am i being cheap???

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by chachi

I wish you were my groomer! I would love to have mine done every 2 weeks. I have an excellent groomer though and I think her price is fair also.The only time she charged me more than the 35 was when Jewels had a ton of matts and she took them all out with a slicker brush. She will also board our yorkies if needed

I usually don't charge extra for taking out matts. But, what I do is tell my puppy parents is that their baby will have to probably take a bit longer than the 2 1/2 hours that I have specified for them. I take care that each matt is worked on individually with my fingers between their skin and the matt. I then instruct them how to do it, so it doesn't happen again....well at least not as often. I do warn my clients that if it continues to happen and they wait too long between groomings I will charge them extra.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by bpearce

My groomer does a great job but she has a flat rate of $38.00 which leads me to this question. She is a 1 woman shop. Should I be tipping her? I haven't been but a couple of posts made me start to question this.

Here's my read on that. Your groomer is like your hairdresser, if she's providing you a good service, by all means you should tip her, even if she is a one woman shop. Tipping is a way of letting her know you appreciate what she does. Think about it, unlike your hairdressing.....she expresses your dogs anal glands, brushes it's teeth, clips it's nails, cleans the ears and risks the possibility of being bit. In addition she may have to take your dog out to potty, plays with it while it's on the table. Other than shampooing, conditioning, cutting and styling your hair....your hairdresser does non of the above

[Pipsioka]

Originally Posted by lolasmomma

Hey everyone I need some help or ur advice. Ive been taking lola to the same groomer for a year and a half. I liked how they cut her. Well about 2 monthes ago I wanted to get her face and top knot trimmed and she butchered my baby and said give it a couple weeks and u will love me. Well lets just say i dont love it but its growing in. So Im going to try a diff groomer. Its sebastians first time being groomed. all I want done is his bum ha his feet rounded and his top knot and ears trimmed they said it would be 38 bucks. Lola needs her feet rounded and her bum trimmed also and they said that would be 38 bucks is that too much?? or am i being cheap here lol???

It really isn't too much, but not all groomers are good with small dogs. Because I am a Cheap ole Yankee and I don't show,I found it to be really fun and a good bonding time to do the grooming myself. You can't do any worse than some groomers (very few really are not good) that arn't very sure of what to do with what breeds. You can pick up the 1/4in. battery operated clippers at a general department store or usually in a drug store for a couple bucks. Then once you find it isn't hard, get a better set. You can usuall get pullers at the drug store or any medical supply store to do the inside of the ears (get decent ones). Bows and elastics are available on line, as are any of the items you would use. Too many large breed groomers cut too much off the back end for likes. If you have the time it really is fun; and I have never really screwed up. Just take your time til you get the hang of it.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by tumismom

Wow you guys are so lucky. Here in NYC, it's between $65-$95. That doesn't include tips.

You have some of those rates in the LA basin too, especially in Beverly Hills, Hollywood and some of the Orange County areas......

I have a friend that lives out towards Pomona and has paid upward of $100.00, the groomer did nothing different than I do, as a matter of fact less. He walked away very dissatisfied with what the groomer did/provided.

I think I've stated this before, but at the risk of repeating myself (I'm getting old) even though I provide free grooming for my puppies for the rest of their lives, I always provide a grooming lesson to my new owners when they come and pick up their pup.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

I think I've stated this before, but at the risk of repeating myself (I'm getting old) even though I provide free grooming for my puppies for the rest of their lives, I always provide a grooming lesson to my new owners when they come and pick up their pup.

That is awesome!!!!!! I know who I'm getting my second baby from.

[Cirlonde]

My biggest worry is keeping the dog still. Especially as a puppy...any advice there? You guys make it sound so easy...but Chloe just doesn't have the attention span to be still for more than a few minutes.
-C

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Cirlonde

My biggest worry is keeping the dog still. Especially as a puppy...any advice there? You guys make it sound so easy...but Chloe just doesn't have the attention span to be still for more than a few minutes.
-C

You make it a game....lots of treats.....work in chapters.....make sure you have your hands on her at all times.....You must be consistent and do this weekly. Table training takes time and don't expect overnight miracles for either you or your dog. In a few months you'll look back on it and realize it wasn't as difficult as you thought.

Now PetEdge has a portable grooming table with a grooming arm, it sits on top of a table.....Petedge.com. Might be worth it to invest in it.

[redvalaria]

Here in my part of NC, I have paid as little as $35 and as much as $50.

I do weekly baths, daily brushing, keep the tear stains to a minimum, but when it comes to trimming his ears, he KNOWS his mamma is a softy and if he mewls and fusses I won't do it...so every 6-8 weeks he gets a proper ears/sanitary/paw pad trim and I feel ok about that.

[lolasmomma]

thanks so much everyone! i will be taking them to their new groomer early 2 morrow morning sooo i will post some pics! and i dunno if i could ever do them myself i would be too scared but i envy u guys who do <3

[mscat]

Grooming can become expensive the more dogs you have . I am startingto learn how to do the basics myself. I think it is fun . I hope the grooming goes well for your little ones tommorow. Can't wait to see pictures