[Love's_Sophie]

You could do an ornament, homemade treats, discount coupons, etc...

[Graco22]

I did ornaments a few years back, and owners just LOVED them. I used the plain glass, round ornaments (cheap at Michaels right now after Xmas) and tied little ribbons on the top of them. I then wrote the dog's name on the glass with a gel marker or pen. When I groomed the dog, I would put its cut hair inside the ornament. I filled em pretty good, cause it does settle. Then put the cap back on and whala...VERY cheap, and like I said, owners just loved them. And now some of those dogs have passed on to rainbow bridge, and mean even more to their owners.

Poodle, that rear angulation is tuff too..especially if the dog doesn't have a great rear shelf to begin with. I am finally realizing how short it needs to be under the pin bone..You can do a 4F or 5F blade there, gradually swooping out towards the hock. Then scissor it up. The shortest point should be in the bend of the leg. You want to scissor in the tailset too, and leave more hair in front of the tail, but take the backside of the tail down with a 7blade. Does that help any? I would love to see pics of your Beau.

[Graco22]

Trying to resurrect this thread, because I think many board members enjoyed it. Here are a few recent pics.


This is Bailey, her yearly groom. I cannot seem to convince her owners that once a year is not ideal...she had many matts, and TONS of undercoat. She does not get brushed at home. I also had another talk (like last year) with them about her weight, hoping they make a change for this poor girl. Quite possible the most overweight golden I have ever seen.

[Graco22]

And here are a couple cuties from the same family. Both yorkie/poodle mixes.

[Love's_Sophie]

You know, it always makes me wonder, why owners who take decent care of their small dogs, cannot 'afford' the same for their big dogs...

I will have to start taking some pics again; haven't for a while...Lol! I've had some good ones too!!!

[JRT_Rattie_Mom]

Originally Posted by Graco22

I did ornaments a few years back, and owners just LOVED them. I used the plain glass, round ornaments (cheap at Michaels right now after Xmas) and tied little ribbons on the top of them. I then wrote the dog's name on the glass with a gel marker or pen. When I groomed the dog, I would put its cut hair inside the ornament. I filled em pretty good, cause it does settle. Then put the cap back on and whala...VERY cheap, and like I said, owners just loved them. And now some of those dogs have passed on to rainbow bridge, and mean even more to their owners.

Thanks for the ideas! I love the idea of the clear ornament with the name added, and the hair inside.. I guess if it's a dog without hair cuts I would just leave the ornament empty inside, or did you fill them up with something else?

Originally Posted by Graco22

And here are a couple cuties from the same family. Both yorkie/poodle mixes.

What a couple of cuties... and nice grooms!

[JRT_Rattie_Mom]

These were 2 new dogs I had right before Christmas. We had a big snow storm here that lasted 2 weeks so most of my Christmas dogs canceled until January. I'd made red eyelash yarn scarves to put on for Christmas and hardly got to use any of them! Oh well.. I'll have plenty for next year!

[JRT_Rattie_Mom]

Even though they are usually a challenge.. I love doing 1st puppy haircuts! This is 4 month old Teddy... who did pretty good for his 1st time!

[ladyshadowhollyjc]

I swear it looks like you groomers preform some miracles. Good job!

[poodleholic]

Poodle, that rear angulation is tuff too..especially if the dog doesn't have a great rear shelf to begin with. I am finally realizing how short it needs to be under the pin bone..You can do a 4F or 5F blade there, gradually swooping out towards the hock. Then scissor it up. The shortest point should be in the bend of the leg. You want to scissor in the tailset too, and leave more hair in front of the tail, but take the backside of the tail down with a 7blade. Does that help any? I would love to see pics of your Beau.

Graco, thanks! I think between what you've described, in addition to some pictures I have, I understand! And, understand where I've gone wrong! LOL Maddy and Lucia have a great rear shelf, Beau, well, not bad, but not so much as the girls. I'm getting a digital camera from a friend who has a new one (bless her heart), so will be able to take and post pics soon!

Lucia, going on 5 months now, has never had a haircut yet (just shaved FFT), but did scissor a tiny bit, close to what you describe above. I'll soon be hooking up with a prof. groomer who does show Poodles, and knows what Lucia's handler likes (i.e., a v neck instead of a u-shaped, etc.), so will get some pointers there. I ordered hot pink bands, wraps, rat tail comb, containers, the works! LOL From lainee - can't wait till it arrives!

I work for a DV (domestic violence) program/shelter, and we had a Standard Poodle SD (service dog) accompany his human. Poor boy was a MESS! Clean, but she used inappropriate soap to bathe him with (almond and honey liquid soap groan), he was matted, had an ear infection, his face was hairy and stained, his topknot had a hunk cut out in front so he could see, very long nails, sani area matted and pulling his skin, and tail a thick, matted, blob. I took some pics of him, but not befores. He was too ashamed - Imagine, a regal Standard Poodle boy looking like one of those unkempt doodles! I happened to have my grooming kit in the trunk of my car, so brought it in and shaved his FFT, sani area, and tidied up his topknot and ears. I could not get my clipper (Andis UltraEdge 2 speed with a #5F blade on) through his coat. Awww, he was so happy and proud to look like a Poodle boy again!

So, I gave her some EQyss Premier Spray, a pin brush and a slicker, to brush him out so I could give him a nice haircut. 5 days later, she still had not brushed him! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr I just didn't have the time or energy to bring my HV dryer and haul it inside after bathing this guy, and try to do it without a grooming table. It would've taken me 6 hrs, I'm sure! So, got a bro bono grooming for him. She had to use a #7F for a shave down, but hey, sure better than suffering with matted hair pulling here, there, everywhere. Cleared his infected ears up with the Blue Power formula (and I had to do it! Once when I came on at midnight, and again before I left at 8-8:15am. Would have been better spaced longer apart, but I knew she wouldn't do it. And his right ear really hurt him, so . . .

[Graco22]

[QUOTE=Love's_Sophie;457045]You know, it always makes me wonder, why owners who take decent care of their small dogs, cannot 'afford' the same for their big dogs... QUOTE]

Sophie, I'm sorry, I wasn't very clear on that. I meant the yorki-poos are from the same family..the Golden is from a different family..But I DO have clients just like that..who take care of the little dogs well, and the big ones are lucky to see a brush once a year. The family with the golden has two other goldens, and I haven't seen them in over a year...so I can imagine what condition they are in...

Thanks for the ideas! I love the idea of the clear ornament with the name added, and the hair inside.. I guess if it's a dog without hair cuts I would just leave the ornament empty inside, or did you fill them up with something else?

If its a shedding dog, I would put the shed hair in there...(lol I'm sure they loved to see MORE shedding hair..) and if they just didn't have enough hair to put in there, I used curling ribbons of different colors, and curled them up and filled the ornament with that instead. I have seen so many cute things at Michaels you could put in there..little puppy/kitty confetti's, pom poms, etc..they have tiny little "figures" of many different things you could use too.


Poodle, I can't wait to see pics of your pups. I know they are all just beautiful! I SO miss the show coat on my standard..I want another pup.

What a sad story about the service dog. Its a shame that his owner won't even take the time to brush him out, obviously he would do anything for her. So sad. What a great person you are to have taken such good care of him, and getting a groomer to get him finished up. Unfortunately, I see things like that almost daily as a groomer. I guess thats why many of us groomers get so frustrated with some clients...to see this over and over and over again, the pain and condition of many dogs..there is no excuse for it. I am so tired of hearing how they can't afford to have the dog's groomed often....One of these days..I am going to burst and let it slip that its doesn't cost a DIME to BRUSH YOUR DOG!...then I will be in trouble huh....

[GroovyGroomer777]

Graco, this has been eating me up inside more so than usual lately.
I am at the point where I am fed up and thinking about changing professions.
I just am seeing it so often that I am afraid one of these days I am going to blow up on somebody, after keeping my cool for so long.
I had two like that today.

When I called the owner of a terribly matted cocker after her shave he says,
"How did she get all those matts?"
I said "You'll have to tell me!"
I am thinking well I dunno, the Matt Fairy must have visited her....

It's wearing me out emotionally.

[Graco22]

Originally Posted by GroovyGroomer777

Graco, this has been eating me up inside more so than usual lately.
I am at the point where I am fed up and thinking about changing professions.
I just am seeing it so often that I am afraid one of these days I am going to blow up on somebody, after keeping my cool for so long.
I had two like that today.

When I called the owner of a terribly matted cocker after her shave he says,
"How did she get all those matts?"
I said "You'll have to tell me!"
I am thinking well I dunno, the Matt Fairy must have visited her....

It's wearing me out emotionally.

Groovy, I completely know what you mean. It is very hard to love animals like we do, and see the neglect that we see, knowing full well there is nothing we can do about it in the future. I have learned some things that do make it easier to get thru to some clients, and learned ways to avoid seeing it in my salon on a regular basis. It is hard to explain to owners, in a nice way, that a severely matted pet, with flaming ear infections and skin conditions is neglect. But sometimes, thats what you have to say to them. I have said," I know you probably aren't aware, but Fluffy being in this condition, with the severe matting, where his skin isn't able to breathe, and pain every time he walks and the matts pull on his skin, is actually neglect in the eyes of the law." That has angered some people, and some people have really opened their eyes. I have really tried to do my best with educating clients about the impacts of skin problems, matting, ear infections, nails curled under, etc. and the effects of having to shave so close. I tell people straight up when I have to shave a severly matted pet that they can almost count on a vet visit, because once this is off, and the skin can breathe again, your pup is going to feel wierd, and probably scratch himself bloody. I explain how it can be avoided next time, and how often the pet SHOULD be coming in..I don't try to get the once a years on a monthly schedule though, cause its just not going to happen. I try for 3 or 4 months....then when they are doing that, I shorten the time. I swear by reminder cards! They are cheap, easy, and they WORK! The once a years, I send a reminder in 6 months..with notes on it like "prevent uncomfortable matting by getting groomed now" or "its been 6 months since Fluffy was groomed" etc. They really do help get people back in.

When none of this works for a client, and they just keep bringing in a dog in neglectful shape, I keep raising the price. (I charge way more for cases like that anyway) I tell them "because Fluffy is in such bad shape, its going to be XXX dollars today. Then they can take it or leave it. It helps weed out some of the clients that don't care for their pets coats, because they usually don't want to pay that much..hence the yearly grooming. Then they go somewhere else that is cheaper, and I don't have to cry while I groom their dog, while they trot happily out of the salon like not nothing.

Another thing that has helped me TONS is going to grooming trade shows. We as groomers can gain so much from each other, our experiences, and the knowledge that is out there from the leaders in this industry. There are some very smart people out there that have the business savvy I never used to have. Dealing with people used to be SO hard for me...I am shy by nature, and I just didn't know what to say or how to say it. Since attending lectures, seminars, etc. from groomers, for groomers, I have learned how to tactfully approach situations, without putting the client on the defense, and actually getting the situation bettered. I strongly recommend going to a show near you if you can get the chance. The Atlanta Pet Fair is coming up in March, and if you can get up to it, its a great show, great seminars, TONS of shopping, and they have so many great gettogethers for groomers. Sometimes you just need to vent to other groomers, hear their experiences, let them hear yours, and even taking one tidbit of info from that, can make all the difference. Try not to let bad clients ruin your love for grooming.

[Love's_Sophie]

Originally Posted by GroovyGroomer777

Graco, this has been eating me up inside more so than usual lately.
I am at the point where I am fed up and thinking about changing professions.
I just am seeing it so often that I am afraid one of these days I am going to blow up on somebody, after keeping my cool for so long.
I had two like that today.

When I called the owner of a terribly matted cocker after her shave he says,
"How did she get all those matts?"
I said "You'll have to tell me!"
I am thinking well I dunno, the Matt Fairy must have visited her....

It's wearing me out emotionally.

Groovy, one thing that helps is that when the owners are actually there, to consciously take a good feel of the dog BEFORE the owner leaves...

Before booking, ensure that you tell owners that a dog of 'such and such size' STARTS at such and such price...the price can go up due to matting or temperment. This in itself gives you leeway to tell the owner that "today" your price was "this" due to this...

If they have trouble accepting that their dog is actually matted, hand them a comb and ask them to start combing the dog out, all the way down to the skin...they will quickly realize that you are not 'inventing the dogs matts, just to shave it off, or save yourself some work'...This tends to work on even some tough clients. Most won't even START combing, before they reconsile to the fact that they waited too long between their groom, and have just been ratted out.

With all of that in mind, tell the owners over and over, and over again (if that's what it takes) that you are not here to hurt their dog, or make grooming an unpleasant experience, and that if their dog is matted, and they NEED it combed out, that is exactly what it is for their dog...unpleasant.

If you can comb it out, utilizing hi vo dryers, and good cleansing baths to help release the dirt that keeps the matts tight, then comb it out, but if it has to be shaved, then shave it...we are here to serve the dogs, NOT so much the owners...especially if it is for vanity that they want the dog brushed out!
Do what is best for the dog, even if the owner doesn't necessarily agree with it; if they decide to leave, then let them go...they obviously 'enjoy hurting their dogs' when they don't realize what they have to go through in order to get brushed out (when matting is severe).

[Corrinne]

These before and afters are cool...I can't wait to take some snapshots of my clients and post some. Some excellent grooming work you all have posted!

[Graco22]

Look at poor Baby Girl. Her daddy has been out of work for a few months, and said he got bored, and the cat needed grooming..He figured how hard could it be, right? Well, this is why beard trimmers should not be used on cats..I don't know if you can see the red irritations, and the scrapes from the blade in the pic or not, but she was covered in them. At least he finally gave up and called me..I didn't take and after, cause I forgot..but she got evened up as much as possible..I told them I wouldn't shave her with a 40 blade, and thats what would have been necessary to even her up. She left the salon a much happier kitty.

[myminpins]

Why do people cut their cat's fur??? I've had tons of cats over the years, long hairs, short hairs, etc., and NEVER EVER have I cut their fur. I brushed some of them but rarely. Cats generally take good care of their fur themselves unless they're very old, ill or get into something sticky.

Poor kitty

[SMoore]

A few from the shop I work at. The only one i've groomed is the cocker spaniel named cookie and she just came in for a bath today. She gets a bath every thursday and a groom every 6 weeks. I think it's been about 3 weeks since her last groom. I'm still in training as far as grooming goes but im enjoying it.

[JRT_Rattie_Mom]

I did my very first SCW and Cairn Terriers this week... they aren't that common here. I am always so nervous when I haven't done a breed before! I know they're not "perfect" but both clients were very pleased.. and that's what matters most to me!

[Love's_Sophie]

Originally Posted by SMoore

A few from the shop I work at. The only one i've groomed is the cocker spaniel named cookie and she just came in for a bath today. She gets a bath every thursday and a groom every 6 weeks. I think it's been about 3 weeks since her last groom. I'm still in training as far as grooming goes but im enjoying it.

Wow Cookie is really shiney!!!

I have to ask though, but do the owners like her pattern so far down her butt? Eew...Lol!!!