Do you trust your groomer?
 

Yesterday I got into a conversation with a customer about our dogs and grooming. I told her where I take Ginger and she told me she has heard some really bad stuff about this woman from other pet owners but it hadn’t been her personal experience so she didn’t want to get into detail, but mentioned it had to do with the groomer being impatient with the dogs. I’ve never had a bad experience and have always been very pleased with Ginger’s cuts so I defended my groomer, but my customer was very adamant and gave me the number to the woman who does her dogs and insisted I try her instead.

I pretty much blew it off but this morning while I was doing Ginger’s hair I remembered that she’s been shaking like a leaf every morning when I go to groom her and has been since about the time I picked her up from her last grooming session, which was about two weeks ago. I’ve just been thinking perhaps she was cold(?), but didn’t give it too much thought because she had no cuts or anything on her. I’ve been doing her hair every morning before work since she was a small pup so I can’t understand the shaking and I’ve never hurt her…. Now I'm wondering if something happened at the groomers. She wasn’t noticeably injured in any way...but maybe she was yelled at? I try not to ever yell at her but use a firm voice when I’m reprimanding, so she freaks out when people yell. I know I sound over protective and suspicious, I just don’t want to take her some place where she’s treated badly in any way; it’s my job to protect her. I don’t want to be unfair to my groomer either.

What do you guys think? I’m I being crazy? I feel like I am, but, what would you do?

I would stay and watch her while she does your dogs grooming. She may not yell with you there, but you would be able to tell if she was losing patience or not. I groom my own, because I couldn't stand the thought of someone being mean to my babies in any way.

I don't think your being crazy at all. If it was me i'd be VERY suspicious cause I heard somewhere that if you cut a dogs nail too short and they bleed they'll remember it for life. So that would probably have the same effect with grooming? I would take my yorkie somewhere that I can watch her while shes being groomed. Especially after all the stories i've heard. Good luck with whatever you choose to do:aimeeyork

I groom all my Yorkies . This way it save time , money and worries .

I also do my own grooming.

I’ve asked to stay before and she’s really not keen on it. Her place is kind of small so there’s really not anyplace for me to watch without Ginger being able to see me. When I pushed it more she got a bit defensive, like I was insinuating I didn’t trust her. I didn’t want to offend her so I let it go.

I’m terrified of grooming her myself. I’d hate to be the one that accidentally cut her. I used to do the top of her ears when she was real small but it was just too nerve-racking.

My groomers let me pull up and chair and watch the entire grooming process. But one of the girls (who eventually got fired) did something terrible to a little shih tzu once. The dog was really out of control (barking and jerking back and forth) and the girl (who is now FIRED!!) wacked him on the nose TWICE with a metal flea comb!! When I tell you that I threw a HISSY FIT and screamed at her, I am so not joking. I never allowed her to assist with my dogs again and about 2 months later she was fired because my groomer (who owns the salon) just wasn't pleased with her -- she said she was too rough with the dogs and she didn't have enough patience.

So I do love my groomer because she allow me to watch EVERYTHING. I would never bring my babies to a place where I couldn't stay and watch.

As I just said in another post, I do my own grooming...maybe it isn't as good as what a trained groomer could do but, at least I know the treatment that my girls are getting..I would rather have a bald spot on one of my furbabies than to have them terrified or hurt....or worse.


If your furbaby shakes like that maybe something DID happen at the groomers...you never know what kind of person they turn into once you leave...I would be worried too!

to tell you the truth, i trust no groomer. when i went to take lexi to be groomed a while back, i looked in the back and i saw a doggie on the table and i did NOT like the way he or she was handling those babies... they are
very rough.. i promised my self i would not let her be groomed by anyone
except myself or my cousin who is a hair dresser... you dont know what happens behind those walls and some of them dont want you to watch cause you distract the other puppies... i dont care if i do a bad job on her, i wont take her ever again...she needs her nails clipped and i WILL watch them or else.....

I don't trust any groomers anymore. (Blowry & Gina are right !) and why I do the girls myself.

I took Chanel 2 years or so ago to one and that WITCH of a groomer hurt her - She yelped on the way home and I was really upset.....from that day on she cried and shook in the car goig for rides and had always loved going bye bye. It took a few months of FUN rides to get her to stop being scared....but I know that groomer was too rough and she is an angel for strangers - vets ...groomers - she stands perfectly still and lets them do anything so that was just a MEAN WOMAN.:mad: and yes when I got home - I called and raised hell.

It totally changed how she is about grooming.....for me she knows I'm whupped and if she acts like a drama queen - i stop. Which is why her hair needs cutting so bad now. I need to do it.

Who cares if she's keen on you staying or not? It's your yorkie and your money! I stay if I want. I leave if I want. She doesn't tell me whether I can stay or whether I can leave. Sometimes I stay and sometimes I go to the store while she's doing her, but then again she's only there less than an hour usually. If she doesn't want you to stay, then there is probably good reason why she doesn't. Mine has a small shop, too, but I always make room to sit if I wish. Perhaps you should hide a tape recorder when you go in next time if you don't want to stay. Then you might find out what is going on, if anything is...

dont wait to find that out, just do yourself if you can

If I had any suspicions at all I wouldn't take her back. I am very thankful that I found a great groomer who lets me stand right beside Sophie and hold her still. Otherwise I would have to do it myself because I would not leave her there or anywhere for that matter.

If you have suspicions dont take her back. Our first groomer we suspected was a little rough with Chachi by the way he was acting afterward. We didnt go back. We found another groomer and she loves my dogs. She keeps them when I am on vacation. She took pictures of them after they were groomed and put them in her grooming book. I could stay and watch when ever i want but ido nt because I trust her.

I keep all mine bathed myself. When it comes time for them to be professionally groomed, nails, ears eyes etc etc...I drive 90 miles one way to have them groomed. I live in a city and will not take them anywhere here. If anyone is close to Victoria, TX, I can tell you the best groomer I have EVER seen.

I do my own also. It is super easy...it saves money and I think the last groomer hurt Remmy. He was always fine with me cutting his nails. The last groomer visit the lady told me he had a wart on his ear and they nicked it. Well I rub this guy everyday and never felt anything on his ear. It looked like they cut the edge of his ear. And she screamed when i went to clip his nails. I was done with taking him somewhere and decided to do it myself.

If I even heard one story about a groomer loosing control it would set off red flags. It doesn't matter if it was your dog or not next time it may be yours. Stay and watch even if you have to stand there for a hour or two. If she is up set by you wanting to stay, then find a new groomer. If you do stay it is best if you let the groomer do the talking to your dog and that you stay as quiet as you can. Do not talk to your dog while it is being groomed as the groomer needs the full attention of your dog for its safety. I let people stay but sometimes I have ask them to sit down and be quiet. I am in charge of my dogs in my shop and I need the dogs attention on me I do not need them wiggling and trying to get to their moms as they talk to them. I hope you can understand the importance of being quiet. Some parents bring on stress to their dogs by trying to reassure them when it is not needed. I try and train the parents so their dogs experience will be better for everyone...It has worked well for 27 years.
It does happen that the owners are very hard to train sometimes....but the dogs do very well.

Debbie Ray

I have a very good groomer so I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. Kay will let me stay if I want to and watch while she grooms Gabby and doesn't mind that, at times, I do stay. At times, I go behind the counter and talk to the other furbabies who are in their cage waiting their turn at grooming. She never takes more than 8 dogs at a time, has another groomer with her and 3 techs to help with the bathing, drying, and cleaning up the salon. She usually has Gabby groomed and ready for me to pick up within a couple hours or less. I'm very pleased with my groomer:)

I'm sorry to read of the dealings some of you have had with groomers in your area:( It is a shame that they have to be that way!!! As for watching the groomer with your furbaby, as someone else said - it's YOUR furbaby and YOUR money - you can dang well do what you want and if she won't let you, find another groomer who will!

Suzi, just remember that when you are talking to the other fur babies while your dog is being groomed your dog can hear you too , so make sure you are not upsetting her and making more work for your groomer. Just a thought.

Debbie Ray
Best Friends Pet Salon
Salem Oregon