Hi everyone, I very rarely post on here but I do get lots of really useful info, so thank you for that. Just wondered if anyone could tell me if this is normal practice;
I took Ruby to be groomed yesterday. She hasnt been done for about three months as the lady I normally take her to has moved away and I've been trying to find someone else. Normally, I would take her and they would ask me what I want done and I would say just to "generally tidy her up" - you know, all the usual stuff. Depending on the time of year, they would ask do I want the coat long or short - meaning along her back and legs (sorry, dont know the technical term for this!) and in summer I would say short and in winter a bit longer. Anyway, I have taken her to this particular groomer about 18 months ago and she was fine, she came back trimmed and tidy which is just what I wanted. This time, I took her in and the lady was chatting to someone so she just kind of looked at me and said "Hi" and took Ruby's lead off me (I should point out that Ruby is TERRIFIED of leaving me and hates the groomers). I wanted to explain how distressed Ruby gets, but she was obviously in a hurry to get back to her conversation so she just said "how do you want her". I told her that she hadnt been groomed for a few months for various reasons, and to please excuse the fact that she had chunks cut out of her coat as I'd attempted to cut out some tats myself. She isnt a show dog, so it wasnt a problem. She very quickly said "so you just want it short?" to which I replied "yes" thinking she meant her back and legs. Then she asked how I wanted the top of her head as Ruby's hair has always been long and floppy there. I told her to leave that a bit longer and she asked about the ears, again I said I liked it a bit longer (she has gorgeous golden curls) but would she cut the hair under her tail quite short so it doesnt land in her wees (sorry!). She said that was fine and it would be a couple of hours.
When I went back, I could not believe my eyes. Ruby looks like a sheared sheep. I dont know how else to describe her, but I will attempt to put a photo on (not very technical, sorry). She looks like I would imagine a dog would look if it was flea infested and needed to be cut right back to the skin. There is no evidence of the skirty bit at all and her legs have been cut back so short I can see the tendons! I was really shocked and just paid my money and left. I was so upset and rang my mum to tell her what had happened and she rang the groomers who said "she said she wanted it short!". Is this what I should have expected? I would have thought the only way she should be cut so severely is if I had said "take everything off right back as far as you can". If she thought this is what I wanted, why would she ask how long I wanted the ears and head?
I am so upset, I am ashamed to say that she looks so different, I had suspicions that she had given me the wrong dog! Ruby is clearly traumatised as she has literally been shaved from head to toe!
If this is normal practice, then I have learned a very valuable lesson, but I would just like your very experience opinions about this.
Thank you and sorry this is so long.
Mandy and (a very quiet and traumatised) Ruby x