Maybe I'd Better Figure Out How To Bathe JD At Home

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

First, poor Luca suffered a broken tail and eventually had to have part of it surgically removed as the result of a visit to the groomer. :(

Then I saw this story & video about a groomer beating and abusing dogs she was being paid to groom:

 http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/charges-laid-against-calgary-dog-groomer-...

Now, the worst story yet: A dog who died after being thrown against a wall by a groomer at the vet's office!!!!

http://www.pawnation.com/2013/09/09/dog-groomer-throws-maltese-agai...

I'm afraid to leave JD anywhere at this point. 

What I can't figure out is why anyone who could do things like this to a helpless dog chose a profession where they spend their days working with dogs. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I don't get it either and I think I will hug my groomer next time I see her. That might be the end of our relationship, so maybe I will just say an extra thanks.

[F, Calla & Luca]

: ) You really are lucky.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

I left Cole' (R.I.P.) at the local groomer for a bath.  She kept him all day.  He came home with soap not completely rinsed out and after that grooming we could not trim his nail with out muzzling him.  Who knows what happened at the groomers.  Since then I do all of the grooming.  I would never have some one groom Haley.  And, I have seen some groomers at Petsmart treat dogs roughly.  : (

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I do all my own grooming, its difficult and time consuming but worth the piece of mind.

[Gail and Bailey]

I started grooming my dogs years and years ago just because I had fun doing it. Now I am glad I don't have to take Bailey to a groomer because I hate leaving her and not knowing what is happening.  On one occasion I could not do it myself and I called a mobile groomer who let me stay in the van and watch.  There are so many "crazies" out there in the world.....it is scary to think about!  

[Gail and Bailey]

That is what I do too.  I have a hand held shower nozzle and I sit on a little plastic stool.  I also put a rubber bath mat down for Bailey to stand on so she does not slip around when I am washing her. I put her very close to the wall so she can not move too far away from me and she feels secure in the area and I give lots of kisses on her sweet little wet nose all the while.  I love knowing she is getting clean, well rinsed, and loved in the process! 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I also take a shower right along with Quincy and use the hand held and sit on a stool.  then I shower myself off - not the most luxurious shower for me, but he just stands there looking woebegone, waiting for it to be over.  the worst part is trying to get him to shake before I let him out.  It makes such a mess if he shakes once outside the stall.  

But I don't see myself trimming him. He is not at all cooperative with a brush, I can't imagine wielding a scissor.  

To dry-I take him outside in the nice weather and he runs around with me chasing him with a leaf blower!  He loves that game.

He goes bounding into the pet store where I take him for his haircuts.  There are always quite a few groomers, and they all have always seemed pleasant. These awful stories makes one pause, though.    

[Camilla and Darwin]

I do the same thing with washing Darwin, but he's too big to have a stool in there too, I wish! It's just 30 minutes of being bent at the waist. Not enjoyable!

[F, Calla & Luca]

One of the reasons I stopped, my back told me to.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Would love to see a video of the leaf blow dryer in action!  : )

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Rubber bath mat! what a great idea!  I dont know if I can fit a stool inside the tub with ben AND me.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have a plastic stool in the shower already, and I could get a hand held attachment for the shower, but honestly, the thought of trying to bathe this 80 lb dog who hates water and who has to stand there with the lather on him for at least 10 minutes before rinsing gives me heart palpitations. The last time I tried to bathe him, (which was also the only time) he started trembling so violently I thought he was going have a heart attack.  

I have owned my own dogs since 1977 and never bathed or groomed one of them. The closest I ever came was putting my miniature poodle in the kitchen sink to soak her feet. I've never even trimmed a dog's nails. I'm sure I could learn, but the whole thing seems overwhelming to me. 

No, I think that I'll bring my plastic stool over to the groomer's shop and observe.