tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post3099180539888241169..comments2024-03-20T03:14:55.880-04:00Comments on Pet Grooming: The Good, The Bad, & The Furry: BurnoutUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-37056343431151544302014-01-24T22:51:53.550-05:002014-01-24T22:51:53.550-05:00Hi Cassi,
I did a post on wet clipping a while bac...Hi Cassi,<br />I did a post on wet clipping a while back that I think will answer your questions.<br /><br />http://petgroomingthegoodthebadthefurry.blogspot.com/2010/08/wet-shaving.html<br /><br />I also wrote another post about matting that you may find interesting.<br /><br />http://petgroomingthegoodthebadthefurry.blogspot.com/2010/08/matted-dogs.html<br /><br />Hope this helps. :)<br />Lisa, MFF<br /><br />My Furry Friendshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03957566282521723511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-88717225624010002792014-01-23T14:24:36.580-05:002014-01-23T14:24:36.580-05:00Hi I had a question...what is wet-clipping? I'...Hi I had a question...what is wet-clipping? I'm a young groomer and was taught by the groomer in this town before me and she told me to never clip on a wet dog...dulls your blades. What are the benefits of clipping a wet matted dog? Wouldn't clipping it with a #10 or 8 1/2 work before the bath just as well? Why wouldn't it? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02940376895380909627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-84548221761975518962012-08-06T16:44:29.966-04:002012-08-06T16:44:29.966-04:00Hello there!
My name is Shae and I am 23, I ...Hello there! <br /> My name is Shae and I am 23, I opened my salon/kennel 3 years ago. I totally feel you on getting burnt out- see the problem with assholes is the first thing they figure out how to do is reproduce! Some of them cannot even hardly stand upright but somehow they can figure out how to do that!<br /> Keep your chin up, at least you are not so miserable that you are harassing someone about putting on a harness wrong. At least your not so mentally f-ing screwed that your verbally assaulting someone that totally doesnt deserve it just to feel a little better about yourself. Lol I'm almost to being burnout myself..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-53679122754820339422012-07-02T18:31:14.012-04:002012-07-02T18:31:14.012-04:00Hi Paisely,
I give you all the credit in the world...Hi Paisely,<br />I give you all the credit in the world managing one of those stores. You have to please the big guys upstairs, employees AND the customers! You could most likely fill a book with the petty complaints that you deal with everyday.<br />Not sure what big pet store you work for but if it is the one that advertizes that 'your dogs grooming is free if you are not happy' I really feel sorry for the crap that you have to deal with, because there are people out there that will complain even if nothing is wrong just to get that free grooming.<br />MATTING...that is the biggest pain of all. Owners ALWAYS think that their dogs aren't matted. I had a dog in that even fooled me until I started working on her. I try to make a point of feeling the coats while the owner is still there. If I feel mats, I part the hair and show the owner. If they still don't believe that the dog is matted, I get a comb and ask them to comb through their dogs coat to the skin. I also take pictures of the mats on dogs before I brush them out. I have called owners to tell them that the mat can be removed but it will take XX minutes at $XX "do you still want me to demat?" I also save mats that I cut off to show the owner. They are NOT going to give me a hard time about it! <br />As for grooming employees...I have no words of wisdom. That is why I don't hire groomers anymore.:/<br />Good luck dealing with those customers. Maybe you should start writing down all of those little stories of complaining customers. Who knows, one day you could have enough to write a book and make some money off of all that complaining. :)<br />Lisa, MFFMy Furry Friendshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03957566282521723511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-7800372017586723722012-07-02T16:49:00.058-04:002012-07-02T16:49:00.058-04:00Hi Lesley,
It is so hard when you first open your ...Hi Lesley,<br />It is so hard when you first open your business. You feel like you need to book anyone who calls even when warning flags are flying in your head as you are talking to them. I can't tell you how many 'shop-a-round' customers and once-a-year dogs I got when I first opened.<br />I also remember those times when I would be busy one week and slow the next. Around here January and February were the hardest months to get through.<br />The one thing that I have learned is that customers will treat you the way you let them. Meaning that if you let them walk all over you, they will!<br />One of the things that I would have changed was to make rules for myself and stick to them. EX: If you don't want to demat for more than 10 minutes, stick to your guns and don't let a customer talk you into more dematting. If you like your dogs to come in at appointed times, stick to those times. Don't let a customer talk you into an off time because they will expect it every time. <br />I sound mean don't I? I am not, I bend a lot for my customers, BUT I tend to only do it for my good customers. I don't do it for everyone anymore. 'You work with me, I'll work with you' is the way I look at it now.<br />My first couple of years were hard and lean, but as long as you can still see growth hang in there. I went from praying for the phone to ring to having to listen to my customers complaining because I could no longer give them an appointment the next day and they would have to wait a week or two for an appointment. That hasn't changed, now they get mad because I am booking 8 weeks to 3 months ahead. Unfortunately, there will always be something for someone to complain about.<br />If only I could figure out a way to groom the dogs without having to deal with the owners.<br />Lisa, MFFMy Furry Friendshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03957566282521723511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-11349616250140037962012-07-02T10:26:23.950-04:002012-07-02T10:26:23.950-04:00oh my, i dont groom but manage one of those big bo...oh my, i dont groom but manage one of those big box stores with grooming. I will tell you that every day grooming and groomers give me the blues. I am so glad that i found you and know that at least one groomer in this world isnt crazy, because so far that is all i can find are crazy groomers. They love to make their own schedules and their drama is daily (jerry springer drama). <br /><br />I have to listen to customers who swear that their dog wasnt matted, they brush it daily and dont understand why they have to pay an extra $6 (i want to take the money from my pocket and hand it to them since it is obviously such a big deal). <br /><br />My question isnt how why you are burned out, it is how you havent been burned out before now. It is incredibly difficult to have someone patronize you over a profession that you have poured your heart into. <br /><br />I used to be the same way with customers, when someone told me something negative, i would take it home with me. I would obsess over how i could have avoided the situation. I think it is just women that are this way. I once had a fellow manager tell me a story about how he was leaving and a customer waved him down and told him that he would never come back to his store because no one greeted him when he walked in, the manager apologized and went home to his family. He didnt obsess over it. <br /><br />I have learned something about customers, there are people that want you to solve their problems and there are people that just want to complain. I am more than willing to help the customers that want me to solve their problems and i am have gotten better at not carrying around the comments of the complainers because it usually has little or nothing to do with me. <br /><br />Keep your chin up, you are a passionate and great groomer and if your customers cant figure that out, fire them.tatiana roosevelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06743935495794720858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-50456696230905234062012-06-29T18:30:48.788-04:002012-06-29T18:30:48.788-04:00Hi - Its 9 months since I opened my shop as a newl...Hi - Its 9 months since I opened my shop as a newly trained groomer and feel pretty close to 'burnout' myself. I'm really worried over whether my business is going to be successful enough to make it worthwhile i.e. earn a wage I can live off, as at present I can be booked out one week and way too quiet the next. <br /><br />I love working with dogs but everything you and Serena have said about customers rings true with me, and I have begun to realise that as a new groomer I am being taken advantage of by 'shop-around' customers. But what really gets to me the most is those customers' you go the 'extra-mile' for and take up so much of your time - then you never see them again! It would be so much better if we only had to deal with dog's and not their owners. <br />Lesley - Muttley'sAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-76644989436244390892012-06-28T20:15:44.956-04:002012-06-28T20:15:44.956-04:00Hi Serena,
Grooming is such a personalized busines...Hi Serena,<br />Grooming is such a personalized business. It is such a shame that some customers take advantage of you. It makes it really hard to keep a nice attitude.<br />Lisa, MFFMy Furry Friendshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03957566282521723511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-13577245803542946572012-06-28T11:52:29.976-04:002012-06-28T11:52:29.976-04:00The customers take you for granted, the happy deme...The customers take you for granted, the happy demeanor and the smiles, they think that they can talk to you like crap and you have to take it. They will take out their bad days on you and their family troubles, some will cuss me up and down then break into tears, I've had to just ask "Ma'am, is something bothering you at home?" Young people have little to no respect, they do NOT want to listen on how to brush their dog at home between groomings, and they will pretty much talk over you and walk on you. People 30-50 are usually the best, they listen, they brush their pets or at least try to the best of their ability. They make more appts than any other group, and if they miss they at least give you notice or a true reason. Older people, as in 60+ are awesome, but most of them will down right talk your ear off until it catches fire. The ones where you are backing away slowly and smiling, trying to be nice... but you really need to get back to work.. or at least off of the phone. I love everyone, but the ones that are starting to be really rude, I smile but I am getting to be very point blank with them. These are the rules, these are the prices, no walk-ins for haircuts, have a great day. People need facts, not friends, the second you start being too nice or too chatty with people it usually backfires.<br />At least for me :\<br />~SerenaSerenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00025918401575603416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-9279807059553907502012-06-27T22:15:57.251-04:002012-06-27T22:15:57.251-04:00Be my guest. It's a great way to get your poi...Be my guest. It's a great way to get your point across in a whimsical and non-threatening way. I placed mine directly in front of the basket that holds the free dog biscuits we give out at the end of each groom. That way, I know everyone will see it!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-42321468229501312842012-06-26T21:32:15.374-04:002012-06-26T21:32:15.374-04:00Hi Mittens,
Thanks you for the kind words. They he...Hi Mittens,<br />Thanks you for the kind words. They help. :)<br /><br /><br />Hi Karen,<br />I am going to make that sign for my shop if you don't mind. I love it!<br />I solved my employee problem the same way, only I trained my daughter and son. :)<br />Lisa, MFFMy Furry Friendshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03957566282521723511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-32316498533879817912012-06-26T19:39:27.134-04:002012-06-26T19:39:27.134-04:00Hi Lisa,
You just described my day (pretty much e...Hi Lisa,<br /><br />You just described my day (pretty much every day lately)to the letter. I think I mentioned before in an earlier post of yours, that I've noticed over the past several years, customers (even the long time nice ones) have gotten more demanding and rude. I blame it on the economy, or who knows what, but I've managed to deal with it the best I can. I've also gone through employee problems as well. I'ts all part of the downside of owning your own business. I solved the bad groomer problem by simply not having another groomer in my shop. My customers were never happy when it was someone other than myself grooming their dog. I now have two assistants who brush out, bathe, and HV, so my only job is to groom. We do on average 13-14 dogs a day. It's a lot of work for just me, but it just works out better for my mental health. If I screw up, it's all on me. I don't have to make excuses for someone else's bad job. I start at 7 a.m. and finish at 5 p.m. Long day, hard work, and burnouts do happen. I have since stopped working weekends to avoid burnout. My shop is now booking 12 weeks out. I put a sign on my counter last year that says "Grumpy dogs are always welcome....grumpy people are not" Whether it works or not, it makes me feel better. Hang in there...and don't apologize for your success..Karen in NJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-60846201974300779332012-06-26T14:27:51.127-04:002012-06-26T14:27:51.127-04:00Stay strong, pretty lady!! We have all definitely ...Stay strong, pretty lady!! We have all definitely been there. I hope pleasant customers come your way soon !!! I don't feel you're overly sensitive, these people are being very crude :( I hate it when that happensMittenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06801493062757279243noreply@blogger.com