Seven weeks ago I groomed a new customer.
She was a malti-poo.
Her owner had been bathing her.
Without brushing her first.
"She doesn't like to be brushed," her owner said.
She was now a pelted coat of mat.
I did not need to feel her, you could tell how badly matted she was just by looking at her.
Thankfully her owner understood that she was very matted too.
I gave her my usual talk.
I told her that her dog had to be shaved.
I used the word shaved so that there is no misunderstanding about what I had to do.
I explained to the owner that we would shave all of the mats off and start all over again.
I put her straight into the tub.
I used Best Shot and Best Shot creme rinse to try to help loosen the mats a little.
This is 'Kaiko after the bath and blow dry.
I was able to loosen the mats away from her skin enough to get a #5f blade through her.
Her face and the top of her head where so tightly matted that I was not able to save them and had to use the #5f on them also.
It is not very often when I have to shave a head.
Her Mom had been bathing her often.
'Kaiko' did pretty good.
Her Mom was right when she said that 'Kaiko' did not like being brushed or having her legs fooled with.
When 'Kaiko's' Mom came back to pick her up, we talked about how to get her to accept the brush.
We also talked about not bathing her with the mats in her.
Her Mom said that she wanted to get 'Kaiko' groomed regularly so that this would not happen again.
How many times have we heard that, and never saw the dog again till it was matted... again.
'Kaiko's' owner made an appointment for the next time before she left.
I can't tell you how many times owners of matted dogs make another appointment, then when you call them to remind them about their appointment, they say the dog is still short and they cancel the appointment.
I figured it was a 50/50 chance of seeing 'Kaiko' again in 7 weeks.
Success!, 'Kaiko' showed up for her appointment today.
Her Mom brought her in for a Bath and neaten.
She only had one little mat in her ear.
Her Mom is working on getting her used to brushing.
'Kaiko' is slowly starting to grow out.
I hope that 'Kaiko' stays a success story.
It feels good when an owner actually listens to you and takes your advice.
'Kaiko's' Mom made another appointment before she left.
Happy grooming, MFF
I dont know if you can answer me, i hope so.im new to grooming and have a hard time figuring prices...for example how much would you charge for a full groom on this dog and how much for only neaten this same dog up ?? Of course if you can answer :)
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteIf this size dog was in good shape and got clipped with a 5F blade it would be 42. Add 10 because of the pelted mat. If a clip comb cut add 5. If a handscissor cut add 10.
If this did not make any sense, go to my Pricing your grooms post in Oct 2011. It explains the way I price my dogs.
I hope this helped. :)
Lisa, MFF
I read your pricing grooms im working at understanding it :) ..what i meant was for example you Charged the customer lets say 50 beans to shavedown Kaiko so in 4 weeks they come back and just need brush, bath, pads, ears sanitary because they want to let him grow how much would u charge?? 30% less than the shavedown? Because it wouldnt be a full groom... I hope u understood me i even confused myself jaja :)
ReplyDeleteSorry that I have taken so long to answer your question. None of my prices are written in stone.
ReplyDeleteMy price list is used as a guide only. Something to start from. I may charge 50 beans for clipping down a small matted dog, but when they come in for another grooming 5 or 6 weeks later, my price will depend on how long the dogs hair has grown out and what they want trimmed. If the hair is still very short and they only want me to trim around the eyes, feet, and rear, I may only charge 35 beans. I am more than fair with my prices. That is why I do not have them written in stone for each breed. I go by the time and work that I did.
I hope that this does not confuse you more. :)
Lisa, MFF
Nooo thats perfect!!! Thank you a lot :)
ReplyDelete