ETA: thank you all for the input. ‘Watching’ Christmas movies for the millionth time with the kids, and here I am pestering all of you, so yes, thank you. Have a wonderful Christmas/holiday everyone!
I have a 6yo, 180 pound purebred Newf with a full beautiful coat. I depend heavily on my groomer - knew I would have to from the beginning. We have been spoiled by a wonderful woman who would sit on the floor with him for hours and did a fabulous job. After panicking thru shut downs during covid, I knew I was in for some stress when Groomer 1 shut down her shop in September due to family circumstances.
It took me two months to find someone else within an hour’s drive to take him on. Was excited when I found Groomer 2. She answered my questions confidently. I explained he has no knees, can’t/won’t stand for more than a minute, and cannot be put on a table. She assured me they had a belly band to help him stand, they would give him breaks, and they have lots of experience with these big guys.
What a disaster. They called me to pick him up three hours later. I had to get someone to help me lift him in the car and he was obviously distressed. By the time I got him home, he was panting so hard his tongue was purple. And he couldn’t stand up.
Now I was home and couldn’t get back in the car to get to a vet. Overnight, he calmed down, but he ended up a week in a harness - 3 days he couldn’t stand at all to eat or toilet, another 4 days before he could lift his back end to stand on his own. I was terrified.
Complaining about this experience in a neighbourhood group, I was dm’d by Groomer 3. She’s young, new, tiny, but offered to bring him in for a meet’n’greet to talk.
She was great. She got him to stop shaking and panting within about 20 minutes. Explained a belly belt isn’t to hold him up but to prevent him from sitting. And he would have been standing on a table for it. Maybe 6” up, but he would have been panicking the whole time. Two hours later, I thought I was going to cry with relief. She’d brushed him out while we sat on the floor with him.
We returned yesterday for a full bath, brush, and trim.
Same day got a text from Groomer 1 who finally has a new shop up and running.
Now, I’m torn between 1 and 3. 1 is wonderful, takes a LOT longer (keeps him for an 8hr day with lots of breaks), and does a perfect Newf cut. Costs me $300/month.
3 is great, closer, not as polished, faster(4 hrs), and babies him just as well. Works out to $220./mo
I’ve ghosted 2. But I’m wondering if I shouldn’t call her and tell her why. $385 for the WORST grooming experience of our lives.
Thoughts?
I have a 6yo, 180 pound purebred Newf with a full beautiful coat. I depend heavily on my groomer - knew I would have to from the beginning. We have been spoiled by a wonderful woman who would sit on the floor with him for hours and did a fabulous job. After panicking thru shut downs during covid, I knew I was in for some stress when Groomer 1 shut down her shop in September due to family circumstances.
It took me two months to find someone else within an hour’s drive to take him on. Was excited when I found Groomer 2. She answered my questions confidently. I explained he has no knees, can’t/won’t stand for more than a minute, and cannot be put on a table. She assured me they had a belly band to help him stand, they would give him breaks, and they have lots of experience with these big guys.
What a disaster. They called me to pick him up three hours later. I had to get someone to help me lift him in the car and he was obviously distressed. By the time I got him home, he was panting so hard his tongue was purple. And he couldn’t stand up.
Now I was home and couldn’t get back in the car to get to a vet. Overnight, he calmed down, but he ended up a week in a harness - 3 days he couldn’t stand at all to eat or toilet, another 4 days before he could lift his back end to stand on his own. I was terrified.
Complaining about this experience in a neighbourhood group, I was dm’d by Groomer 3. She’s young, new, tiny, but offered to bring him in for a meet’n’greet to talk.
She was great. She got him to stop shaking and panting within about 20 minutes. Explained a belly belt isn’t to hold him up but to prevent him from sitting. And he would have been standing on a table for it. Maybe 6” up, but he would have been panicking the whole time. Two hours later, I thought I was going to cry with relief. She’d brushed him out while we sat on the floor with him.
We returned yesterday for a full bath, brush, and trim.
Same day got a text from Groomer 1 who finally has a new shop up and running.
Now, I’m torn between 1 and 3. 1 is wonderful, takes a LOT longer (keeps him for an 8hr day with lots of breaks), and does a perfect Newf cut. Costs me $300/month.
3 is great, closer, not as polished, faster(4 hrs), and babies him just as well. Works out to $220./mo
I’ve ghosted 2. But I’m wondering if I shouldn’t call her and tell her why. $385 for the WORST grooming experience of our lives.
Thoughts?