Should Groomers Be Licensed? Qualified?

[frufru]

Personally, If I had to have my poodles groomed by someone else I would only send them to someone who showed poodles regardless of certification/qualification. Unless you understand how a well constructed poodle should look you are not going to be able to scissor to make the most of the dog - you might get a beautiful "finish" on the dog but I find a lot of these grooms seem to lack a feel for what a poodle should be . However, as Clyde pointed out - I am not your average poodle owner so I would expect more. I currently get my mini showgirl scissored by someone else and I am learning heaps from that - but there is no way in hell I would let any old qualified groomer loose on her - Certified Master Groomer or not.

[JulesP]

I think a big difference is that most of the not so good groomers don't realise they aren't any good as they don't know any different. Half the time the clients don't know any different so they're happy with the work. Another groomer gave me her client list years ago when she moved. She was a terrible groomer (she told me herself), and the dogs did all look terrible. It was amazing that the owners had no idea, but if the groomer is happy and the owner is happy then no one is none the wiser.

A heap of times I found it is the owners that want the dogs to look horrible. Or want weird things. They want the ears a certain length or want poodle feet on a maltese.

Thinking about it I didn't have one purebred dog that needed a breed clip doing. I had a couple of pet poodles but the majority were all SWF.

[frufru]

LOL, yep Jules P - I actually refuse to do weird things (ok I will do a mohawk) but no shaving halfway up the legs or poodle feet or head on anything but a poodle etc - my customers know not to ask LOL I do tick clips on a couple of farm poos but they still have topknots and a couple of terriers have tick clips.

Edited February 7, 2011 by frufru

[shells]

LOL, yep Jules P - I actually refuse to do weird things

LOL

I think a big difference is that most of the not so good groomers don't realise they aren't any good as they don't know any different. Half the time the clients don't know any different so they're happy with the work.

A very true comment. For most people I meet on my walks they are just happy their 'oodle or SWF is shaved off and "neat" so they dont have to worry about brushing or matting. My friend bought a Franchise trailer in Brisbane. She offers clipping as a $20 extra when you buy the middle or top bath package. She states on her website that a "clip" is just a complete shave off with #10 or 7F and she is booked out come the warmer weather. $20 may seem cheap but when you add it to a $50 bath and blowdry it is no cheaper than a good groomer.

Once you have been to a good groomer (as an owner) you definitely know the difference. I guess seeing a well groomed dog and word of mouth (like a good hairdresser) is the best way to find a good groomer.

[becks]

Danielle, why do you think grooming is a highly stressful job?

[poodlefan]

How hard can it be?

I've got some scissors and a comb.

Bring in the dogs.

Given that you haven't mentioned clipping, bathing and drying before the scissors, my guess is you'd find a lot of dogs harder to groom than you can possibly imagine.

[becks]

I was watching 'Shear Genius' earlier today, and they had a challenge to groom a dog and then cut and colour the owners hair, so that they looked like their pet. It was interesting to see all but one hairdresser use comb with the clippers to trim the hair (as they would on a person) and only one used scissors to trim the dog. The winner did a very nice job on the owner but the dog (a pom) was badly trimmed and even had comments made about a big chunk of fur left sticking out of the side! I wonder if groomers would do a better job if the competition worked the other way?