Is your dog groomer abusing your dog.?

A good friend of mine worked at a dog groomers and reported the following the authorities. I am sharing this with you so you can be aware.

Barking dogs were held under water and nearly drowned.

Dogs that did not sit still were chocked, beat, ears pulled, hair pulled and thrown to the floor.

This was usually done by part time hired help or just mean people.

If your dog is afraid to go to the salon after the first visit

I suggest you not leave your dog, but stay with them OR use a mobile grooming service that come to you for your dog's protection.

Is your dog groomer abusing your dog.?

I live near Portland Oregon and just a few months ago there was a story on the news about a groomer who accidentally cut off a dog's ear. She superglued it back on. The dog developed a nasty infection and of course, the lady was fired and the shop was closed. I don't know about lawsuits after the fact, you know the news, they never follow-up.

I guess the thought of using a groomer never has crossed my mind. I thoroughly enjoy bathing my dogs and singing to them in the shower/tub. I don't think that they like it all that much - the bath - but I know that they would tolerate it from me a whole lot more than from an inexperienced, angry person or in a strange environment that smells of a bajillion other dogs. I lookt at my grooming time as obedience time - they will stay in the tub, they will let me bathe them, and they will behave. I have had to be firm with them, grab them to prevent them from jumping out of the tub, but I have never had to muzzle them, yell at them (like the lady above mentioned!), hit them, or abuse them in any way shape or form. And when they are finished, they run around and jump and act so cute, I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Groom your own dogs - it's bonding time! - and you never have to worry about any of the abovementioned!

And I groom 3 fifty plus pound dogs, so it's no small task!

I have bathed other people's dogs. I have bathed my own. Yelling at a barking dog is the EXACT wrong thing to do. Yelling at a barking excited dog perpetuates excitement. You - crazy lady above, are exactly the type of groomer that I would NOT take my dog to. I don't want someone who doesn't know how to deal with dogs yelling at my dog. THAT is a behaviour that will get you bitten. Thanks for the thumbs down - right back at ya!

Thanks starbreeze - I was thinking the same thing about her as a groomer!!

Is your dog groomer abusing your dog.?

thanks. mind telling us which groomer? it sounds horrible, omigosh.

Is your dog groomer abusing your dog.?

That is astoundingly unbelievable!

I wouldn't pay for the haircuts I give my dog - they're more for function than beauty.

Is your dog groomer abusing your dog.?

I had a situation when I took my one Shih Tzu to the groomer for the first time. The groomer told me that my 6 month old puppy was the meanest dog she has ever dealt with! She then told me she would never trust this dog with children! I was stunned!!!!

So, I figured that I would groom her at home and went to the pet store to get what I needed. I walked in with her and put her on the counter and asked what kind of brush would be best for her. They brought out the brush for me and my puppy flinched!!!! That is when I realized that the puppy wasn't the mean one, it was the groomer. Since then (and several failed attempts at grooming myself) I have found a wonderful groomer who all my babies love!

I think everyone should be wary when trusting a groomer. Always get and check references! You can never be too careful!

Is your dog groomer abusing your dog.?

OMG! That would NEVER be allowed to happen in my shop. If you get annoyed by barking dogs, lose your temper easily, and are afraid to get snapped at or even bitten, you should NOT be a groomer! I can get more co-operation from a dog by not reacting to bad behavior. If you don't respond to their threats of growling or snapping, they realize that it won't work. When they're trying to figure out why you won't be intimidated, you move them to theposition you want them in, and praise them for standing there. They usually get the picture. If I have one that is a little slow figuring out biting doesn't work, they get a muzzy (muzzle) with no anger or fanfare. A dog you've abused is MORE likely to bite out of fear.

Glad your friend reported it. I hope s/he has the guts to testify!

Is your dog groomer abusing your dog.?

My mom and I groom dogs and do none of this stuff.

HOWEVER, I will not glorify your dog by saying it was very well behaved when in reality it was like a two year old spoiled brat, which the majority of dogs are... unfortunately. (Using "spoiled brat" is a little unprofessional in the way that you wouldn't tell someone that, but what else are you supposed to call it? A lot of dogs will do things that their owners let them, like nip or bark, when that is a very undesirable activity. Its things like that that put dogs to sleep.)

If a dog barks like crazy, it will be yelled at, sometimes if its really bad, they're muzzled with a cloth muzzle. This is because we work at a vet clinic and it would be stupid to let them bark their brains out and bother our other clients.

If a dog will not stand on the table correctly, the bar that holds the lead up will be raised so they cant sit without choking themselves(by choking I do not mean they're literally choking, I mean it is uncomfortable and undesirable to be in a sitting position). It is not inhumane, its a way of telling them we are the boss without hurting them, and that they cant get away with it.

If your dog attacks or bites, yes, we will muzzle them, and if they keep trying, we will grab their muzzles and tell them no until they learn that they cant bite. I have only had to do this to small, yappy lap dogs.

We dont abuse your dog. Lets face it, would you rather we muzzle him/her, or have them bite us and need to be put down? Because thats what happens, unfortunately. My mom almost lost her finger to a dog that her owner had to stay and watch. The owner refused to let my mom muzzle the dog when the dog showed signs of aggresion, and my mom was forced to work in dangerous conditions that resulted in the dog attacking her.

A lot groomers are good, but people dont think they are just because the dog is spoiled rotten and squeals when they clip toenails, shave feet, or other things.

But it is a very good idea to check out your possible groomer before dropping your dog off, as sometimes there are bad groomers.

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EDIT: Just to clarify, the "abusive behaviors" I apparently practice are used on dogs to keep them from attacking me and being put to sleep. Instead of telling me I'm wrong, please please please go be a dog groomer for one day and deal with the animals we have to deal with. A lot of them, and that means almost 89% of them, are awesome and stand there while you shave, cut nails, trim ears, face, give them a bath, comb mats out, etc. But there are also a lot that bite, yelp, cry, attack, and completely try to get away with it because they know they can. Keyword is know. After multiple times of being held still or ignored(possibly muzzled if its that bad), the dog calms down and realizes its wrong and thats not how its supposed to act.

As far as grooming your dog yourself, thats a great idea if you have a lab or other similar dog. I find it annoying when people bring in dogs that only need baths, since they can usually do that themselves. Its when you have poodles(for a special cut) or a Maltese that you should bring them to a groomer, since the later gets matted and unless you have the right tools or training, it can be painful for the dog to have you yourself take those out.

Also, in response to the lady below me, dogs usually act better for their 'parents' instead of a groomer, which is why you haven't had to do any of the 'things' I have listed. You also dont have to worry about being bit because you know the dogs personality and limits. We do not. We have to treat every dog like it may bite or we may end up hurt and the dog may end up euthanaised.

If you have never had to groom another person's dog, a dog you have never seen before, please dont jump down my throat. Please try to realize that a lot of dogs are just trying to get away with things, and you cant let them or the behavior gets worse. Once again, would you rather have them muzzled and disiplined a little, or put to sleep because they attacked?

Is your dog groomer abusing your dog.?

I actually have been a dog groomer for a little over five years now, and I can honestly say that I am nicer to other people's dogs than my own. I would never hurt a dog, if they upset me, I put them back in the cage and give both of us a break.

If I ever hired anyone that I caught abusing the dogs they would be fired, handed there last pay check, and told to leave.

Not all groomers are bad, you just have to find the good ones!

Is your dog groomer abusing your dog.?

Unfortunately, this is not the fist I've heard of abuse at groomers, OR vets offices. Sometimes people who make their living with animals are the LAST people who should work with animals. So sad!

Is your dog groomer abusing your dog.?

Thanks for posting this. You do have to be very careful. Most states don't require much if any education or licensing, so you could be dropping your dog off with just anyone. The safest bet is to ONLY go to a groomer who allows you to view their entire facility and will groom your dog while you wait. Sometimes there's an extra charge to have them groomed at specific time, but its worth it for the peace of mind. Sputz, calling dogs "spoiled brats" is completely unprofessional, shows a lack of understanding of basic dog behaviors, and a hint of hostility. If you're causing dogs to choke themselves, I hope the owner takes appropriate action against you. You could kill a dog with collapsing trachea that way. Dogs that are uncooperative usually are not used to grooming or haven't had enough of it to take it as normal routine. That is why many places offer a reduced price package for puppies. It encourages owners to bring their puppies more frequently to accustom them to grooming procedures. Here's a good link on abuse by groomers:

http://pink73.tripod.com/GROOMING.html

Is your dog groomer abusing your dog.?

I think "sputz"s answer is not only the most honest answer here, but also the most knowledgable.

I have a dog, a purebred Welsh Terrier, a rare breed. and my wife grooms it herself, and we had it pro groomed once, and he was as happy as a pig in dung when we picked him up.

If you pick up your dog and he's miserable, don't bring him/her back and learn to do it yourself. It's not that hard to do folks! And, may I add one thing that sputz referred to....START EARLY folks, with the brushes, the nail clippers, the whole GROOMING THING must start ASAP.... my wife started my puppy the moment he arrived at his new home... he was 9 weeks old! she started brushing, clipping nails and cleaning his ears right away. He's a great patient at 4 months!