Terrible Petsmart encounter. I need advice...an encouraging word..something

[lisatodd]

when i got my coco's hair cut, i thought she looked like a Schnauzer but it was due to the cut.
ohhhh people just don't know anything and it is so hard to find someone who is a good groomer

[Apache]

Thank you!! You all have made me feel so much better about everything. I was having a pretty bad morning but things are getting better. Even if Prince turns out to be 10+ pounds I'll still love him cause he's my baby. I didn't set out looking for a tiny yorkie, just a yorkie. The lady had me really wondering if I should call the breeder and ask all these crazy questions that I already knew the answers to. I wouldn't care if he was part schnauzer, and wouldn't trade him for the world, but I paid a lot of money for a Yorkie ya know. I've decided that i'm not going to worry. I know what the paperwork said, and hearing that a lot of you have bigger Yorkies too makes me feel better knowing that I shouldn't be worried about his weight/size.

I talked to the grooming manager at Petsmart this morning, and she has sspoken to the groomer, and the groomer assured her that she didn't take any hair off the top and only did the standard puppy cut (even though I gave specific instructions). She then proceeded to tell me that the cut was only $14.99 and they weren't really paid to do any heavy-duty cutting, only to get the puppy accustomed to being groomed, and once again explained to me what the puppy cut was. I really got the feeling that she didn't care that I wasn't happy, and I had already been discussed among the groomers that morning. All she kept saying is that the groomer told her that she did the standard puppy cut. The conversation finally ended when I told her that my issue wasn't the $15, but the fact that the cut was botched and I didn't get what I asked for. She told me that she couldn't really say without seeing him, so i'm taking him in on Saturday when he goes for class, and I intend to take some before pictures so she can really see the difference in his face. I don't want her or anyone to think im' complaining over $15...it's not the money but the principle. You want to get what you ask for.

She didn't offer to refund my money, but she offered to tell all the groommers to be very specific with me and my puppy, and she offered to give me a free "top-dog" cut the next time I came in. She apologized for my dissatisfaction, and said she hoped it didn't make me want to not bring my puppy back. I don't want the free service, because honestly now I don't trust them to be nice to my dog, much less give him a good cut.

I may just have to chalk this one up to experience and never go back to petsmart for a cut. I needed to vent. Thanks for listening and helping. I'm going to give prince an extra cookie when I get home.

One more question for the experienced. Since the cut, his ears have been shaved. They kinda stand up but not really. I've heard to use tampons and to use tape to make them stand. Again the petsmart trainer told me that "his ears aren't made to stand because they're not standing already" i'm not going to listen. I'd rather get advice from my new friends here who know way more than I do. Is 4 months too late to expect them to stand?

[red98vett]

I don't like to just diss Petsmart but they're a chain but I'm not crazy about them either. the people who work there in many cases arent trained very well....they remind me of a revolving door and NO yorkie should be crying just getting nails cut. They don't like it - but it shouldn't hurt.

Poor little guy - I do my own grooming thanks to a terrible experience with one and I know the woman was rough.....if you can learn how to do it yourself you don't have to worry about anything happening to him...

and as far as the comments - IGNORE THEM - people that have to put down other peoples dogs shouldn't even have a pet. Each is special in their own way and I'm sure she was no expert...he sure looks like a yorkie to me ...there's plenty of larger yorkies out there and there's nothing wrong with it so don't let people get you down.

[ellie81]

4 months is not too late to get the ears standed, but it may get harder for him. First of all, keep them trim like they are now. You may want to tape them for a few days. I had to tape Bengi's ears and it worked. I followed these instructions:
http://members.cox.net/jrogan/ears.html
Now, remember that some yorkie ears are too heavy and might never stand, so don't worry if they don't stand, the floppy ear look is very cute, specially with larger yorkies

[lilstar63100]

Originally Posted by Apache

Thank you!! You all have made me feel so much better about everything. I was having a pretty bad morning but things are getting better. Even if Prince turns out to be 10+ pounds I'll still love him cause he's my baby. I didn't set out looking for a tiny yorkie, just a yorkie. The lady had me really wondering if I should call the breeder and ask all these crazy questions that I already knew the answers to. I wouldn't care if he was part schnauzer, and wouldn't trade him for the world, but I paid a lot of money for a Yorkie ya know. I've decided that i'm not going to worry. I know what the paperwork said, and hearing that a lot of you have bigger Yorkies too makes me feel better knowing that I shouldn't be worried about his weight/size.

I talked to the grooming manager at Petsmart this morning, and she has sspoken to the groomer, and the groomer assured her that she didn't take any hair off the top and only did the standard puppy cut (even though I gave specific instructions). She then proceeded to tell me that the cut was only $14.99 and they weren't really paid to do any heavy-duty cutting, only to get the puppy accustomed to being groomed, and once again explained to me what the puppy cut was. I really got the feeling that she didn't care that I wasn't happy, and I had already been discussed among the groomers that morning. All she kept saying is that the groomer told her that she did the standard puppy cut. The conversation finally ended when I told her that my issue wasn't the $15, but the fact that the cut was botched and I didn't get what I asked for. She told me that she couldn't really say without seeing him, so i'm taking him in on Saturday when he goes for class, and I intend to take some before pictures so she can really see the difference in his face. I don't want her or anyone to think im' complaining over $15...it's not the money but the principle. You want to get what you ask for.

She didn't offer to refund my money, but she offered to tell all the groommers to be very specific with me and my puppy, and she offered to give me a free "top-dog" cut the next time I came in. She apologized for my dissatisfaction, and said she hoped it didn't make me want to not bring my puppy back. I don't want the free service, because honestly now I don't trust them to be nice to my dog, much less give him a good cut.

I may just have to chalk this one up to experience and never go back to petsmart for a cut. I needed to vent. Thanks for listening and helping. I'm going to give prince an extra cookie when I get home.

One more question for the experienced. Since the cut, his ears have been shaved. They kinda stand up but not really. I've heard to use tampons and to use tape to make them stand. Again the petsmart trainer told me that "his ears aren't made to stand because they're not standing already" i'm not going to listen. I'd rather get advice from my new friends here who know way more than I do. Is 4 months too late to expect them to stand?

wow... you not only got a sucky groomer but also a sucky trainer.... its pretty sad that these people give all of us a bad rap. i know that the people at my petsmart arent like that... but i guess i cant expect the same thing from everyone. :-/ some people need to just learn to admit when they dont know something instead of making up stuff. pebbles ears didnt stand till she was 4 months... and one of them still isnt standing all the way and shes 5 months. ANOTHER groomer (not petsmart) showed me how to tape them right to get them to stand up... it started to work... but i kinda like her ear half flopped. :-) so maybe you should try asking someone like that. your baby is adorable whether his ears stand or not. :-)

[JeanieK]

You double their 3 month weight, not 4 month. I'm guessing you're going to have about an 8 pounder.

My chachi has a long muzzle and he is 100% pure yorkie.

Why do people feel it is necessary to put down someone elses dog.

If I saw one that didn't look like a yorkie, I might think to myself, but unless they asked for my opinion, I would keep it to myself. Does it make them feel good to make someone else feel bad.

I might have told them, "well he looked like a yorkie until I brought him here to be groomed".

[celstu1]

You think your dog is too big??? I asked my vet why my little 5lb boy was soo small?? I asked if he was runt of the litter or something!

I have 2 boys, brothers from the same litter. One is 5lbs max and one is b/t 8 - 9 lbs. I feel so much secure with my bigger boy! He's not so fragile!


But how stupid am I???

People ask me all the time why fletch is so large... i just say he grew that way! But hes 100% Yorkie! He is my other boys brother! And noone questions what my other boy is!

[natalienicole]

yea but you didnt ask for the puppy cut you asked for a modified puppy cut with certain expectations. thats the problem im having with all this. they cant just sit their and tell you you asked for the puppy cut and thats what you got if thats not exactly what you asked for. and number two why would you pay for a puppy cut just to get the dog used to being at the groomer i mean i understand the getting the dog use to the groomer thing but to take the dog just for that purpose seems dumb to me. if i took my dog in for a puppy cut i would still want the hair cut and the experience for my dog.

[bullydad]

Call or email the head corp. office and file a complaint. Tell them you did not approve of the awful service. The cut was not correct. They need to do something in return for you. Gift card? These big corps have the funds to make you happy. Tell him to get some trained staff in the store.

[Cookie2]

I would be angry too ! I have sat near their grooming windows to watch the groomers. ( I have never taken my dogs to Petsmart grooming) just sat there to watch when we were picking up supplies. It seems that all of them cut all the dogs super short! I saw a yorkie in there and the whole body was shaved down to the skin almost! The little face was way too short even for a puppy cut. Yorkies come in different sizes , I understand that the AKC standard is 4-7 lbs. So we don't have standard yorkies ,big deal. But they are purebred if we seen the proof, parents AKC papers ...!
I have the opposite reaction when people see my yorkie they all comment on how this is a true yorkie not like those big yorkies they see often. I remember a vet assistant say " Now that's what a true purebred yorkie looks like" I told her that mine was actually not considered a standard because he was under the standard weight and weighs 3 lbs.
People telling you that your yorkie is not purebred is like saying that one of your kids must not be yours or your hubby's because they don't have the physical trates lol
Many,many employees at Petsmart are not very trained and have not done the research on many animal related things!

About estimating your pup's fullgrown weight, you weigh him at 12 weeks and double that weight and that is an estimate. Mine was a good estimate and he weighs double his weight from 12 weeks old.But an honest breeder will be honest and tell you that an estimate is just that an estimate. Other things can be a factor.
This happens more often than you think and it can be upsetting.

Genie
Cookie
Lola
Angel

[TinyBit]

I agree that everyone at PetSmart or PetCo do not know what they are talking about. SOME Do but most are hired right from the street. I work in a Pet store and I have had some of my employees give advice with out knowing what they are talking about and it makes me so mad. If you don't know DON'T GUESS is what I tell them. These are peoples "Babies" we're talking about not "Just Dogs"

[i_love_my_yorki]

I would say.....looks like you dont know anything about Yorkies

They come in all shapes & sizes just like we do..

I do not like the atmosphere @ petsmart @ all

I took my Scamp to Petscetra .....its the same girl that does all the dogs & I thought she was really good

I prefer the bigger Yorkies ....Scamp is 7lbs ....wheres my other one Minnie is 4lb & looks so breakable
& shes a very nervous wee thing too

Do you have a pic of your Yorkie? I love looking @ all the Yorkies on this site some beauties

[BoBoDiddle]

I don't think I would get upset if someone asked me if Bobo was purebred. It wouldn't make any difference to me. I would love him just the same even if he were part schnauzer.

[Apache]

I do have some pics of Prince in the pics area...before the cut...
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...ghlight=prince

It's not that I'd love him any less if he were part schnauzer, Prince is my baby. My issue is that if he is indeed something other than what he was advertised to be, then there's a problem because a Yorkshire Terrier is what I paid for...nothing less.

I know he's purebred, i'm not going to let that lady worry me about it anymore. He's got his first training class at Petsmart tomorrow...with a different trainer *thank god*

[shawnna_marie13]

when yorkies were first you know bred like a long time ago they weighed up to like 20 pounds so maybe hes just getting some of his ancesters genes bc it happens in humans like that to