Before and Afters??? Just for fun! :D

Graco22 · 02-02-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melgrj7

It really bugs me too when people let their dogs get very overweight. We have a few that come into daycare who are extremely overweight. We are constantly mentioning it to the owners that they should cut back on food, maybe walk the dog for 15-20 minutes a day. One of them is going to theravet for physical therapy because of her elbows and hips . . . if they would just get the extra oh 20-30 pounds off the dog she probably wouldn't need the therapy.

I am terrible about this too, and not a single client gets past me without me at least mentioning it...over and over and over..I have heard every excuse...to "well, she just won't stop eating!!!!"..that client was told "well, I just can't groom her anymore, because I don't want her dying on my table." This poor sweet lab was SO fat, she could barely walk, and just hyperventilated the entire time..Poor thing. People overfeed their dogs..terribly...I have had many fix the problem though, and get their dogs down to a good weight. I have lots of stories about fat dogs, and the owners excuses...I tell it like it is...5 lbs extra on a shihtzu is ALOT to a dog that only should weigh 10-15 lbs...and 2 cups of food a day for a shihtzu is TOO MUCH!Ugh..don't get me started on this..LOL I can go all day.

mostlymutts · 02-02-2009, 07:49 PM

Thank you folks.
I love this thread!

edit:
Evidently, I stuck this in before I got to the end of the thread; I too feel bad about the chubby dogs...

Love's_Sophie · 02-02-2009, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graco22

I am terrible about this too, and not a single client gets past me without me at least mentioning it...over and over and over..I have heard every excuse...to "well, she just won't stop eating!!!!"..that client was told "well, I just can't groom her anymore, because I don't want her dying on my table." This poor sweet lab was SO fat, she could barely walk, and just hyperventilated the entire time..Poor thing. People overfeed their dogs..terribly...I have had many fix the problem though, and get their dogs down to a good weight. I have lots of stories about fat dogs, and the owners excuses...I tell it like it is...5 lbs extra on a shihtzu is ALOT to a dog that only should weigh 10-15 lbs...and 2 cups of food a day for a shihtzu is TOO MUCH!Ugh..don't get me started on this..LOL I can go all day.

I always hear the excuse of "fido won't stop eating..." I just say, "well, you control the food...you can just stop feeding her; no dog, unless it's got serious medical problems needs free choice." I also make sure to mention that many of the supermarket brands have an awful lot of starchy materials in them, so fido naturally gains more weight, even when on a 'decent' amount...then I tell them foods that might be more suitable for their dogs. I have had many clients on many of those 'diet' foods...and even these have a starchy ingredient as their first ingredient...it's no wonder why half of the pets we groom are so obese...we practically feed them McDonalds every day!!!

Graco22 · 02-03-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Love's_Sophie

I always hear the excuse of "fido won't stop eating..." I just say, "well, you control the food...you can just stop feeding her; no dog, unless it's got serious medical problems needs free choice." I also make sure to mention that many of the supermarket brands have an awful lot of starchy materials in them, so fido naturally gains more weight, even when on a 'decent' amount...then I tell them foods that might be more suitable for their dogs. I have had many clients on many of those 'diet' foods...and even these have a starchy ingredient as their first ingredient...it's no wonder why half of the pets we groom are so obese...we practically feed them McDonalds every day!!!

I do the same thing Sophie...they all get a list of what is a decent food, and why its better than the corn they are feeding.

salask · 02-03-2009, 05:57 PM

I'm not a groomer but i have a before and after picture of Lady:

Sorry, she hates pictures and refuses to look at the camera

SMoore · 02-03-2009, 07:31 PM

This dog came in today one whole mat pretty much. I was able to salvage some head/face hair and that was really about it.

The owner was half crying when she came in. Apparently she went off to college for a year, left the dog with her mother and came back to the dog in this condition.

His name is Dimi and he was a total sweetheart. He was grouchy and kind of growled when he came in but was great on the table and much more friendly after the coat came off.

Took quite a few pics so I put them all in one.

Love's_Sophie · 02-03-2009, 11:31 PM

Poor Dimi!!

Okay, I've been promising pics, so here goes...

First a Springer...

Love's_Sophie · 02-03-2009, 11:33 PM

Next a SCW...

Love's_Sophie · 02-03-2009, 11:35 PM

Next...West Highland White

0hmyd0g · 02-03-2009, 11:51 PM

The first one is Miles, a poodle x bichon in a kennel clip. The second one is a very matted Ceaser, the Standard poodle. I told his human mom that "the only place he isn't matted is down his back. If I left that long he would have a mohawk". and She told me "YES! give him that! a long strip down his back!" But the third picture is his brother in the after. They both had the same hair cut for the same reasons, only Ceaser had no mustache. And the last one is my baby dog, Pixel.

Graco22 · 02-08-2009, 08:27 PM

Here's a few from this week. A giant schnauzer, Ariel. A cute little black cocker, Bella. A very old golden, one of her twice yearly "puppy cuts" and a poodle mix in a short cut with a round face.

Graco22 · 02-08-2009, 08:30 PM

An adorable pom mix named Dolce, a mini schnauzer shavedown with a really short breed face named Joker, and a not so happy kitty, Yum Yum, whose owner is blind and likes to keep her short so its easier for him to keep up with the hair around the house.

GroovyGroomer777 · 02-08-2009, 09:31 PM

Beautiful grooms, everyone!

Graco - we wear the same apron.

Sorry to hijack - may I ask if you guys are certified and through which association? I am looking into this and I want some opinions on which is the best to go through.

Love's_Sophie · 02-08-2009, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroovyGroomer777

Sorry to hijack - may I ask if you guys are certified and through which association? I am looking into this and I want some opinions on which is the best to go through.

I'm not certified; sometimes I wish I was because then I would have even more credibility as a groomer, but I have come across certified groomers who are alot less meticulous with grooming than I am; so in a way, it is not certification that gives you credibility in the business. It's how good you are with every dog, not just one test out in order to get cerified.

Graco22 · 02-08-2009, 10:27 PM

I am not certified either, though I have thought about using my competition dogs to certify with after the classes, just never do it. The big problem I have with certification ( and I don't know how to put this nicely, so I will just say it )is I see MANY certified groomers, in the competition ring and out, that are nowhere near what my expectations are in a finished groom from a "certified" groomer. I have seen cuts from certified groomers that I wouldn't let go out of my salon on a pet. And there is no continued education required to keep your certification up to date, (just pay your yearly dues)and we all know that we can forget things, etc..I think continued education should be required. If I were to certify, I would either go thru ISCC or NDGAA, and maybe IPG now that they are raising their standards. IPG just raised passing to a 86%...can you believe it was even lower? I don't want to be certified with others that barely can get a C grade, ya know..Certification should be HARD, and should be the cream of the crop..not anyone who picks up shears. And I mean NO offense to anyone that is certified, etc..I just think its too easy, and its meaning is gone because of it. My winning photos on my wall at the shop mean more to clients than me telling them I am certified...Plus, add in that the box stores "certify" groomers, and so does every grooming school...Those certifications are nothing more than saying they passed school, or passed the box store's training..All clients hear is the word certified...then get a bad groom, and wonder about all certified groomers...Anyway..sorry to rant on about this..its a peeve of mine. ISCC and NDGAA are tougher, ISCC being the hardest and the one that means the most in my opinion.

GroovyGroomer777 · 02-08-2009, 10:27 PM

I agree with you, I would not judge a groomer's skill on whether or not they were certified. I don't think I even know of any groomers in my town who are certified.
I am just curious to see which association would be best to go through, so I can make a decision whether or not to do it...it's a bit pricey and I want to make a good choice.

Thank you for your input, I will keep it in mind.

Patt · 02-09-2009, 12:45 AM

Beautiful job on all the before's and after's, they all look gorgeous.

SMoore · 02-10-2009, 05:16 PM

A young goldendoodle puppy named Chloe

before

after

GroovyGroomer777 · 02-10-2009, 05:55 PM

Aww she looks great! Did she behave well? Those puppies can be a PITA!

SMoore · 02-10-2009, 06:36 PM

She was actually wonderful. She would mouth a little on my hands when anywhere near her back feet and she did the same in the bathtub too. I checked her feet out to see if anything was hurting her but she just seems sensitive there.

I told her owner and she also mentioned that she gets mouthy when she messes with her back feet as well..no hard biting just mouthing.

She was a total doll though I just hope her mommy keeps her brushed out!