Anyone ever had issues with petco groomers?
 

Hello everyone, just felt like venting a little frustration. Let me start off by saying that I am about as laid back as you get, And it really takes a lot to anger me. But I was not only angry with my local Petco groomer, But really disappointed. I was extremely exited to go get Chloe's first cut. I went down to my local Petco, And like a nervous dad I was asking a million questions and not really getting much of a response, Kinda like without saying it the groomer was telling me shut up..lol (In her defense I was probably being over protective as a first time dog owner.) Anyhow after leaving her, and going shopping as they told me it was gonna be around 4 hours, She called me & informed me that Chloe had a bit of matting on the interior of her hind legs. I was mortified, I thought i had been doing such a good job of grooming her. I brushed her everyday and never felt a mat...but obviously i must of overlooked it, I mean shes not gonna lie? She then informed me that the cut might have to be altered due to this. I completely understood and as she informed me first time puppy cuts may not be perfect due to them being fidgety. I told her if she had to shave or go short on the inside of the legs then maybe she could blend the rest of the legs to match with the rest of the coat. she said sounds good and that was the end of the conversation.

Well, when i came to get her I was shocked!!! She was shaved, And i mean shaved! her hair was an 1/8th of an inch long all except her head which kinda resembled a lion. She told me she felt it best to just keep it all one length. I was dumbfounded. But as I said I am pretty laid back and its just hair it will grow back. However this is what made me angry, it took me a minute to realize she was wearing a bandanna. as I was so stunned from the cut. I then realized she had no hair on top for a top knot which i was so looking forward to, I asked "Wait i thought we discussed a bow?" She replied "Why would you want a bow on a boy?" that's when i finally snapped. How much attention was my baby given, If the groomer didn't even realize she was a girl? I mean c'mon. lol so I know its just hair and it will return, But We wont be returning to Petco that's for sure.

I'm sorry about your bad experience and do understand. That astounds me that she didn't even know the dog she was grooming was a girl.

Your Chloe is still a doll even with her short hair.

With all of the Petco/Petsmart grooming story horrors it's no wonder people start grooming at home. Even if I'm not perfect, I'm learning and my dogs will never have to be an inexperienced or non-caring groomer's "mistake".

I would have been irrate.. I would NOT have paid her either... I had a groomer come to my house and give my Laci her first cut, I threw her out with a bunch of swears and tears... but like you said it does grow back...

I decided on my own to shave my puppies hair because it did get matted...

It will grow and she still looks adorable.. I dont know if you use clothes but its alot easier...

I wouldnt recommend going back there , try to find a groomer who is more expericned with yorkies!! Bring a picture if you have too..

This site has alot of really cute hair cuts if you are not planing to keep her in full coat

http://www.yorkiesllc.com/yorkieinfo...hairstyle.html

PS she should have known she was a girl as part of grooming is a sanitary clean up... :eek:

WOW! i would be upset too...come one groome..did she not realise that there were no stick or cherry down there when she was shaving her!!!!!

By the way i dont mean to be rude but your post over all was funny i had to share it with DH (i dont mean to be insulting just how you told your story was a little funny ( i laughed whee the lol's were lol))

:) PS: Your little girl looks precious !!!

I'm really sorry you had a bad experience I would be so tick off if they didnt even know she was a girl that is just so unexcusable and unpersonal to me. The last three times I have gotten Callie groomed I have done it at petco because the other place where I got Callie groomed our groomer left so I decided to try out petco in the same town where Callies groomer was and I really like them they seem pretty personable and only messed up on the second visit when I forgot to tell them not to shave her tail so really thats my fault not theres. I think it all is about the people at each individual petco.

I can completely relate. I took my first yorkie to PetSmart for her very first groom when the same exact thing happened to me. When I dropped her off she had that rich dark still puppy looking coat and when i picked her up they had shaved her entire body and told me it was too matted to do anything with. She looked so goofy to me at first and i felt so bad for her because she was always cold and shivering until her coat grew back in. We kept her ina sweater most of the time.
I was so angry! I almost burst into tears when i saw her.
That was lame excuse she gave.

If you ahve the patience and willingness, give grooming a shot. I really enjoy grooming my three.

Lol thx , No offence taken at all. I guess it really is funny that the bandanna set me off tho!! :) I mean im not unreasonable and not gonna cry over a bad haircut (so she'll wear a sweater when people come over..lol) But yea the fact she claimed she didn't know she was a girl was fishy. Either A: She has no business grooming. Or B: (Which is what i truly believe) She messed up bad, called me claimed there was matting and created an excuse for the shave, then tried to play it off with the boy/girl thing.

It can be difficult to find a groomer that you like and one that your dog is comfortable with. I had problems with my first groomer. She was in my Vet's office so I felt she would be great, plus others recommended them. After three sessions of the groomer telling me how bad Lexie was to groom, not being still, etc. I decided to use another groomer. The straw that broke the camel's back was her question to me of "do you ever brush her?" I brush her daily and I never had any problems with her even though she was a puppy. After that I switched to Petsmart and love them. Her current groomer says she doesn't know what the problem was with the other girl because she doesn't have problems with Lexie. Find another groomer.

I had to come back and comment on her remark about "why would you want a bow on a boy?". Evidently she doesn't know much about yorkies or she would have known yorkie boys DO wear bows, lots of them do - it a classic yorkie look!

I have had an issue with a groomer that manhandled my little Mr. B and his pal Spike after we first rescued them from a puppy mill. The groomer that a friend recommended was terrible and traumatized both our babies. I was afraid to ever get him groomed again. I was surprised when I was told that his transition home from the puppy mill had taken him once to a gal at our local Petco. After trying her I was sold, she is very kind and keeps him looking adorable. I think you can find bad groomers anywhere as well as find great ones in surprising places. I do hope you spread the word about how bad she was, she should not be grooming small helpless little yorkies.

I think your Chloe looks adorable:)

I think I'd be fuming too!! I don't know how much good it would do but maybe ask to speak to a manager and explain all the lack of disservice. We took Bandit once to PetSmart and had a horrific haircut, but then found out our vet had a groomer which was great. Unfortunately the vet groomer left so we went back to PetSmart but only used one specific groomer who we liked and are now happy with our private groomer. My suggestion would be to find a non PetSmart or PetCo groomer. They're def not all bad, but there's too many scary incidents that steer me away from using them.

Thanks everyone!! At least I know im not crazy..lol I know I have become very different since I adopted her all baby talk and very protective, And don't want to turn into the "crazy cat lady" but I cant help be very protective of my ...well I was gonna say 3lb little girl, but after the haircut shes prob back down to 2 lbs..;)

Poor thing!!

That is my WORST nightmare, so I have never went to Petco, they creep me out in general. No offence to anyone on here, but it seems like they hire every Gothic person on the street. I never feel safe going into a petco. However, Petsmart is a lot friendlier but pricier. I always take my doggie to a groomer who only grooms yorkie's.

Her hair will grow back, that is a good thing. My doggie got gum stuck in her hair and we had to shave her down short as well. Her hair is growing back really pretty, and not has "dry" feeling as before.

All in all, I don't blame you for being angry. They messed up a haircut on a very expensive, SPECIAL dog =)

Its funny you say that she was trying to cover up an error.....that's exactly what I was thinking when I read your original post. I think she messed up and used matting as an excuse to shave her. I don't think that the groomers at Petco or Petsmart have a lot of experience..

I compare it to me going to Great Clips or Super Cuts (I hope I don't offend anyone) for a haircut instead of going to my salon. I finally found a stylist I love and I follow her whenever she moves salons. I found a groomer that I love for Max and won't dare to go back to Petsmart.

Psssssssst...Go to a private groomer. But before you do, interview THEM and ask if they're experienced at grooming yorkies. Ask them if you can stay there while she's being groomed during her first appointment or two. If they say no, then find another one. It looks like you won't be needing a groomer for awhile though.:D Sorry! I couldn't help it.;)

That's a bad experience all right. Wow - I don't even know what to say! I would be LIVID.

Wow I thought I was unhappy my first time. At least Duke still had hair. She still looks adorable. At least you won't have to worry about her cute outfits tangling her hair. Hopefully it grows back quick.

I would stay away from Petsmart too. I was in there the other day just asking some questions as the groomer I took Duke too couldn't trim his ears. Basically they told me I couldn't stay when I requested it. Then they came right out and told me I should find a smaller salon, as they are very busy and don't have the time to spend with nervous puppies. I was appalled!! I won't recommend them to anyone!

Hopefully your next time is a happier one.

Yes petco groomers UGH UGH UGH do I say more! I took Daisy there once for a trim. She is a jack russell and poodle mix so I told them that and they SHAVED her she was bald and they shavedher beard almost off. She looked AWFUL she looked like a pin head with a big body!! lol My kids called her camel Joe! you know the camel cigarette! lmao I can laugh about it now but not then! Your baby is still cute after a petco haircut mine was NOT!!

I'm sorry for your bad experience but chloe is still a doll.

Let me start by saying Chloe is adorable and like you said hair grows (thank goodness, I have said those very words about my own hair).

I guess I must have the exception in Petco groomers, that is the only place I will let Sophie Kate get groomed. The groomer at my local Petco, Paula is an excellent groomer who takes the time to know the dog and the owner. Sophie Kate gets a huge case of the wiggles when she see's Paula. In the last year Paula has gotten so popular that it is getting tough to get an appointment with her.

I can tell you from experience it took me a while to find a groomer and I would have been a little worried if a groomer did not know the gender of my dog AFTER grooming her (and even more with a name like Chloe that tells me your baby is a girl).

I would be furious. I groom my own now but for many years I used a good groomer in Park City, Il (near Gurnee) if you are interested. It's not to far from Kenosha and she has never shaved any of my yorkies even if they has some mats.

THANK YOU!!!!! for posting that site.
I too have had problems with Joey's cut.
Hopefully this will help.
Thank you again!

I know this posted early today but I had to comment. I took my Dallas to petsmart and they gave him such a bad cut that the first thing that almost came out of my mouth is "ThAT IS NOT MY DALLAS where is he:eek:, but he ran to me with a look that said "I KNOW, can we just get out of here":cry:. The good thing is his hair grow back fast and I now groom him myself.

It happened to Jinx at petsmart & at petco
 

She was terrified of water after her very first grooming at petsmart. But after her regular groomer was on vacation, I took her to petco. She was completely traumatized and they had completely shaved her, tail too! I couldn't turn on the water in the bathroom sink because she would hide. Thank heavens her groomer is so patient. She is back to normal and loves splashing in her bath tub.

I too would have been extremely disappointed but I just wanted to say that your baby is beautiful!

Chloe is beautiful - but yea, I would have been livid!!!! I do Jack's grooming at home, so right now, I don't have to worry about that. Thankfully it is hair and it will grow back. Welcome to YT by the way. :D

Thats your petco and petsmart in your location because its not the same here in my town. Not all are the same.

I take my babies to Petsmart grooming here in Knoxville and except one prob when they cut the hair on the lh chi's tail when we specifically sd not to, we've had no prob. In fact every time we take Gypsy which ever girl does it, tells us they will be happy to do her hair anytime. Gypsy never seems to mind the visit. We usuall keep it short, but they always ask what length and shows us samples of length when we hesitate.