Groomer Cut My Dog

[Snowflake]

I have two cocker spaniels that I pay a lot of cash to take to the groomer. My last groomer was great but exceptionally hard to schedule with. I found another groomer locally and decided to give her a try. She was excited to be able to work on dogs like mine - show bred cockers with a long skirt. She said that most people around here with cockers have cockers of the field type and they do twice a year shave downs, so this was a treat for her to have fancy dogs to work on. I let her do my male first about 6 weeks ago and she did ok and today I took in both dogs. I pointed out some things that I wasn’t wild about last time and left her to do her thing.

Well, I got a call from the groomer at about 1 to say that my male had been cut and she couldn’t get the bleeding to stop. I dropped everything and rush over there, fully expecting we’d be going to the emergency clinic. I walk in to find she had cut the top part of his pad off on the back paw. Think, taking the top off of a tomato with a knife. There was nothing to stitch together. I packed it with styptic powder and held pressure on it. This groomer didn’t know you could use styptic on anything but nails and didn’t have a first aid kit of any kind - no gauze, no vet wrap, nothing. Thank God I have that stuff in my truck because of the horses. I was able to divert a trip to the vet and just bandaged him up right there. (Animalintex and vetwrap covered with a tube sock - amazing what you find in my truck!) I made a list of a few “must haves” for her to get and told her that accidents happen and it’s better to be prepared to deal with them.

My dogs are very well behaved at the groomer and have been trained from a young age to stand for trimming and even to lie down on their sides for drying under the stand dryer - this makes it a lot easier to brush them out under the air. So, I’m a little surprised it happened at all, but I got a sense today of how inexperienced this woman is. She did go to school for grooming and I’m shocked that she had no first aid training. She was clearly upset and I was trying to be understanding about the fact that stuff happens. I even tried to give her some tools so that she could save herself the panic if it ever happens again.

I stayed until she was done with my male, then took him home while she finished up on my female. She called me about an hour later and I went down to pick her up. I was a little taken aback that she charged me full price for both dogs. I understand that mistakes happen, but I know that if it were me I would have taken my losses for the male and only charged for the dog that came out uninjured. I now have a dog with a bandaged paw that will need to be changed multiple times a day as it’s a wet weekend here. It’s a royal pain in the arse and I don’t think it’s too much to ask for something in return.

She wanted to schedule their next visit after I was done handing her a check which I dodged with “Um… Er… Horseshows… Don’t know my schedule 6 weeks out… Busy season…” Am I wrong to feel that the charges should have been discounted or even not charged at all for the male? I think in some ways I was just too nice about the whole thing.

[Milocalwinnings]

I’d find a new groomer.

I understand accidents happen and I would be a little upset but I could probably deal with it IF she did a great job AND it was a simple accident and not a “mistake due to inexperience”. I would, however, be upset that she had no first aid supplies and that she charged full price. I would have asked for some sort of compromise on the price, explaining that you now have to spend time and money to care for the wound. Although I probably would have left after the male was done and not had her do the female.

It sounds like she is very inexperienced and really just did an OK job with the grooming. I’d find someone else who was more professional and who knows what they are doing. But that’s JMO.

[Bluey]

Your dog’s comfort is more important than a groomer’s feelings.
Find a new groomer if you don’t want this one to learn on your dogs.

The accident was an accident, but the way it was handled was an opportunity to see what kind of groomer she is and that is no accident.

People like that need to learn where they get continuous education, not open a shop and keep making mistakes and maybe never really learn much or even enough on their own.

I would not keep using someone you can’t have much confidence on knowing what to do or doing everything right.:no:

[MunchingonHay]

I agree, find a new groomer. The male should have been free and the female should have been at a discount. And to be honest, if I had done that to someone’s dog, I would have done them both for free.

[Snowflake]

[QUOTE=MunchingonHay;6256282]
I agree, find a new groomer. The male should have been free and the female should have been at a discount. And to be honest, if I had done that to someone’s dog, I would have done them both for free.[/QUOTE]

That’s exactly how I feel… I would have felt so horrible that I couldn’t have asked for any money. I’m frustrated because I can groom these guys myself but it is such a time consuming process, that I choose to pay someone to do it. That, and I don’t have the equipment anymore.

My area is tough with groomers and there aren’t many that will have a lot of experience with the show style cocker. Most cockers you see around here are shaved down. There is one lady about 1 1/2 hours away that is awesome but twice as much as the already expensive inexperienced groomer and terribly difficult to get into. She competes in grooming competitions and was named one of the top groomers in the country. I would love to have her work on my dogs if I could figure out a way to make it work. She likes hair apparently - she has a Gypsy Vanner.

[LauraKY]

Find a new groomer. We took our collie to a new groomer back in MD. She was a sable rough collie. The “groomer” tried to cut all the dark hair out. I had a hissy fit…they comped the grooming and offered me a free next grooming, which I declined.

I’ve had cockers for years and I’ve never had anything like that happen. Then not to have first aid supplies on hand? Find another groomer.

[Emryss]

It’s situations like this that make me roll my eyes about many grooming schools. Not all…but enough that I have a prejudice.

I am very surprised she charged anything for your dogs, or that she didn’t offer another free round of grooming to boot. Mistakes happen - I know exactly how she managed to cut your dog’s pad and the type of injury…and that pads never, ever stop bleeding ever ever ever period. I would hope to shout that she takes a first aid class, gets some supplies, and takes a little time to learn good customer service.

Present the groomer with the vet bill. Personally, I would schedule with a groomer you feel better about and let her know why. Someone needs to let her know about proper customer service!

ETA - wait, you were able to skip the vet. Present her with the bill for wound care supplies anyway.

[Snowflake]

Yes, luckily I was able to forgo the vet visit. I wasn’t sure at first but my previous life working at a vet clinic came in handy today. I can’t really charge her anything for supplies as it was all stuff that I had on hand and can’t really prove how much it cost me.

She was talking to me after it all happened and she asked me why I stopped working as a vet tech and I told her it was the money. I make more money in human medicine than I did in animal medicine. I will be the first to say that animals are my passion - people are not. Which is why I don’t work clinically. She went on to tell me that she worked in human services before going to grooming school but that she has a learning disability and struggled with the paperwork required for her previous job. She said that dog grooming is the first time she had a chance to do something that she felt she had the ability to be really good at and wasn’t going to be held back because of her disability. Now, I had an uncle who had Down Syndrome so I have a soft spot in my heart for people who are working to overcome a disability.

But, I can’t put my dogs in harms way either. She didn’t do this intentionally and she felt terrible. She was in tears when she called me and was still crying when I got there. I didn’t want to say or do anything to make her feel like she’s not capable of doing this. I think she is, but she still needs to climb the learning curve that comes with it.

[Emryss]

There’s a helluva learning curve in grooming. I’m sure she can do it - one of my better coworkers many years ago had Asperger’s Syndrome. She was quiet and mousy-shy, but wow! was she detail oriented!

I will say that this young lady won’t make the same mistake anytime soon, more likely than not. I nicked a pad like that when I was learning and the dog moved at the wrong time. I didn’t have the experience yet to anticipate the wiggle and there went the pad. I was mortified. For years afterwards, I nicked my own hands many, many times in an effort to keep the dogs safe. I have the scars still.

[tradewind]

You never charge for a cut dog. Sometimes accidents happen, and when they do, you are honest about, grovel for forgiveness and don’t charge. I would try to find another groomer. I will say, it is easy when you are first starting out to nick a pad…grooming is not easy despite what most people think. It takes years and years to perfect it. The handling is the hardest part, especially if you have not handled alot of dogs before. I was lucky, I had shown dogs for years before I did pet grooming. So I had my hands on tons of dogs of every breed imaginable. It really really does make a difference. And I still had difficulty…show dogs for the most part are taught from day one to stand still for grooming. It is part of their daily lives. Quite different from the whirlling, snapping, pooping, peeing, anal glad spraying, once a year puppy mill dogs I encountered on the pet end. At least I understood breed temperment and training. It helped ALOT. Most groomers have ridiculously little dog background when they start out. Many stay that way because they don’t realize the value of seminars, education, taling to breeders, attending a few dog shows so they actually know what the breed is supposed to look like. It can be a very unprofessional profession.

[MsM]

While I feel sorry for the groomer, I would not leave my dog unattended with her. Sounds like she should be working at a shop where she can have additional help and support. And charging full price for both is unreasonable IMO.

I would network with other people with coated dogs or with vets (vet might not say anything, but often staff will mention who they use). First you need to find somebody experienced enough to be safe. Even though you are leaving some hair on your dogs, it is not that complicated! With luck you can find someone who will work with you the first time. I have left a dog for bathing and come back for the clipping. We discussed the blades and pattern as she worked. When we were satisfied, she made out a card detailing the cuts and noting any issues (warts, sensitive spots ) I paid extra for the first clip, but had some idea of how she handled the dog and her competence and she knew what I wanted.

I have also clipped my own. Bit of a PITA, but the mistakes were my own and it was economical in the long run.

[Bluey]

My opinion, it is wonderful to want to help people when you can, that lady needs help, but not at the cost of your animal’s comfort.

I think that continuing to go there, where you know she is incompetent to groom right or run a business properly, as not being prepared for injuries and charging after the dog was injured on her watch shows you, is enabling, not helping her learn.

People like that really need to be under supervision until they learn much more.

Sadly that happens so much with horse training, where anyone can hang a shingle as a horse trainer, just because they think they are so good and don’t even know how little they know.:no:

I really would not use her again.
If you do, all may go well and no harm done, but if there is a problem again, you know she is clueless and not very bright to get the situation resolved, so why put your dogs in her hands?
Surely there is a better option?

[BuddyRoo]

And this…on top of other things…is the reason that I groom my dog myself.

I worked in a veterinary clinic for about 10 years through HS and college. We had several groomers come and go. Mostly go due to issue of abuse.

I will not allow my dog to be in the hands of someone I don’t know personally and/or can watch from start to finish.

I’ve seen too much outright abuse while “helping” groomers.

Now. I know there are GREAT groomers out there. And I know there are dogs out there who just suck as far as being good.

But I’m not willing to take any chances myself so about every other weekend, guess what I’m doing? Grooming our gigantic standard poodle. Hubby and I strip down to undies, put away all fur collecting objects like rugs, and clip the Roginator (Roger the Poodle) and bathe him. The tag team route works best for us and I don’t ever have to worry that he’ll have a “bad experience”.

[tradewind]

And Buddy Roo, I have seen some seriously inappropriate handling by alleged vet techs when I worked for vets back in college. Made me ill…all under the guise of “restraint”…I have real problems with vets who have to take a dog in the back to draw blood…No you don’t…I will hold my dog and you will do it, or I will go elsewhere…All of the animal professions involve lots of people that have no clue what they are doing. Vet practices are not exempt.

[BuddyRoo]

Tradewind, I believe I’m just supporting what you are saying.

I do not trust my dogs behind closed doors.

Period. Because I know better.

But I’ve not had any vet not allow me in surgery yet…so I guess I haven’t had to worry. And I’m spending roughly 10k per year as MSU now, so I guess I’m a regular.

[Where_sMyWhite]

Learning to groom well is a long road but no groomer is going to learn on my dogs.

I’d find a new groomer.

[S1969]

The fact that she cut your dog would not make me never go there again; it’s more of the first aid issue. And that she charged.

My breeder has probably groomed 10,000+ dogs in her life, and still accidents can happen. She caught my dog’s ear in her scissors the last time she groomed him - she didn’t cut him, but you could see that it was a matter of milliseconds that kept him from getting cut. Maybe after 10,000 groomings, your reflexes are fast enough to stop those scissors. But you know it happens - dogs move and good scissors are sharp.

She also has a ton of hilarious stories that go something like this: big dog show, she grooms all her competition (her friends) and does a great job, and then hacks off a chunk of hair on her own special because she did him last and was in a hurry. So, mistakes in grooming that don’t result in injuries are very possible too.

If you LOVED the grooming job, I might consider allowing her to groom again, but not until after a talk about first aid. If you don’t love it, then maybe it’s not worth it anyway.

[GutsNGlory]

Stories like this make me feel better about learning to groom my dog myself. I have a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and initially started grooming him myself because 1.) I was limited on funds (in college) and most groomers who said they could do Wheaten cuts were too pricey, and 2.) I heard from many other Wheaten owners that a lot of groomers will say they know how to do a Wheaten cut… but actually don’t and end up cutting them like a Schnauzer.

And lately I have heard FAR too many horror stories like this. In fact, one of my best friends has a small toy poodle (about 4lbs) who recently suffered an “accident” like this. It was the puppy’s first grooming experience. Groomer came highly recommended (used to work at one of the best vets in town before starting her own business) and promised to take things slow with the puppy. My friend droppped her puppy off before work, and went to check on her at lunch… only to find her puppy in a crate with a bleeding eye - the groomer had cut the lower eye lid in half (using a blade without guard)! And hadn’t bothered to take the dog to the vet (about 2 seconds down the road) nor call the owner. My friend was able to get the bleeding to stop and took the puppy to her vet. Long story short, she got lucky that it was minor compared to what it could have been (did not cut into the tear duct and mostly grew back together - no surgery needed). Groomer was responsible in that she did not charge for the session (which is also good because what grooming she had done was awful) and paid all of the vet bills, but my friend’s poodle was left with a scarred eye lid and some mental side effects. It has taken several months and another VERY good groomer to get her over the fear issues.

In addition, just a few weeks ago, another friend took her dog to the local PetSmart to be groomed, where the groomer cut (with scissors) the tip of the dogs ear off… Needless to say, I am now terrified of ever taking a dog to be groomed.

To the OP - I am so sorry that this happened to you. I hope that you’re able to find a better, more professional groomer in the future (or return to the groomer you used previously).

[tradewind]

A nicked pad is not a horror story, the fact that she did not know how to treat it and charged for the dog is the unfortunate part. Despite alot of owners thinking their dogs behave, they don’t and sometimes stuff happens. She did not lie, was evidently quite upset. She really needs to work with a more experienced groomer to help her refine her handling techniques and show her a better way to hold the foot while she is scissoring feet. She was not abusive, mean etc. She is merely new and made a mistake. I had not nicked a pad in over 20 years. Had a rescue dog from a puppy mill come in, and depsite it all I nicked her pad. I however have first aid materials, a good vet tech background, and gobs of experience. The dog was a no charge anyway since it was for a rescue group, so I told them, gave them a couple of free bags of treats and told them to let me know if anything came of it…I do alot of dogs free for rescues and some of them are quite challenging.

[tradewind]

I will also add, for every horror story you hear, literally tens of thousands of dogs are groomed every month in shops acrosss the country without any problems at all. You, as an owner should ask questions, like are you certified? How long have you been grooming? What are your policies in regards to matting, nicks, etc. People assume that grooming, like hairdressing requires a basic competency test in order to operate. It most certainly does not. You need to ask before you drop the dog off.