fellow groomers

dane&cockermom · 08-11-2008, 07:08 AM

i had a couple dogs over the weekend that decided they wanted to eat me and they were not in any way shape or form going to cooperate or let me get a muzzle on them.

so i called their parents and asked them to come in and help me.

does that seem odd?

i mean...if anything, it gives them a chance to see what their dog acts like when it's here and would know how difficult it is.

plus, i had one dad who wasn't even comfortable holding his dog for me, nor could he get the muzzle on. so i kinda thought to myself "well, if he isn't comfortable holding his own dog, how can he expect me to?"

do you thinks it's wrong to call in the owner to help hold if you are unable to control an animal?

Lorina · 08-11-2008, 07:26 AM

At the vet's office, we ask some owners to slip muzzles on the dogs for us. If it's just a typical "don't want the dog to possibly nip during this procedure" sort of thing, we'll put the muzzles on, but for the "we will definitely get bit just trying to get the muzzle on" situations, the owner puts it on. If they can't do anything with the dog, and we can't do anything with the dog, and it's not an emergency situation (usually it's for nails or anals or a routine heartworm check), we'll ask them to reschedule and have the dog come back on a mild dose of Ace (providing the dog is healthy enough for it).

I would much rather a groomer ask me to help out with my dog than be hurt by or stress out my dog. Beavis has issues with being picked up, so when he went to the groomer, I picked him up for the groomer. He has his quirks, especially with being half blind, but he's used to me and I'm used to him. But I mostly groom him at home anyway.

Don152 · 08-11-2008, 01:00 PM

I have been trying to find a groomer that willl ALLOW me to help control and calm my dog, but they seem to prefer telling me to leave and come back in four hours... Maybe they are just that busy, or maybe they think its easier if the owner is not there. I am sure that many times owners make things worse, but I don't think I am one of those. And if I am they can ask me to leave when it starts going south. I wont be offended but I am not like most people.

Graco22 · 08-11-2008, 05:23 PM

I have one chow that the owner muzzles for me when he walks in the door. With the muzzle on, he is fine. But I cannot get near him otherwise. I used to have owners help if needed, etc. but anymore, I just don't have time for the hassle of ill mannered dogs and if I am bitten and out of work, my family doesn't eat. Most pet owners don't understand that. A single, well placed bite, even from a small dog, can put a groomer thru numerous surgeries, and out of work for months, if not worse. I have never had an owner be able to effeciently help hold a dog, or make the grooming any better. Usually they are making the dog worse, because the dog is focusing on the owner, rather than me. If the dog is so difficult that an owner has to physically help restrain the dog, then they need to find another groomer, because I will not put a pet thru that as nothing is being learned,the dog is just being traumatized, and they need to teach the dog some manners at home first. I have had one dog in 8 years that I had to send home unfinished due to behaviour/stress.

Owners are welcome to stay and watch, etc, at my salon, and I have a handful of people that do. They do not however come into the grooming area, but sit in the entry area. They can see their dogs, and the dogs can see them, (my salon is open to the reception area). Most dogs are fine if owners stay, as long as they stay from the start. Please do keep in mind fellow groomers, that you need to check with your insurance company about clients in the grooming area/helping, etc. IF that client is to get bitten by their OWN dog, YOU can be held liable as you are the professional that is "in charge" of the animal in your facility. Be very careful. Check with an attorney, and your insurance agent. In the very least, those clients should be signing a release, drawn up by an attorney.

Don152 · 08-11-2008, 05:43 PM

That clears things up a bit, but all dogs (and their owners) are different.. in my case if my dog sees me on the other side of the window she will struggle like heck to get to me.. separation anxiety. But if I am with her (or not there at all) she does OK (just cries a lot but does not fight, bite, etc)

Dieselsmama · 08-11-2008, 06:26 PM

To be perfectly honest, it depends on the owner. I do have some dogs come in for nail trims when I don't have anyone available to help hold for me. If their owners are comfortable with it and I think they can follow direction

I'll let them hold the dog. Often times I can do more with less hassle because there are dogs that behave better when their owner holds them. If they are soo difficult someone's gonna get bit regardless of whether or not the owner is doing a good job, I bag it. not worth someone getting bit over.

carolee brancefield · 08-11-2008, 07:37 PM

Hi everyone. i just joined this forum today and this is my 1st post. I am a groomer that works in a vets office. I do a lot of really bad pets that come from other groomers that dont have the resorces available that we do. I actually like doing the harder pets. I feel like I can make the grooming a little easier for them because we have access to extra hands, vets for emergencies, and a whole list of medications that just make life easier. we only sedate in extreme cases but you might let your clients know that a good vet can gelp the groomer adjust the type and dosage of any sedative to the safest and lowest dose needed for a pet. people get scared when they here thier pet may need sedation, but although their are risks to any medication i have seen many more pets hurt while fighting the groomer than by having the meds. i also do as much of the groom as possible before we medicate so that the pet has a chance each time to allow more grooming and have worked with many until they no longer have to sedate at all anymore. I started in a small shop by myself and moved to the vet after about 8 years and beleive me if i ever find myself out on my on again i will send all the crazy, allergater rolling,leash chewing, screaming, biting, matted to the skin and scared to death dogs on to a good vet office for the treatments they need.

Don152 · 08-11-2008, 09:26 PM

Do any vets or grommers medicate without checking with the owner first? I'll bet a good number of owners give their dog something before going to the groomer, and if they groomer gives something also there might be an overdose (as well as one major heck of a lawsuit).

dane&cockermom · 08-12-2008, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don152

Do any vets or grommers medicate without checking with the owner first? I'll bet a good number of owners give their dog something before going to the groomer, and if they groomer gives something also there might be an overdose (as well as one major heck of a lawsuit).

we don't. infact if the owner tells us the dog has been medicated, we'll generally turn them away. we don't have a vet in the store in case the dog were to have a reaction to the medication.

Graco22 · 08-12-2008, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by Don152
Do any vets or grommers medicate without checking with the owner first? I'll bet a good number of owners give their dog something before going to the groomer, and if they groomer gives something also there might be an overdose (as well as one major heck of a lawsuit).
Absolutely not here. I also send them back home if they show up and tell me they medicated the dog with ace, whatever. And I certainly will not give a pet a sedative myself. No way. My salon is 10 minutes from the nearest vet, and any sedative can have an adverse effect on a pet, and I don't want the resposibility of it dying on my watch, etc. I also used to groom at a large animal hospital, and we did work on sedated (ace) or full out anesthesized dogs. In my experience, mild sedatives like ace, etc never helped. They made it worse. The dogs were loopy enough to not understand what was going on, and more scared.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don152
Do any vets or grommers medicate without checking with the owner first? I'll bet a good number of owners give their dog something before going to the groomer, and if they groomer gives something also there might be an overdose (as well as one major heck of a lawsuit).

Absolutely not here. I also send them back home if they show up and tell me they medicated the dog with ace, whatever. And I certainly will not give a pet a sedative myself. No way. My salon is 10 minutes from the nearest vet, and any sedative can have an adverse effect on a pet, and I don't want the resposibility of it dying on my watch, etc. I also used to groom at a large animal hospital, and we did work on sedated (ace) or full out anesthesized dogs. In my experience, mild sedatives like ace, etc never helped. They made it worse. The dogs were loopy enough to not understand what was going on, and more scared.

carolee brancefield · 08-14-2008, 06:33 PM

We never give medication of any kind without the owners consent and as for sedation, we must have written consent that was witnessed by two people. as i said we only do this in extreme circumstances. but that is why there are vets with groomers. Groomers shouldnt feel like they have to work on difficult dogs.

dane&cockermom · 08-14-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolee brancefield

We never give medication of any kind without the owners consent and as for sedation, we must have written consent that was witnessed by two people. as i said we only do this in extreme circumstances. but that is why there are vets with groomers. Groomers shouldnt feel like they have to work on difficult dogs.

oh yeah, there's been a couple times i've referred an owner to a groomer at a vet.