Very dangerous find a new groomer

These drying cages/crates should be banned everywhere. I have only brought Pebbles to a groomer once, when she was about 4 months old. The groomer is located nearby and had good reviews online so I called up and asked if Pebbles could come in for a short appointment to meet her and get her nails trimmed. While there I noticed a number of things that made me uneasy so I never went back again.

Among other things she had 2 little dogs, they looked like yorkie mixes, in a drying crate. They were panting due to the heat. I would never, ever want Pebbles placed in such a thing. Since then I have been grooming her myself - I asked the nurse at the vets office to check if I'm cutting her nails properly and the rest of her grooming is pretty easy, apart from her face. I'm not very good at cutting hair so her face doesn't look as neat as some yorkies but at least I know she's safe.

I found another article about a dog in a drying cage.....it made me cry....this poor dog didn't survive. I'll place the link here but it's upsetting:(

Horrific fate of Trudie the cocker spaniel who burned to death in 'drying' cage at dog groomers | Mail Online

I am so glad you found a new place.

I'm happy you found someone you like to groom Teddy. It's a hard job finding someone trustworthy isn't it?! Those who have a groomer they are happy with are very lucky. I hope I can find someone like that soon for Pebbles, I'm sure she'd appreciate a neat haircut - one time I cut hair on one side much shorter than the other:yelrotflm

I've never heard of that either, so awful!

That sounds like such a wonderful set up. I love that you can actually see everything that is happening. Part of me wants someone to open a chain (sounds awful) Of grooming salons with strict strict standards. Where they promise to do things a certain way. If I wasn't so busy at my salon it would be a project for me (which would take a ton of learning)

I don't know if I have seen one Lynzy. I'm not sure how they are set up. I'm just still in shock that I wasn't aware of this sooner.

Thank you Teresiana, I'm glad I found a new spot too. Poor Teddy my little trooper, I feel very lucky that he is ok!

Yes, that is the setup. In dog groomer forums, they complained about NY banning them, arguing that they are safe when used properly. In my mind, there is no proper use. A dryer on an animal who has no means of escape is not something that should be left unattended.

I read that cage dryers can cause heat stroke.

Cage dryers scare me, just the thought of it makes me upset. Please find a new groomer.

In search for the thread, I inadvertently opened the photo on that thread, and I wish I didn't. Each day that I came back to the thread, I read the contents, but I didn't look at the photo. Chloe healed beautifully, but the horrors she went through were sad beyond belief.

Thank you for what you wrote about Katie. When she joined our family a little over a year ago, her breeder cut her hair for me. It was like what people here call the Joey haircut, but Katie also had a skirt. I let the body grow out, but after a year that way, I cut her hair short. Katie is so active, and she will stop at nothing to retrieve her ball. With so many trees and shrubbery where we play at my house, she was getting too many things caught in her hair. When i cut her, I made lots of mistakes that really stand out in a silky coat, but I'll do better next time. She looks adorable nevertheless. There are some good videos that you can buy, and there are tons of YouTube ones. I haven't watched any of them, and I think I will sometime. It took some time, but I got much better with practice with my other three angels at the Rainbow Bridge and their sister before them. I have even learned to cut my husband's hair, more out of necessity. He has had so many back surgeries and is always in intractable pain, so getting out is so difficult for him. He has such thick, beautiful hair which hides my mistakes, and I'm surprised it looks as good as it does. You most definitely will do a great job if you start to groom yourself.

Thank you for educating us about this very important issue. I've had dogs all of my life, and I never knew of the dangers until three years ago. We are so lucky to have YT to help us better care for our precious babies.

I have to speak out on behalf of all the groomers out there...some of you might not know, but I am a groomer. The school I attended used a cage dryer. The dryers we used were professional grooming dryers & high velocity dryers that DOES NOT emit warm or hot air...it ONLY blows natural air, no heat. The cage was big enough for the dog to sit in another corner if s/he didn't like the dryer, but will still get dried from the air circulating in the cage. We never put in brachycepallic (short snout) or older dogs in the cage dryer for their safety. There's some dogs that have cage fright & those dogs were never cage dried. We put into consideration the dog's temperament, physical attributes & health to determine if we should use the cage dryer or not. It really comes down to the equipment used, the training, evaluating the pet & safety.
When I was working as a mobile groomer, there were no cage dryers, no cages @ all. The high velocity dryers used to make some cats & dogs poop! So I had to use a hand dryer on them & it took a long time to dry...making me late for my next appt. I prefer the high velocity over the cage dryers & it dries fast, blows a lot of undercoat out, but the little dogs & cats hate it.
The link above is very horrific & sad, but it was a home made dryer w/a heater! If I had to take my guys to a groomer, I vote for no cage dryers bc accidents can & do happen.

Its a really difficult job finding a good groomer, Merlin had several hair cuts by me...bless him he was also lop sided a few times. We now have a great groomer who I trust, all the grooming is done front of shop so no hiding away, you also have to book appointments 3 months in advance...that's how good they are. Most good groomers will let you stay the first time just so you can build trust with them before leaving your baby in there hands

Oh my gosh! I had no idea something like that existed . I will be calling our groomer on Monday when they open. Don`t want Trinket to have any undue stress.

I have been searching for a groomer for over a year and it has been incredibly frustrating! For now I've decided to do it myself. It scares me just how much trust you are giving to someone who is really a stranger-trusting a stranger with my most precious babies? I don't think so, not anymore!

yet another reason to groom at home...just sayin.

I would never take my babies to a groomer that uses a cage dryer. I groom my two at home because of the horror stories I've heard.

Omg...I have never even heard about a cage drier and now that Ive read Chloe's thread I'm horrified!!! I dont even know if my groomer uses one or not...but Im about to calk and find out! I just made an appointment to have my little one groomed for the first time.and if they say they use cage driers I am for SURE cancelling!!

I'm scared to click the link, but does it say who made the dryer? Was it home made and still used in a commercial grooming facility? Do many groomers do this? That is so scary.

Do all of the high velocity driers only use room temp air? I guess my question is, are all the dogs getting burned by home made dryers?

I am glad that you are going to find a new groomer.

That has always been the first questin that I ask at grooming places.

I have been using the same groomer for more that 10 yrs. My babies have always been hand dried.

I most definitely want to learn because I don't trust anyone like I trust myself with Miley. I wish all of us YT members could live in Yorkieville and have a town catered to our babies with everything from stores with clothes to grooming to potty training to everything! :D:p

I would definitely rather just pay more for grooming and have him hand dried. I wish I lived near you minimoto! Then teddy could go to you for grooming, and he would be safe and sound.

I agree a good groomer is hard to find, but they are out there. I live in a pretty small town, word of mouth is the best advertising there is, that's how I found her in the first place. I have been using the very same groomer since 1992...so 21 years of wonderful care of my babies. She works at my vets office, they also have a doggie day care there. It's really a very nice set up...with employees that sincerely care. It is hard to get in to see her...she's booked pretty solid, Winston goes every 2 weeks and I am confident that he is in very capable hands. Wish you all could find someone like her, she's a real jewel.

You I've been thinking. One time I was at my rescue vet and saw the vet's groomer speaking with a client. She said it was going to be $40 for a bath and shave, but if the dog bites then it would be more. (She didn't say HOW much more.) I was like, well how do you know if the dog bit? Just her word? The dog isn't going to tell you, hey I didn't like this lady so I bit her. They very well could just lie and say the dog bit and then charge more, right?

Wow, that's crazy...how would you ever know. Makes me wonder how many times she bit herself just to charge more money!!! lol...

I think this is the best idea! I wish it existed!!!!:D

I have never been 100% happy with any groomer-ever. About a year ago, I started grooming Tucker myself. I started slowly with trimming his feet and nails. I now do everything. Not only does it save me money, but I don't have to worry about what is going on at the groomer's and he is always groomed to my satisfaction/standards. Call me crazy/ picky ect, but we are both much happier now :)

I have never heard of the cage dryer! And it sounds horrific!
I am glad I groom both Nena and Rufus myself, don't think I'll trust anyone with them..

I looked at that picture out of the corner of my eye, enough to see an awful awful, huge wound. An open wound. Cannot imagine how that happened but it's awful. I had no idea a cage dryer could do that to a poor dog!!! That poor thing must have been in such a terrible amount of pain! I will never ever allow a dog of mine to go to a groomer no matter how they dry or scissor or what. Too many things can go wrong with a lot going on and I'm too paranoid - now more than ever. Those cage-dryers should be outlawed!

I stopped going to groomers after one of my little ones got seriously hurt twice, and the second time we almost lost her. It just became too fearful for me. I know there are a lot of wonderful groomers who are wonderful and gentle with dogs, and that's why, with proper education, questioning, and research, we can search out to find someone trustworthy, compassionate, kind, and gentle. I have been too scarred from how Kiwi was hurt and was unable to go to a groomer again, but I don't think it's an indictment on all groomers. Poor Chloe must have suffered terribly, but the person sharing her story helped educate so many people. I learned something very important that I shared with anyone I knew whose dogs were groomed outside of the home. We learn so much here at YT, and we are able to be better dog parents because of it. I wish those cage dryers would be outlawed, too.