What would you do?

[Lovetodream88]

What would you do in this situation? There is a local grooming salon that we used a lot when it was just Callie then they got a mobile groomer and we started using that. We really fell in love with the mobile groomer Erica. She’s not the best groomer but I trust her with my dogs. Occasionally the van breaks down and we have to take them to the shop which is what happened last time and she ran out right as we were getting there to pick up the pups so they said she would call to schedule our next grooming. Well she hasn’t called. Then fast forward to we got the puppy Ollie two Wednesday’s ago. He is a bit matted and needs a hair cut so Monday we called and left a message with a person for Erica to call us and she didn’t and over the week we called 4 or 5 times to try and get in touch with her and no call back. This salon is the highest rated salon and has won awards but I mostly like it because I really trust Erica. I’m not sure what to do I’m frustrated and very angry I have not been called back. Ollie needs to be groomed but I don’t want to take him some where he is going to be in a cage and away from me for 4 hours. What would you do? How would you handle this?

[matese]

This happened to me 2 years ago, I would leave messages and no call backs, so, I would take a ride to the salon to see if I could catch her in. Sometimes the shop was closed, eventually I caught her in and made my appointment. Going in person was the only way to make an appointment, messages were never returned. I have a motto "my money spends anywhere". I was fed up constantly having to drive to the salon just to make an appointment. I just got a different groomer, I have the dates for his grooming and I make that appointment before I leave the salon. I know you like the gal you're using, maybe pass by the salon and make the appointment in person.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by matese

This happened to me 2 years ago, I would leave messages and no call backs, so, I would take a ride to the salon to see if I could catch her in. Sometimes the shop was closed, eventually I caught her in and made my appointment. Going in person was the only way to make an appointment, messages were never returned. I have a motto "my money spends anywhere". I was fed up constantly having to drive to the salon just to make an appointment. I just got a different groomer, I have the dates for his grooming and I make that appointment before I leave the salon. I know you like the gal you're using, maybe pass by the salon and make the appointment in person.

Luckily she just called as I was picking up my iPad to start researching groomers lol seriously it was weird.

[nanajoy]

Glad it worked out for you! I am too afraid to trust my babies with a groomer, so I have taught myself to do them. Sometimes they look a little rough around the edges, but I can always stop if they are too squirmy and give them a break. Beau is 11, and cooperates nicely...in fact I think he somewhat enjoys his "special attention" time. Ty only gets his face and hygiene trim because he has a beautiful coat. Gus, our little cotton coat, is adorable in his puppy coat. Now that he is two he is much more cooperative.

[Britster]

If my mobile groomer ever retires or quits I would probably have to learn to do them myself! LOL. I'm horrible with grooming stuff though- I'm not firm enough and I'm too timid. I'm always afraid of hurting them.

But I love our groomer so so so much. And Jackson is such a freak about groomers/vets and we've been using her now for... like 7+ years? So even though he still is terrified, he's 'comfortable' with her at least.

It's really a struggle once you find that 1 you love and trust so much. It makes me worried if they ever change jobs or move lOL

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by nanajoy

Glad it worked out for you! I am too afraid to trust my babies with a groomer, so I have taught myself to do them. Sometimes they look a little rough around the edges, but I can always stop if they are too squirmy and give them a break. Beau is 11, and cooperates nicely...in fact I think he somewhat enjoys his "special attention" time. Ty only gets his face and hygiene trim because he has a beautiful coat. Gus, our little cotton coat, is adorable in his puppy coat. Now that he is two he is much more cooperative.

I tried to groom Callie and it was actually really hard much harder then I thought.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Britster

If my mobile groomer ever retires or quits I would probably have to learn to do them myself! LOL. I'm horrible with grooming stuff though- I'm not firm enough and I'm too timid. I'm always afraid of hurting them.

But I love our groomer so so so much. And Jackson is such a freak about groomers/vets and we've been using her now for... like 7+ years? So even though he still is terrified, he's 'comfortable' with her at least.

It's really a struggle once you find that 1 you love and trust so much. It makes me worried if they ever change jobs or move lOL

I tried grooming Callie it’s hard lol. Sammy really loved this groomer and he was not fond of being groomed so I understand. I hate how regular groomers work where you leave the dogs all day because it seems like it stresses them out.

[nanajoy]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

I tried to groom Callie and it was actually really hard much harder then I thought.

I failed to mention that I have cut/colored my own hair for most of my life...

[matese]

When I had poodles in NY grooming day was the entire day,since moving to Pa. all the yorkies I have had it's 2 hours tops and their ready to come home. I could never groom a dog, I'm to afraid of hurting them. I keep my kid in a puppy cut, I would be afraid I would cause razor burn. Glad your gal contacted you, it's really hard to find a good and trustful groomer.

[Rachael1983]

Make sure you tell Erica that you felt her customer service was/is going down. You want to stay with her but the reliability is something you need and it seems like she needs to figure out how to best manage some of the issues. You can only be understanding for so long . Hopefully that conversation will help some of your concerns and all will be well.

I’d also suggest looking for a back up just in case.

[Diva61211]

I was having the same issue with having a set groomer. You would think grooming is free the way they are hard to be contacted. I truly only get the puppy cut may the beginning of warm weather and maybe September then I let her grow the rest of the year and I trim her abut so her ends don't look shady. So, I started grooming my diva. I always was confident with doing it because she does stay still enough. But I must admit the groomers precision is better than mine and I have to be in the mood to do it to my standards. I use the 30 dollars grooming set from Walmart. It comes with guards so I'm never scared I will cut my diva. But I'm scared to cut her nails. Omg I get so freaked out I may hurt her because she don't like her paws touched at all really.

[KatysMom]

I'm glad it worked out for you.

While I haven't tried out many of my back up plans/theories yet, I have several!!

My vet allows techs to perform some grooming functions--clean ears, eyes, clip nails, express glands, etc. (Their practice for the latter is far superior to most/all groomers.) I've never asked, but suspect they would clear a matt or two.

Haven't checked, but would ask my vet if they would refer me to a groomer.

There are several big-box stores close to me--they all have large windows surrounding their grooming centers with waiting room-like chairs on the outside of the windows. In light of all the well publicized pet deaths, don't believe I'd ever just hand my pup to these shop and then leave. Also wouldn't want her to wait in a cage before or after. Pretty sure I'd be comfortable allowing them to perform the service if I had my watchful eye on them albeit from the other side of those glass windows.

[nanajoy]

Originally Posted by Diva61211

I was having the same issue with having a set groomer. You would think grooming is free the way they are hard to be contacted. I truly only get the puppy cut may the beginning of warm weather and maybe September then I let her grow the rest of the year and I trim her abut so her ends don't look shady. So, I started grooming my diva. I always was confident with doing it because she does stay still enough. But I must admit the groomers precision is better than mine and I have to be in the mood to do it to my standards. I use the 30 dollars grooming set from Walmart. It comes with guards so I'm never scared I will cut my diva. But I'm scared to cut her nails. Omg I get so freaked out I may hurt her because she don't like her paws touched at all really.

I feel the same about their nails! My husband does their nails now, but when they were very little and squirmy we had the vet techs take care of them...$10 well spent!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by nanajoy

I failed to mention that I have cut/colored my own hair for most of my life...

I tried to shave Callie when she was in the 12 week crate rest period from ACL surgery and it was hard and I had my dad helping me lol.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by matese

When I had poodles in NY grooming day was the entire day,since moving to Pa. all the yorkies I have had it's 2 hours tops and their ready to come home. I could never groom a dog, I'm to afraid of hurting them. I keep my kid in a puppy cut, I would be afraid I would cause razor burn. Glad your gal contacted you, it's really hard to find a good and trustful groomer.

Most of the places here charge extra if you want them done quickly. With Callie she was fine with that but the others no so much especially a 5 mounth old puppy. Finding a good trusting groomer is hard.