep them in the cages for too long... he has a little x-pen just for my babies :)
I'd go to a cheaper, nicer groomer.

Unfortunately, some groomers don't know what puppy cuts are. Down here, a puppy cut to these groomers is just how the 2nd picture that you have posted turn out

Hatton is adorable!
 

That really is not close to a puppy cut, but at Pet Smart they always seem to think that every dog needs shaved bald. I would guess it is because they are under pressure from management to get our babies in and out. When we visit the store near us to take the babies out to get their treats, I see all the dogs coming out with a "buzz" cut or cose to one. Hatton is so cute you really could style his hair any way you want and he would srill be adorable. I have never taken my yorkies to a groomer, I do them myself. Mostly because I don't like leaving them with strangers. Sophia and Tuffey don't get clipped just trimmed with the scissors. When it's bath time they get out of tub and jump on my dressing table to wait for the blow dryer. I am careful not to let the dryer blow on the skin. Then they get their bows and take offf running around the house. It will take patience and persistence to get Hatton used to it, but it becomes easier and then fun. Sophia and Tuffey love snuggling in the towel in my arms after they get out of the tub. :animal36 Cookie, Sophia and Tuffey

Do you have a Mobile Groomer in your area. We have several PET-U-LOVE. They come to your home and groom right away it takes about 30 to 45 min. They are high. Around 45 dollars but if you have friends that can bring their dogs over they will give you a discount...Less Stress on your baby.....