Hacked Gooming Job and the groomer blamed me.....

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

So a few days ago, I put out a discussion regarding the terrible hack job that my regular groomer did on my Frankie Girl. I got wonderful responses from many of you and decided to let her know, via email, how disappointed I was and how I just could not believe she had actually done the cut herself. Today, I received a very nasty email in return, telling me how it was all my own fault for not combing Frankie out on a regular basis and how I should let my future groomer know before hand that I do not want her eyelashes trimmed as this is part of the grooming process. I did agree that she did have some mats under her chest, but her legs were just long and not matted at all, and just did not warrant being shaved down to the bone. She also told me she wanted a picture of Frankie to post on her own website under the subject "how to not send a doodle to the groomer".  Of course, I nearly jumped through the computer screen when I read this, but my husband told me to just ignore the email and move on. Being the obedient wife that I am (sometimes) I am taking his advice, but I just wanted to share with everyone the closure of this sad story of trust.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Oh that is so frustrating and actually sounds rude. I guess you won't be going back there. Thank you for keeping us posted.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I joined a few Grooming blog sites awhile back and the comments about Doodles in general made me cringe.  Believe me, unless the groomer owned a doodle themselves, NOTHING-- N O T H I N G  NICE was being said out there about our dogs.  Nothing nice was being said about the owners.

Blog after blog making fun of, hatred of ,grooming the mess, .... on and on.  Eventually I decided to  not go back to read anymore.

In my mind, and of course this is not for everyone, don't even use a groomer.   I know I will NEVER go to one unless I sit there with the dog.  They hate us and the dogs in general   :( 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I forgot to say, I'm sorry this happened to you.  I'm so glad you spoke up.   You would never know how much she actually ........... well she is not a nice person or a good groomer!  

Thank goodness your dog will never have to see this sort of B35tch again

[BG and Gavin]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

I know it will be hard Frances, but try to move on.  Don't let it eat you because you just end making yourself miserable and she has consumee enough of your energy.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Groomers don't like doodles because there is not a standard way to cut them, and owners all have different ideas about how they want their doodles groomed.  Once in a while you can find a person who really loves grooming and working with dogs and their owners, but I think that is not the norm.  Also, because there can be a matting problem, groomers just don't want to deal with that at all.  Their way of working with mats is just to shave the dog.  Guess that is why we just do our dogs ourselves (other than being cheap!).  Cuts for large doodles here are about $100.  I would be very disappointed if I paid $100  for a groom I didn't like.

[Pat and Traveler]

Yes, Joanne--I was reading that same s**t from groomers' sites, and it really shocked me.  A lot of it sounded just poisonous and hateful.  I had no idea that people who work with dogs and so presumably love them, could be so vicious about ANY animal, and for that matter, about the owners, who, after all, pay their bills.  I had to stop reading too.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Joanne - this is just so sad that you have been made to feel like that.  And for all of those that wish and have the drive, determination or talent to groom their own doodles - I say go for it!!!  But for me - I would never dream of trimming my own hair let alone Rooney's.  We have found the most wonderful groomer who comes to us in her mobile unit, does a great job, is cheap ($55.), the most gentle lady, and the best part - she loves Rooney - she loves every dog!  There are good, loving groomers out there that don't hate doodles or us nutty doodle owners.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I've taken up trimming my own hair too  :)   The 2nd time was 2 weeks ago.  DH said, Nice JOB.   :)   I realize I am a little brave and adventuresome. 

Dogs--Grooming your own:  I have a motto--Dogs Have No Vanity~ Only the Owners.   As long as the dog is comfortable, the skin, and hair are healthy then I try to make them look good.  I have learned from my grooming mistakes.  No, my dogs do not always look as nice as the professionally groomed dogs I see on DK.  I love the cuts and often envious,  but I still do not think I will EVER go to a groomer with these two.  99.9% sure of this.  I bought a nice pair of Andis Clippers, a good pair of scissors, and a collection of other items.   

To those who have good groomers treat them well and let them know you appreciate them.  For those of us who groom our own we are glad our dogs do not want mirrors.

[shelly]

WOWwwww... people just never cease to amaze me!  Kudos to YOU for staying 'calm'... I don't know if I would have been so "obedient"  - LOL... he's right tho' - MOVE ON!  There are many caring people out there who are also groomers... keep looking and GOOD LUCK!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I wonder if this groomer ever had a poodle come in with a knot?!?!?! Seriously, that is her business!! Sounds like she didn't want to spend the time to comb out a few knots!

Cut eyelashes without your approval?OMD!!! I would have gone ballistic!

I can't imagine that Frankie could have been so matted to be shaved to the skin! I have seen her pictures!! I have only seen 2 doodles that needed to be shaved to the skin due to being matted literally to the skin.

This groomer needs to learn lots about customer service and grooming!!

I am truly sorry that she responded the way she did - she would have made a much better business decision to apologize and state that the next time your brought Frankie in, you 2 would discuss exactly what you want and what she thinks is possible. Foolish, foolish woman.

 

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Oh Frances, that is totally rude of the groomer to come back at you that way.  Very poor business management.  Don't groomers understand that so much of their business is through word of mouth...referrals??  Duhhh  I can't tell you how many times I am out walking with Gracie people come up to me and ask who my groomer is.  After I tell them it is me I quickly tell them that Gracie went to a professional groomer for over a year and that is where she got her "grooming table" manners.  There is a groomer here in our area who does not take Doodles.  That is just fine with me and it is the way it should be.  If they feel they can't groom Doodles or don't know how, then admit it and don't lead the owner on and end up skinning their baby.  I think you should do a post on YELP and any other public forum where you can get the word out about this groomer.  The young people all use Yelp for everything.  My 32 year old daughter uses it for restaurants, cleaning ladies, hair dressers, you name it.  I'm sure if her dog needed grooming that would be the first place she would look.  Yep...YELP!

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

Oh my... such incredible support from everyone....Only my "doodle friends" would understand my pain. Such wonderful advice and, as someone said "I will move on and stop allowing this to eat away at me". But, as Nancie Casey advised, I did put out a review on Yelp and also on her own website. I felt sad that I had to do this, but truly....I think I would have felt much better had she just given me a simple "I'm sorry, I had a bad day" or even just "I'm sorry" but to be so defensive, when she knew she did (or someone else did) a terrible job, and to make a mockery or me by telling me she wanted to put me on her one website as a bad example of a doodle owner was just not acceptable. Anyway dear friends, I am letting it go and as someone so wisely said "the different between a good haircut and a bad haircut is two weeks"....These two weeks sure are going by slowly though ha ha....THANK YOU EVERYONE.  Wish I could reply back to all the comments, but I really stirred up the pot with this one and there were far too many...XXXX