First Trip to the Groomer!

[Star and Goldie]

First trip to the Groomer's... quite the adventure!

It was off to a rocky start right from the get go...

• Call to the Groomer to talk about pricing, what I wanted etc... I didn't get good vibes on the phone. The woman was not friendly- never even told me her name. When I asked her how often she would need a full groom once she's ready for it she responded so RUDELY with "well that's up to you and how much maintenance you want to do" followed by a lecture on how important maintenance is.
• Arrive at the Groomers and am taken back by DISGUST for the place. It smelled like urine and 100 wet dogs in there. It's a tiny shop and yes of course there are wet dogs in there all day but should it smell like that first thing in the morning? Light a candle... create a nice atmosphere, something! I fought my gut instinct which was to turn around and walk out and I went ahead and checked Goldie in
• Go to pick Goldie up and I try to hand the woman my card. She says "Um, we don't take cards. Cash or check only".  She said it in a tone like DUH you should have known this.  Payment methods are not posted anywhere in the shop and she didn't mention this on the phone so I had to get back in my car and go to the nearest ATM- UGH...
• Come back to pay. She takes the cash and instead of a 'thank you' or' sorry about the inconvenience' she says "Do you own a comb? I thought you said you comb her. Do you know what you're doing?" OMG OK LADY!!! Cue the lecture about how I'm not combing her properly
• Resist the urge to jump over the counter in a fit of rage
• Smile and nod while thinking bad thoughts
• Finally, she brings Goldie out and alas, my blood boiling starts to calm when I see my sweet baby's face. She was so excited to see me and she looked so....so... DOODLY!

So this was not what I expected our first trip to the Groomer to be like. I still don't even know the woman's name. She is NOT friendly to humans but she talks to the animals in her shop in a super sweet voice. Goldie seemed to love her and she did a good job.

So my question, would you look past the look (and smell) of the shop and put your personal feelings for her aside and continue using her based on her skills or would you look elsewhere?  Finding a reasonably priced decent Groomer in this area has proven to be a challenge.

Todays bill was $20.  Petsmart quoted me $65 to have the same thing done.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

OMD~ and I wouldn't purchase another Les Pooche brush, let alone the shears.

I know, I'm in the minority, but I have stabbed myself so many times. No wonder Spud became horrible to groom.

I think I have a bad brush. I do.  I won that brush Adina sent out and Spud and the Cats LOVE IT.

No way.... on those prices.   NO WAY

[F, Calla & Luca]

I know I have stabbed myself with the brushes too and they are not miraculous. But I do think they help when, rarely, I use them.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

7.5
I don't do grooming parlours, just me (and I'm getting pretty good at it though it's taken a while!). There's a new DIY wash I can take them to where I can wash and dry. The will save me a soaking bathroom and about 8 wet towels.( The other favourite is a small blunt end scissors for the face and private bits.) Next purchase will be a folding table.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Thanks, Nicky

There are so many nice shears.  I'm kind of obsessed.  If you read this again, could you tell me what type of Geib?  Gater, Croc, Black Diamond?

We also have a very nice dog wash station DIY here. We used it a few weeks ago with those rescue puppies. They also had a groomer there as I needed some serious help.

Both very good.   The DIY was really nice and yes saved a lot on the floors, bending, etc

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

 Geib are Gator. I bought a set of three and added the blunt end one which is iRoseLine.  I have had them two years now and need to send them to be sharpened and a little concerned about doing that.  They aren't blunt but I feel they could do with it.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I sharpen mine often. It probably ruins them but it's easier/cheaper than sending them out and someday I'll replace them I guess. Calla's coat dulls scissors in a few snips.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

PS I see one of your rescues was re-homed. Good work Joanne XXX

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You guys are really scaring me. After what happened to Luca, I was terrified to leave JD at the groomers' last week. And I've been using her for 4 years. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

If I can't stay, neither is my dog staying. That's the rule.

I see no need to drop any dog off alone,  with a stranger, who has scissors and blades and heat guns!  LOL

[Star and Goldie]

Scaring me a little too... now I'm more paranoid than I was before. Oh my...

[Cindy Bowles]

Knowledge is Power and you are getting a lot of knowledge here so now you have the Power !!!!  I don't know if anyone has mentioned yet or not but there is a grooming group on this site....

[Star and Goldie]

Yes I am aware there is a grooming group. I was just polling the general public to see if they would give this groomer another chance. I knew it would reach a bigger group here. If I had a question about what techniques or tools to use myself or something like that I would post in the grooming group, although I'm not going to be doing any of my own grooming. I'll stick with the stinky place! At least she's great with Goldie :)