Choosing a groomer

[Toller_08]

I might check out PetsMart as well if all you're wanting is a bath & blow dry. I was a bather at one for a while and I didn't cage dry a dog unless I absolutely had to, but I always gave it a good effort with the force dryer first. Some dogs are just major idiots for the force dryer. Granted, by no means are all PetsMart bathers or groomers always the best as far as a quality groom goes, but there are some good ones out there. Other than that, when I was little and my mom had to take Echo (one of our Rottweilers) to a groomer for a bath/brush/blow dry, she found a great groomer simply through word of mouth and going in and talking to a few places before finding the right one.

[Saeleofu]

I get that they don't use JUST cage drying, but I don't want ANY chance of cage-drying, period. I'd rather get a wet dog back than have it cage-dried.

[Toller_08]

Originally Posted by Saeleofu

I get that they don't use JUST cage drying, but I don't want ANY chance of cage-drying, period. I'd rather get a wet dog back than have it cage-dried.

I totally understand that. I am sure if you were honest with the groomer and told them just that, they'd more than likely respect your wishes. I would hope so anywy. In any case, I hope you're able to find somewhere you like for him to go! I know it can be tough.

[JacksonsMom]

Originally Posted by Tankstar

How does she finish a groom in under a hour with no dryer? No noose? sounds scary to me. I have seen many dogs try to jump off tables, and only thing stoping them is the noose restraint.

She has a dryer, just not a cage dryer, I meant to say. And yeah no noose. I don't want that thing around my dogs sensitive neck personally. She's in a small mobile van, he can't really jump anywhere. He gets cut short so has hardly any hair to dry.

She does this in about an hour:


Always been very happy with her so not going to question!

[Saeleofu]

I ended up taking him to Petco yesterday. They did a fantastic job - and I had a coupon for 50% off a bath He looks great, smells great, they followed my directions, and they loved him (and he loved it there too lol).

The one bad part? I forgot to tell them no treats. So today he had diarrhea and poo-vomit all over his crate Amazingly, he managed to NOT get it all over himself - just on his feet. Maybe he realizes he's all nice and clean and pretty

[Southpaw]

Sounds like a good deal! Aside from the mess lol.

We got lucky that the groomer closest to our house also happens to do a great job. We've had groomers that just did ugly haircuts, didn't follow instructions ("we don't want her to have a poodle face" "okay" *Lucy comes back with shaved nose*), and one groomer that would take AT LEAST 6 hours to get the job done.

So now we have a groomer that gives us the 'do we ask for and has her done in 1.5 hours. I like her on a personal level as well and she seems to genuinely like Lucy, so that's always nice.

But, it is a lot easier to take the "trial and error" approach when your only goal is to just get the hair cut. Period.

[milos_mommy]

A lot of the groomers around here do a REALLY crappy job. Even my last job, where the groomer charged like 100$ to puppy clip a shih tzu, and she was a groomer on TV, the haircuts were choppy and she left mats and stuff...

Originally Posted by Saeleofu

I also am very leery of taking my dog to a groomer to begin with. I want NO furminators, no cage dryers, no shaving, and no free-range dogs in the grooming parlor while they're not being groomed. Basically, I want my dog safe and his coat not ruined.

However, one groomer I used to work for was amazing. We had furminators, but didn't use them if the owner requested they didn't be used, and we didn't use them on dogs with long hair or anything. We only used cage dryers on the dogs that were terrified of the hand dryer, and we supervised them the entire time they were used. We only shaved dogs that were irreparably matted to the skin (unfortunately way more often then it should have been), and we had free-range dogs in the grooming parlor, however, we were a small local groomer, knew the dogs who came in up and down, were all experienced in animal behavior, and if an owner requested no dogs be loose in the grooming area while their dog was there, we would schedule them either to come in during a quieter time and crate any other dogs or move them to the back area.

I'm not sure how trusting I'd be if I called some place and they told me they made all those accommodations. But, they do exist.

[Saeleofu]

turns out the diarrhea may not have been from treats after all. half the dogs in the house had diarrhea >.<

[Kat09Tails]

Originally Posted by Saeleofu

turns out the diarrhea may not have been from treats after all. half the dogs in the house had diarrhea >.<

ewww... as with this most things this too shall pass... hopefully not in the house or crate