I left dropped her off at Petsmart at 10:00 and they still aren't done! It's 4:30 now. All I asked for was a bath, no hair trimming. Should I complain to the management?
2006-12-21 11:32:40 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Yes, I made the appointment on Monday. She was scheduled for 10:00
2006-12-21 11:46:29 · update #1
If you made the appointment in advance, I would complain. I work at a vet clinic and it usually takes about 2 hours to bathe a large dog and them dry them by putting them in a cage with a dryer, but if the groomer does it it only about 45 minutes. If you did not make an appointment, I wouldn't complain. They may of had to squeeze you into their schedule.
2006-12-21 11:42:23 · answer #1 · answered by iluvmyfrenchbulldogs 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a dog groomer so I think I can answer this question extremely honestly.
First off, many of the groomers at Petsmart and larger establishments are trainees. They work under the supervision of a trained groomer but this one person does not have the time to groom each and every dog themselves.
The grooming experience SHOULD be a positive one for the dog. There are many variable factors....
Example: I work by myself so in order to be able to make a living and process as many dogs as possible in a day, I book in 2 shifts. The first ones arrive at 9:00, get bathed (or pretrimmed if necessary), nails clipped, ears cleaned. They are then placed in a crate under a dryer. The second shift comes in at 11:00 and goes through the same process.
By the time I am finished bathing, etc the second shift, the first ones are generally dry (or close to it) . I finish drying them and do the final cut or brushout or whatever the job is. Therefore, the 9:00 dogs do not start leaving until about 12:30 and the 11:00 dogs don't start leaving until 2:00 or later.
In the case of a German Shepherd, I personally would say that 4 hours- give or take 1/2 hour - (brush, nails, ears, bath, dry and rebrush) is not unreasonable. It also very much depends on the temperament of the dog. If it is frightened, resisting, or very hairy (ie: not regularly brushed), I personally would give it more breaks so as not to stress out the animal. There is NOTHING more gratifying than to see a dog walk out with tail high and happy.
Some groomers work only one dog at a time. In that case, I would say that 2 hours MAY be sufficient but the person who earlier stated that 45 minutes is enough, I thoroughly disagree. My reasoning for that is that to properly bath a shepherd and make sure it is rinsed clean without any shampoo residue takes at least 20 minutes (especially if a cream rinse is used to soften the coat). That only leaves 25 minutes to dry the dog. GOOD LUCK! I have some state of the art dryers and there is no way to get the dog "bone dry" in that time!
So...if your appointment was for 10:00, I would think that your dog should have been out by 2:00-2:30. Given the time of year, I am sure that they overbooked and did their best. At this time of year I tell all my clients that it may take longer than usual because of volumes. If they know in advance, there is no problem.
I would consider calling Petsmart and asking if there were any issues with the dog (sometims they pee or pooh in the crate when drying so they have to be re-washed so that adds to the time). You should be advised if there are any issues so you know what your dog has been through and issues can be resolved if correctly addressed.
I almost cried one day. I had groomed a particular ShihTzu for almost 2 years before he would trust me enough to let me shave the area between his eyes. He had had a bad experience with a previous groomer and wanted NOTHING to do with the process. The day he allowed me to do what had to be done, I really did get tears in my eyes. I was proud of him for allowing it and also proud of myself for not having forced the issue and having gained his trust.
It may seem like a trivial thing but if your dog has no trust in his/her groomer, the whole process can be a nightmare for both dog and groomer.
Sorry for going on and on but you did ask....
2006-12-21 16:17:52 · answer #2 · answered by Borders Rock 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, just call and ask them what is the hold up. My dog went to the groomers i was told 4 hours tops, and it took 6. The person was not the lead large breed dog groomer, and actually did a better job then the large breed dog groomer does, just took a long time doing it. Find out the issue and all will be good.
2006-12-21 12:07:07 · answer #3 · answered by Yutow 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are definately taking too long but since the holidays are so close I would let it slide. It's so busy! Everyone wants their pets in for a groom because they want their dogs to look good for several different reasons around the holidays. You could always make a slight comment about it and see if they say anything to give you some insight.
2006-12-21 11:52:22 · answer #4 · answered by Mandy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I take my shepherd to Pesmart all the time and it usually takes them about 3 hours. My girl is now 10 months old..but keep in mind, they do a great job with your pets. My dog always comes out beautiful and if they are anything like the ladies that I see...they tend to play with the dogs too. I went in one time, my dog was almost finished..but I saw the girl playing with my pup. I think its their way of making a puppy feel good instead of being scared. Don't worry about it!! ITs well worth the wait!
2006-12-21 14:54:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they shed, you don't need too.
2006-12-21 14:08:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋