Petsmart grooming

[brianjoy81]

Does anyone go to petsmart for their grooming? I know every store will be different, but overall with prices and satisfaction, are you pleased? What kind of prices do you pay for your yorkie's grooming?

[Lexi Rae]

dont have a petsmart where i live , but i take lexi to a place called dapper dog, the do a great job.. cost 45 dollars plus a tip... kinda expensive but they do a great job..

[bchgirl]

Trace goes to petsmart. It's still $45.00. I've been pleased w/ the service and cuts....although this time it was a little shorter than I expected. I've gotten used to it now and think he looks cute.

[yorkieusa]

I prefer private groomers. When you take your puppy to a chain store, you never know who is going to be doing the grooming or how experienced they are. I'm not even sure the groomers at chain stores are licensed. There was a story recently about a yorkie that was to be groomed at a Petsmart (in Houston?) that was stolen. Everyone should make their own choices, but you should also be aware of the risks.

[dhudson4]

Over all I feel okay about Petsmart groomers. My thing with them, as I have posted on here before you have to be very specific with them. Like take a picture with you of what you want your baby to look like.

As far as pricing and service goes, I am very pleased.

[minniemn]

I did once, and wasn't pleased at all- so it is private groomers for me- well my private groomer moved to another state, so I have been trying it on my own- but need to find a new groomer (I think my dogs will like that better... lol)

[Julz]

I've never taken my dog to PetSmart, but have read a LOT of posts on here where people are unhappy. A LOT. They will probably post when they see your thread. Someone mentioned that the PetSmart groomers don't have to be certified. I'd suggest calling your local PetSmart and ask about the groomers' qualifications. If you are happy with the answer, be sure and be VERY specific on what you want. Most of them get cut a LOT shorter even when told. If you do not want the top of your Yorkie's hair cut, make sure you tell them every way possible and put it in writing....many on here have had all the long hair for top knots cut off. Good luck!

[magnolia]

Like a few others who've posted, I also don't have PetSmart here. I take Gabby to a place here in town. Kay and her staff are all certified. Kay is usually the one who grooms Gabby when she goes in, and the price is very reasonable....$27 plus a tip.

[rnnw62]

I used Petsmart twice...I didn't feel like I got my monies
worth either time. Then one day I went in just to observe
the groomers and what I saw made me almost angry. They
do not (at least at mine) interact with the dogs at all while
they are grooming. I saw a little yorkie put it's little paw up
like for reassurance and the groomer just pushed it back to
the spot she wanted it and kept on gabbing with her co-
employ the entire time. I now use a mobile groomer that comes
to my home. Ted is much happier and less traumatized and
he is done in about 45 minutes versus the hours it used to
take.

[chachi]

Ive read some disapointed grooming stories about Petsmart on here so I go to a private groomer.

[jadesign]

Hi there! I am a groomer and there seems to be some confusion and I thought I would offer my explaination.

First, I agree with some of the other posts about not all groomers at Petsmart are bad (I am a private mobile groomer). It just depends on who you get. I think will all groomers you should be very specific (we are not mind readers )

Second, as of right now there is NO across the board national certification for groomers (like say for people cosmatologists) or national regulations on how clean you keep your shop (there is always OSHA - general safety guidlines for all workplaces). Just about anyone can say they are a "groomer". You should look for some one with solid experience (with another good groomer as an apprentice) OR formal grooming school training (lenghth of schools can vary). Then a groomer can go a step or two further, some organizations (Nat Dog Groomers Assoc, Int Soc of Canine Cosmatologists, etc.) that put you through a MAJOR testing process (both written and actually grooming) to prove yourself and then at the end you can become a "Master Stylist". By having this certification it is proof that you know the breed standard cuts and the skin issues and conditions (not an easy process). These groomers may charge more but are certainly worth it. However, just because a groomer has not been "certified as a master stylist" does not mean he/she is bad.

Just do your homework and ASK ALOT of questions. If you are not comfortable then look elsewhere. It should be a pleaseant experience for ALL.

Hope this helps.

[Mystify79]

I took my Maltese to be groomed at Petsmart once and while they did a terrible job.. basically it came down to them not knowing how to groom a long coated Maltese. My sister just recently took her Maltese to be groomed there and it was nearly $40 for them to strip him (he had lots of mats) and although he came out looking really cute, he got a bad ear infection and they shaved too close to his knee and cut him which really bothered me. My sister had told them to be careful of his knee because he had surgery on it about a year ago and he's very sensitive to being touched in that area and then they went and cut him there. I'm not a fan of the one here but my advice is just to go watch them for a while and see how they do and then go talk to them and see if you feel comfortable. Also ask if they can give you an idea of how they've groomed other Yorkies. Good luck.

[yorkieusa]

Mine is certified. I wouldn't take mine to anyone who isn't.

I would say it is a risk to take one to a "groomer" that isn't certified. That's why so many yorkies don't get yorkie cuts and people wonder why their yorkies don't look like yorkies anymore.

You get what you pay for. If you want to save money, just be aware of the risks.

[grneyeslw]

I took my Yorkie to Petsmart to get a summer cut. I had no time for grooming. WOW. They totally butched her, and then blamed her! I asked them to do a little repair work, and they did, but it didnt really repair anything. I think a small private groomer is better. They have more time to hear what you want, and seem to care more. They want you to come back. Petsmart didnt seem to care at all.

[whispersmom2]

Have read posts where their animals have been lost or stolen from there..