Grooming question

[Holly Doodle]

Holly has went running with dh a few times in our snowy weather, and this is the first time I've seen her start to get Mats. We called the groomer this week and they couldn't get us in for almost two weeks with our work schedules, and them not being open on weekends. So we decided we'd schedule an appt at Petco just this one time, because I don't want her Mats to get any worse. Boy was that a mistake! We took her to her appointment today, and they told us their two longest clippers were 3/8" and 1/2". Our groomer always cuts her to 1" with no problems, so I don't know if they didn't have the right clippers or if our groomer scissor cuts her. Either way, the girl at Petco was extremely rude and said "well these are your only options so choose one or we'll leave her as is." How rude of her! She also said if they scissor cut her she would look choppy and uneven. She had a very bad attitude and made me feel dumb for asking them to leave her longer than 1/2". We ended walking out, with her gawking and me and dh like we were the rude ones. Geesh! Anyways this was more of a vent than a question, but I guess I'm wondering why my groomer can do it but the Petco groomers can't. Are there clippers for 1" or does my groomer likely scissor cut her? I've never asked how she does it, because it's never mattered. Anyways thanks for any input!

[Camilla and Darwin]

check out the grooming group! http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/doodlegrooming

 

There are clipper attachments for 1" but I have been to groomers who only have up to 3/4". They must have just not had attachments for that length. I do find it odd that they didn't have longer than 1/2" though.

 

I think you would know if you groomer scissor cuts her. It's usually MUCH more expensive than having them cut with clippers and takes a lot more time and training. And I doubt any Petco employee is trained in hand scissoring, which is probably why she said it would be choppy.

[Holly Doodle]

Thanks, I posted this in the grooming group also :). I'm hoping this Matting doesn't become a regular thing!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Brush brush brush! :-)

[Holly Doodle]

I'm working on it right now! I do a few times a week but she's never been this bad. She's not liking me right now but I'm getting some of them out.

[Michael Gurley]

I take my Sunny to Petco to a specific groomer, Kristin, and she always scissor cuts Sunny to about an inch or a little longer.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Wow, I didn't know they offered scissor cuts at Petco. Interesting. Does it cost you more than a clip would?

[Michael Gurley]

I don't know! I've never been to another groomer at Petco. I'm just incredibly lucky that I found the perfect groomer for me and Sunny. It costs about 45 dollars for a full bath/brush with grooming. I don't know how much the shaving would cost, but I've never had it done. Kristin is just the perfect groomer for us! She's very kind and genuinely loves all the dogs she works with (especially Sunny). Sunny actually loves to go to the groomer now! Kristin allows Sunny to stay out of the cage as much as possible, and makes it a really positive experience.

 

She also is very good with my dachshund who has arthritis and is very grumpy especially when she's in pain. Kristin bathes her herself even though she has a bather who works with her also, and grinds her nails instead of cutting them so that Reba doesn't have to have a muzzle. She is very very careful and gentle with her.

[Adina P]

Well they obviously are minimally trained and don't have the skills to do any better than shave to that short level.  There are comb attachments that can be used to trim to longer than 1/2"--I have some!  Too bad they aren't better equipped.  Now some dogs have coats that are too thick for comb attachments, so maybe that's an issue.

 

In any case now I'm thinking perhaps THIS was why when I took Rosco to PetCo the 1.5" I agreed upon with the groomer turned into 1/2" ... :-/

[Ginny Nightingale]

I have lots of attachments that are longer and always leave my doodles with 1 to 1and 1/2 inches of hair with a clipper. I also used to scissor the whole body when I didn't have clippers--but it is time-consuming and should cost more. I doubt they had ever been trained to do that at Petco. I saw a doodle getting groomed at a Petsmart and she was just going over his whole body with clippers and bringing him down to about 1/2 inch. By contrast, I scissor the legs to keep a more even shape (no dished out ankles) and the neck area to taper the head to the body rather than following the neck shape. This is a bit harder though and most places don't do that. Sounds like you have a great groomer (the first one) and should stick with them!

How old is Holly? The coat goes through a lot of changes that can increase matting when they are younger and it should improve. But snow CAN make a mess at any age..

[Jennifer and Jack]

Oh I am so sorry this happen to you. Good for you for walking out, I went to Pet Smart twice, Once I dropped him off and left, I picked him up and I liked what they did. The second time, I happen to be in the store shopping and I watched them wrestle with Jack, not take their time and I ended up pulling him off the table

What I have learned is at Pet Smart they have a lot of groomer assistants etc. They are also on a time frame. I have found them to be rude and unkind.

I am in the middle of learning to groom Jack myself.. Not going great. I am going to get some lessons but if I don't improve we will go back to grooming at a good groomer.

 

I have heard and learned from this group that cowboy magic works great for mats, I just bought some today and Jack's hair is to short for mats but it has gotten great reviews.

[Holly Doodle]

Thanks everyone! Holly will be 2 in May, so her coat changes are done. She has more hair than fur, it's kind of a thin, wavy coat that's usually very easy to brush through. If tomorrow goes like today I'll be getting some of that Cowboy Magic and waiting the 2 weeks to get into my groomer :).

[Dori & Rua]

Why are people like that?  I knew that I wasn't going to be taking Rua to Petco to get groomed when it was finally time, but just needed her nails done (she was under 4 months).  I had done this before...I held her and the groomer trimmed her nails.  The second time, Rua was a bit scared and the woman had no patience with her - she grabbed at her paws and pulled her and spoke in a negative tone (I was right there holding her...can't imagine what they are like when no one is around). 

 

I am sure there are some really nice groomers at the petstore chains.  But my guess is, the really nice and talented ones "create" a following, and end up at "salons".