RE: the yorky grooming cd I saw on EBAY
 

Okay everybody I went on ebay just now to see if she is still selling the DVD (sorry I said CD at first, cornfusion!) and yes she still is: In the search bar, just type in yorky grooming and it showed up as the second item- its says yorkie dog grooming instructional DVD yorkshire terrier. It taught me ALOT and I still watch it. If I can learn from this, anyone can. I do recommend this - it is very good. It shows a picture of the DVD and has several different yorkies pictured on the DVD itself. Enjoy! It was worth every penny.

I had a pretty good experience with pet smart here on the cape. I asked for the most experienced groomer who had been grooming for 17 years. They always charged me less then I exspected. They have clipped his feet for free... done is ears for free... and didn't charge me for his first appointment to dematt him when we first got him because she was 1/2 hour late for the appointment. I always tip well though. But i love that I am always there with chewy when they do anything. I will try this other place because it is closer to my house and I know the girl. I still want to do most of my own grooming. As I watch and learn!
;)

I have not written about the loss of our Maggie before as it is still so painful to think about. But this thread makes me know that I should share the horrible experience if only to make others more cautious than I was.

We had a regular groomer who did a good job and seemed to genuinely care for her. We were going on a trip this summer and I wanted Maggie groomed before she went to my parents' house to stay. The regular groomer could not fit her in and I made a rash decision to try a nearby groomer that a friend had used before. Maggie had a reverse sneeze problem that was worse when she was excited. Two hours after dropping her off at the groomers they called and asked about her making a noise as she breathed. I said it sounded like the reverse sneeze and the vet had told us not to worry about it. I told them if they calmed her down she would stop. She said okay, then called back a few minutes later to tell me to come take Maggie to the vet as she was having trouble breathing, and her tongue was turning black. I rushed down there and no more than 10 minutes later, was met with the grim news that they "had done everything they could but lost her." It hit like a knife through the heart. My Maggie was only 3 years old and had been playful, alert and happy just hours before. My DH and I were devastated.

We tried to figure out what had happened. I have two thoughts -- one is a possible collasped trachea problem that I have read can be fatal if a leash is misused. Another is the possibility that she was left out in the hot Florida sun before her turn at the grooming table. I remembered that when I went to pick her up, there was almost no room in the back and I saw no other dogs. We later went around behind their building to check and sure enough, there were stacks of cages outside -- where they would be in the direct morning sun. Maggie could not take the heat.

I had been so careful in picking the original groomer, asking dozens of questions before leaving her. Then I got complacent, in a hurry to get ready for our trip, and did not take the care I should have with our precious Maggie. I will regret that for the rest of my life.

We just last week got another Yorkie -- Ben, 10 weeks old. We also got the news the little female we are waiting for was born yesterday and will be joining us a a couple of months. I will never, never take them to a groomer I do not know well or one that does not let me stay with them. I plan on leaving their coats long and learning the basics of grooming myself.

I cannot say for sure my Maggie was lost due to the groomer's fault but I definately cannot say they were not negligent. I feel so guilty myself for not taking more care with the decision. She depended on me.

Just FYI..... I have 2 copies of that Yorkie Grooming DVD for sale in my Yorkie Garage sale... Its a DVD made just for Grooming Yorkies! I'll be posting it hopefully tomorrow.... I also have 1 copy of the Top Knot Bow Making Video....

So If you want to save a few bucks.... I am selling them for way less than what I paid for them... ;)

And the grooming Videos were very helpful in teaching me how to do my girls! It really gave me the confidence to go it alone!!!!

When I take Royce to the groomer I always stay with him and tell the groomer how to handle him and I watch every single thing she does ...she doesn't mind at I haveto admit she is really nice . Once I took Royce to another groomer and she refused that I stay with my baby so I walked out ..there is no way I would leave Royce with a groomer with not standing by the grooming table !!!!!!

I am so terribly sorry for your loss. How horrible this must have been. We never know why things like this happen - but I do know one thing for sure - continuing to blame yourself will only bring more grief. Please let go of the guilt and just love your new babies with all your heart!!

I have been paranoid about having Sissy's head in a noose and falling off a grooming table since I got her - so I've groomed her myself. I just kind-of figured out what I needed to do and did it. She cooperates very well with everything except her nails. That is a struggle, but I do them too. I'd rather spend my money buying frivolous stuff for Sissy!!

After having several bad experiences at different groomers with 2 dogs I decided that I would try to learn to groom my own dogs. I found a groomer that gave lessons for 6 weeks. At the end of the lessons she convince me to purchase a set of Andis clippers. $200. I hesitated but it is the best purchase I have ever made. My shihtzu was cut by 2 different groomers yet I have never cut him once in the 5 years I have done him. He may not look as fancy as the other ones but at least he doesn't hide after being groomed as he used to do. I use a blade that shaves them a little bit longer and I think it is safer as I have never had any cuts. I know sometimes they look a little bit choppy but they are never bald and always happy when I shave them. So if anyone is thinking of grooming, invest in the expensive clippers.

Thanks for your post. I will be loving the new puppies and learning to groom them myself. I still trust my original groomer and will keep her in mind if I mess up too much. But I will be there to watch and learn too.
I think I will need to save some money as I have already grown quite a Want List since joining this forum. So many cute Yorkie things!

Dog Grooming DVD
 

I looked but could not find your Yorkie Garage Sale post. I would like to buy one of the Dog Grooming DVDs and maybe the Top Knot Bow Making video too. Please direct me where to purchase and/or get more info.
Tks,

My opinion is that it is only a little short of being an assembly line. There may be some good dog groomers out there but are you going to take the chance if it is the one you get? I am lucky, one of my clients grand-daughters is a groomer who owns her own truck, I look into her windows, she voluntarily vents her windows (Chloe cries like a sheep) I would know her cry in a second, key with me is that when Sue lets them go on the driveway (my direction cause they are trained) they run up to me showing me they missed me, full of Love & Licks, then varoom - back to Sue they run.... That says it all. My sister is a dog groomer in her home. I love her dearly BUT I've seen her swat a dog before, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, she loves dogs, they are her life, that particular day - she was having a bad day I guess but my dog goes to Sue for $75 for both and not to my sister for free:D but I still love my sister as their Auntie, just not their groomer;)

I had some bad experiences at groomers with my last dog so this one I am taking an in home course. so far I have done well with a squirmy dog. My friends have asked me to work on theirs too. It's always bothered me to see dogs standing on the table alone and even in my course it teaches how to use a cage dryer but I said I wouldn't do that. I thought I was being overly careful with the dogs because of what I was willing to do and not willing to do...but after reading this article I think I'm right to take these precautions. I would be devestasted if that happened under my care!
suz

I have been having a terrible time finding a good groomer. At one groomer I asked the lady at the front desk if she would be sure to ask the person who groomed Muffin, my Lhasa Apso, to take special precaution trimming around a HERNIA that she had on her stomach. The groomer I used before them cut into the hernia and made it bleed. The lady at the desk told me that they can't take time to watch for stuff like that. I took my dog and left and never went back. I was really upset to hear her talk like that. (The vet had advised me to wait until the hernia was a little larger before he would do surgery on her, so we were waiting for it to grow a bit).

Recently I was looking for someone groom my Yorkies and someone recommended a lady who is really good, grooms mostly Yorkies, and does everything in her own home. I got on her "waiting list" and in the meantime I took my babies to her to have their nails trimmed (so I could meet her). While I was there, Daisy fell off the table right in front of my eyes. I was shocked. They lady said Daisy jumped, but Daisy was stunned when she hit the floor. She didn't jump off the table, she fell. Also, my babies squirmed and were very agitated at the way she was holding them to do their nails.

I am hesitant about finding a groomer now so I have been grooming them myself. They don't look professionally groomed or anything close to it, but at least I know they are safe. That's more important to me than having them look perfect.

I feel such anxiety every time I take Howie to get groomed. I grill them when I go in on how they're going to do it. And I do it every single time. Just in case they forgot. LOL

The first groomer I took Kona too was a referal from my mil. She takes her Yorkie there. I didn't like the fact that I couldn't go up there to see how she works or the facilities, etc.

Then I started searching online. I came across this site and call the lady when the shop opened. I was blown away at her knowledge and the way she runs her shop. After talking with her I took both Kona and Bernie down there. She has different areas in her shop for the dogs to play together (small, medium, and large); almost like play groups for dogs. She drys each one individually, she doesn't hook a dryer up to a cage. THe one downside is that she is only open during the week and her hours are during the time that I'm working. So my furbabies will have to wait until I have a day off. But I would recommend her to anyone in the area!

FlDebra ...your post was SO sad. I'm so sorry about your Maggie - that's just horrible and there's no excuse for these groomers to be murdering dogs - there is just no excuse....WE trust them with our dogs and they should be held accountable when something happens.

I do my girls myself now and occasionally go to a vet referred groomer that I do trust......but 2-1/2 years ago I took Chanel to a groomer that I know hurt her. After that grooming experience she cried when riding in the car for 3 months after - It took lots of FUN trips to get her to like going 'bye bye' again .....

I had a poodle 32 years ago and after one trip to the groomer and coming back with razor burns..........that was it for me. I tried one more time when I got my new furbaby Yorkie and again, what a disappointment. Butchered the ears and barely did anything to the toenails. But I was glad about the toenails (didn't cut enough off) so it didn't create any anxiety in him for me to do them. NOW........I do it all myself, may take me a couple of days to get the complete job done but I know they are not in fear for their life.:)