Warning...

One of my really nice, regular customers came in the other day with her two dogs.

After we talked about her dogs, she said to me; " I have to warn you about something."

"Okay," I said, waiting for her to continue.

"My neighbor will be calling you for an appointment for her dog....TELL HER NO!" she told me, with a very stern look on her face.

I just stood there looking at her.

Worst of all, I think my mouth was open, but I wasn't sure what to say.

Was she really telling me not to groom her neighbors dog?

Thankfully she didn't notice and just kept talking.

"I mean it! You don't want to groom her dog....HE IS MEAN!" she stressed.

Finally my mouth did more than just hang open, "That is okay," I told her. "I groom mean dogs too."

She was already shaking her head before I even finished what I was saying.

"You don't understand," she continued, with a panicked look on her face. "HE BITES!"

"He's mean and nasty and he bites everybody for no reason," she explained. "We watched him for my neighbor once and he bit both me and my daughter. He broke skin, and all I was doing was moving him over on the couch."

I just stood there nodding as she continued to talk.

"He has attacked both of my dogs. He is just a very nasty dog." she finished.

"What does the owner say when her dog bites?" I asked her. "What breed of dog is he?"

"He is a Terrier of some kind, one of those Jack Russel dogs, I think, and she makes excuses for him when he bites."

"Has she had him groomed before?"

"Yes, but they asked her not to bring him back," she answered. "She had a girl coming to the house, but she won't groom him anymore either."

"Well, I do groom biters," I told her. "I give them at least one chance."

Still shaking her head she said, "I'll write her name down for you so you will know when she calls and you can tell her 'no'.

She did leave her neighbors name while continuing to tell me more stories.

Her neighbor called about an hour later for an appointment.

Did we give her an appointment?

Yes.

I didn't have an opening till September...she said she would take it.

Did she mention that her dog was a biter and had been asked not to come back to other shops?

No.

Will she tell me that her dog bites when she brings him in?

We will see.

Do I think that she will warn me about her dog?

No.

I think that she is in denial.

I think that she thinks that it is everyone elses fault that her dog bite them.

My customer told me that her neighbors dog will bust through the door just to chase another dog down the street.

The owners excuse: 'He just wants to play.'

She said that the dog has bitten kids and adults on their street.

No one has reported this dog for some reason. :(

This owner is living on borrowed time.

Someone will sue one day.

I know that I probably sound nuts, but I am very interested in working with this dog.

What do I think?

I think that this dog is a spoiled rotten little brat that has been allowed to get his way about everything.

I think that this dog is a bully that bites to get his way and just be mean...OR...he is inbred and mentally challenged.

I will see.

I am not stupid.

I will be careful.

If I get a really bad vibe from this dog...HE WILL GO RIGHT BACK HOME.

But, I like a challenge.

Of course, it might be a lot easier to work with and train the dog to behave, than get the owner to open her eyes to her dogs bad behavior and a danger to other people and children.

I will let you know what happens.

Unfortunately, you will have to wait until September.

Happy Grooming, MFF