Bad Groomer...Can't believe what happened...
 

Yesterday I took Gracie to get groomed and I had a lesson from the groomer while I was there. Another groomer was working on a terrier and being overly rough with it. She was shoving the dog around, pulling his legs out at uncomfortable angles, yelling at him, calling him names etc. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing and that none of the other groomers said anything to her or offered to help. Their was another woman there who was also having a lesson. She and I kept looking at this groomer, then at each other with dismayed looks on our faces. I'm sure the poor dog will never want to be groomed again. I also wonder if whoever owns this dog will notice any unusual behavior once they get their dog home. Wish I knew who they were, I'd tell them never to take their dog there again. Although I've only used their grooming service twice, I have shopped at their pet store for over 25 years. I'm debating whether or not to talk to the owner...or mind my own business. What would you do?

Talk to the owner.. no question about it. This should NOT be happening to any dog!

I agree with Sunnie! I'm infuriated at the thought of it happening to any poor dog:mad:

Ditto that! I would definately talk to the owner. This is the reason i decided to Groom myself....i dont feel like worrying every time i take them in...how sad for that poor dog!:mad:

Talk to the owner.

Definitely alert the owner and if he doesn't do anything I would probably spread by word of mouth to other owners I know that the groomer is a bad one.

I definitely vote for grooming myself. I rahter do it than worry that she is being abused when I am not there.

I had the same experience the last time I took Max to the groomers, I even had to go back to have his hair cut fixed, this one the lady was so mean and hitting the cages, funny thing, the owner was right there and she would not even look at her employee while she was mistreating the dogs:(
I just left but I made sure I told all my neighbors about her.

I will chime in too to agree that you should talk to the manager. I had an experience once where I walked into one of those stores where they have a side grooming business w/in the store, and I witnessed rough treatment to one of the dogs that was being groomed. I now tell everyone I know who has a dog to steer clear of this particular groomer. Just like a spa is to a human, when a dog goes to the groomer, they should be treated like royalty and with utmost care. But I'm with Jfalz73, I do most of my own grooming for my Isabel.

Oh please tell the manager/owner. If you don't stay there with your dog during grooming, there is always this chance of the doggies being mistreated. I have watched groomers when I have shopped at Petsmart here in Vegas. No Way!!

I started taking care of my own back in the early 90's with pomeranians (I had 3). My Lucy will never experience that - for sure!!

Thank you for your support. I will contact the owner and express my concern. I know I will never take any of my pets there for grooming again and will spread the word to anyone I know that might use them. I don't care how uncooperative an animal is, they should never be treated like that. Wish I was "her" hairdresser....I think she needs meds.....or anger management classes...

I think you are doing the right thing by contacting the owner. I would want to know if I had an employee that treated clients like that! I would also try to find out who owns the poor dog that the groomer mistreated, and tell them not to take the dog back there!! I a hairdresser.......send that groomer my way and i'll give HER a haircut!! LOL

Breaks my heart! Definitely talk to the owner if you haven't already. Whenever we still lived in Glasgow, KY we took Lilly since she was a baby to the same groomer, who seemed so-so but never very friendly like myself. I didn't really think anything of it, now my baby goes crazy if I even get a brush out and brush myself. I have no idea what happened or what they did to her but I know something happened just by how she reacts. I can barely brush her and have to have help when I do. Needless to say, she hasn't been back in like 6 months and never will.

I would talk with the owner for sure, but the fact that everyone in there could see and hear what was going on and not doing anything about it, seems telling to me!

We were in Petsmart once and saw one of the groomers acting like that and we complained to the manager of the store. They groom the dogs there right in the front and everyone can see through the glass and this girl was still acting like an idiot! It makes me so mad!

I would definitely say something to the owner of the store and because I have a big mouth I would have spoken up for that dog when I saw that happening- I would say something to the groomer. Also if possible I would try to find out who the parents are and let them know of the abuse going on there. You HAVE to say something and I would have a problem taking my dog there and supporting a place that employs someone like that. There are too many horrible groomers out there and since our animals can't speak we need to speak for them :)

definitely talk to the owner - oh man - I'd have said something right there - it would have been direct and hopefully not rude but I can't stand to see anyone act like that with any dog -

I know it must have been uncomfortable for you...:( but someone should have said something right to her face...that woman doesn't need to be in that business

We had a meetup here in houston and some JERK threw a full bottle of water at his dog because he was marking .....and oh yeah - I spoke up - he acted like he had every right to do that because it was HIS dog - We didn't get into too much of a verbal 'fight' ...but I had no problem saying something to his face -

that poor dog - and that was only one you saw - she probably acts like that all the time and gets away with it.

You should talk to the manager/owner. If it was my store I would want to know. I see you're in Washington, so am I. Can you say what store this happened in? I want to make sure I never take my babies there. Although I'm pretty sure it's not the same place I take Bella as they don't have a store to shop in, just a grooming salon

Well...I haven't contacted the owner yet but will hopefully tomorrow. I did mention this to my neighbor. She only takes her dog there to have his nails done and will not let them take her dog in the back alone. She told me she witnessed the same groomer treating a dog this way when she was there. Yelling at the dog to "shut-up", being rough and the poor dog was yelping. Now I know it was not just a problem with the dog I saw...she must do this regularly. Why be a groomer if you have no compassion for animals?

I would tell the owner that if she does not get rid of the groomer I will call the ASPCA,etc. and tell as many people as possible not to support the grooming business they have there- I know that may seem severe but when I was younger we had a dog that went to a groomer and NEVER came back the same- she would always flinch and it seemed like they broke her spirit. It breaks my heart for these babies. I know it may be hard for you but if it is have a friend do it for you?? Keep us posted :)

talk to the owner! think of the poor dogs she is abusing.:mad:

I would also tell the owner and I also have a big mouth and would spoken up to that groomer. I have a girl that lives next door and they have 4 dogs, but I have not seen 2 of them lately. their house is for sale and I think they have rehomed. She was outside and my dogs came out and started to bark and she started to yell shut up and I came from behind the bushes and told her not to tell my dogs to shout up. Of course she said she was telling her dogs to shut up. They are just so rude I can't wait for them to move.

I own a grooming salon...
 

and as a salon owner, I would very much appreicate it if some type of agressive behavior toward a clients pet was reported to me.
The groomere would be fired on the spot!
Please notify the owner, and I would also not ever take my pet there...you never know what goes on behind closed doors.

I am in the process of opening a new salon, and we will have closed circut TV cameras so that I can monitor my groomers, and my clients can actually sit at a counter and watch their pets being groomed. I wish all shops would do this so that people can be reassured that their pets are being cared for in the safest and most compassionate manner.

If you want to learn to groom your yorkie, and are taking lessons, may I suggest getting the DVD "How to Groom Your Pet Yorkie at Home". It will teach you everything you need to know, what equipment to use, and where to shop where to groomers shop. If you are interested, I have them on my website, listed in the link below.
I have been a groomer for 17+ years, I specialize in Yorkies. I used to show and breed yorkies. I made this video myself a few years ago. It has been updated just a few months ago, and I give yorkie talk members a $10.00 off discount. Many members here have it and I have never had anyone give me negative comments on it. mSee the website description for full details.

Sue & Cricket
:aimeeyork

Sue,
I just sent you an e-mail to order your video. Even though I had a lesson, it would help to have a DVD to refer to and watch several times.

I hate to admit this but I now have second thoughts about talking to the owner regarding this groomer. I found their website which shows all of their groomers and this woman has been there for 25 years. Also, from reading on the internet I found out that apparently the owner is the woman who gave me my lesson. Sooooo...it's pretty obvious to me that she has seen this person behaving like this before. However, I am so disturbed about it that I will certainly spread the word to everyone I know who goes there and will also look on the internet for somewhere to post a review. Needless to say, I will never ever take another of my dogs there!!!

I would call the ASPCA and report them or have someone else go in there and say something. Someone needs to call this lady out on what she's doing so she knows it's not o.k. Who cares if she has been grooming for 25 years that means she has been hurting and traumatizing dogs for that long- If you want I will call them but I think it's better if someone goes in there- by not saying anything -nothing can or will change and more and more dogs can get hurt. I don't mean to be hard but as a dog owner I could not be silent.

What grooming shop is it?
 

Have you mentioned what grooming shop this was? I didn't see it, but maybe you could post their website to help others who may be in your area to steer clear. Or at least give out a warning. Just a thought!

Just the thoughts of anyone treating one of my dogs roughly or anybody else's for that matter makes me sick.
I think at least the owner of that dog should be aware of how it was treated, and I would still report this to the shop owner.
If a groomer can't treat the dogs in a gentle and humane way, they should seek employment elsewhere.
Janice

The owner of the grooming portion of the shop and the nasty groomer have worked together for 25 years. You know that the owner has witnessed this and not done anything about it....that is why I feel my saying something isn't going to change anything...but spreading the word might.

The shop is Maser's in Kenmore, Washington and the groomer was Marne. This is the link to there website with a picture of her. Sooooo...if anyone goes there and sees this woman, run like H***!!!!!

Maser's Grooming and Pet Boutique, Inc. - Services

P.S. Because I'm fairly new here, I hope it's OK to reveal this. If not let me know and I'll remove it.

This is the very reason that I had first learned to groom my own dogs, once you drop off your dog and leave, you have no idea what happens to them. Too many people have picked up their little furbabies and have had them scared, cut, and tramatized from their grooming experiences.

Since the owner and the groomer are obviously friends, I'm not sure that talking to the owner will do any good. Perhaps you could file a BBB report?

Just curious...how did the owner / manager respond?