Anyone had a bad experience of puppy grooming?

[Lily Freya]

Just had a call from the groomer who we took Gracie to for her first full groom today.  She has had two tidy up sessions, but no clipping before.

The groomer has shampood her, but has said she is not confident to do more as Gracie is so unruly on the table.

What can I do?  We play with her feet, so she gets uses to having them touched......and she is on the surface every day being brushed and combed.

Any ideas gratefully received.  Feel like crying.  

[supergirl]

Don't worry it'll be fine  .  does the groomer work by herself.  Sometimes when dogs aren't used to it they can be fidgety which can make things difficult - Roly definitely is and will refuse to stand, so I have to do as much as I can while he's lying down.

You could offer to go and help hold her and keep her settled while she is groomed.  Grooming is definitely easier when there are two of you.  A groomer that I used to use asked me to come and hold the dogs when they were first groomed.  You could also watch to see what the groomer does and eventually when you feel confident enough groom Gracie yourself.

[SophieBlueRoanLover]

No ideas I'm afraid - just some reassurance that you're not alone. Henry's only been to the groomers once, and all they managed was shampoo (and blow-dry, presumably), stripping his back with a coat king and trimming a tiny bit off his fringe. They said they also did his nails, but I couldn't be sure! They said he was "very vocal" and didn't want to do more, as he was obviously upset by the experience (he was 7.5 months when we took him). £30 for that (1.5 hours) seemed a bit steep and he did seem a little traumatised for a couple of days afterwards. I've decided to do his grooming myself now - if he's going to be unhappy I might as well do it here where at least he feels comfortable. Hubby with kibble seems to make it just about bearable for him.

Do you groom Gracie at home, more than just brushing? Have you tried using a coat king on her yourself, or thinning scissors? Maybe you could stay with her at the groomers next time, if this might make her feel more relaxed?

[Lily Freya]

No ideas I'm afraid - just some reassurance that you're not alone. Henry's only been to the groomers once, and all they managed was shampoo (and blow-dry, presumably), stripping his back with a coat king and trimming a tiny bit off his fringe. They said they also did his nails, but I couldn't be sure! They said he was "very vocal" and didn't want to do more, as he was obviously upset by the experience (he was 7.5 months when we took him). £30 for that (1.5 hours) seemed a bit steep and he did seem a little traumatised for a couple of days afterwards. I've decided to do his grooming myself now - if he's going to be unhappy I might as well do it here where at least he feels comfortable. Hubby with kibble seems to make it just about bearable for him.

Do you groom Gracie at home, more than just brushing? Have you tried using a coat king on her yourself, or thinning scissors? Maybe you could stay with her at the groomers next time, if this might make her feel more relaxed?

Thank you so much for your words.

We get Gracie up each day to brush and comb her through.....but, we have never tried a coat king. 

The groomer we used today has groomed our boys since pups, but she recently gave up her business because she had another baby.m she admitted that its not easy without the proper facilities,many so has asked us to find a grooming salon for Gracie.

Managed to get her in with someone on Thursday at 10......and have asked if we can stay. My old her about what happened.  She is only 8 months.  I don't want her traumatised. Xx

[sarahR]

I stay with both of ours when they are at the groomers. The groomer we go to is lovely with loads of cocker experience he is Georges breeder. They can both get a bit fidgitey so  I sit on the settee and have a cup of tea whilst he is grooming and sometimes have to go and stroke them and hold them on the fiddly bits. They are getting better  I think it's sometimes maturity.  She will get used to it eventually.

[Holly2009]

Id find someone else, the first place we took Holly to when she was a pup phoned us up after 30 minutes as she couldn't do anything with her  

Went to another groomer and they were great, not a problem and she use to love going - they did have a number of staff so think that was part of it, someone to help hold and fuss her while she was getting groomed.

We don't use them anymore though, I do them myself, bit hit and miss but much cheaper and I really enjoy it, my guys do to.....they fight to be first up on the table

[aliceandlouis]

Oh I really feel for you - it is horrible to think of our youngsters being unhappy at the groomers and/or for the groomers to despair of our youngsters 

Like others above, I have always stayed with my two when they are at the groomers - especially so with Louis when he was a puppy because he was/is very strong-willed and still doesn't like to be separated from me  .  Having said that, I now feel comfortable leaving them with the groomer on the odd occasion now that the place/person is familiar to them both - so maybe find somewhere that is happy for you to stay until it all becomes a matter of routine for Gracie.  When they are still so young the world must seem like a big scary place and them sharp things do go exceedingly close to precious parts - think I would feel a bit fidgety and vulnerable in their position     

I am sure you will find somewhere that suits and is prepared to take the long view about getting Gracie used to the whole process so please don't cry 

[JennyBee]

I stay with Brodie too. My groomers are great and very patient; Brodie used to be really quite bad at staying still, especially when the groomer touched her feet, so I used to stand at her head to calm her down. She is much, much better these days (although still hates the blow dryer). It's taken a while, but she knows what to expect now so doesn't get anywhere near as stressed.

She loves going in to the groomers these days and runs in with her tail wagging - she soon remembers how much she dislikes it when they put her in the bath .

[Lily Freya]

Thank you so much everyone for your reassuring replies. 

We have got her an appointment on Thursday at 10.  The groomer said I can stay and help out if necessary.  Feel a bit better about that.  I only asked because it was suggested here.  I hadn't realised that was an option.

She is beautifully clean and fluffy now......so at least she managed a bath.

She didn't want payment so we gave her some flowers and £5 to buy some chocolate for her little boy. 

[aliceandlouis]

Excellent News 

Hope all goes well on Thursday - look forward to seeing the 'after' photos 

[lynnruby]

Aww  for you and little Gracie, I hope it goes well on Thursday 

I worried about this happening with Ruby as she hates being brushed or combed.  She was a bit nervous the first time she went, but the groomer said she was absolutely fine.

When we changed groomer last November, I was worried all over again, but the new groomer said she wished that she had more dogs that behaved as well as Ruby 

I'm sure Gracie will be OK next time, especially as she will have you there to reassure her  xxx

[Ruby Tuesday]

Apparently our two behave like angels at the groomers (although I wondered if they tell everyone that!).

I would think the answer might well be going somewhere that has more than one groomer. If I'm grooming Jem, she is pretty good but for fiddly bits I get OH to distract her. I hope you get on ok on Thursday. I can understand you going to reassure her and hope it helps. Try not to be anxious though or Gracie may pick up on it. Our groomers say that nervous dogs are often completely different once their owners leave and pretty much skip into the parlour

[Countrygirl]

My last cocker, Sophie, was very nervous and she used to go to a lovely lady to be groomed.  Unfortunately this lady started really messing me about, always cancelling appointments at the last minute, sometimes several times per grooming.  Once Sophie was really in need of a trim and she cancelled again at the last minute, so I looked in the phone book and found another groomers nearby who specialised in nervous dogs.  I explained how nervous she was and they were really nice, but the first time I was in a dreadful state waiting to pick her up.  When I got there she was fine and they explained that they use aromatherapy oils on the nervous dogs and Sophie had been really calm and settled.  When I told them that Sophie hated me touching her feet and it was really difficult when she got hard mud in her pads, they sold me some of the aromatherapy oil they used on her.  I can't remember what it was now but it made a world of difference.

[caro]

I wondered how you got on today - its great that you have found somewhere that you can go in as well.  I think if we ever take Fern to a groomer again that is what we would have to insist on.  Good luck for Thursday x

[Lily Freya]

Thanks so much everyone.

Will let you all know how Thursday goes.

I really appreciate your support and advice.