Groomer is hit and miss

I take our two dogs to a groomer who used to be very good. But now his business has grown, he’s hired some inexperienced help, and the dogs aren’t coming home as nice as they used to. They’ve had scabs on their bellies from the clippers, and the male had a nail cut too short and was limping for a day. This never happened when our regular groomer took care of them.  I’m ready to find another groomer over this, but what I really want is to have the dogs done the way he used to do them.  I just don’t know if I could tell him that. Should I? Or should I just find someone else? – V.

Dear V.,

It’s important to trust the people who work on your dogs. Not only do you have a right to mention the drop in quality to your groomer, but he very well may appreciate the feedback because it concerns the future of his business. Experienced groomers are expensive, so many shops hire inexperienced groomers as their demand grows. However, business soon begins to fall off as dissatisfied customers take their business elsewhere. The shop owner may never know that it’s because of the groomers he hired. Actually, if you like this groomer, you’d be doing him a favor by letting him know. He may be wondering.

Now, back to your dogs. You have several choices. The very best way to handle a complaint is to mention it when you pick up the dogs. Examine the dogs thoroughly at the groomer’s shop, and point out any unsatisfactory grooming or injuries that you find. As with most etiquette issues, sooner is better than later, and face-to-face is best. 

You could request that the shop owner be the only one to work on your dogs. If he still grooms, he should be accommdating.  If not, ask friends for referrals. The dog park is a great way to get referrals. Call a breed club to find out who their members like. Even if your dog is a mix, finding a groomer who does similar breeds could be your solution.

Be aware that finding another groomer may mean that you’ll pay more. Good groomers can and should charge more for the superior service they provide. This is probably why salon owners often go the cheaper route. But in my experience, dog owners don’t balk at price tags as much as they balk at badly done grooming jobs. Once you find a good groomer, expect annual increases to keep up with inflation. The price of everything goes up; rent, shampoos, insurance, equipment, utilities, etc. I know some dog owners who left a groomer because she raised her prices, and now they’re bouncing from groomer to groomer trying to find someone as good, too embarrassed to go back.

The main thing is, if you like this groomer and how he used to groom your dogs, you’d be doing both of you a favor by pointing out what’s driving a faithful customer away. And of course, do this face to face. It’s always better to have an difficult discussion with someone in a two-way format. Taking to him by phone would be a distant second choice, but do not tell him by email or leave a message with someone else.  We often tell ourselves that we “can’t face” someone with an awkward conversation, but to do otherwise is cowardly and less effective, so put on your big girl panties and face him. You’ll be glad you did.

Got a question about dog etiquette? Send it here.

 

Smelly Yard

What do I do about the smell of my neighbor’s seven dogs’ feces? It is getting so bad. We live in town and we don’t even want to be in our back yard.  I have a child daycare and we have to go outside every day.  I have spoken with my neighbor but she does nothing about it. – S.

Dear S.,

This isn’t just a nuisance, it’s a health issue. I would urge you to have another talk with your neighbor. Mention the new yard pickup services that are springing up all over. For about $15 per week, they’ll come and pick up all the yard waste. Or a neighborhood kid might do it for even less. There’s also the Doggie Dooley, a small septic tank for dog waste that your neighbor can install in her yard.

During this talk, you might tactfully mention that the smell impacts several neighbors, your home values, your health and the health of her own dogs. Try to keep the talk reassuring and friendly, because if you lock horns with her, her attitude may change from indifferent to stubbornly refusing. Say something like, “I’m sure we can work something out without having to involved the board of health,” or “There’s going to come a point where one of our neighbors involves the city, but I think we can clear this up without involving them.”

Unfortunately, someone who never picks up the yard in spite of the smell is probably not going to invest in a service or product that will help the problem. It sounds to me like she doesn’t think there is a problem, and so won’t be inclined to do anything to fix it. In that case, you’ve given her fair warning, so it’s time to ask for help from others.

First, find out if your Home Owners’ Association has any bylaws concerning odor, cleanliness of yards, or the number of pets permitted to live in a house (the maximum in my county is four dogs, or six pets total). You might want to be sure there are no restrictions concerning in-home child care; I’d hate for you to get cited when you’re trying to solve a problem from next door. The odor emanating from her yard brings down the home values and makes it hard to sell a house on your block, so maybe a petition of neighbors would have some persuasive power, too.

If you don’t have an HOA, check with the city. There may be ordinances and health codes that would require your neighbor to keep the yard clean and in sanitary condition. You might also contact the animal health authorities, since her own seven dogs live in unsanitary conditions that might warrant a seizure of the animals from the home.

If the problem does not get solved by the HOA, city or county, you may have to consider that this is something you’ll have to live with, or move.

Got a question about dog etiquette? Send it here.

 

Pool Closing Often Means Fun for Dogs

More and more parks, public pools, apartments and home communities with pool are creating pet parties when it’s time to close the pool down for the season. Doggie pool parties are a great way to let dog owners come enjoy the pool with their dogs just as the pool is about to be drained or cleaned anyway. One park near our offices has organized a dog pool party called K-9 Kerplunk (love the name).

See if an apartment complex, planned community or public pool near you has a dog pool party planned, and if not, suggest it. It’s a great way to have fun with other dog owners and let your dog splash around in the pool!