We Will Miss You Annie

Our sweet girl lost her 2 year battle with cancer this morning.

Rescued February 2002 - December 22, 2012

Treasured Friend

I lost a treasured friend today,

The little dog who used to lay

Her gentle head upon my knee

And shared her silent thoughts with me.

She'll come no longer to my call,

Retrieve no more her favorite ball.

A voice far greater than my own

Has called her to His golden Throne.

And though my eyes are filled with tears,

I thank Him for the happy years

He let her spend down here with me

And for her love and loyalty.

Author Unknown

MFF :'(

I Had to Share

My heart felt a little lighter after reading this poem.

I hope that this poem finds its way to some of the grieving parents.

 Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.

Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.

They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.

They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is Heaven." declared a small boy. "We're spending Christmas at God's house."

When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.

Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.

And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King.

As they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

And as if He could read all the questions she had,
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."

Then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,

"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"

Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."

Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Cameo Smith

Mt Wolf, PA 

Remember to give whomever you Love an extra hug. :)

Happy Grooming, MFF

Tis the Season to be Grumpy.....

....falalalala lalalala...... 9 more days.

Well, actually 8 more days.

We don't work Christmas day right?

Our customers do know that, right?

How have all of you been doing?

Are you hanging in there?

Are your customers being naughty or nice?

I have to say that 90% of my customers are being nice.

So why...why do I let the naughty, grumpy customers bother me?

This last week was so busy.

I felt like the last week was never going to end.

It was not that the dogs I groomed were hard to do, or that I had too many to groom.

It was grumpy customers.

Some of them long time customers.

Maybe it is just me.

At my post-op appointment last Monday, my doctor asked me if I had been having mood swings since the surgery.

No.

I didn't have any of the other symptoms that he mentioned either.

After all, he only removed one ovary.

I am not ready for the change of life just yet.

The one symptom that he did not mention was over sensitivity.

Because, I am telling you, I was over sensitive to things that my customers were doing this past week.

Or, maybe it is just because it is the Holidays.

I just don't know.

I usually just try to let things roll of my back.

I try very hard not the let what a customers says, or does bother me.

I don't want to let someone ruin my whole day for some stupid thing that they said, or did, and then walk away and never give it, or me a second thought.

So why am I being so sensitive?

Maybe I am not.

Maybe every groomer would be just as sensitive as me. 

Let me give you a few examples.

(descriptions of the dogs are very vague to keep from hurting anyone's feelings)

I could not help but feel a little depressed when half of the customers that I gave picture calendars to didn't even recognize their own dogs.

I have spent hours on those pictures and calendars.

I at least thought that they would recognize their dogs.

Was I being over sensitive that it hurt my feelings when customers didn't even recognize their own dogs?

Next was the Self-serve customer with the beautiful large dog.

The owners are a very nice couple that had bathed their dog in the Self-Serve before.

I happened to be walking past the lobby just as they came in the front door.

The dog is very sweet, but also extremely shy and timid.

I stopped to greet them only to be told that their dog did not want to come in, because I clipped his nails the last time that they were here.

Was I being over sensitive to be flabbergasted, that even when I am not the one bathing the dog, I still get blamed for the dog not wanting a bath?

Then came the long time customer...like over 20 years long time customer.

She dropped her dog off at 8 am.

She asked me what time we closed.

4 pm.

The same time that we have been closing for the last 5 or 6 years.

Gone are the days that I stay open till 7pm.

She got upset that I was not going to be open later.

She even called at 3 pm to see if we were still closing at 4pm.

So, was I being too sensitive, when I got very irritated, when she walked in at 4:10 to pick up her dog?

I will have to admit that I had a mixture of feelings about the next customer.

Another long time customer with a very sweet dog.

But, the dog is a big job.

He is a medium size dog, with an extremely thick double coat.

A double coat that takes forever to brush out, because the undercoat no longer blows out with the drier.

A dog that no longer stands for the grooming.

A dog that once you have brushed him out, and can finally get a comb through the coat, gets hand scissored all over.

The dog is a lot of work.

The owner has never tipped, so imagine my surprised when a family member came in to pick up the dog and handed me an envelope.

I knew the payment for the groom was in the envelope, but I could also feel something else inside.

It is Christmas, so forgive me if my first thought was a Christmas card with a Christmas tip inside.

After the owner left, I opened up the envelope.

I took out what was inside, and then through my head back and laughed.

The 'Christmas tip' was a check for the exact amount of the grooming, as usual, but there was a note attached.

A note telling me to hold the check until the next week.

 I laughed at my stupidity for thinking that this customer, who has never given a tip before, was giving one now.

Was I being a little over sensitive to also get a little irritated that she hadn't even asked if it was okay for us to hold the check?

Then there was another long time customer, that for the second time, sent her kids in to pick up the dogs, and gave them a pre-writen check with the wrong amount for the groom.

She now owes us $12.

The problem is, she never comes in.

The owner always has someone else drop off and pick up.

She has always been a good customer.

Yes, she was told about the amount being wrong on the check.

She still has not come by to pay the difference.

So, am I being over sensitive about a long time customer would do this?

We had to finish off the week with the customer who insisted on arguing that we were charging her a dollar more than we had before.

"No, your price went up a dollar at the beginning of the year, but has been the same price ever since," my husband explained.

"No, you went up a dollar from the last time, I am sure of it."

A dollar?

Really?

I know the economy stinks right now, but really?

A dollar?

Yes, I must be over sensitive. :/

There were a few more things, but I think I have rambled on enough.

I am still trying to keep that Holiday cheer.

One more week.

It is going to be another long one.

I am putting it out there in the cosmos right now....

.....NO MORE GRUMPY CUSTOMERS!!!!

All of my customers are going to come in full of Holiday cheer.

All of my customers are going to come in full of Holiday cheer.

All of my customers are going to come in full of Holiday cheer.

 All of my customers are going to come in full of Holi.........

Oh, sorry.

I thought if I said it enough it just might happen. :)

Hang in there, and have a great grooming week.

Happy Grooming, MFF

Still Here...

I am still here.

It has just been crazy, busy this past week and weekend, but I wanted to share a picture, or poster, whatever you would call it, that a groomer friend of mine shared on facebook.

Only a groomer can truly understand and appreciate this poster.

I would change one thing on this poster.

'What my clients think I do' would be both the crazy lady with the scissors and the magician pictures together.

While Christmas shopping yesterday....yes, I finally started Christmas shopping... I stopped by the Jewelry store to have my rings cleaned.

As I was waiting for the rings to be cleaned, the jeweler cleaning them was talking to me about grooming. (I had told her that my rings were dirty because I don't take them off when I work, because I am afraid of losing them)

The jeweler told me that she has a Sheltie that runs and hides when they say their groomers name.

Oh boy. :(

She told me that her groomer told her that their dog is very good about being groomed.

I told her that most Shelties are so attached to their owners, that what they really hate is being away from their owners, not the grooming process.

I told her that a lot of dogs like to act up when being dropped off at the groomer, because the dog is hoping that their owner will not leave without them, and that once the owner leaves, most of the dogs settle right down and do really well for the grooming.

Her response....

Laughing, she said; "They shake because they know that you are going to hurt them."

She did not say it meanly or accusingly, but you could tell that she truly believed that the grooming process hurt her dog.

I just don't get it.

Does it hurt for the owners to take a shower?

Does it hurt for the owner to get their hair cut and styled?

Why???

Why do they think that bathing and cutting a dogs hair hurts them?

I felt really down after talking to that woman.

Nothing I said seemed to change her mind.

After I walked away, I wished that I had said; "Do you really think that I became a dog groomer to hurt dogs?"

I always think of things I should have said too late. :(

Well, once again I am really behind in answering comments.

I have 14 waiting for a reply.

If you are one of them, I am sorry.

I will get to them.

Hopefully tomorrow.

After another busy day of Christmas grooming.

I am not complaining...really I am not!

There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day lately. :)

Happy Grooming, MFF

Painful Groomings

Some grooming's can be very painful to do.

The owner asks for a cut that seems to physically hurt you to do.

Like the groom that I did the other day.

 This 4 month old puppy.

A puppy with long, beautiful hair.

Hair that only had a couple of tiny mats.

He had enough hair on his head to tie it back in a nice topknot and bow.

And, guess what...the hair was long enough to get every piece in that topknot with no stray hairs sticking out.

Years ago I owned a Shih-tzu.

I wanted his hair to grow long so bad.

He didn't have hair like this.

Every time his hair got longer than 4 inches he would start to mat up.

Over night!

I swear, no matter how much I brushed that dog, (which he hated ) his hair would mat.

I tired for about two years before I finally gave up.

My Shih-tzu just was not meant to have beautiful long hair.

He was hot all of the time too, so I gave in.

He lived happily for 17 years with a short lamb cut. :)

Anyway, back to this little guy.

His owner has another Shih-tzu that she keeps in a medium length, and she knows that she doesn't have the time to keep up with the coat on this little puppy.

She said that the puppy also does not like to be brushed.

So, she is doing the right thing.

She is having me cut the coat shorter.

 I had him all bathed and blow dried, ready for his clip.

It was sooooo hard.

I even had my husband call the owner to double check on the length that the owner wanted.

It was so painful to take the clip comb to this coat.

It felt like such a shame.

All that beautiful hair cut off. :(

Why????

Why do the owners with the matted dogs want us to save their dogs coat, and the owners that have dogs with naturally long, beautiful hair want us to cut it off????

Sorry.

I am okay now.

I just had to let that out.

It hurts to look at it doesn't it?

It hurt to cut it too.

This puppy was so good.

But, so lazy. :)

Although, just like my Shih-tzu, I think he was liking his new hairdo.

He did turn out cute.

He looks happier now...

...without his long, beautiful hair.

Oh well.

Maybe he will stand up for me next time. :)

Happy Grooming, MFF

Pet Peeve...

....CELLPHONES!

Hold on, because I am going to vent!

I should say that my pet peeve is not really cellphones, it is how rude cellphones have made people nowadays.

My age is going to show in this post, because I remember our family owning a rotary phone...a phone with a dial with numbers on it, for those young groomers out there that may have never seen one.

I remember the very first time I saw someone with a cellphone.

My husband and I were not married yet.

We were out to dinner one night.

A couple was seated at a table not far from us.

When the man sat down he sat a large narrow looking box,with an antenna, on the table next to his plate.

One of those new fangled mobile phones that most people could not afford at the time.

At first we were fascinated.

Wow, he had one of those phones that you could carry around with you that we had only seen on TV shows.

OMG I sound really, really old.......!

Anyway, we were fascinated until the darn thing started to ring.

It echoed around the restaurant.

The man grabbed it and proceeded to have a loud conversation right there, at his table, in the middle of the restaurant, for everyone to hear.

And boy, we hear every word.

  So did everyone else in the restaurant.

The place just seemed to freeze and listen.

I'll tell you something else....that man was very proud of himself and enjoyed showing off.

That was my first experience with a so called cellphone.

I remember telling my husband (boyfriend at the time) how rude I thought that man was, and why in the world would he want to have a private conversation out in public.

Oh, if only I had known what was coming in the next 25 years. lol

Okay, back to my pet peeve.

Customers that walk into my lobby while they are on their cellphones!!!!!

AND, they don't get off their cellphones!!

They either have a conversation with you AND the person on the phone at the same time...you just have to figure out if the question that they are asking is for you or the person on the phone.

OR, they don't say a word to you and keep on with the conversation that they are having on the phone.

They either just hand you the dog, and just nod their head when you ask them if they want the same cut, then nod their head again when you ask if they want you to call them when their dog is done.

Then they are out the door still yacking.

Is it just me?!

Is it that hard to hang up and call back later?

Am I the only person out there that thinks this is extremely rude?

So, why am I venting about this tonight?

Because, my very first customer today came into my lobby while talking on her cellphone.

She was talking to me and the person on the phone at the same time.

She had a small dog that we have groomed many times before.

Because one of her hands was occupied holding the phone to her ear, she could not pick up her dog to hand her to me.

I had to go through my gate and reach for the dog myself.

Normally this is not a problem.

I go out into the lobby all of the time to pick up dogs.

The problem was that this dog is what I call an 'Academy Award Winning Actor'.

What does that mean?

Hold on....I am going to slide off track here for a minute.

I feel that there are four different types of dogs that come into a groomers lobby.

'The Like Family' dog.

These dogs can't wait to get in the shop to see you.

Yes, there are actually dogs that love coming to get groomed.

They drag their owners in the door.

They jump all over the groomer, so happy to see them.

They push their way through the grooming room door and go pick out their own kennels.

I have two Cockers that love coming to my shop.

We go out to help the owner bring them in only because they pull the poor man so hard trying to get to the door that they almost knocked him down in the parking lot one day.

They run in and barge through the grooming room door.

They jump in a kennel, turn around, sit down, and wait for someone to come and close the kennel door.

They enjoy their visit with us just like they were part of the family.

'The Visitor' dog.

These dogs come walking easily into the shop also.

The only difference is, that once they jump on you and greet you, they turn and head for the shop door to go back home.

They look at their owner like they are saying; "Okay Mom/Dad, I said 'Hi' to the groomer now lets go home."

They might want to go right back home, but they will easily walk away from their owner and follow you back to the grooming room.

'The Academy Award Winning Actor' dogs.

I'll get back to this type of dog in a minute.

'The Separation Anxiety' dog.

This dog is truly terrified to be separated from it's owner.

They do not like being taken away from their comfort zone..'home'.

No matter how much you, the groomer, cuddles them, love them, or tries to make them feel comfortable, they just want you to get the grooming done and over with and go home.

Now, back to 'The Academy Award Winning Actor' dog.

This dog comes into your lobby and immediately starts to shake.

They hide behind their owner.

They smash their body to the floor when you try to pick them up.

They struggle to get out of your arms, and back to their owner, once you get a hold of them.

They are still shaking in your arms.

Then, you take them through the  grooming room door...

They almost immediately stop shaking.

By the time you walk across the room to a kennel, they are no longer shaking at all.

They get in the kennel and settle right down.

They don't bark.

They don't paw at the kennel door.

Most of the time they curl up and take a nap.

All of that 'acting' in the lobby was strictly to make their owner feel awful and take them back home.

I have had dogs literally sigh as we walk into the grooming room.

I always imagine that that dog is thinking; "Well crap, that didn't work. I'll have to shake harder the next time my owner brings me here."

That was my first dog customer today.

She puts on one heck of a show in the lobby.

Today, her owner walked in talking on her cellphone.

I bent down to pick up her dog.

She promptly jumped behind her owners legs.

Her owner backed up against the lobby wall.

The dog tried to climb up the back of her legs.

Because the owner was still talking on the phone (phone in one hand, leash in the other) she was no help.

All I could think was; " Good grief (insert dogs name),could you act anymore like I was an Ogre that was after you to eat you?"

I was also thinking; "Come on lady, get the heck off the phone and help me pick up your dog!!"

I finally got a hold of the dog.

As I was backing out from between the owner and the wall, I was turning the dog in my arms so that she would be tucked safely under my arm.

I just about had her turned around while I was straightening up.

She was struggling to get out of my arms to get back to her owner.

(Could they possibly make you feel any worse?)

Just as I straightened up, she took her foot and her nails, (pictured left) and raked them down the side of my face.

From my eye down to my neck.

She didn't brake skin, but boy did it burn.

The owner never noticed.

She walked out still talking on her phone.

The dog?

As soon as the owner started  walking out the door, and we headed into the grooming room, she settled right down.

Another award winning performance that did not get the dog out of being groomed.

She settled right down in her kennel.

No shaking.

No barking.

No pawing at the kennel door.

She settled right down and waited to get her bath.

Did I get mad at the dog?

No.

She is very, very sweet, and very good about being groomed.

I rarely blame dogs for their behavior.

I always blame the owner. :/

I was very pissed with the owner.

If she had not been on her phone, she could have picked up her dog and handed her to me.

If she had not been on her phone, I would not have had to practically crawl between her and the wall to catch her dog.

If she had not been on the phone, my face would not have gotten scratched.

Maybe I am just old fashioned.

Maybe I am the only person that thinks it is rude when people have loud, personal conversations in the middle of a store, restaurant, doctors office....grooming shop...ect.

Well, if you are still with me...thanks for letting me vent. 

I feel better now. :)

Happy Grooming, MFF