Groomers

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Aside from learning how to groom Sporty myself, is there an easy way of finding a good groomer? When I say good - I mean- one that does all the things they suppose to do like cleaning the anal sacs etc.? I bathe and blow dry Sporty every Saturday. However, I don't really know what I'm doing. I would like to find a groomer who doesn't think he's "DIFFICULT". I have been taking him to groomers since he was four months old. I've been through 5 different groomers so far. Are the "Poodle" groomers suppose to be better than the All-Breed groomers? How do you really know if your dog likes the groomer and they're doing everything they are suppose to be doing?

-- Anonymous, June 05, 1999

Answers

Hi Tricia, I am a groomer whogrooms all breeds, I perfer to groom poodles. I breed and raise standards. I end up with all the difficult dogs in the area(word just gets around). I am looking for groomers to work for me. It is not easy to find a good groomer(in my area anyway). you would not believe the amount of people that tell me their dog has ben abused. a nervous, timid or badly bred dog is going to seem abused because grooming is not a pleasent experence. when an owner does home grooming incorrectly the groomer has to be the one to correct the coat .It is not always a pleasent experience. The dog sees the groomer as the person who hurts or scares him. I have alot of dogs that won't go near me because the only time I see them is to undo what the owner has done.The only thing you can do is to find a groomer that is certified by more than somebody who just taught them, such as top schools & grooming associations. also ask what seminars or updated training they have had.Dina

-- Anonymous, November 14, 1999

HI EVERYONE, WELL I'VE BEEN GROMING DOGS FOR 14 YEARS AND I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE BEST GROOMERS AND ALOT OF THE WORST,I TREAT MY PATRONS WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT I GO TO ANYLENGTH TO SATISFY THEM AND I WILL DO ANYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE THERE PETS VISIT AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE. THE DOG/CAT IS THE TRUE CLIENT AND THEY NEVER FORGET BAD THINGS I HAVE 2 STANDARDS NOW I NO LONGER SHOW MINE BUT IF YOU KNOW YOUR DOG AND I'M SURE YOU DO,LOOK FOR THINGS AS IF YOU WOULD WHEN YOUGO AND PURCHASE A POODLE ASK QUESTIONS.....DONT EVER THINK A QUESTION IS DUMB YOUR DOG IS FAMILY,I GROOM IN TEXAS AND WOULD LOVE TO DO YOUR DOGS IF BY CHANCE YOUR IN THIS AREA

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000

Hello. Some dogs get very nervous when arriving at the groomers. The best way to begin a new groomer search is to visit shops with your pet. Then you can watch the groomers interaction with your dog. Also your dog will go for a visit, get a pat and a cookie (all good things) which may begin to counteract any previous negative experiences. Not all groomers and all dogs are an instant love match. A bond takes time. Some dogs do better away from other canines (which can increase stress on the not so socialized pet) if so, try a small at home groomer, or a mobile groomer who can come to your home. Some dogs are just very insecure away from their family, if so try to be present while your dog is groomed. And some dogs (regardless) just hate to be groomed no matter how caring and skilled the groomer, if so find the very best match you can and have him/her teach you at home care tips. As for poodle groomers vs. other groomers...Just about every groomer grooms poodles. Breed specialty groomers are great for the show ring, etc. But All Breed groomers are perfect for the pet. To find a groomer who will groom to your standards, start you search by talking to your vet. He/She sees dogs all day, every day. Many of whom are groomed locally. Good Luck.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Finding a good groomer

I have a wonderful groomer in the Atlanta area. I have to travel about an hour in rush hour traffic to get to her place in order to get our Standard there at a reasonable hour, so I have spent lots of time trying to find someone closer who knows poodles. Not easy! Anyone from north Atlanta area?

-- Anonymous, October 04, 2001

Just like every other profession, groomers have levels of expertise. There are certified groomers and then there are groomers who are not certified. My groomer was a professional handler (giant schnauzers, no less) and understands the intricacies of the show ring first hand.She is a certified show groomer and has participated and won several awards for standard poodle grooming. It is, of course, reflected in the price for show grooming. I have found that many want a fabulous groomer but want to pay PetsMart prices. You need to understand that you get one or the other, low price or great quality. I chose my groomer because she is very conscientious, kind and clearly cares about the dogs and cats that she chooses to groom. Yes, chooses. She is good enough that she has a following and on occasion, chooses to ask a client to go elsewhere if they or their pet is "difficult." She took the time to show me the proper way to brush Colin and Lacy out before bringing them to her so that I didn't end up with a bunch of mats and tangles. I found her through my breeder's handler. My first visit to her shop was pleasing. The place was immaculate, her employees did not seem unhappy, and the dogs were relatively unstressed. When a person calls on the phone, they get her undivided attention, just as a walk in does. If she is busy grooming, she may take a message and get back to that person, but she understands, and acts upon the knowledge that everything she is feeling goes right down into the lead and the dog so talking on the telephone to the landlord who is trying to raise the rent is not such a good idea when she is scissoring someone's baby.If any of you live in the Tampa Bay area of Florida and want her name I would be pleased to recommend her.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001


The first thing I look for when having to find a groomer is cleanliness. I do not want my girls to be groomed in filth. The first time they were groomed I asked co-workers for information on groomers they use. Well, what a mess. The groomer sheared them like sheep. They were scared so badly I thought they were ruined. Then someone suggested the second groomer. I went to their shop to set up an appointment, and there was nowhere clean enough to set down my purse. No appointment was made.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2002

whoops, I hit the submit button accidentally getting a cup of coffee. The third try finding a groomer was at the kennel I use. They love the place, so I asked to see the facilities. Spotless. The girls were in love and now have a standing appointment every 4 weeks for their day at the "spa". They get treats for behaving properly while getting groomed, and the groomer gives them anniversary and birthday gifts as well. Well worth the price. They love it.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2002

You might want to start looking for a groomer with Certification organizations. I am a Certified Master Groomer with International Professional Groomers, Inc. We must demostrate not only our knowledge of breed standards, animal care and handling, and pesticides through written examns, but must also prove proficiency in grooming different breed types, one of which is a Non-Sporting dog, either a Poodle or a Bichon Friese. Most of us do poodles for our testing. I am also a Certifier for IPG, Inc. Many groomers are interested in obtaining Certification to validate their professionalism. We maintain a list of all Certified Master Groomers in the world. If you wish to find a groomer in your area, E-Mail me and I will give you the number to call.

Just a note about Poodle grooming: Some owners wish to have their Poodles groomed in a manner that is not the best for their dog. Case in point: I have persons who MUST have their poodle's feet shaved even if the dog is old and arthritic. Some cannot stand having their feet clipped. If your dog is not a show dog, they do not have to have their feet clipped if they cannot tolerate it. There are many poodle clips to choose from. Same thing goes for a pink-skinned dog who self-mutilates their face after being clipped. I ALWAYS use an appropriate blade length and make sure it is COLD when doing face, feet, privates, and tailband. Some poodles just have super sensitive skin. There are things that can be done such as using aloe, but if the dog is in pain due to the clip, it SHOULD NOT BE DONE. Also, it is very difficult on the dog to have to be dematted. If regular upkeep is not done on the coat inbetween groomings, grooming can be very hard on the dog, even when we try to be as gentle as possible. In that case, a kennel clip would be the kindest. Sometimes, owners wash their dogs without removing all mats first. This makes the mats even tighter and much harder to brush through.

The groomer you choose should be able to talk with you about all of your dog's grooming needs. If they are not interested, you should continue to look. Please note that a lot of us LIKE grooming poodles. It just takes time to finish them properly. Good luck on your search.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002


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