Ari

Another thing is limiting the contact with other dogs will help reduce the chance of passing something nasty on.

I use crates. For every client that's told me they dont like the "cages", 10 others have said they love the fact little fifi isn't being jumped on and harrassed by other dogs. Its also a relief for the clients that know their dogs will bite other dogs. Would the dogs be able to reach each other over the top?

Danois you obviously know a lot about insurance so do you mind if I ask a question? Hopefully not so here goes. My policy has the following paragraph... actually this is 2 years old so I will have to double check this years one...but anyway... "The following endorsement is active for this cover: We will include cover for claims under Section 7 for damage to property, where such property consists of any animal. arising directly or indirectly out of or caused by beauty treatment prescribed or administered by or on behalf of you" Would doggy daycare places not have a similar clause or are you saying this sort of clause would not cover you for a dog accidently breaking its leg?

okay fine they wont have it. That's all you had to say

I am sure it was an accident and really no one is at fault (although dont get me started on my real opinion on doggy day care free for alls) but at the same time they surely have insurance for just this type of thing. I know I do as a groomer...

what is with people deleting their posts in this forum lately? Its your opinion! You're allowed to have it and others are allowed to disagree. Why bother deleting. Its not like everyone didn't see what you posted already

Exactly. The ones that dont forget just plain dont care. A month or so ago I had $800 worth of no shows in a two week period (yes I burst into tears that week! First time I've ever cried over the business ). Only 1 was a new client and she was the only one that did actually have an emergency. Everyone else was fairly regular. Half of the people I've now flicked. The others are getting another chance. It really is hard when they know other clients. One person who I DID ring 2 days before her appointment as she has no showed once before had the nerve to tell me "well...We're starting a business and I needed to go into work. You know how it is, you run a business". :p ;) Gosh I wish I had thought of finding out where the business was so I could get some revenge!!

Please tell me you are charging for this. It does not take 6 weeks to work out you want it shorter. 6 weeks is a normal time between grooms. Like Clyde most of my grooms are a lot longer than a 3 blade.

What's the ph of the water got to do with it? Why bother advertising the ph of any product, human or animal, if the water affects the ph level of it? What if you apply the product directly to the dog? (Just interested to know.) As soon as you dilute the shampoo with water whether that be prior to application or just with wetting the dog down first, the ph is going to change. Think about it....you mix 20 mls of shampoo at a ph of 5 with 500mls of water at a ph of 7, it aint going to stay a ph of 5 now is it. The ph of water is different everywhere, so unless you are testing your water you dont really know what the ph of the shampoo you are putting on your dog is.

unless you are testing the ph of your water it isn't going to make much difference

Dont ask me. Had one client today with 3 generations of PRA blind dogs who wants to breed the young one. Oh and I almost forgot that today I did the dog of the person who threaten to kill me if I cut it too short. I've never met or spoken to the owner but the message was passed along the first time the dog came. Surely you only say things like that to people you actually know?? I know Winter is finally here....none of the dogs have been toileted before coming.

Why not learn to do it yourself Gomez?

Nope. Many indoor dogs come matted to the skin with crap cemented on to their rear ends

I hate when people insist on things that look silly like that as you know as soon as the dog steps onto the street there will be people (and other groomers) looking at it saying "OMG, look how terrible that dog is groomed. That groomer cant be any good" For instance I have 3 eng cockers that come to me for a "cocker show trim". The trim that they want is 2 inches long on the back, with 7 blade legs and belly with an inch of hair on the top of the head. Me saying that's not how cockers are trimmed for the show ring falls on deaf ears. These are 3 seperate people who dont know each other which is strange. To me the dogs look ridicilous but the owners say the groom is perfect. Where on earth did they get the idea from? Are other groomers calling that a show trim?

I think the major problem in this thread is miscommunication. The first thing I do "in terms of grooming" is put the dog on the table to check for mats while I ask the client what they actually want done. Having said that....if a person was after a show trim on a breed I was not familiar with I would have found this out during the phone interview and would have sent them elsewhere.

now look what happened, you got us in trouble!

What kind of prices are you getting for the dye jobs? Does it take ages? Sounds way to messy to make it worth while

I dont think Clyde's a Troll Gashmir!!

Perhaps she didn't even know you wanted a full blow by blow description of the groom. I honestly did not know that's what you wanted from what you asked. My answer would have simply been "however you wanted it groomed"

Like I said earlier...a note is not a big deal if it makes sense. Its if it doesn't make sense and the person bringing in the dog cant explain what it means that there is a problem. A note that says "short" could mean anything. Short to me means pick up a 5 blade, not leave the coat 1 to 2 inches. This is where the problems come from. Gashmir I think I know the type of client you mean. Does this conversation sound familiar... Client - "oh last time his hair grew so fast, did you cut it longer?" Me - "no, it was the same length as always, would you like me to go a little shorter this time?" Client - "Yes, make it only half as long." Me- "that's pretty short, how about we just go one length shorter this time to see if you like it. If you dont I can go shorter" Client "okay" Next appointment Client - "You cut him too short last time, I dont want him that short again" Me - "okay let me just look at his card, oh yes you asked for half as short again but I talked you into going only one length shorter. Okay then we'll do him the length he used to be." Client - *amazed that I remember* "oh..that's right...we did want him shorter" Next appointment Client - "oh last time his hair grew so fast, did you cut it longer?" and around and around we go! I'm sure after 25 years you would want to pull your hair out

The people she is being rude about aren't her clients....she fired them.

Try the plush puppy OMG before you try the coat king. The coat king does cut a lot of coat and frankly I dont think its really designed to be a dematter

Vets and Doctors should charge a cancellation fee. If more of those "big" companies started doing it it would filter down to us little guys too. My customers get to do it once (for non emergency) and after that they dont get any appointments. Makes me wish I made everyone come in at 9am.

Well now I'm equally as pissed as you are. Just had a customer call to cancel her appoint 5 minutes before the appointment time. God at the very least cancel in the morning so I can try to get someone else in to fill that spot. Do people not realise that they are taking money directly from your pay packet when they book (and therefore you turn others down) and then dont show. Do they not realise or do they not care? I'd never ever do that to anyone be they hairdresser, doctor, etc

If a dog is brushed and combed properly everyday, why would it have any mats at all when it went to the groomers?