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Dog groomer

10 replies

diamondmoon · 27/10/2016 17:26

My dog just back from groomer and she has managed to bite her. I told her she hates being groomed and bites me when I brush her but feel bad how awful she was for the groomer. She complained how mated some of her fur is but I had told her I can not brush her and that's why I paying for a groom. My dog behaved really bad for her. Are they supposed to look and act perfect before a groom?.

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insan1tyscartching · 27/10/2016 18:41

Did the groomer know beforehand about the biting? Around here the groom would have been abandoned if the dog went to bite. We have had ups and downs with groomers ourselves, Eric is happy to be brushed at home but in the past he hasn't liked being groomed and he would be stressed out when he got back and for one groomer he snapped and the groom was abandoned.
We did a lot of research after that occasion and Eric now goes to a groomer who tackles difficult dogs but he is an absolute gent there for some reason and they don't understand why the last one had so many problems. Perhaps they are more confident or more gentle or Eric prefers them I don't know why tbh.
I think you need to do your research and find a groomer that will take their time de sensitising your dog. Eric visited a few times and stood on the table and in the sink before they thought of touching him and for the first official visits we agreed that they would only go as far as he was happy. Nowadays he has he full works ears, claws etc quite happily which is a good job really as he has a poodle coat and needs grooming six weekly.

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pigsDOfly · 27/10/2016 20:00

If you know your dog is likely to bite while being groomed and you told the groomer this, why didn't the groomer muzzle her?

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Ylvamoon · 27/10/2016 20:11

I think, a groomer has the right to refuse your dog if he bites.
It's up to you, as the owner, to do the ground work. That involves touching all of his body, looking into ears & mouth and checking paws.
Use a soft brush- I started mine with a baby brush- and gently run it all over his body. As his coat is growing longer, you need to change to a different brush or dog comb. (One with rotating teeth is more gentle)

You need to do this every day to avoid him getting all mutted - which is painful for your dog- hence the biting.

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diamondmoon · 27/10/2016 20:14

I did say she tries to bite with just being brushed so no idea why no muzzle. I will def use a different groomer but surely with nervous dogs it's part of their job.

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diamondmoon · 27/10/2016 20:18

My dog is 8 so was always ok with me brushing her and giving fur a trim but then she suddenly stopped letting me near her.

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insan1tyscartching · 27/10/2016 20:32

I wouldn't say being bitten is part of the job, it must be pretty awful tbh. I think though if you let a groomer know beforehand then the groomer should have the choice on whether to take on the dog or agree with you a plan to desensitise it.
If the dog's coat is really matted would it be worth you seeing the vet and seeing if it can be sedated and given a close clip so that you can start with trying to get the dog used to being brushed?

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Blackfellpony · 27/10/2016 20:41

Sorry I really dislike this attitude.
I work with dogs, I'm not there to be bitten doing jobs owners can't.

You should be able to handle your dog all over and it should not be biting you or even attempting too. If you cannot do this then you need to do some serious training.

If your dog is matted it needs sedation and a proper dematt, then you need to do some serious work so it dosent get in a mess again.

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Ylvamoon · 27/10/2016 20:44

If your dog suddenly started biting, I'd have her checked out. Could be anything from a ear infection to skin conditions....

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Wolfiefan · 27/10/2016 20:46

I agree with Blackfellpony. If you can't run a brush over your dog each day then you can't expect a groomer to be able to do the same.

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StandardPoodle · 01/11/2016 18:42

You say your dog is 8 and suddenly stopped letting you brush and trim her so I'd be looking for a cause and getting a vet check.
Groomers do vary though. We've been using the same groomer for over 15 years - she did my toy poodle all her life and has done the adolescent standard poodle since he was a pup. I've heard some horror stories though about some other groomers from other dog walkers. In fact, the poodle and rescue girl were both clipped today.

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