How long did it take you to find your groomer?
 

Why is it so hard to find a great groomer? I feel so bad because I keep taking Tobie to new groomers and I want to find one that he can get to know but I just can't find one that I love. They either lost my trust or I wasn't happy with his hair...... Am I just picky or is it important to you for a groomer to acknowledge your baby when you walk in the door? I would rather them say "hi" to him before me! I have been to so many groomers with no personality that just coldly come over and take him from my arms and to the back room. I just want to find a groomer that is nice.... who I feels cares about my dog and his well-being and is going to make him look adorable. I just dropped him off at a new groomer this morning and I'm iffy about this one. I took a picture of what I wanted but she didn't really ask a lot of questions and didn't want to keep the picture. I am soooo afraid he's not going to look anything like I'm wanting. Maybe I'm just being negative and she's got a photographic memory? LOL. Anyway, I think I have posted a topic similar to this before but I just get so frustrated every time I have to take him to someone new. Did anyone else go through this before they found their regular groomer?

YES!!!!!!

I used many groomers before I found one I liked and I dont feel bad about it at all.

I asked a million questions, insisted on staying and watching for at least the first appointment, checked out the salon (looking for the dreaded caged dryers), and watched them interact with not only my dog but other dogs as well.

I finally found someone AMAZING, she is a pretty far drive but worth it!

She grabs one of the dogs from me as soon as I get in the door, :p Loves them, kisses them, talks so nice to them... and after watching her with them I now feel comfortable leaving them with her also.

They always look great when I get back and she can also tell me if there are any other problems, she has picked up rashes, ear infections, and anal gland problems before they got too serious.

When I come back for them they are happy as can be and dont act nervous of anxious at all. :thumbup:

Take your time, go to as many groomers as you need... your dogs safety and happiness are the most important thing!

I think I just got REALLY lucky. I started looking around for a groomer when Jackson was 4 months old. I didn't wanna bring him to a Petsmart or anything and I didn't want him to be stuck in a cage all day. I found this one little place, about 5 minutes from my house, in a shopping center. I was leary because they DO sell puppies there (it makes me sooo sad) but the groomer is just in a back room (she has nothing to do with the selling of puppies) and she only has 2 or 3 dogs at a time maximum and Jackson only gets left there for 2-3 hours tops.

She pretty much always does whatever I ask her. His first appt. as a pup, I made it very clear I just wanted a TRIM because I heard so many horror stories of dogs getting shaved. Well, she definitely just gave him a trim because she barely cut his hair! LOL. But she did exactly as I asked. I like her... she's a nice person and she puts up with Jackson (who is NOT good at being groomed w/ strangers, but she says "oh, he's not that bad!") I brought in a picture for her of another Yorkie the next two times and she did exactly as I asked. The last time I got him groomed, I didn't bring a pic and she just said "the usual?" and I said yes... and I wasn't thrilled with the haircut as much as the other ones so I think from now on, I'm always gonna bring a picture just to refresh her memory.

Sorry this is so long, but I do like her, I'm glad I found someone that really cares about him (and puts up with him!) and where he doesn't have to stay for over 3 hours. It's pricey at $50 each time, with a $10 tip, but it's worth it to find someone you're comfortable with.

I tried a different groomer ONE time last summer and they totally shaved him too short. I won't change groomers again unless this one quits!

Jackson's hair always looks so cute! She does a great job! :D

Well, I'm heading that way to pick him up. Keep your fingers crossed for me that he looks great. :)

Good luck -can't wait to see pics!

I use a mobile groomer, and she does a great job. I love that she comes right to the house, and concentrates on one dog at a time -- MY dog! No caging before or after, and I can check in on what is going on anytime I want. She has a large climate controlled van with her own water, etc. $49 for a full groom.

Our groomer found us :)
She has been our Schwans lady for a couple years, so we see her and talk to her every 2 weeks. She started going to grooming school before we got Chase, so by the time we got him she was almost done. Since she comes over often enough for Chase to get comfortable with her, she told me she could come over on a saturday and groom him. She is great with him, I totally trust her. I'm not really picky because we keep him in a puppy cut, but I think it's priceless not to have to worry about what this person is doing to your dog. She comes over every 6-8 weeks, brings her table, blowdryer, everything. She only charges me $25 (amazing considering the first couple times took over 2 hours, he was scared of all the new things and she wanted him to feel comfortable), but I give her $40. I am so glad I didn't have to take him somewhere and leave him, I don't trust strangers with my animals :rolleyes:

So we're back and on a scale of 1 to 10, I would give his haircut a.... 6. The hair on his face is a little longer than the picture I showed, the hair on his ears aren't trimmed as much as I wanted and it looks like she got a little to close on a couple of spots close to his eyes. I do understand that Tobie's hair is slightly more difficult because he's a cotton coat and always looks super soft and pouffy after a bath.
The things I did like was that she did tell me anything that she noticed or he had problems with....that it only took about 2 hours... and she was more friendly than others I have tried.
I think I feel safe with Tobie being with her but the grooming wasn't amazing. I might give her one more try and just point out the specific things I want done differently. I'll try to post pics later tonight and see what you guys think :) Gosh, I never thought I would be this picky about how my dog's hair was cut until I got a Yorkie. LOL :p

I have had the same groomer for about 13 years. She comes to my home. Never ties them up, and is great to my dogs.

I'd try to find one that does home visits, then you can watch and tell her what you want as she goes along.

Hugs Shirl x x

I never did, that's why I learned to groom them myself.

Where in Oklahoma do you live, because I know a great groomer. This one is a yorkie handler/breeder/groomer and known by many on Yorkie Talk as she's handled their dogs to Championship. Wonderful with dogs.....she grooms out of her home.

I live right outside of Oklahoma City... about 15 minutes west.

Trish is not far from you......she's marvelous and a dear friend.......

Here's Trish's website has her contact information.

Dejavu Yorkshire Terriers - DeJaVu and Trishires-- Specializing in Quality!

Del City is 30 minutes away from me but I would drive that for a great groomer! She breeds too? It's going to be a long time before I can get another Yorkie but now I know where I'm going to look first when the time comes :) Thanks so much for the recommendation!

Ken Lambert, her partner is/or was the president of the Yorkshire Terrier Club of Greater Oklahoma, President of the Oklahoma Toy Club and a YTCA Member. These two are great people, know what they're doing.