Grooming Before and After Pics, and a WWYD Situation!

[Darlin Beauxs]

Hi All,

I took Darcy to a locally owned groom shop in my city yesterday. I have only used them one other time for Baxter, but he came out looking great. I usually use Petco, or Petsmart in another city, I love the grooming manager at our Petco, she does a wonderful job, but I just have an issue with my dog being there all day (8 hours or more), when I made an appointment weeks in advance...that's another thread...but here we go

I drop Darcy off at 8:30, the shop owner an one employee was there, I explained what I wanted (short cut because she sheds, leave the topknot), and drop off a bow to put in her hair. The attendant comes around the counter, and Darcy backs in to me, not wanting the lady to touch her. As I reach to pick her up, the lady grabs her by her front two legs to "Slide" her over . I very tactfully said she may not want to do that because Darcy is older, and she will snap when she's scared. The girl thanked me for letting her know...and I left.

When I came back to pick up Darcy..the owner was gone, but there was a man behind the counter I didn't recognize. He didn't offer to help me, so I just stood there, patiently waiting. The younger girl was talking on a cordless phone and grooming a small Shih Tzu. I noticed most of Darcy's topknot was cut, and her ears were more "chopped at" than tipped, but I just decided to make a mental note to be more specific next time.

Here's where my issue comes in. The girl turned her back and walked away from the dog, and she/he JUMPED off the high table!!! The puppy yelped like nothing I have ever heard, and the girl never hung up, just shrugged her shoulders, picked the dog up and shoved it in a kennel. The dog yelped a couple more times, then quieted down. I gasped out loud, just like anyone would do when they see an accident, so she turned around and started talking to me like it never happened.

She said they "weren't able to find" the bow I brought in, because the owner's child was playing with it to see how it was made, so she just put another bow in (cheap groomer bow)...I didn't know what to say, but I guess the look on my face said it all, because she turned around and after about 2 seconds of shuffling things on the table, produced Darcy's bow. (This has nothing to do with why I'm upset, but it just kind of gives more detail to this experience)

As I was reaching in my purse for my checkbook, she says Darcy was a little snappy about her toenails, but good over all, and the owner mentioned I had 3 yorkies, and they would love a chance to groom the third one. I just couldn't resist then, I told her if she wanted my business she would have to promise she would never do what she just did. I told her Cooper and Baxter are both Daredevils, and HATE to be left alone, and they would have jumped, and if one of my dogs got hurt in her care, there would be hell to pay.

Again, she shrugged and said she "had no way of knowing the dog would jump". I said exactly, that's why you shouldn't have turned your back, and the man chimed in and agreed then. I didn't feel she was remorseful in the least.

My husband says take it as a sign I was meant to see, and move on with a new groomer, which I got an excellent recommendation for one literally in my same neighborhood I never knew about the same day.

But part of me wonders if I should call the owner back and explain WHY she lost my business? Maybe she wouldn't care, maybe she would... WWYD?

Here are the before and after pics...she looks like a totally different girl!

[chachi]

I would call the owner and I wouldnt be going back there either

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Tough call, but I think I would say something to the owner. It is only fair if you had been using her. Maybe she will get better help or make sure that the help she has does a better and more caring job. It might depend on the owners response, and I say might, but I don't think I would go back. Good luck with what you decide.

[Darlin Beauxs]

I know, I feel the owner did an exceptional job on Baxter when she groomed him (I'm not hard to please, I promise), she was only $2 cheaper than Petco, but Husband liked that she was closer to the house, and we were supporting a local business. I thought about talking to her, and asking her if I could make appts specifically with her, but just like the other threads I am reading, we really have no idea what happens once we leave.

Darcy was unusually clingy when we got home. She is not as affectionate, or attention hungry as the boys, but she was right in between me and husband all night while we watched movies, and cried if one of us put her down. Husband says I'm being overly dramatic, she was probably just happy to be back home since we never left her anywhere, but I just kept wondering out loud why she was acting that way.

I guess I am going to have to get clippers and learn to do it myself, then no worrying about them!

[RMKC]

i would never go back , but i would call the owner and tell them why ! Just think you may save one dog from seriously getting hurt !

[silyjillie]

Originally Posted by Darlin Beauxs

I guess I am going to have to get clippers and learn to do it myself, then no worrying about them!

It seems as everyone is doing this now. You just can't trust groomers. Atleast Darcy wasn't completely shaven. I would definitely call the owner and explain why you won't be going back. If it were my business, I'd like to know about my employee being so carless with someone else's pet. If the pet got really hurt and left limping she could get sued. I, too, would raise hell if I went to pick up my dog and he was limping and crying because he fell off of a grooming table.

[Darlin Beauxs]

I promise, I would have been furious, probably crying because thats what I do when I get mad, and making a scene. I think it was meant for me to see it. Cooper is the only dog that hasn't been there yet, and he would be the most likely to jump, especially if he saw me walk thru the door, and he wasn't tethered. He is also the smallest of the bunch. This pup couldn't have been any more than 5 lbs, thats a huge jump for a little pup! How lucky she was that doggies parent didn't walk in, and hear me going off about it!

[silyjillie]

If the employee had the dog tethered and turned her back he could have choked himself and if she was distracted on the phone, who knows when she would have noticed. I'd call. That is horrible

[lucyaboo]

Originally Posted by Darlin Beauxs

I guess I am going to have to get clippers and learn to do it myself, then no worrying about them!

I agree with you there ^^^^

[Patti]

That's terrible. I would definately report the girl for her carelessness and her who cares attitude.

[Gingergirlsmom]

Tell the owner. She needs to know if an employee is losing business for her.

[k2p1e]

'You just can't trust groomers.' Now that is not fair. I am a groomer, and I am APPALLED at the care that poor dog received!! he could have (and may have) hurt himself and needed vet attention.

My own dogs are daredevils, and I don't trust them on the table..they are always looking for an escape. So I never turn my back. I am always within arm reach of the dogs, my tools are all within reach as is the phone. If I need to walk away I have kennels to place the pups in.

I would call the owner and explain what and happened and make your decision based on her reaction and the action she does take.

I always tell people to shop around and ignore prices. price does not buy you good quality, skill or more importantly care.

[Darlin Beauxs]

Originally Posted by k2p1e

'You just can't trust groomers.' Now that is not fair. I am a groomer, and I am APPALLED at the care that poor dog received!! he could have (and may have) hurt himself and needed vet attention.

My own dogs are daredevils, and I don't trust them on the table..they are always looking for an escape. So I never turn my back. I am always within arm reach of the dogs, my tools are all within reach as is the phone. If I need to walk away I have kennels to place the pups in.

I would call the owner and explain what and happened and make your decision based on her reaction and the action she does take.

I always tell people to shop around and ignore prices. price does not buy you good quality, skill or more importantly care.

You are so right...I didn't want to make this a "Down with Groomers" thread, and I hope you didn't take it as such. I absolutely love the groomer Ive used for 3+ years at Petco, but it makes no difference whether you make an appointment or not, your dog will be there AT LEAST 6 hours.


I would rather pay up to 50% more to get my dog in and out in less than 3 to 4 hours. Is this unreasonable? This is the ONLY reason why we switched groomers to begin with.

Every time Baxter came home, he had bad, horrible, and messy, diarreaha (sp) and the vet chalked it up to nerves, he says he thinks Baxter thinks we have left him for good! I asked after the first time if they fed him anything, and they said no, and asked them not to give him any other treats than what I brought from home, but the messy poops persisted! The last time, it was so bad and he was acting so weak, I had to take him to the vet for that medicine they give them by mouth (white stuff, can't think of the name).

So all of these experiences taken together make me wonder if it would be better to have professionally groomed dogs, or 3 chopped up, lopsided cut dogs that are healthy, safe, and happy!

[silyjillie]

Originally Posted by k2p1e

'You just can't trust groomers.' Now that is not fair. I am a groomer, and I am APPALLED at the care that poor dog received!! he could have (and may have) hurt himself and needed vet attention.

I'm sorry if I offended you, I didn't mean to. But, there are just WAY TOO MANY threads of people going in and saying don't tough the topnot or other specific instrustions and groomers not listening. I'm not saying you would. A lot of people on this messageboard have started grooming themselves because of bad experiences with groomers. The thing that worries me the most about people going to eneducated groomers who only care about how many dogs they get in a day, is the poor dogs who get hurt. Whenever I walk in Petsmart, I hate seeing the dogs getting jerked or pulled certains directions or cowaring away from the groomer. It breaks my heart! Again, I didn't mean to offend any groomers on here. I'd trust a groomer on here because I know that everyone on here loves dogs so much and would take care of my Meeko as one of their own.

[Gracie2006]

Like I always tell my clients, I can't know how to help you or how to do better if you don't tell me what it is I do right and what it is you were not so happy with. Any business owner who cares about their business and their clients will appreciate a phone call and the opportunity to make it right. I just had an issue with a salon I have been taking Gracie to for nearly two years. At the recommendation of my fellow YTers, I called the shop and let them know about the mistake. They were super nice and they made it right. That groomer who who dealt with needs to be let go. She obviously does not care about the animals. This is a job and nothing more to her.