Should dog groomers be working?

[EloiseTheFirst]

I refer to discussion on a previous thread that says you should work from home, unless that's not possible.

But my dog groomers (salon) has been closed since lockdown.

They told me the dog grooming association said they couldn't open because it's "non-essential".

Now they could easily deal with clients outside at 2m distance. Take dog in and return to customer outside. So no breach of social distancing.

My dog is in a right state and I would argue if it goes on much longer, her fur will be so thick it will become a welfare issue.

So what's the general consensus? Should they be open or not?

Ours works from home and she reopened. There were updated rules about this. We basically had to walk to dog to her

Why does the water have to be 60 degrees @palacegirl77? Do you wash your hands in 60 degree water? The shampoos works the same as handwash when we wash our own hands. The dogs can be placed in a crate/pen by the owner at the salon or in the back of the vehicle, there is no need for them to come within 2m of us. All payments are being asked to be transferred online.

How is driving to a dog grooming appointment an essential journey?? People really need to learn how to groom their dogs themselves. Look on YouTube, get the right comb/brush for the dog..

Face masks are being suggested to be washed at 60 degrees. Contact contamination. And no, my hands aren't covered in hair funny enough.

@honeyroar absolutely right.

People are not being asked to travel to a dog grooming appointment in a car. The groomer is travelling, travelling to work is perfectly acceptable. The shampoo is what breaks down the virus in the same way soap does on your hands.

How do you know that? The OP said about handing the dog over outside the parlour.. Nothing about them picking the dog up.

It also perfectly acceptable to walk your dog to the appointment so maybe they are doing that? I’ve seen people have set up hooks to put leads on so again you don’t need to come within 2m of each other.

So show me the cases where a pet (don’t forget cats now) has infected a human? A dog or cat could be taken to the groomer under daily exercise. Where did I mention coughing dogs?

My logic says hairdressers could reopen? No. Don’t think so. That would involve humans who can cough, customers not being careful about hygiene and are sure as hell they are not in there for a welfare issue. It isn’t essential. Welfare for an animal is.

I would pass your concerns to my bosses but I’m afraid they’ve taken advice from far more experienced people than us and I stress again, they have not said that animals are spreading this virus.

As I said, I get enough of this daily. I’m tired of some of the armchair hysteria and I don’t want to argue over it. Your position is different than mine. My actual experience of all this sounds different to yours I think.

If you want to show me where it says animals are infecting humans I will take it on board.

Meanwhile I need to retire for now as I have to be up to deal with it all over again tomorrow. And hope that I don’t become infected.

And my sibling will be dealing with emergencies for animals. As they have been since this started.

I tell you what, I will show you some evidence that a person has caught it from touching an animal when you show me evidence that someone else has caught it from a supermarket. Or school. Or walking round the block. You can't, because it's unknown. But whatever!

Yes they should definitely be open as long as they can observe social distancing.

Well there isn’t any evidence @palacegirl77 that’s the point? Why should they be shut when there is no evidence that the dog can pass on the virus.

Why should they be open when nothing says they can't?

I can't see the issue with dog groomers being open as long as they can adhere to social distancing guidelines. I've just managed to find one still open. They are a boarding centre so deemed essential. I found a mobile groomer that is working as well.

Shall we shut all the supermarkets down then? Should all people offering takeaways shut? All online companies offering deliveries close down? At some point we will have to come into contact with something that has come from outside our own home, we just need to make sure we are taking all precautions and washing hands/fur to minimise those risks.

@truffleshuffle no. Because we need to eat. Again - dogs don't need a haircut. If they're terribly matted it can be done by a vet nurse.

People don’t need new clothes but I can order them offline, people don’t need to do diy but they can go to b&q. People don’t need a takeaway coffee but they can go and get one. Do you think all these should be closed? None of these businesses need to be closed according to the government so why should dog grooming be singled out to close when they can adhere to social distancing probably much better than any of the previously listed businesses?

Completely agree!

Some people in here need to grow up.

OP. Your dog is just clipped - get some good clippers and give it a go yourself. Take your time, use a ton of treats and don't feel the need to complete it all in one session. It's ok for the dog to walk about partially clipped for a few day while you work your way through it.

It's a good habit to get into anyway because grooming your own dog gives you a chance to check them over in a way people rarely do otherwise.

Plus it's good body handling practice for the dog. Just keep it fun and rewarding for you both.

My neighbor has a mobile dog groomer come. They do the dog in the van. They have been this week. The humans don't have to come into contact. You could ring around and see if anyone in your area does this.

The mobile dog groomer is the easiest option here.
However, I don’t see an issue with driving to a dog groomer within a reasonable distance and giving them your dog whilst observing social distancing.
I don’t fully understand why dog groomers were closed.
If the dog is suffering because they get hot and their coat becomes matted, then it’s a welfare issue.
But at the same time I despair at people who own dogs that require professional grooming but are incapable of maintaining their own dog coat themselves to a basic level. Why get such a dog in the first place if you can’t do some of it yourself? Or are not at least prepared to try?
I couldn’t be doing with all the going to the dog groomers on a regular basis so would never consider such a breed. I’ve always had dogs with standard coats and I still have to spend half an hour every day on taking care of it.
And above all, why were such breeds created to have long or dense fur yet the dogs themselves require outside intervention to maintain it?

If they get badly matted it’s painful for them, pulls on the skin. Yes a vet nurse can shave it off but they may have to be under a GA to have this done.

I’m a dog groomer. The business I work for has closed.

Taking your dog to be groomed does not fall under the category of going for your daily exercise or collecting essential supplies.

Lots of our customers have given their dog a have a go haircut in the meantime.

Ours is open for very local people. It operates in an outhouse in the garden. Clients are met at the end of the drive, thrown a very long lead that you put on your dog. They take the dog in, groom dog and bring him home. Knock on door, you open door and step back. Dog runs in. I didn’t get anywhere close to 2 metres near the groomer. Obviously this can only work for some businesses if they have an appropriate set up.

Buy a Mars Coat king - make sure get the right one for her coat type - and that will definitely help with her coat.