5 Mistakes Dog Groomers Make You Need To Watch Out For

When you get ready to take your dog to the groomers, you want to be able to trust them with your baby and you most certainly should be able to. If it is your first time ever taking your puppy to the groomers, or if you are trying out a new groomer, there are some things you need to watch out for.

Dog groomers have to take special training to become professionals, but this doesn’t mean none of them ever make mistakes. Sometimes mistakes happen by accident, but there are other times when some grooming mistakes are made on purpose, or at least out of sheer negligence.

Which is why you, as the dog’s owner, need to be aware of what to watch out for to keep your doggy safe when he or she goes to the groomers.

After all, you want your dog to have a good experience at the groomers so that he will go back willingly. Here are some common mistakes groomers make that all dog owners need to be aware of.

• The first thing you need to watch for is groomers taking shortcuts when grooming. There are no real shortcuts when it comes to grooming a dog. Grooming specific breeds need to be performed in a specific way.
  
  The reason dog groomers sometimes take shortcuts in this area is because trimming hair with scissors is more time consuming and requires more skill than using clippers. If your dog’s breed has a standard cut or style that requires using scissors, you should ask if the groomer does, in fact, typically use scissors. If not, ask that they will use on your dog.
• If your groomer refuses, does a shoddy job of trimming with scissors, or uses clippers regardless of what you ask for, choose another dog groomer next time. Be sure to, when possible, leave a review wherever you see the opportunity, stating your experience with this particular groomer.
• This is to try to prevent some other dog owner from going through the same experience that you did, something you would likely have rather not experienced.
  
  Such an experience is a very clear indication that this dog groomer is not a professional. It may not seem like such a big thing whether a dog gets trimmed with dog grooming scissors or clippers, but if you want your dog to be trimmed correctly, it does matter.
• Besides, if the groomer takes shortcuts here, he probably takes them as well in other areas of the grooming process, and it could potentially be dangerous for both you and your dog.

• Another mistake made by groomers is leaving dogs unattended for periods of time. Anything can happen in a very short amount of time. Unsecured dogs should never be left alone. Dogs have been badly injured and even killed because of groomers not paying attention to them at all times.
  
  If your groomer uses a collared grooming table, this could be especially dangerous if your dog is left alone even for a few seconds. It only takes a second for him to try to jump down and be at risk for choking or strangling.

  Ask the groomer if they restrain dogs during the grooming process and if so, how? If they use a collared grooming table, share your concerns about your dog being left alone.

  Most groomers will reassure you that they never leave dogs unattended once they are brought out of their crate. If he or she is not quick to claim so, you may want to take your dog somewhere else to be groomed.

  Although they don’t intend for accidents to happen, they can happen especially when the groomer is careless.

• A third mistake that can easily be made by groomers is not having adequate space for keeping dogs while waiting their turn or waiting for their owners to come back for them.
  
  Be sure to ask to see where your pup will be placed while waiting. In addition, make sure to ask if they will have room to keep him all day if you plan on dropping your doggy off before work and picking him back up afterward.
• Some dog grooming facilities are not made for housing dogs longer than what is necessary for grooming purposes. This is not always the fault of the groomer. If dog owners just assume there’s plenty of room and leave their dogs all day, there may be little room left over.
  
  If you need to leave your pup for longer than the allotted time needed for grooming, ask if they have additional space for keeping him, whether someone will be able to walk him, and if he will be given water and/or food as needed.
• If they charge extra for these services, you may want to think twice about leaving your dog at a groomer that wants you to pay for giving water to your dog. If they want to charge extra for keeping your dog longer than necessary, though, that’s acceptable.

• Improper use of dryers account for many dogs being injured and killed every year. Groomers need to watch dogs carefully when using pet dryers. Even when the pet dryer is endorsed by dog groomers, special care is needed when using them.
  
  Pet dryers often have poor air flow and, in combination with high temperatures, pets can get overheated and dehydrated quickly in enclosed cages. Dogs can also get burned by hot pans or even the cage itself, especially after being used over and over.
  
• Ask your groomer if he uses enclosed pet dryers. If he does, ask to see the area so you can look for fans that aid in ventilation, a timer that can be set so dogs aren’t overheated, and ensure that the heat isn’t turned up too high. 
  
  If the groomer doesn’t want you to see the area for any reason, take your dog and go!

• Last, and most important, some dog groomers have been known to use tranquilizers on dogs in order to groom them. Ask your groomer if he or she is in the practice of doing this and if so, leave immediately.
  
  This is illegal in most states, but some groomers still use them. Most likely, if the groomer is using them, it’s generally in order to speed up the process of grooming instead of taking the time to calm nervous dogs, to get playful dogs to settle down, or for calming down aggressive-looking dogs.
  
  Using tranquilizers is illegal for any reason. Unless the groomer has been trained in the right amount to give, smaller dogs are in danger of dying from an overdose.
  
  No matter the size of dog, tranquilizers should never be used. If you pick your dog up and he seems to be ‘’out of it’’, take him to the vet immediately to be checked for drugs and inform the authorities.

There are other mistakes groomers may make and if your dog seems afraid after the first few times of being groomed, you probably shouldn’t ignore how’s he or she is acting and find a new groomer. The earlier you start getting your dog groomed, the better, but definitely don’t ignore how your dog acts around the groomer.

If you get a bad feeling about your groomer, definitely go with your gut instinct. There are plenty of reputable dog groomers out there and you will find one for your dog that you both like! In the meantime, watch out for these and other grooming mistakes.