Groomer butchered my baby!

[luvmystevie]

I am so livid right now I can just scream. I took Stevie to a new groomer who was recommended by a number of my neighbors (this was only his second time and the first time a different groomer nicked his nose good and didn't mention it then said it didn't happen there so I didn't go back).

I made the appointment for this morning at 10:00 am. I dropped him off told her I wanted a short yorkie cut like one of the others she had there.I ran errands but when I hadn't heard anything by 2:00 I called to see when he would be ready. She said she hadn't even gotten to him yet and I questioned her on why because it had been four hours. She said she would call me back.

So I didn't get a call and ended up just going to get him at 4:30. I didn't even recognize my dog. She butchered him. He is shaved all down so much so that in some parts you can see his skin. His paws are just horribly cut uneven just a mess. He isn't even black anymore he is gray, now I'm not sure if we will get the color we had in him back, it was a nice black with red tints it looked wonderful.

Then she told me it would be $35.00, and I laughed and snatched my puppy from her. I told her I'm not paying a dime for this butcher job she did on my poor dog. He doesn't even look like a yorkie right now besides his size. I'm so mad I'm shaking.

How long will it take for his hair to grow back, and will we ever get that color back or will he be gray now?

I cannot believe this, I showed my neighbor who recommended her and even he was baffled and shook his head. He said it sounded like she just shaved him when I inquired on why it was taking her so long and that she took in more dogs then she could handle today. He apologized and said it had never happened to him before but he wouldn't refer anyone else to her.

I just can't believe she did this to my dog.

[JeanieK]

I would be mad too. The more I read about bad haircuts the more determined I am to never take mine to groomers. I get enough bad haircuts of my own.

It will probably be a cute cut by the end of summer. As for the color, it's hard to say. Since yorkie hair is not like other dog hair. My guess is that it will go back, but it might not.

[chachi]

My first grooming experience wasnt the greatest either. Most likely the black is gone and now that hair will be gray silver. That black was his puppy hair and once my dogs were cut it never went back to black. It will probably take about 3 months for it to grow back out completely

[yorky4ME]

Poor baby! The time to grow out hair is different on each dog. But I think that black is gone sweetie..... if he is silver on the inside and it is showing..... his new coat will come out like that. So sorry about your experience. I never use to bring my dogs to the groomer but I am such a bad groomer myself that I broke down and took 4 of mine to the one around me.... I made sure I spoke to the groomer directly and told her EXACTLY what I wanted. THey all came out great so I will be going back with all 7 of my furbabies! Sorry to hear about your experience......

[Patti]

That's terrible! I know when Cali had surgery 6 weeks ago they chopped her hair all uneven and had to shave all her belly hair which was black black. It is growing back gray but the rest of her is still very black, so I would guess the black is gone for good on your baby.

[MyTrixie143]

That is horrible! It is so hard to find a good groomer that gives you exactly want you want. I myself, groom all of my dogs, at first it was a little rough, but as time went on with practice, I can groom them with them looking really good in the end. I figured why put my dog through the stress of going to a groomer, having him come back looking really bad and having to pay for it when I can groom him myself for free.

[luvmystevie]

I now know that I need to groom him myself. I am still in shock over all of this and you can tell that he isn't taking it well himself. When we got home I put him out in the backyard to run around with my kids and he just sat their howling. I brought him in and just sat with him on my lap and just kept staring at him getting more and more angry and this dumb lady.

I'm even more upset that his black is gone, althought I knew it when I saw all the gray I was hoping it would come back. I'll love him to death no matter what color he is, but that's it for us and groomers. I'll wait for the coat to grow back and just maintain it myself. He is calmer and more comfortable with me at home anyhow.

My kids were trying to comfort me (8 and 6) saying "mom it doesn't look that bad, it will grow back" although they know he looks horrible they were trying to make me feel better because they saw how upset I was.

It's a lesson I have learned and something my stevie will never go through again.

Anekka

[Kathryn_V]

This has got to be one of the hardest things for a Yorkie owner to endure... the first BAD Haircut! Its awful!! And for some its worse than it is for others... It sounds like you got it real bad... I'm sooooo sorry!

I do however have a suggestion for you!!! I know your in California... Not sure where exactly.. so I'll give you a few ideas... Northern... Get some cute sweaters!! Or some fun Flannel Jammies! And if your in Southern California... Go for some light weight golf shirts, or maybe a sports jeresy??

Just think of the cute clothes you can put him in while that hair is growing out! It'll cover him up and keep the SUN off of his skin on walks!!! Don't let him burn! And if its cold, it'll keep him warm... And it will keep your eyes off of the whole mess and your mind off of it too!

BTW... where in CA are you... I'm in So. Cal. Palm Springs area..

[yorkiepip]

Im so glad you never paid her!!!!
It too would be bloody livid
I do my own grooming, you could give it a try next time im sure your gonna make a much much better job than this butcher did!! and its not as difficult as you would think.
If i ever succumb to a groomer i have one locally that i would use as you can stay with your dog as he/she is being done then you can keep an eye on proccedings, maybe you could look for a groomer that lets you stay too?
His coat will grow back before you know it, in the mean time time buy him a nice jumper.

[sandraj]

I can understand how you feel. My pup recently had her first cut and I put that poor girl through so many questions-gave her some pictures and a written description of what I wanted. Holly was the only one in and when i went back after 45 minutes was just being brushed out and smothering the girl with kisses! I will take her back there,but i got lucky. Meanwhile. a nice t-shirt will cover up the mess and Yorkie hair grows really fast. The new hair will probalbly be more silky and less prone to mat too and easier to comb. Have you mobile groomers in America who bring a grooming trailer to your place and let you watch while they work? I am thinking of trying this next,even though i was happy with our result. This might work better for you. My pup is naughty for me when i try to cut her hair.She did better for someone else. I am sure your baby is still real cute. Can you post a picture?

[txshopper73]

Poor baby! How old is he? If he is gray than that is his adult color and the black will not be back. Such a shame. It is SOOOO hard to find a good groomer!

[Tophersmom]

I'm sorry your little one was given a bad cut. The part I find more upsetting was the fact that he sat there for four hours without being touched! That, to me, is inexcusable.

I'm lucky that I have a great groomer who treats each dog like royalty. I knew she was the right one when I went to interview her...she paid more attention to my dog than she did to me! I really lucked out in finding her.

I'm more amazed each day on reading here how many bad groomers there are out there. Scary.

[Lexi Rae]

i dont know why some of these groomers think they can do whatever
they want to our pups... they do have some nerve.. im glad you didnt pay them. i would of walked out yelling and screaming to other customers
about what happened... i dont go for that crap... i warn them before i hand
over lexi... you do it right or else....and they do for some reason..

[luvmystevie]

Okay to answer all the questions. We do have mobile groomers around here. I have seen their trucks when driving around town. It's a thought but for now I have such a bad taste in my mouth for groomers, I will do it myself.

The shirts and sweaters are a great idea, we will need more sweaters. He already has an assortment (it's so hard to go to Petco and not buy him any clothes) but I can always get more since he is in hair crisis right now LOL!

I live in Northern California, the east bay so it's chilly here and keeping him warm in my main concern, he likes to spend time outside a lot since I am out there gardening or he is playing with the kids. I can't wait for his coat to grow back and he actually LOOKS like a yorkie again and not a shaved down ball.

And to top it all off, I don't even believe she gave him a bath while he was there. The last time I took him to the first groomer, he smelled great. This time he smelled the same as when I dropped him off. So I did it myself last night then we were off to bed. The poor guy just snuggled up to me last night, it was funny like having one of my kids in the bed in the middle of me and my husband.

Anekka

[Kathryn_V]

East Bay! I bet he's cold!! I just moved away from Petaluma to So cal... And boy do I ever miss it up there!!! I worked for a couple of months at our store in Walnut Creek, Shane Co. I was covering for another Manager... I loved the weather out there... Not quite as cold as Petaluma... But I still would not want to be up there with all my hair shaved off!!

I say its a fine excuse to do some shopping!