Kokoro Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 (edited) With the heat wave in SA over the past couple of weeks I decided to take my cocker to the groomer to have his coat thinned out for summer. Unfortunatly the place I usually go was all booked out til Christmas and not wanting to wait I decided to try somewhere new. I told the groomer my boy had been feeling the heat and that I wanted to have his coat thinned out a bit. I came back 3 hours later and he had been totally shaved!! Even his ears! :D Needless to say I am a bit upset, he is only 8 months old and his coat was just starting to come down nicely. He doesnt look like a cocker anymore, more like some kind of hound dog! (not that I have anything against hound dogs :D ) Anyway I am worried now that his coat will grow back funny as i thought you weren't supposed to shave cockers coats completely? Can any groomers out there put my mind at ease? I wont be going back there and will be sure to make a regular appointment with my usual place so as not to get caught out again. Edited November 23, 2009 by Kokoro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vehs Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 hrm, it might grow back thicker and curlier, I would suggest getting on top of growth with a coatking (or other type) maybe put cocker in the title to get some of the cocker breeders in for advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxx'sBuddy Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 this happened to me as well and when i complained the groomer couldn't care less. i would be interested on how to make sure that the groomers we want to use are qualified or at least good groomers. also what can you do if something like this happens. it seems bad groomers can get away with anything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Yep it may or may not come back,Colour can sometimes be a factor & how well the coat had been worked on prior to being clipped off. Not sure what you mean by (thinned out) to ne it means using thinning scissors ?? You need to seek a good advice & work on he coat yourself,weekly stripping the top coat in a cocker of that age is a must Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 I hope you didn't give them any money! I would be spitting fireballs if someone did that to my dog :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormie Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 I don't understand how this sort of thing can happen. Don't people communicate with the groomers and vice versa, to be sure there is a clear understanding of what the owner is wanting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxx'sBuddy Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 I don't understand how this sort of thing can happen. Don't people communicate with the groomers and vice versa, to be sure there is a clear understanding of what the owner is wanting? i had a cairn terrier, took in 6 photos of the trim went in once before i took the dog in to make sure they knew what i wanted and were comfortable doing it. on the day took the dog and the photos in....you should have seen the dog when i picked it up...it was awful...and yes i had to pay...no payment ....no dog :D i think i communicated as well as anyine could and i still had a problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkyTansy Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 I think you have to be extremely clear on what you want... I took my boy to a groomer who used to exhibit English Setters and he still came back more shaved than show prepared... I learned how to do it myself after that, and although it took me a long time to get it right, Spartan's coat was never the same after the shaving and needed extra work to get right for the ring (and not grow fluffy). I hate to say it but yes you will need to do extra work from now on to get the coat right and stay on top of the undercoat growing through. a coat king would be a good investment and some time learning how to groom the top coat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shells Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 I don't understand how this sort of thing can happen. Don't people communicate with the groomers and vice versa, to be sure there is a clear understanding of what the owner is wanting? The first time I had my 2 Poodles groomed. I asked if they had experience grooming poodles and they told me they had. They said " you want a poodle cut on them? feet, face ect" I said yes. My guys came back in with their ears shaved and feet shaved half way up their legs, and wet - they hadnt even been dryed off. I ended up finding a much better groomer and am now doing it myself (and they still look better than that first grooming) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxx'sBuddy Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 I don't understand how this sort of thing can happen. Don't people communicate with the groomers and vice versa, to be sure there is a clear understanding of what the owner is wanting? The first time I had my 2 Poodles groomed. I asked if they had experience grooming poodles and they told me they had. They said " you want a poodle cut on them? feet, face ect" I said yes. My guys came back in with their ears shaved and feet shaved half way up their legs, and wet - they hadnt even been dryed off. I ended up finding a much better groomer and am now doing it myself (and they still look better than that first grooming) yep that was the forst and last time i will ever use a groomer. i do everything myself now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 (edited) When it comes to explaining what you want from a groomer, a picture is a good idea. There are a lot of groomers who don't know how to do anything BUT a close clip.Scissoring skills take time and training to develop. Specialist breed groomers are often hard to get a casual booking at and they will charge more for their services. Poodle groomers are a bit more common but to find a specialist spaniel or terrier groomer wouldn't be easy. I remember picking up a rescue poodle once from an owner who'd had him clipped that day (my guess is the dog was pretty grotty). Poor old bugger had a bunch of fatty lumps and the butcher (I can't glorify what they did as 'grooming') had taken the tops off most of them with the clipper blade. Edited November 23, 2009 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckypup Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 I remember picking up a rescue poodle once from an owner who'd had him clipped that day (my guess is the dog was pretty grotty). Poor old bugger had a bunch of fatty lumps and the butcher (I can't glorify what they did as 'grooming') had taken the tops off most of them with the clipper blade. ouch poor dog!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 I don't understand how this sort of thing can happen. Don't people communicate with the groomers and vice versa, to be sure there is a clear understanding of what the owner is wanting? We are forever explaining to clients that what they ask for is what they truly want or even meant. many ask for something that has a very different meaning & many groomers wont ask or make sure they will just do what has been asked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shells Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 There are a lot of groomers who don't know how to do anything BUT a close clip This is the case the first groomer I used. I can spot the dogs that get clipped by them at the dog park as they "butcher" all the dogs the same way. I remember picking up a rescue poodle once from an owner who'd had him clipped that day (my guess is the dog was pretty grotty). Poor old bugger had a bunch of fatty lumps and the butcher (I can't glorify what they did as 'grooming') had taken the tops off most of them with the clipper blade. Thats awful. I will also admit to my first experience with this groomer (and the results) being my fault as I was recomended a very good Poodle groomer but it was difficult for me to get to and I figured that if I called a groomer and asked if they were experienced and knew what they were doing they would be truthful - I soon learnt this wasnt the case. My friend had the same experience with another groomer and her sheltie (she even gave him pictures). Now we wont use either groomer and they definately dont get recomendations from me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becks Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Some times there isn't good communication. I once got in a near full length Yorkie and the owners asked for a trim. Turns out they just wanted a yearly shave off, so I ended up having to groom the dog twice. With coats that can be ruined by cliping, I do tend to explain to the owners when they bring the pup in for the first trim. As has been mentioned already, some groomers will state they are great at grooming any breed you have (so long as it is clipped off), the best way to find a good groomer is to talk to other owners, at the vets, park etc and get a recommendation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockerlover Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 A sad but to often told story , Not many groomers will take the time to do a proper cocker cut !!!.(apart from the fact they no not how) unfortunatley the damage has now been done & unless u r prepared to put in a lot of time & effort ,yr cocker will probaly never grow back a *normal coat *, feel fre to pm me if u need more advise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashanali Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 (edited) I've seen plenty of shaved cockers that have successfully grown their coat back. But yes, it takes work. (and there are many people who just give up and say it can't be done.) Back a few years ago you would use stripper blades, a shiropodist stone (or whatever they're called) and superfine combs. Nowadays we have Mars Coat Kings and they are worth every cent! You need to keep on top of it weekly and use the coat king correctly, you need to keep the coat well conditioned to stop it from getting brittle and breaking off before it gets some length. You also will need to give your pup a general brush daily even with the short coat. It's a good habit to start anyway. At 8 months old you have more of a chance of catching it due to the fact your pup will be 'changing' to an adult coat soon anyway. Just keep on top of it (and find another groomer for the future.) I might own pointers now but I was born and raised with cockers and definitely know what to do when I groom them. Edited November 24, 2009 by Ashanali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toohey Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Great advice Ashanali, and I can vouch for her advice as she groomed my boy just prior to him going in the ring at the Royal and made him look 10 times better than I had him looking At eight months the pup would only just starting to have adult coat coming down, as Ashanali has said, and I have also seen previously clipped cockers returned to their former glory. A sad but to often told story ,Not many groomers will take the time to do a proper cocker cut !!!.(apart from the fact they no not how) unfortunatley the damage has now been done & unless u r prepared to put in a lot of time & effort ,yr cocker will probaly never grow back a *normal coat *, feel fre to pm me if u need more advise Nah, nothing to cry about. The pup would not have needed clipping at that age, so I can understand your disappointment, but you can start from scratch now. Just a trim and tidy up once a week with thinners, a coat king, and foot trim with straight scissors. Their faces get pretty hairy, and clippers do that job best, but you can do a reasonable job yourself with a stripping stone and some thinners. We have a grooming page on our website and you may get some tips from here http://www.cockerspanielclubvic.org/?page=130 I'd recommend gradually building up your supplies of grooming gear and learning to do him yourself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kokoro Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Thanks for all the advice everyone! I am relieved to hear that his coat can still be saved and I have definatley learnt my lesson about trusting new groomers just because they say they have loads of experience and used to own a cocker! I probably could have been more specific about what I meant when I said I wanted his coat thinned out i.e. use thinning scissors and a stripper, but I just assumed they would know what to do - my mistake but i do think there is a big diffence between thinned out and totally shaved off. She could have asked me more questions to clarify what I meant as well so there is probably some blame on both sides. I will take him back to my regular groomer who always does such a fantastic job with him and make a regular ongoing appointment so that I dont get caught out again. I just hope she can forgive me for the mess I have got him into! Back a few years ago you would use stripper blades, a shiropodist stone (or whatever they're called) and superfine combs. Nowadays we have Mars Coat Kings and they are worth every cent! I have a furminator - is that the same as a mars coat king? How long will i have to wait for his hair to be before I can use this on him without hurting his skin? Since the drastic haircut I have just been using a soft bristle brush on him as i was worried the furminator and slicker would be too harsh. Toohey - thanks for the link, I will definatly check it out. I have actully enrolled in a grooming course with WEA in January as I'd like to be able to groom him myself. Any advice on the best brushes and scissors to get (and where to get them from) would be much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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