Dog Community

Shaving dog's face

Posted : 5/30/2006 9:43:34 AM

A groomer has cut off the side bumps with whiskers on my mother's little dog the last two times the dog has been there. The first time, I saw her when she came home, and she had bloody, raw patches on both sides which scabbed over. The woman did the same thing this last time. I don't think it's the right thing to do. Is it?

Firestorm

Posted : 5/30/2006 9:55:31 AM

WHat breed of dog does your mom have? I think your mom needs to tell groomer and maybe find a new groomer for the dog.

lhanke

Posted : 5/30/2006 9:59:19 AM

She's a little poodle mix. I thought the same thing, about telling the groomer. The woman also scrubbed 'Sweetie' with one of those wire bristle brushes so hard she was almost bleeding from that too. That was after she had been shaved, so there was no hair to break the impact. Seems to me this woman really doesn't like dogs at all.

magilacudy

Posted : 5/30/2006 10:06:16 AM

I would explode on this woman if she did this to my dog.

Suzi

Posted : 5/30/2006 10:13:30 AM

It's time for a different groomer! If she had done this once, why would you bother going there again? If the groomer had done something without being ask, I wouldn't even pay them. The last time I took JJ to the groomer, I wasn't sastify with the job and that was it for me. I decided to take her to a different place.

Vivian

Posted : 5/30/2006 10:28:31 AM

Good Lord, find another groomer and quit making that poor dog suffer. I'd have a real fit if my groomer did that to my dog!!!!!!

lhanke

Posted : 5/30/2006 1:42:35 PM

Had I been there, I would have! I'll make it a point to go with them next time the little dog is groomed. But my mother has already made up her mind to not take her back to that woman. The only problem is all the other dogs she'll mutilate since no one can do anything about her.

lhanke

Posted : 5/30/2006 1:45:59 PM

My mother is 89, and can't see really well, so she didn't even know that had been done until I was there and told her. I don't know why she took her back the second time, but she has said she's going to look for another groomer. It's too bad there's no 'groomer alert' site.

jeano

Posted : 5/30/2006 1:47:56 PM

Take pictures of the dog, or take the dog herself to the Animal Control and show them what she did. Maybe they'll at LEAST go talk to her, if not arrest her. It doesn't hurt to ask, but I'd go in person, not call on the phone, because I know they are generally very busy. An animal lover down there needs to see what she did, not hear about it. A picture or the actual dog would do the trick.

lhanke

Posted : 5/30/2006 2:04:49 PM

Good Idea! I wish I HAD taken pictures. But I'm not letting her go back there just to get them. I'll go to the humane society next time I'm down there and talk to them about it. I hadn't thought of that. Thanks.

thedoc617

Posted : 5/30/2006 2:06:14 PM

Being a groomer, let me see if I can see this from the other way (not that I'm saying what the woman did was wrong, but this is probably what she did:

Being a poodle mix, they probably gave her a "clean face" ( face shaved with a #10 or #15 blade) if the dog is not used to it being done, or the shorter (#15 is the shortest we'll use, but show poodles- i believe- can get a surgical blade: #40 on their face/feet.) then they may get clipper burn or irritation.

Now being brushed with a slicker brush too hard, was the dog matted at all? I'd rather shave a dog down than brush it out if it truly cannot be brushed out. Brushing to hard can cause it, or matts do cause irritation too- if they are in there for too long.

Sometimes accidents happen, (especially if the dog is a wiggler) but if it's happened twice now, I definitely say it's time for a new groomer.

jeano

Posted : 5/30/2006 2:08:02 PM

You are welcome.

I had another thought. Isn't there a licensing agency for dog groomers? How are they regulated? You could report this woman to whatever authorities are in charge of regulating groomers. Just a thought.

lhanke

Posted : 5/30/2006 2:25:00 PM

No, she wasn't matted; she had already been shaved and didn't have any hair at all much. My sister was there at the time and said something to the woman about it. But I still don't feel that cutting off natural growths time and time again can be very healthy in the long run.

Thanks for the input, though.

L. Hanke

lhanke

Posted : 5/30/2006 2:28:25 PM

Thanks everyone. We will take the dog elsewhere, talk to people who have used this groomer, and if necessary - will talk to the Humane Society. I appreciate your suggestions. We can move on to other topics, now. I feel much bolstered by your support, and will tell my mother all about it.

L. Hanke

jennie_c_d

Posted : 5/30/2006 8:03:23 PM

You don't have to have a license in the US to be a groomer. It is not a standardized industry. Anybody can buy a grooming course through the mail, some grooming equipment, and a business license, and start a business. It's so important to check up on your groomer. Ask other people who they go to, if they're happy, and their dogs look good. Ask your vet. Ask the humane society and animal control who they use. Call local rescues and see who they use. Some groomers abuse dogs, IMO. It is important to use someone who has a reputation for being gentle and good with the dogs.