Whether you are looking for a groomer for a dog, cat or a bird you need to feel comfortable with the people you are entrusting your pet to. Most places expect you to drop off your pet & return later in the day for pickup. My pets are like my kids to me (I don’t have human kids), so I am very protective of them. When you are looking for a groomer I suggest you ask friends, co-workers, people at church & neighbors or even people you meet with their pets. When you get a recommendation then go online & read about the services they offer. Check out the reviews & view the gallery of photos of pets they have groomed. Not everyone likes the same cut on the same breed, so you want someone who will groom & give your pet the look you like. It is no different then you finding someone who cuts your hair the way you like. The photo above is a Poodle/Golden Retriever that I fostered & groomed. No I am not a groomer, but was blessed to know 3 groomers & they each taught me a few things. I liked this look on “Molly”, but its not the look her adopters have done now. If you like what you read then I suggest calling & asking questions & expressing any concerns regarding your pets. Trust your gut, if you’re not comfortable with their answers then just end the call nicely. I have a reactive dog who needed his nails cut & I needed a place as that would groom him when no other dogs were out. I also needed the groomer to be a female & I explained this would be his first nail trim that I knew of. I was very impressed with how helpful they were & I made an appointment. I was pleased with how they were with my dog & he has been back several times. I did stay and watch, not because of the groomers, because I didn’t know how my dog would be, he has separation anxiety (long story I will blog about in future). If not told, be sure & ask what vaccinations records you need to bring & the cost. Note: Tips are appreciated, just like with your hairstylist.
It is very important that your dog & you feel comfortable with the groomer you choose. If you are thinking of using a place in a pet store or at your Vet, but not sure, check it out before you book. There may be windows where you can watch without them really knowing you’re watching them. You can walk by a few times, stop & look at items near the windows. I realize this most likely is not going to be a possibility in a private business. In this case you are going to have to trust your instincts, the reviews and recommendations. Next is how your dog acts & looks when you pick your pet up. If your pets seem scared or acting way out of character I would really think about whether I’d go back there.
I’m going to share a story about my ‘sisters’ dog, he is a year old now, (35-40 lb Lab mix) they’ve had him since about 6 weeks old. We were talking about nail trimming & I she said how horrible her dog is with nail trims & how he hated having his feet touched. Now I know my sister got him use to being touched everywhere from a young age. I started to ask questions & found out the groomer she used was forcing her dog into a corner & hovering over him, that would scare me. Then I heard she had my brother in-law pin him & hold him down while she cut his nails, I was mortified & told her this is not ok, her dog deserves to be groomed without fear. I strongly recommended she find a new fear free groomer for his nails. She took my advice & the place she went to was gentle, patient & they told my sister he did very well & she said he was acting normal when they were done. I haven’t asked her how he did there the next time or if he was hesitant to go back to the new groomer.
If you’re needing a cat groomed there are places that specialize in grooming cats or have a totally separate area for cats. Many cats are stressed enough going in the car, they don’t need to hear barking dogs or see dogs if they are afraid of strange dogs.
If needing your birds wings or nails cut ask your Vet that sees your birds. If you don’t have an Avian Vet yet, then ask at local pet stores or bird specific stores for recommendations. If you have a friend with birds who is experienced at trimming wings and nails you can potentially help each other out. Some local bird clubs may have someone they recommend.
I hope you found this information helpful. I will be blogging soon about at home grooming tips. Your comments are appreciated. Debbie
Echoing Great Pet Care 