You may have chosen a breed that will need some type of grooming. It could be for a particular clip or just to have the dog shaved down for the summer. How do you find a good groomer? Below are some suggestions that may help you:
1. Do you have any friends or family members that use a groomer? Ask them for their opinion and ratings on the groomer. Tell them to be honest!
2. Does your Veterniary Doctor have a groomer? If not, then whom would he/she recommend?
3. Pull out that trusty phone book! Make a list of grooming salons in the area that you can call. Give yourself enough room in between each place that you have listed so that you can take notes during or right after the phone call.
4. What should you ask?
a. What time does my dog need to be at your salon in the morning?
b. How long will my dog be there?
c. Do you phone the customer when their dog is finished and ready to go or is there a gneric pick up time later in the day?
d. Are you insured?
e. Do you provide references for me to contact?
f. Do you use natural products?
g. Do you provide ‘flea dips’?
h. Can I come visit your salon without my dog to look at your facility?
i. How many groomers do you have working for you?
j. Do you cage dry or use a blower on the grooming table?
Some salons will require that your pet be there very early in the morning. If your dog is going to be there all day, you may want to ask if they provide water for drinking since it can get very warm with the driers running. Insurance is almost always a must to be in this business since there are documented accidents and even deaths that have been in the news. Ask them for customer references and use that information to find out all you can about that particular salon. If they use natural products then Kudos to them! Some products out there like ‘flea dips’ are very toxic. Each state must inspect and approve the ventilation system used in a salon if they are using harsh chemicals like ‘flea dips’. If the salon you are looking to use lets you go visit, then take them up on it. Go visit alone and scope the place out. Do you have a warm fuzzy feeling about the place? Do they have their state license displayed? Are they cleaning their tables and equipment before moving onto the next dog? There are lots of viruses out there that can be passed on. If the groomer is diligent and caring they will take every step necessary to avoid cross contamination. Does it appear that the groomers really care about your pet? Some breeds that do not require a special cut may be placed in a cage with a drier hooked onto the cage blowing on them until they are dry. How often are they checked? Breeds that require a scissor cuts like a poodle need to have their hair straightened before it can be completed. Those dogs usually are blow dried right on the groomer’s table.
Once you have located a salon that you approve of for your pet and all has gone well for you, think about offering your name as a reference for other potential customers. Give the salon permission to give your name and phone number so that the next person who may be going through the same process can contact you!
Mobile Dog Groomers
If a salon environment is not what you are looking for, then search for a Mobile Groomer. Mobile Groomers have a specially designed van that travels to your home and grooms your pet right in your driveway. Some grooming vans may have sinks that can hold a pet as big as 50 pounds some maybe more. Ask! My grooming van could never take on a dog that was large because the sink just was not big enough. My service allowed me to care of elderly pets or pets that just couldn’t handle being in a salon environment. I was busy all the time and I never took on more than 5 dogs a day in the same town. That was enough for me, but there may be others who groom longer hours each day or possibly on the weekends. You can expect to pay a little more for this type of service. The groomer needs to cover travel time as well as gas and insurance expenses.
If your dog has hair that is not in the best shape, be honest and tell your mobile groomer so that they can schedule an appropriate amount of time for that first visit. If I had owners who slacked off on brushing in between appointments which set me back on my schedule, they were then charged for extra brushing time. Time is money! This extra charge helped the customer to stay on track with proper brushing.
When you hire a mobile groomer all they need is electricity from your home. The groomer will use a heavy duty extension cord that they bring and will plug into an outlet from your home. The amps used are very small and you should not worry about that at all. Grooming Vans give the pet and owner a sense of calm. They are the only animal being catered to and the owner does not have to worry about their pet being in a cage for an extended period of time. It is a nice luxury and those that seek out this type of service are usually always pleased. If you do hire a mobile groomer, please DO NOT stand outside and watch through the window! Your dog will see you but the groomer may not see you. This is a recipe for an injury! If you really want to watch, then ask the groomer when the appropriate time would be to do that. He or she will guide you and may suggest (like I did) to hide behind a bush so the dog cannot see you! I had a few close calls which totally freaked me out while I was using scissors!! Nothing happened but I did let the owners know immediately that they had to go inside so I could continue with the appointment.
How often should your dog be groomed? Well, that depends on the breed and hair type. If you choose a mobile groomer, you may want to consider setting up a regular schedule as a ’standing appointment’. This is what I chose to do. I knew that by the time I saw that dog again, there was a good chance that I would not be set back on my schedule. It will also guarantee a spot for your dog!
Jean
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/finding-a-dog-groomer-744670.html
#1 by Erika *mom to one fabulous pom* on May 10, 2010 - 2:57 pm
What should I look for in finding a groomer for my 6 Month old pom pup?
I am looking for a groomer for my pup. It will be his first experience and I want to make sure it is a positive one. I have heard tons of horror stories. Is there anything I should look put for or ask the groomer? Thank you
#2 by BYBs sell 6 legged pups on May 10, 2010 - 7:59 pm
The best way to find a good groomer is by word of mouth. When you see a dog that looks really well groomed, ask the owner where they have it done and talk to them about the groomer.
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#3 by Snickers on May 10, 2010 - 8:01 pm
Ask the groomer for referrals, or ask if you may watch. Many groomers are very skilled and the dog may be looking beautiful, that does not mean your dog has a good experience. I have seen groomers be very unkind to dogs, and then there are some awesome ones where the dog actually wants to be there.
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#4 by Ashley G on May 10, 2010 - 8:03 pm
experience and friendness… you can get great reviews off online
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#5 by K on May 10, 2010 - 8:05 pm
What I did was call around to a bunch of them. I asked if I could get references. If they said no, they were permanently crossed off my list. I also asked friends and relatives. The first groomer I had was AWFUL. She was used to doing breed specific cuts, but couldn’t do what I asked her to do with my mutt – my poor dog had to take the brunt of that punishment.
The groomer I have now is awesome. She has people that drive 2-3 hours to have her groom their dogs and she has no problems doing what I ask her to do. She can do breed specific and she can just do what you think is cute. Plus, my dog loves her.
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#6 by Rose on May 10, 2010 - 8:07 pm
call your vet’s office and they’ll recommend a great groomer. That’s how we found ours and she’s awesome.
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#7 by Charley on May 10, 2010 - 8:09 pm
I would try and get a personal recommendation by a friend or relative and then look the place up online, or if that fails, i would ask at your local vets. Most decent groomers will be happy for you to go in and look around before you book the appointment. If you were worried i would also ask what qualifications, if any the groomers have- for example all of the groomers at our salon have qualifications in animal care as well as grooming and we also participate in animal first aid training yearly to refresh us.
Another question i would ask is how they go about 1st visits and puppy introductions. Like you said it should be make to be a positive experience for him, which is why we stress to owners on first visits that we will only go as far as the dog lets us. Some groomers don’t take this view though so you should try and find out beforehand.
Most groomers will also make you sign a first visit form as well when you drop your puppy off. Make sure you read it and if it doesn’t say anything about their insurance policy i would ask how much it covers (or if they have one)
I hope this helps
P.s: i wouldn’t stay and watch your dog being groomed like someone above suggested, as with alot of animals it actually seems to make them more stressed! But by all means stay in the area and give them your mobile number to call you as soon as they are done.
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#8 by Hollilove on May 10, 2010 - 8:11 pm
I would ask friends, family, and neighbors who they take their dogs to. I always take my dog to her vet, they have a groomer there, that is great!! I can tell because everytime I take her there she gets very excited! I would look for how the other dogs at the groomers are being treated and how they act. You could even just pop into a few groomers by suprise and see for yourself. Good luck and I hope this helps you!
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#9 by lovemycavy on May 10, 2010 - 8:13 pm
Lots of great responses. Word of mouth is the best recommendation, ask around. Vets have working relationships with groomers so they are also a good source. They usually will not recommend one that has a bad reputation because it will affect their own reputation.
Definitely stay for the first grooming if you can. It will give you a sense of how they treat and correct the dogs. A heavy handed rough groomer can only cover up so much in front of an owner. You’lll get a sense if they’re gentle but firm or heavy handed. Some groomers may not like the idea because if you are there the puppy will be more wiggly. Ask if you can stand back and watch. Try not to let the puppy know you are there. Taking your dog in every 4-6 weeks really is a benefit to the dog, they get used to the grooming and will learn to behave well through it very quickly, making it a better experience all around. If your dog comes out from the groomer happy, then usually it wasn’t a terribly unpleasant experience (not many dogs enjoy the bath no matter how nice the groomer is). If your dog seems off, depressed, shaking or nervous, it was a bad experience. Then find a new groomer and inform them of the first grooming experience. A good groomer will understand that they have an obstacle to overcome to get the puppy to trust them after the first grooming experience.
Communicate with your groomer. Ask for advice on what you can do at home to help your dog acclimate to regular grooming. The friendlier basis you’re on with your groomer the more likely they’ll communicate all the details of each of your dogs grooming experiences with you. The comfort level will be there and while chatting the info just comes out naturally.
References :
Dog groomer for 12 years.