Truth about yorkies and groomers...

[JiggityJig]

Very interesting to read! I groom my dogs myself, but I can just imagine that everything you said was all-too true.

[Jenn218]

I personally think we need more good groomers out there....I just perfer to do it at home now.

I think that a big part of the dogs temperment is in the groomer themselves. If the dog feels comfortable w/ that person and trust that person, they will generally and naturally be relaxed. Mojo went to a groomer when we first got him that I had used w/ our Shih-tzu (RIP). I trusted her w/ everything. And you could tell Mojo did too....she had to leave her passion because of cancer. She was a "drop off" salon, but she also incouraged you to stay, which I always did because we knew each other for several years. I do miss her grooming........her health is well, but she didn't go back to her business.

I have only had two "bad" experiences w/ groomers and it was the same one, (which was two too many), so we just now do it at home....Mojo is more comfy and I love to do it. Plus, that is more bonding time w/ each other.

We brush him every day w/ a boar bristle brush, use a good shampoo/conditioner and even some leave in conditioner every so often.

I say, if you can do it at home......go for it.....and if you have a good groomer that you trust, that is great too!

I wish you luck w/ your schooling and soon to be career!

Just wanted to add my thoughts!

[BellaYorkie]

I was glad to come across this thread. I was told that I can not take my puppy to the groomers until she has had all of her booster shots. She will be caught up by next week and then I am in the clear. As a result she is now pretty matted, and I fully expect she will need to be shaved. I have been bathing her weekly, but am guilty of not brushing her daily. I am hopeing that she will not be a terror for her first grooming visit, but I would not be offended if she was muzzled for the groomers protection.
I was going to try and work-out the mats myself, but I don't want to tramitize her, so shaved it is. I guess she will look pretty silly for awhile, but it's just hair and it will grow back. Any tips for prepareing her for her first visit? I dont want her to be bad

[Brookef18]

Chewy just got his whole body cut down to get off all his black and to shorten his hair to a puppy look again and now he s getting matted under his arm pits! it seems that with the shorted hair he matts more easily... Does this sound right? I brush him every day still and a lot of the time twice but the poor thing never had a knot the whole time his hair was on the longer side!!!! He is like... What the heck MOM!!!!

My new groomer lets me stay and help hold him and I am happy to report that he was as good as gold (A shock to me) right up till the front nails were getting trimmed. We put muzzle on to finish the job and he was really good with it on... Like he knew he had to just give in and get it done. thought the whole visit worked out great and it only cost 20.00!!! I thought that was very cheap!

[BLowry]

Originally Posted by Peters

i don't like where you posted "We do not allow owners to stay and watch" not all of our dogs flip out when they go to get groomed. some people DO need to be educated and take the time to get their dogs use to being handled and groomed but some people also don't trust someone who won't let them stay.

In K1's defense...I also feel if the owner isn't there the dog will be more behaved...When I bring Sadie to the vet she is terrified! She actually crawl's up my body and sits on my shoulder...If the vet takes her out of the room (heartworm test) she is fine.. I trust my vet with the girls....And,IMO,if people need to be educated on how to handle your dog they shouldn't be grooming them...This is why I do the girls myself...

[BLowry]

Originally Posted by doortego

How about 50% are spoiled, nasty or a biter? If that is true, it sure doesn't say much for us as owners.

In K2's defense AGAIN... I didn't think this was an attack on us owners...she is right...their are alot of nasty, spoiled little biters and we probably all know of some...a dog cannot speak. what other way are the going to let you know that "Hey!....I don't know you and keep you hands off of me!" And how many of us yorkie owners DON'T have a spoiled furbaby!! doesn't mean we aren't good furparents..genetics play a big part in this as well...My adult (Sadie 2 1/2 yrs old) has been raised in a very loving caring home since she was 7 weeks old (I know too young) she was brought up around children and a dog and a HUGE cat...she absolutley LOVES people but, if another dog comes around she turns into a rottie! AND.....she was brought up with another dog....so....we never know how our babies are going to be...you know how skinkids can be....better when we're not around!

[magnolia]

Excellent post It is nice to read your experiences in school. I take Gabby to the groomers about every 6-8 weeks. I keep her in a puppy cut. With a full time job, 2 active teenagers, and a house to maintain, I just don't have the time Gabby requires to keep her in a longer coat. I feel I'm doing her more good in keeping this cut - no mats, easier to bath at home, and best of all SHE loves it!! She thinks she's so beautiful with the shorter cut (and she is!). When she does go to the groomers, I'm one of those owners Dawn mentioned - I call from the parking lot to see if she's finished (provided my groomer hasn't called me already). Gabby has no problem at the groomer but she gets so "antsy" when she sees me and won't be still for them to finish. It's easier on her and the groomer if Gabby does not see me until she's done and ready to go. When I go pick Gabby up, I take Gage with me and the groomer will trim his nails and shave his belly - takes her less than 5 minutes - the rest of his grooming is done by me at home - but I'm getting him used to the groomers so it won't be long before he is going on his own.

[TeddyBear]

I take Shylah and Starsky to the groomer about every 3 months or so. I bath them about every 10 days to 2 weeks. Since I have taken them to the groomer, they are so much better about me brushing them and blowdrying them. They just sit still while I do it. Shylah, I still have to work with a little but she is still young.

[Potter]

I took my baby for a puppy groom today because I failed to do it on my own
It includes a bath, cutting his nails, trimming his legs and body fur, sanitary shave, ear cleaning.I have all the supplies to do it on my own but my baby thinks that Mommy is to be bullied. He wouldn't stay still for me and he is so wriggly I am just not able to do it.Even when he is sleeping, I try to cut one nail at a time, he will jump up the instant I touch his nail. So back to the groomer, I have found one that I like in Toronto and I will surely go back there again and the prices are reasonable. They let me stayed in the shop while they do it in the room and I can see him although I tried to hide away from him so that it is easier for the groomer to control him.He is much much better when I am not around although he still wriggles a little and the groomer appreciates that I stay out of sight.I am so grateful that they tried to make me feel comfortable with the whole grooming issue. I told them honestly I have problem with groomers being rough on my baby.I can understand if the groomers are being assertive but I will not be able to tolerate if they start to get rough and I am glad that they try to reassure me that they can't be too gentle to the point that they can't do their job, they will be as gentle as possible to make him comfortable.He did got his butt cut a little, a tiny dot because he was wriggling too much but he didn't feel the pain and they put some antiseptic powder on him so that is good.Although I am nervous on them cutting his butt a little, I think overall, it is a good experience.

[Roxie21]

Originally Posted by magnolia

Excellent post It is nice to read your experiences in school. I take Gabby to the groomers about every 6-8 weeks. I keep her in a puppy cut. With a full time job, 2 active teenagers, and a house to maintain, I just don't have the time Gabby requires to keep her in a longer coat. I feel I'm doing her more good in keeping this cut - no mats, easier to bath at home, and best of all SHE loves it!! She thinks she's so beautiful with the shorter cut (and she is!). When she does go to the groomers, I'm one of those owners Dawn mentioned - I call from the parking lot to see if she's finished (provided my groomer hasn't called me already). Gabby has no problem at the groomer but she gets so "antsy" when she sees me and won't be still for them to finish. It's easier on her and the groomer if Gabby does not see me until she's done and ready to go. When I go pick Gabby up, I take Gage with me and the groomer will trim his nails and shave his belly - takes her less than 5 minutes - the rest of his grooming is done by me at home - but I'm getting him used to the groomers so it won't be long before he is going on his own.

That pretty much sums it up for me too. Every 6-8 weeks to the groomer Roxie goes. She does have the cotton coat ( ) so it can be a challenge which is why I keep her in a short cut and bath her once a week. The longer her coat, the more easily it matts. With two teenage boys and a full time job, I just don't have the time for more. Roxie does better all the way around if I am not there at the groomers either. I think she feels my anxiety ( which she has separation issues anyway) and reacts to it and the next thing you know I have a drama queen on my hands.

[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by JCarlson2004

I brush my dogs every day, plus they get a weekly bath with Plush Puppy shampoo and conditioner. I also take them to the groomer once a month. I have no problems with our groomer. She's wonderful with my babies and I am allowed to watch the entire procedure -- sometimes I even help by holding my babies while she's working on them.

Few months ago, I was brushing Silk and Ceeby every day and combing them with a big plastic comb. I just went on and on about their beautiful coats. One day, I was in the pet store looking around and ended up buying a dematting comb "just in case". I came home and tried it out. The coats I was bragging about not matting and etc were matted in several places on the legs and sides. I was so surprised because I had been faithfully grooming them every day.

[k2p1e]

We have so mnay people bring in their yorkies and swear they brush them everyday, they look so smooth and weel kept, but then we take out our comb with metal teeth and cannot get it through, due to the matting. Some yorkies look so cute shaved (some don't )
At our salon we have a policy that if they come in every week it is only $10, miss a week and the price is back to normal (starting around $23), those dogs all are in full coats and gorgeous. It takes no time for a brush out and bath.

I am glad to hear the positive responses, and the fact that people are taking ownership that it is more humane to shave their matted dogs.

We had a lady today who freaked when she saw the nooses, she said it was cruel. My quick response that it would be crueller not to have them, majority of these dogs bounce around on the table. What if one suddenly lunged and fell?? Yes the noose would hurt but it would only hurt for one second till one of us groomers saved the dog (picture in your mind doggy lunging wildly on table then out of the groomers hands and off the table with groomer lunging after the dog...) much better then hitting the floor. This has not happened yet to me but what if...

Interesting dog today, she was coming in for her third time to the salon. She missed the last appt and the owner took her to another salon. Normally this dog is very sweet...well the moment the clippers went on she started screeching, shaking...very sad. The groomer read her card again and was sure that somehting was wrong, this dog had been here before and was always sweet. SO she took it slow, first showing her the clippers and a treat, then they went on, she shook (the dog) calmed down, treat and the grooming progressed very slowly.
The groomer asked the owner about this and the owner told us about how the dog left WHIMPERING the other salon. We said nothing, b/c we are not sure and will not bad mouth anyone but the onwer said out loud her assumption that something bad happened to her dog during the last grooming.

Most dogs leave the salon, are so excited to see their Mom and Dad and go home and sleep cause they have been wide awake all morning or afternoon and are exhausted. No one leaves crying!

[irishawk]

I brush Howie every single day of his life with a metal tooth comb. And let me tell you, it's not easy!! We sit on the couch for about 30 - 45 minutes at night and I try to comb him out. His hair isn't long (he was shaved 4 months ago as a puppy... not my fault... the groomer messed up and I wasn't charged for any of it), but he FIGHTS ME every second of it. I can understand why some yorkie owners are lazy with their coats, but I can't let Howie's go. It would be messy and matted and needing to be shaved in no time flat.

Another thing that suprises me is the handfuls of hair I comb out of him! Granted it has been warm here (70 degrees) the past few days. Just because they don't shed it doesn't mean they don't need to be brushed!

[blondflava]

Originally Posted by BellaYorkie

I was glad to come across this thread. I was told that I can not take my puppy to the groomers until she has had all of her booster shots. She will be caught up by next week and then I am in the clear. As a result she is now pretty matted, and I fully expect she will need to be shaved. I have been bathing her weekly, but am guilty of not brushing her daily. I am hopeing that she will not be a terror for her first grooming visit, but I would not be offended if she was muzzled for the groomers protection.
I was going to try and work-out the mats myself, but I don't want to tramitize her, so shaved it is. I guess she will look pretty silly for awhile, but it's just hair and it will grow back. Any tips for prepareing her for her first visit? I dont want her to be bad

I had to do the same... my pup's baby coat was terrible, matting like crazy, and shame to say, being my first Yorkie, I had no idea of combing evey single day... When I took him to the groomers at 3.5 months, he had to be shaved... His belly - completely, the rest of hair pretty close and very thinned out - I suppose they brushed some mats out. but I promised myself it'll never happen again and comb him everyday with a metal comb. He's going for a groom today and I know it'll be much easier this time. He did look silly for a while but it all grew back out by now.

[Brookef18]

I don't know what kind of coat my baby has.... It's very soft (Like Cotton) But it shines... it matts more when it's short, but hardly matts at all because I do brush him every day. He gets little tangles under his armpits!!! Thats about all if he gets brushed every day. When he has long hair he doesn't seem to matt. He has pretty straight hair when it's long and kind of wavey hair when it's short.

Any ideas what kind of coat this is???