Dog Grooming Woes!

[critter crazy]

Why is it no matter what breed of dog i own, it is difficult to find a groomer! I just spent the last half hour calling groomers, and getting told No! What the heck?? Why is a Saint so hard to find a groomer for??? Petsmart will do it, but gosh they seemed so pricey, and on top of it, i have heard some people comment about how bad a job they do( Not this particular one, as it is new, but Petsmart in General) Does anyone get their dogs groomed at Petsmart?? If so how good a job do they do???

[borzoimom]

I only took Hottie to petsmart once. My regular groomer was on vacation. I picked up hottie who acted exhausted! I later found out they kept him standing on a table for people to see for 4 HOURS! I was outraged! ( got my money back too).
Getting a large dog groomed is expensive- Hottie is 65 dollars. I have him done every 3 months- do the rest myself with my sprayer. However- I do not have the equipment ( now with 4 that will have to change) to get a good dryer and hydro surge..)
IF you take the dog to petsmart- you stick around... or pop in and out etc.. A good groom is worth the weight in gold with removing dead hair etc- but this lets them know- I am watching you... Another option might be your vet. Our vet does large dogs only- no clips but a good bath and blow out- all I really need.. ( but I have been using the same lady for 8 years for hottie..)
Too bad you do not live in Virginia- I have an excellent one!

[borzoimom]

By the way- to get that white really white and soft and conditioned- this is the mixture I use- half mane and tail ( also in a dog formula- but not the people type), mixed with " Blue" dog shampoo- ( equal halfs-) Not only does this make the white gleam but also takes out the stains in the colored areas to shine! Look at the gleam in zubins coat on my website ( our dogs- zubin is the first page)... Soft, flowing and dirt resistance..

[critter crazy]

Thanks Michelle! Unfortunately our vet dosent do anything like this, he is an old fashioned guy, good at what he does, but no grooming or bathing. Okay Petsmart quoted 66$ So I guess that isnt too high, but the last dog i had to get groomed was 20$ of course it was a rotti, not half as much fur, nor size! I will continue to shop around, if I cant find anyplace else I guess i will take him to Petsmart and just stay there, to make sure he is being taken care of.

[borzoimom]

Thanks Michelle! Unfortunately our vet dosent do anything like this, he is an old fashioned guy, good at what he does, but no grooming or bathing. Okay Petsmart quoted 66$ So I guess that isnt too high, but the last dog i had to get groomed was 20$ of course it was a rotti, not half as much fur, nor size! I will continue to shop around, if I cant find anyplace else I guess i will take him to Petsmart and just stay there, to make sure he is being taken care of.
Honey- do what I do- one good groom with a good blow out, goes a long way. Otherwise- you could wash the dog afterwords with a hose, or even as I do in a large tub with a excellent sprayer.
For his size ( and he is BIG!) I would consider 66 a good price..

[critter crazy]

Honey- do what I do- one good groom with a good blow out, goes a long way. Otherwise- you could wash the dog afterwords with a hose, or even as I do in a large tub with a excellent sprayer.
For his size ( and he is BIG!) I would consider 66 a good price..

well what i figured is I would get him one good grooming, and then just stay on top of it. and once it gets warmer i can get him with a hose outside. I just figured it would be easier just to start from a clean slate you know?? get rid of the few Mats he has and stuff. He loves to be brushed, so that isnt hard, and I also have a grooming spray, and deoderizing spray as well. Then this summer, we will see how he does,a nd probably have to get him clipped. I imagine he will get hot quick.

[borzoimom]

Get yourself a collie rake ( link attached) .. If you use this daily after the groom, or at least once a week afterwards- it sure does go along way.. http://www.jbpet.com/Shopping/product.asp?catalog_name=JBWholesale&product_id=182-0112&category_name=GroomingDematting
Saints have a much thicker coat than borzois, but this is what I used on my collies as well.. ( have one for major already to go...)

[jenluckenbach]

Some groomers are just not equipped for a dog that size. Maybe they don't have enough help to lift him into a tub, or they have no cage large enough to house him for drying. They might just not be able to physically DO a large, heavy breed (it gets a LOT harder as you get older).
As for the price, $65 and UP depending on condition of the coat/behavior of the dog. Some coats are a lot thicker than others, and some owners don't have a clue that their dog is not brushed out properly at home. And a dog that behaves at home for a brushing might put up quite a fuss at the groomers (or vice verse)
As for petsmart.....it will depend on the groomer more than the salon. While pet store grooming shops tend to have lesser experienced groomers, that is not always the case.

[areias]

Here...
Vicki's Dog Grooming
341 Pleasant Hill Rd.
Port Crane, NY 13833
(607) 648-3941

I called on it, she said no more than $60, maybe less. I think that's kind of close to you. Half of the places have answering machines instead of real people! What kind of business is that?

[critter crazy]

Here...
Vicki's Dog Grooming
341 Pleasant Hill Rd.
Port Crane, NY 13833
(607) 648-3941

I called on it, she said no more than $60, maybe less. I think that's kind of close to you. Half of the places have answering machines instead of real people! What kind of business is that?

Omg you are awsome!! I will be calling her!! that is so close to me, thank you very much!!

[areias]

lol, no problem. The other option is mobile groomer, but that's probably more expensive.

The lady sounded VERY nice on the phone, and professional.

[critter crazy]

lol, no problem. The other option is mobile groomer, but that's probably more expensive.

The lady sounded VERY nice on the phone, and professional.

I cannot believe you actually called her, talk about going above and Beyond!! You are awsome!!!:D

She is only about 10mins away! Now i just have to wait till after thursday to get him in, he has his first vet appt. on thurs. to get his shots and a checkup. I want this done before i take him to any groomer.

[borzoimom]

I cannot believe you actually called her, talk about going above and Beyond!! You are awsome!!!:D
AMEN TO THAT ONE! (Bows to the 'diva of information'..) What did she say critter crazy?

[critter crazy]

Well I just talked to her, and she does sound realy nice. I set up an appointment, but she cant get me in till the 22nd. But that is okay, Gives Rocky more time to adjust and get used to things. :)

[borzoimom]

I agree!

[areias]

That's good, I'm glad she worked out for you. :)

I prefer a small grooming salon versus petsmart-you can get a better relationship going, I think. :)

[jenluckenbach]

Half of the places have answering machines instead of real people! What kind of business is that?
I believe MOST grooming shops (that are not inside a pet store) tend to be closed on a Monday. (therefore, answering machines.) We are among those, our work week is tuesday thru Saturday,, so to get a 2 day weekend, we have off Sunday and Monday.

[critter crazy]

I believe MOST grooming shops (that are not inside a pet store) tend to be closed on a Monday. (therefore, answering machines.) We are among those, our work week is tuesday thru Saturday,, so to get a 2 day weekend, we have off Sunday and Monday.

Makes perfect sence, just like a barber shop!:)

[areias]

Hmmm, okay, yes that makes sense. Thanks for the info. :)

[ramanth]

Does anyone get their dogs groomed at Petsmart?? If so how good a job do they do???
I have and like others have said, it can vary.

There used to be a woman that worked at the PetSmart grooming and she did phenomenal service and I'd call ahead just to schedule Kia with her.

When she left, the times I've taken Kia, they either barely trim or don't trim her nails at all, it looks like they never brush her after her bath (her hair would be sticking up at weird angles), or she comes back to me still damp. :(

So I haven't been back since. The local Petco is the same.

I think I'll need to find a smaller more personal grooming place. :)

[elizabethann]

I'm glad you found a groomer. I don't like PetSmart myself.

Please take before & after pictures of the big pup so we can all see.

:D

[critter crazy]

I'm glad you found a groomer. I don't like PetSmart myself.

Please take before & after pictures of the big pup so we can all see.

:D

I will try to remember!! :D

[Freedom]

Hey Maggie, it sounds like you found a good set up, at least for a try. That's great.

I am looking for groomers for the first time in my life. It's been interesting. (A bichon isn't nearly as challenging as a Saint!)

You may find this link interesting:
http://www.bichonfriseusa.com/
Half way down on the left column are two topics related to this: Choosing a Groomer, and Find a Groomer. They give some clues of things to look for and to ask.

My first problem was that, based on those info topics, none of the 4 groomers I went to interview passed!!!!

My next problem was that Sugar has allergies, which we traced to something the groomer in Ohio used (while she was in foster care.) I tried the Bichon Bubbles (formula is also from that website I gave above) and NO MORE ITCHING! So my vet suggested that I find a groomer who would let me bathe and dry her at home, then just take her in for the trim. HA! Another bunch of "No, we don't do that here," reponses. PetCo told me it was corprorate policy, they HAVE to do the bath there.

Late last week I was in PetSMart and a woman came in with a Havanese (relation to the Bichon) and was taking him for his trim. He was all fluffy and a little bit damp. So we chatted. The person she uses at that PetSMart lets you bathe at home and bring the dog in just for the trim.

Now get this: the woman told me if she had the entire process done the dog had to stay there for 4 or 5 hours. A little 8 pound Havanese for that long??? For just the trim, it was a "while you wait" about an hour, and you could comment as the groomer worked! She had been taking her dog to this specific groomer at this specific PetSMart for 3.5 years, since the dog was a puppy. She never had them do the bath, as she didn't want her puppy there that long; initially he wasn't even potty trained and she figured it was a good bet he would "go" while he was there.

Just what I was looking for! I have no idea how good the trim will be, but then I am new to this and likely won't know a bad cut anyhow, ha ha.

And yes, the good ones I learned you have to book a few weeks in advance. It is like being a client at the beauty parlor.
Sandra

[critter crazy]

Hey Maggie, it sounds like you found a good set up, at least for a try. That's great.

I am looking for groomers for the first time in my life. It's been interesting. (A bichon isn't nearly as challenging as a Saint!)

You may find this link interesting:
http://www.bichonfriseusa.com/
Half way down on the left column are two topics related to this: Choosing a Groomer, and Find a Groomer. They give some clues of things to look for and to ask.

My first problem was that, based on those info topics, none of the 4 groomers I went to interview passed!!!!

My next problem was that Sugar has allergies, which we traced to something the groomer in Ohio used (while she was in foster care.) I tried the Bichon Bubbles (formula is also from that website I gave above) and NO MORE ITCHING! So my vet suggested that I find a groomer who would let me bathe and dry her at home, then just take her in for the trim. HA! Another bunch of "No, we don't do that here," reponses. PetCo told me it was corprorate policy, they HAVE to do the bath there.

Late last week I was in PetSMart and a woman came in with a Havanese (relation to the Bichon) and was taking him for his trim. He was all fluffy and a little bit damp. So we chatted. The person she uses at that PetSMart lets you bathe at home and bring the dog in just for the trim.

Now get this: the woman told me if she had the entire process done the dog had to stay there for 4 or 5 hours. A little 8 pound Havanese for that long??? For just the trim, it was a "while you wait" about an hour, and you could comment as the groomer worked! She had been taking her dog to this specific groomer at this specific PetSMart for 3.5 years, since the dog was a puppy. She never had them do the bath, as she didn't want her puppy there that long; initially he wasn't even potty trained and she figured it was a good bet he would "go" while he was there.

Just what I was looking for! I have no idea how good the trim will be, but then I am new to this and likely won't know a bad cut anyhow, ha ha.

And yes, the good ones I learned you have to book a few weeks in advance. It is like being a client at the beauty parlor.
Sandra

Thats great that they are willing to work with you! I cannot believe that most places wouldnt, its not your fault she has allergies! geesh!! it should be a chioce just like at a salon, you can choose a shampoo, or not!
I am hoping the groomer areias found for me works, cause she is very close and she has her shop in her house which is nice, should make it to be calmer for the dogs.:)

[DrKym]

Freedom 2 things you can try ...I use a PetCo groomer and she is really wonderful. 1 bring the shampoo with (although I have brought goof in wet from a bath for them to dry brush and clip) and 2 Bring her in after yoou have bathed brushed dried at home and request a brush and clip no bath.

I did ask Mags if it was a company policy, she replied not to her knowledge, that she has a few others that are bathed at home, and one that gets a bath there and brushed out but goes home wet (not sure why and didn' think to ask :rolleyes: )

[wolfsoul]

We are the only place in town equipped to do large dogs. We have stairs to the tub, and there are plenty of us who work there so enough people to help lift. We have plenty of large crates and an area to tie dogs too big for the crates (we have one newfie who just won't fit in a 600 crate!).

$65 is expensive for a large dog, unless it is matted -- atleast for our shop. We have two regular saints and charge almost $10-20 less, and we are a big shop We will also use their shampoo if they wish, though alot of the time the shampoo the owner brings in does not clean the dog, and the dog ends up having a poor haircut because the coat is greasy.

[Shelteez2]

At the shop I work at a Saint would start at $100. We charge $50 - $65 for goldens.

[Twisterdog]

Half of the places have answering machines instead of real people! What kind of business is that?

A BUSY one! I know my grooming shop is over-booked and under-staffed. I could easily keep four to six more employees busy ... I currently have two, besides myself. It is HARD to find a good groomer, and I'm picky. We barely have time to get the dogs groomed. If we stopped every two minutes to answer the phone all day long, we'd NEVER get a dog done! So, hire a secretary, you say. I'd LOVE to ... can't find one of those, either. Our county is experiening a huge boom right now, with way more jobs available than people to staff them. It's nuts. So, my customers get the answering machine probably more than 50% of the time. They leave a message, I call them back. Not a problem, obviously, since we're booked solid until March.

$66 is a good price for a Saint Bernard, IMO.

[areias]

A BUSY one! I know my grooming shop is over-booked and under-staffed. I could easily keep four to six more employees busy ... I currently have two, besides myself. It is HARD to find a good groomer, and I'm picky. We barely have time to get the dogs groomed. If we stopped every two minutes to answer the phone all day long, we'd NEVER get a dog done! So, hire a secretary, you say. I'd LOVE to ... can't find one of those, either. Our county is experiening a huge boom right now, with way more jobs available than people to staff them. It's nuts. So, my customers get the answering machine probably more than 50% of the time. They leave a message, I call them back. Not a problem, obviously, since we're booked solid until March.

Yes, I understand, I just called probably 4 places and they all had answering machines, and I just wanted a price. :)

Understaffed you are, and me looking to get back into the "kennel" field...hmm where in Wyoming are you? ;) :D LOL

[wolfsoul]

At the shop I work at a Saint would start at $100. We charge $50 - $65 for goldens.
Wow, that's alot for over here. The shops here charge relatively the same amount. We start at $40 for a golden.

We are understaffed too LOL. We do between 40 and 60 dogs a day, and never make it out of work on time.

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

I'm not a groomer, but I think $60.00 or so is pretty good for a St. Bernard. When we used to have to take Echo to a groomer, we were always charged about $55.00 - and she wasn't a big Rottweiler. Behaved well, and was never filthy either.

[eurobichons]

we run a site with a grooming forum
www.eurobichons.com

it has list of USA groomers associations, we groom our own 14 dogs here and also do others like rescue dogs for free, sadly we are in UK a bit far to travel lol :confused:

[ILoveMyAbbyGirl]

(Okay, I know this thread is totally old and random, but I just had to comment!)

I work at PetCo and we charge $33 for Saints and $27-$33 for Goldens depending on size. $65 for a Golden is crazy, lol. It goes up from there, if you want hypo-allergenic shampoos, toothbrushing or extra brush time (for matted dogs) but for the Saint, $33 would cover the bath, dry, nails trimmed, ears cleaned and complete brush out.

Anyway, just thought I'd let you guys know, lol. Have you been having luck with your groomers?

[buttercup132]

My place charges the same as Shelteez.
A Saint would be $100 +
Goldens start at $70
$27 for a Golden?!
And you charge extra for hypo shampoo?
I've never heard good things about comercial groomers like Pet co, Pet Smart and Super Pet, the mobile groomer is the worst though.

[ILoveMyAbbyGirl]

It's only $7 extra for hypo shampoos, and really, sometimes we sneak them in if we see dogs that need them and mom doesn't want to pay the extra or if we have regular customers that get it all the time or whatnot.

Being a groomer at PetCo, I can honestly say we never really have angry customers. We have a lot of people that come from Petsmart saying awful things, but I have no idea what goes on there.

Our prices are assorted by groups; we have groups 1 through 5, group 1 being things like Pugs and JRTs and short-coated dogs like that, and group 5 is your Saints, Mastiffs, large Goldens, large Labs, etc. Group 5 is pretty much anything over 75lbs.

We charge decent amounts (we even have people complain that the $27.99 for their Golden is too much!) and we do a good job. Dogs are always completely dry before they go home, nails trimmed, ears cleaned and coat is completely brushed through. We have a VERY close bond with our customers and we report every little wart, lump, limp, anything that the customer needs to know about, whether it happened at the groom shop or it was noticed when the dog came in.

I love my job, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. =]

[critter crazy]

(Okay, I know this thread is totally old and random, but I just had to comment!)

I work at PetCo and we charge $33 for Saints and $27-$33 for Goldens depending on size. $65 for a Golden is crazy, lol. It goes up from there, if you want hypo-allergenic shampoos, toothbrushing or extra brush time (for matted dogs) but for the Saint, $33 would cover the bath, dry, nails trimmed, ears cleaned and complete brush out.

Anyway, just thought I'd let you guys know, lol. Have you been having luck with your groomers?

Rocky, the dog this thread I started was about, has since passed on to the rainbow Bridge. Thanks for the Info tho.