I think we found a winner: Groomer

We've had quite the challenge with finding a groomer that knew how to handle Brinkley's hair. I kept wanting to believe that our previous groomer was good-- and it must have been my fault that every time I dropped him off he'd come back shaved... yet I never understood it because I'm good about keeping up a brushing routine. Even when I'd tell her not to shave him, I'd show up and he'd be shaved. I'd argue and she'd say he was matted... but because of things I had read on here about it being better for the dog then being forced to be brushed out, I thought the groomer must know best and I just must not understand what constitutes a matt.

Well, Brinkley was dropped off this morning-- he was fairly matt free this time but last time he did need some work because the time span between grooming appointments was more than I'd like to admit-- mainly out of sheer fear of leaving him with anyone again after he got shaved over and over again. Both times he's come back looking fantastic. She understood it when I said "don't make him look like a poodle". She works it out so he can be first in line so he's never crated because Brinkley hates crates. He's a much calmer dog when he doesn't go in a crate.

Also, another thing I find interesting: our previous groomer would never dry Brinkley. I'd pick him up and he'd always be wet. She'd tell me that Brinkley was unruly and hated the dryer. I didn't mention this to our new groomer because I wanted a totally unbiased report. When I picked him up both the first time and today, she said he was fantastic-- and very obedient. When I asked how he did under the dryer, she told me it didn't phase him at all. Now I'm beginning to see just how lazy our previous groomer was. Also, I think she'd take on too many dogs at once. She rented out space from our doggie daycare spot so I think by default she'd get a lot of dogs because it was easy for customers to drop off their dog at day care and show up at the end of the day to pick up a groomed dog. I certainly found it convenient but not worth the terrible haircut. I'm just glad we've found a winner. Now let's hope she doesn't leave the store where she works.

A funny story. Picture this: Today when I came to pick up Brinkley, I entered the grooming room to get my slip so I could go out to the main part of the store to pay the bill. Normally they keep the dogs in the room while the customers pay and then we come back and pick up our pup. Well, as I turned around to leave the grooming room, Brinkley saw me walking out so he jumped off the table (he was done being groomed-- he was just hanging out so he didn't have the thing around his neck- thank goodness!). Then he scaled their half door and took a flying leap over their counter, barely squeezing himself through the closing door behind me. He was not okay with the fact I was going to leave him again even if it was for a moment. To say he's attached would be an understatement.

Here's his haircut: