to be angry at the dog groomer who shaved my dog's coat

[bevelino]

I took my cockapoo for grooming at Pets At Home in Brentford and discussed the grooming. The groomer checked my dog all over and was happy there was no matting and we agreed how short the fur was to be cut. I was then asked to sign a form. However, when I returned 3 hours later to collect the dog I was angry to discover the groomer had shaved all my dog's hair off and disingenuously suggested she was full of matts. My dog is now barely recognisable.

I've been in a similar position where a groomer cut far too much off our dog. It looked awful, and I know it sounds incredibly over dramatic, but it was quite upsetting!

Obviously I got over it quick, but when you're paying someone to make your dog look nice and then they make your dog look like an overgrown rat with the genitals of a horse because they haven't left any hair to cover that area, it does tend to put a bit of a downer on your day.

The only thing you can do is try and get a recommendation. We have a lovely groomer now who does an excellent job. And she actually bothers to listen to her customers because it's her own business and her income depends on it, unlike someone employed by a big chain such as pets at home.

Not a clue what a cockapoo is, hence asking. If the op had said poodle cross, I'd hazard that the curliness of the coat was probably masking matting closer to the skin, hence having to shave. But then all she needed to do was ask the groomer, no?

And yes, it's fur, it will grow back, the dog isn't hurt.

I would be gutted, too. Does your 'poo have a poodle coat? Mine does, and I clip him myself. It takes a few days doing it in sections but is much less stressful all round and I get to choose the look. I know it's upsetting, but it will grow back.

What Midnite said.

This is the problem with some cross breeds. A poodle needs to be clipped a spaniel brushed. So therefore when the two are crossed you have a coat that gets very matted because you can't brush it.

Midnite, I knew someone would say that and am aware of that.

But you'd know it wasn't a full on really long coat and you'd know that it wasn't a really short coat. You'd think it was probably somewhere between a spaniel and a poodle coat.....possibly more one way than another. All the cockerpoos I've seen have quite thick/dense coat with some curl to it.

There you go JerseySpud, you had a good idea what the coat would be like.

At the idea of taking a photo in of what you would like your dog to look like.

At the idea that calling someone's dog a mongrel is putting them down and might upset them.

I bloody love MN!

Cockapoo coats tend to look similar in my experience - only variety is in the colour.

I don't have a cockerpoo btw or any other designer crossbreed so have no axe to grind.

I just don't see the point of coming on here, offering no constructive advice, not answering the question but just slagging off the dog.

Quite Beaver

In any case, they are excellent dogs for those with allergies, they aren't just a designer breed although they are so cute

What a load of bitchy, arsey posters.

YANBU, but tbh I wouldn't trust a groomer with my cocker (that's no reflection on groomers, I'm just a control freak and my dog's an idiot). . I bought the clippers (Andi's) and learned to do it myself. It's much cheaper in the long run and you can go as short or long as you like.

I would be very upset too OP. Dsis goes some distance to get her dog clipped as do my neighbours as they are the best around. Don't go back there. We have a Lab now so don't have this problem.

I would never slag off a dog. I'm sure it's a delightful dog. It's not the dog's fault that some people are obsessed with creating strange cross breeds of dogs, giving them stupid names, breeding them in puppy mills and selling them for ridiculous money to people who think they're getting a 'breed' of dog and might potentially be offended by so done stating the fact that their dog is a mongrel.

Midnite - I said recognised name, not recognised breed - I know the difference.

Calling it a mongrel when she has bought a cockapoo is entirely intended to put her down and upset her.

Can you find a professional groomer in your area for next time? I've built up a good relationship with our groomer, she knows how we like our dog's coat to be cut and I trust her to make the right decision if she discovers an issue. We have a schnauzer x poodle (schnoodle ) and we do brush her regularly but she still occasionally gets mats.

If you have a good groomer they can often brush out the mats as they have the knowledge, experience and equipment. For instance our dog once had a mat on her leg that I couldn't brush out; groomer said that she'd probably have to shave it, but she actually managed to brush it out. She then recommended which brush I should buy for my dog's type of coat.

I understand that it's upsetting but you'll be surprised at how quickly your dog's coat grows back

Genetics wise there would be 4 coat variants with a Cocker x Poodle so saying you would have a fair idea of coat type just isn't true. Next time OP spend a good hour or two grooming your dog out before you take him.

Would anyone go to a hairdressers having not brushed their hair properly and possibly not washed it for 6 weeks or so? NO! So don't expect the groomer to be able to turn a sows ear into a silk purse.

Did you ask why? Maybe the coat was matted underneath or they made a mistake and cut it unevenly so had to go shorter to even it up.

Either way no harm done so really there was no need for her to hand over with no explanation as to why you didn't get what you asked for. Surely most normal people would accept "it was worse than we thought" so I don't know why the groomer couldn't just say.

Next time use a proper groomer. It will grow back soon op

Please don't let it out you off I'm sure there are some fab ones out there

PAH are very expensive, too. A good independent groomer will be cheaper and more likely to cut how you want. Getting a recommendation is best.

Nobody but you was talking about a cockerpoo being a breed, Welsh.

Cockerpoo is the name used for the cocker-poodle crosses which have become popular/fashionable over the past few years. Labradoodles, Goldendoodles and Jackapoos are also popular - the names tell you what the cross is.

Being pissed off about designer dogs and bad dog breeding practices is admirable and I share your concern... But it's got fuck all to do with this thread and you (and others) just seem to want to be bitchy to the OP.

YANBU. She should have phoned you before she shaved him. I have a toy poodle and I am a novice dog owner. When he was quite young, I didn't realise he was so matted and he needed a shave but the dog groomer checked with me and explained why before she went ahead. Usually, the best thing is to shave it off and then start again. They grow so fast!

Thank you to everyone who has posted helpful replies. You are right the hair will grow back and next time I will take a photograph. The groomer could have contacted me easily to explain that she needed to cut the hair down to 1mm, but chose not to, which explains the shock. We won't be going back.