Dog Grooming Woes!

**critter crazy** · 01-08-2007, 09:15 AM

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** · 01-08-2007, 09:24 AM

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** · 01-08-2007, 09:28 AM

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** · 01-08-2007, 10:01 AM

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** · 01-08-2007, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 01-08-2007, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by borzoimom

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** · 01-08-2007, 10:32 AM

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/produc...omingDematting
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** · 01-08-2007, 10:33 AM

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** · 01-08-2007, 12:35 PM

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?

**ramanth** · 01-08-2007, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by critter crazy

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** · 01-08-2007, 01:43 PM

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.

**critter crazy** · 01-08-2007, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

I will try to remember!!

**Freedom** · 01-08-2007, 03:35 PM

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** · 01-08-2007, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by 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

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.