tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post8584721571625919845..comments2024-03-20T03:14:55.880-04:00Comments on Pet Grooming: The Good, The Bad, & The Furry: What Do People THINK That They See?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-62881361476321055202014-10-05T08:44:27.960-04:002014-10-05T08:44:27.960-04:00With regards to being so / too visible from the ou...With regards to being so / too visible from the outside: could it be a solution to put reflective film on the window ?<br />Most of the better ones give then visibility from the inside out, but from the outside a passer by would only see his own image.<br /><br />General comment: I am a pet owner (Portuguese Waterdog) but also the ex-husband of groomer. <br />From both viewpoints I can only say that I very much respect your views (and rants), and hope that you may long continue to groom the way you do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-53318737713889734152014-05-24T21:20:36.123-04:002014-05-24T21:20:36.123-04:00I work at a pet something in a fish bowl and the a...I work at a pet something in a fish bowl and the absolute worst is when a dog freaks out for something as simple as touching it's foot, brushing, etc. and then you look out the window to see a customer's face in total disgust of what they are seeing while you are just trying to keep the dog from hurting itself/you. Many times you know they are thinking that you are torturing the dog, when really it is just throwing a fit because it may not be getting its way. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-77466561496160294422014-03-27T08:48:02.918-04:002014-03-27T08:48:02.918-04:00Just wanted to say, You put that very well!! I hav...Just wanted to say, You put that very well!! I have been in front of a window for 20 years and you explained it very well. Kudos to you<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-87106255554336047512014-03-26T22:41:30.806-04:002014-03-26T22:41:30.806-04:00I have never thought any of those things! I am tol...I have never thought any of those things! I am told my current dog Peanut is very well-behaved during grooming. My previous dog, Buttercup, I usually groomed myself at home but a couple times took her to the groomer and she did not do well for me or for the groomer. I also know that when I go to pick Peanut up from the groomer, if there are any final finishing touches I request, she wiggles and squirms like crazy because my presence distracts her. If I were there the whole time the groomer would have a heck of a time trying to get her to hold still!<br /><br />Plus, having groomed my own dog, I know how wiggly they can be and how awful it is to cut them if they turn just as you're closing the scissors. Holding them still is important.Ali Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00071680246964212045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-68634280540600530572014-03-26T20:51:58.341-04:002014-03-26T20:51:58.341-04:00Hi Leah,
I give you all the credit in the world fo...Hi Leah,<br />I give you all the credit in the world for doing housecall grooming. I have to be honest, I could not stand an owner standing over my shoulder while I groomed.<br />I have done a little housecall grooming on a few elderly dogs that I did not want to leave home. Each time the owners stayed out of the room. :)<br />Very clever idea to get that dogs face scissored. lol<br />Lisa, MFFMy Furry Friendshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03957566282521723511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-16635388977753053772014-03-26T10:49:50.499-04:002014-03-26T10:49:50.499-04:00That is a very good article - seems the public oug...That is a very good article - seems the public ought to be reading it. I groom housecall and most often the owner is right there. The dog is fine because it's not hoping to go home. I feel it is a service that helps the public understand what does go into grooming. I also generally don't groom biters though a few have snuck into my practice. One thing I love is that after research I do feel that plucking ears is not good for the dog and have stopped that practice entirely, which helps since as I said the owner is often right there. I worked in the fishbowl and didn't care for that so much though on rare occasion a dog would be distracted by the people on the other side of the glass and I could get some clipping/scissoring in during that time. I have one dog who is so bad about getting it's face clipped that the owner 'must' go inside and wash or at least play with dishes. The dog is such a little piggy that it stares at their kitchen window thinking she's feeding and I swoop in on the dog's face. Leah Shirokoffhttp://www.theplushpup.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-22004033900148387002014-03-26T05:06:21.063-04:002014-03-26T05:06:21.063-04:00I've worked at my petsomething for 10 years no...I've worked at my petsomething for 10 years now. I still love it. If you know how to actually handle the animals you won't get complaints. I would get bored not being able to look out a window. Quit being a babyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-27542788518406662162014-01-09T22:38:26.450-05:002014-01-09T22:38:26.450-05:00Hi,
First, congratulations on being so popular and...Hi,<br />First, congratulations on being so popular and such a good groomer! I have been where you are. You are happy for the business, BUT you secretly wish that you didn't have quite so much. I also totally understand about hiring. Grrrrr. When I first started hiring, I thought that everybody who wanted to work with animals cared about them just as much as me. Boy, was I wrong. Good groomers were SO hard to find.<br />Take a breath. Don't feel like you have to get every dog in now. If people have to wait for you, they have to wait. If they really like you and the way you groom their dogs they WILL wait.<br /> Once I built up my business and started booking out 3 or 4 weeks, my regulars had a fit when they could not get a next day appointment like they used to. Some even got mad and went some place else. Well, just about everyone of them came back and to top it all off they started to book their next appointment before they left the current appointment. :)<br />Think about hiring a part time bather instead of another groomer. So much easier to train. A bather could also help answer phones if you would like. This would help free up some time to take an extra dog or two. BUT remember....do great grooms, take great care of the dogs, and give good, friendly customer service and your customers WILL wait for an appointment with you. If they are too impatient to wait, then let them go elsewhere. It sounds like you will have no problem replacing them. Good luck and hang in there. Oh also, remember to take a day just for yourself once in a while to help refresh yourself.<br />Lisa, MFFMy Furry Friendshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03957566282521723511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-71534349838510916682014-01-09T22:00:17.869-05:002014-01-09T22:00:17.869-05:00I am so happy I have found this. I am having burn...I am so happy I have found this. I am having burn out really bad, and I have no support. I have my own shop and its getting to the point I need two of me. I have been a salon manager at both petsomething stores and both salons were very busy. I knew I would do well on my own, but its much different when your the one having to hire. I know how hard it is to get good help, and sometimes it feels its much easier doing it yourself. But myself is'nt enough anymore. The phone rings every day with 3-6 new customers wanting to come to me becuase I do their friends dog. I just want to feel grateful, insead of saying Leave me alone when the phone rings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-80438308316565408772013-11-11T07:22:26.106-05:002013-11-11T07:22:26.106-05:00Wow, I have been grooming for about 5 years now an...Wow, I have been grooming for about 5 years now and I 100% agree with every word you have said in this post. Also have thought about all this as well while I groom. Thank you for posting and letting others know they are not alone in thinking about what other non-groomers see and think.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-61350485450497327082012-11-12T22:49:32.005-05:002012-11-12T22:49:32.005-05:00Hi,
Wow, I am not sure what to say. Burnout...that...Hi,<br />Wow, I am not sure what to say. Burnout...that is the worst. I have gone through a couple of them. So bad once, I almost closed up my shop. I just wanted to walk away.<br />I am so happy that you will be going to an Expo. It really helps to boost you back up. To be able to talk to other groomers, away from work, without the drama.<br />I have gone through those times of feeling like I could not remember how to groom right anymore. I had to give myself some serious talks. I simply do not understand why crop stores do not give their groomers the tools that will help them groom faster and better. I will always give Best Shot shampoo and HV dryers credit for saving my wrists and allowing me to still groom the big double coated breeds. My knees..the anti-fatigue mats have really helped. I have two of them at my table, one on top of the other. :)<br />Enjoy that Expo, and thanks for reading my blog. I am so happy that it has helped.<br />Lisa, MFFMy Furry Friendshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03957566282521723511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-4055337323109433242012-11-12T14:46:28.876-05:002012-11-12T14:46:28.876-05:00Hello, Lisa. This might be long-winded...but here...Hello, Lisa. This might be long-winded...but here goes. I wanted to thank you. I recently discovered your blog, and have been enjoying it very much. I will even go so far as to credit you with my decision to stay in the grooming world! A few weeks ago, I typed into my computer "groomer burnout", because oh boy...did I have it. I have been grooming for 14 years, at one of those "PetSomething's" stores. I have had many offers for jobs at private salons, but I just can't give up my benefits (plus paid vacation and sick time as a bonus). I deal with the frustration of windows, bosses who know nothing about grooming and have outlandish expectations, bad company decisions, breeding groomers to care about quantity over quality, caring nothing for furthering grooming education (other than $$ figures) over/under charging, horrible customers, working with HORRIBLE shampoos and conditioners (hydrosurge products only), lack of respect from groomers for working at 'PetSomething'...not to mention the stresses of actually grooming. I reached a breaking point. My health is suffering because of my job (back, wrists and knees are shot). I used to be known in our salon as the large dog groomer..the scissor 'queen'..the one who can calm a nervous dog..,the patient one. There was nothing better than scissoring a chow or any large double-coated breed to me. Now, my work has gone downhill so much so as a nail trim on a lab will bring me to tears. I have even lost my ability to scissor well. Your blog has reminded me to further my education to succeed! I have been doing things the same way for so long, a change-up is in desperate need. New equipment is out there to buy, new techniques which don't make your hands and fingers go numb. Sounds silly, but you have reminded me how much I actually love the job, even with all it's frustrations. I plan on purchasing lots of new equipment I have seen you use, and am planning on my FIRST expo next year! So, again, I just wanted to thank you. Your page has helped me concrete my decision...and I love reading about your experiences that we all share! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-47524339243001715542012-11-09T22:39:44.315-05:002012-11-09T22:39:44.315-05:00Thanks D!
Sometimes there are pictures that I don&...Thanks D!<br />Sometimes there are pictures that I don't use on my blog, because I think that someone will look at the way I was holding the dog and think that I was hurting it. Crazy isn't it?<br />Lisa, MFFMy Furry Friendshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03957566282521723511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-12425315780188314692012-11-09T22:37:41.088-05:002012-11-09T22:37:41.088-05:00Hi Jennifer,
Five years! I don't know how you ...Hi Jennifer,<br />Five years! I don't know how you did that. I always feel sorry for those groomers when I go in to buy my dog food. There always seem to be people standing at the window, or inside at the counter. That would drive me crazy.<br />Lisa, MFFMy Furry Friendshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03957566282521723511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-83499552365784549282012-11-06T18:55:54.206-05:002012-11-06T18:55:54.206-05:00Great post! Some of the holds we do as groomers c...Great post! Some of the holds we do as groomers certainly must look horrible to someone who doesn't know any better. Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17598891218608102466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6861555359944928813.post-90106292426894707452012-11-06T10:56:55.229-05:002012-11-06T10:56:55.229-05:00I spent 5 years grooming at a PetSomething, and I ...I spent 5 years grooming at a PetSomething, and I hated working in a fish bowl for all of these reasons. Yes, we would get complaints from people who thought we were being too rough with the dogs when we really weren't. People would get REALLY upset. I worked in a strip mall for 2 years facing a window, but luckily there wasn't a ton of foot traffic in front of the store. I am SO happy to work in a windowless room now. There are far fewer distractions for both the dogs and myself and I don't have to worry about what people are thinking about how I am handling the dogs. <br /><br />Kudos to you for not letting that worry distract you from grooming the way you need to in order to get the job done.The Writing Groomerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07701100827882727464noreply@blogger.com