ALL DOG GROOMERS CAN’T GROOM

By Friday, November 6, 2015 19 Permalink

I HAD NO IDEA –

🐾 All dog groomers can’t groom…
DSCN6196🐾 No State requires pet groomers to be licensed…
DSCN1576🐾 There is a National Dog Groomers Association of America…

#whoknew?

For several weeks I’ve scoured the internet, made dozens of calls, trying to find the right groomer. I wanted needed one familiar with doodles to trim – not shave. #commonpracticehere

Fernando is what I call pure pawfection at his craft…
DSCN6205 Vested in all his clients, he offered to assist us – 467 miles away – he offered to talk to my prospective groomer. #toosweet

Through convo’s with other pet people, Yelp, and the internet I believed I found the right groomer.

They sounded knowledgeable enough about doodles on the phone. Very pleasant and courteous, so I decided to drop by and check them out.

I reached out to Fernando – waited and listened as they talked about:

  • shampoos
  • conditioners
  • sheers
  • clippers
  • blades
  • etc…

After conferring with Fernando, I decided to give them the green light.

I dropped the Boys off at 10:00am for their bath-only appointment.

They weren’t finished until 2:30pm. #toolong

I wanted to be “wow-ed ” I really did. That wasn’t the case. #disappointed 

They were clean but still damp and their blow drying technique left a lot to be desired. And where was my lavender and calla lily scent? #lovethesmellgoodstuff

Pawhaps since this was our virgin voyage, they were extra cautious which means super slow. #Ithought.

The Boys seemed happy – not stressed, so two weeks later I took them back for another bath and a slight trim around the eyes #blinddoodles, paw pads, sani/fanny trim, etc…

OMDoodle!

We arrived at 10:00am and this time they weren’t finished until closer to 3:00pm.

They looked clean, but again they were damp, “again” they were ruffled, and AGAIN there was no good smelly stuff. #comeonnow

But the straw that severed the camels back was what I found a day later.

Wherever poor Jaxy may have had a knot or a tiny mat of hair, she cut it out! #whatthedoodle

Doodles – like other long haired dogs – will get knots and mats. #itsthelaw

I brush my Boys every day! And I brush the knots and tiny mats out. Never EVER do I just start chopping away!

Look at him, he’s got several of these hair gaps on his legs…
trtr-(1) You see how much shorter it is from the rest of his leg hair?…
DSCN2639

#NOTHAPPY –

I know the hair will grow back, but I blame myself.

I thought I knew how to choose a pet groomer.

But nothing could have alerted me to the lazy grooming style of chopping out a knot. #geez

I wish I’d known about the NDGAA. Their website offers a groom locator of “approved” certified members. #thankthedoodle

If you are relocating to another area, please take heed of my mistakes. Our misfortune will be rectified in a few months, because the hair will grow back.

Others haven’t been that fortunate, like –

  • the golden retriever who died in a dryer in Virginia
  • the dog in California who required surgery after falling from the table

There are some states already considering regulations for what has become a $5 billion industry.

You can bet your doodle I’m going to be looking into South Carolina’s regulatory plans #fursure.

Thanks for reading – Enjoy your weekend ❤️

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19 Comments
  • Sand Spring Chesapeakes
    November 6, 2015

    Oh boy not a good experience.

    • Cathy Bennett
      November 8, 2015

      Not at the least JoAnn, I can’t give up – so I will continue my search 🙂

    • Cathy Bennett
      November 8, 2015

      Not in the least! Pissed me off actually, but I think I’ve found the right one #praying we will go on Wednesday, #ohboy

  • Dashlilly
    November 6, 2015

    OHHHH…. Dash was the victim of a few bad grooming incidents. Poor boy. After one such cut I had to buy the guy a coat! Truly. He was shivering the hair was so short. It does grow back, but man oh man. You are right to look around. The groomers I finally found and am a devoted follower of was recommended by a fellow walker who I ran after and asked where she took her dog to be groomed. I drive across town to where her shop is! And I am happy to do that! Stick with it. Poor doodles …

    • Cathy Bennett
      November 6, 2015

      This is way more involved than I anticipated Deirdre. I had no idea in a town so populated with doodles that finding a groomer would be a challenge. But “hey” I will find the right one, I have no doubt. I’m looking at this as a learning curve. Have a great weekend 🙂 Hugs to your two from me and my two.

    • Cathy Bennett
      November 8, 2015

      OMDoodle Deirdre, I feel your pain. The Doodle Angels have answered my prayers #Ithink Someone from the pet resort is selling her grooming table and dryer, Yup! you guessed it, I’m buying it. I will try to keep them clean myself (at least in between trims – once I find the right groomer!). Oh the things we do for our doods!

  • Jan K
    November 6, 2015

    Oh no, that is really awful. I mean, I’ve done that at home to Sheba, but only in desperation of not having the proper tools to do it right.

    We don’t have a lot of groomers in our area. When one of the vet techs at our vet’s office starting grooming, I was thrilled. We already knew and liked her and Sheba would be comfortable there. There’s been a couple times she missed a knot here or there but Sheba always comes home smelling and looking marvelous!

    But you really did a lot to try to make sure this groomer was OK, sometimes you just can’t know 100% until you try. I hope you find someone good soon!

    • Cathy Bennett
      November 6, 2015

      You are truly blessed Jan! I met with one today. I feel a little more comfortable and they will go for a bath next week. I intend to stay “on premises” the entire time! We’ll keep you posted.

  • Reagan
    November 6, 2015

    We will definitely look into the National Dog Groomers Association of America when we have to take Rae. I only found one NDGAA Registered Groomer in Syracuse but definitely wouldn’t mind driving a ways for a good groomer.

    • Cathy Bennett
      November 6, 2015

      Same with me! I only found one in this location. I met with them today. Will take the Boys next week for a bath ONLY! I plan on staying in the salon this time. Best of luck with the one in Syracuse – please go visit first 🙂

  • Emma
    November 6, 2015

    We’ve heard a lot of groomer horror stories. We are never left at the groomer the first time as our coats are to be stripped not trimmed and being so rare, no one knows how we are supposed to look. I found a great place after about six years of testing other groomers out. Bailie is wash and wear, so not as big of a deal. Mom would be so mad if someone did what that groomer did to us! Oh boy!

    • Cathy Bennett
      November 6, 2015

      Oh Emma, tell your mom I was furious when I noticed it. I haven’t called them because there really is no point. I did “interview” another groomer today, and I will go with them next week. Believe you me, I plan on sticking around. I will take a huge cup of Joe and bring my laptop so I am “on hand” should they have any questions.

  • Claudette Pope
    November 6, 2015

    Oh, I am so sorry about poor little Jax. I was wondering if you were going to find someone even 1/2 as good as Fernando. I saw that story about the poor little doggy that died in the dryer. I was horrified. I thought all drying was done by hand (dryers). I have a special problem with ALL groomers. Ziggy never keeps still while being groomed, he is very difficult to groom, consequently they have ALL told me that he had Mats so they had to shave hm. He is shaved right now as of one week ago & I even took my combs and skimmer in to show them that there were no mats, but they claim that his hair was too thick and in trying to comb him Before his bath it took her 30 min just to try to comb out one hind leg… So they had no choice but to shave him 🙁

    • Cathy Bennett
      November 6, 2015

      I remember when you told me Ziggy was resistant to the comb 🙂 So I truly understand, but Jax (like Harley) is so accustomed to getting brushed everyday, if I missed a knot or two they were small and would have come out with no real degree of trouble. The fact that she cut them out and never told me, was just not cool. How’s Ziggy doing? Be thankful for Fernando, he’s an angel…

  • Earl Lover
    November 7, 2015

    Earl’s breeder is also a groomer, and has been stripping Earl and Ethel for us for years. I now strip Earl, and hope to do Ethel when she next needs it.

  • Jackie Bouchard
    November 10, 2015

    My sis discovered this with Reggie. She really had to hunt to find a groomer who knew how to handle a fluffy corgi! He suffered through some bad haircuts!

    • Cathy Bennett
      November 10, 2015

      We’re at it again tomorrow – I can day, this time I’m feeling good about their appointment, I’ll definitely let you know. #pawscrossed

  • Pamela
    November 13, 2015

    I groom Honey myself. Basically just enough to keep her healthy. She’s certainly not groomed like a show retriever.

    But we found a wonderful groomer in Ithaca I really liked. First of all, she was willing to have me stay during the grooming.

    And 2nd, her first priority was Honey’s comfort with the process. That mean’t no blow drying because she didn’t sense that Honey liked it very much and she wanted to leave her with a good experience.

    I’m thinking we’ll sail back to Ithaca in the spring for a vet visit. I should probably schedule a grooming for Honey as well.

    You’re a much more particular dog mama than I am. I’ve been known to occasionally cut a matt out of Honey’s fur. #don’thateme 🙂

    • Cathy Bennett
      November 14, 2015

      I could never hate you Pamela! I know Fernando has cut a matt or two out, but what this groomer did was lazy butchering! It just wasn’t the place for us. Honey always looks good, her coat is healthy and shiny. Here’s a question for you – do you notice if the salt water / air is drying her coat out at all? This new groomer is more our style. She’s patient and has that personality that my Boys relate to. I’m elated that this part of our transition is behind us. Take care my friend and let me know when you’re coming my way 🙂