03/11/2024
A local groomer friend of mine posted this and I just felt the need to share it.
Last week I groomed my poodle Darby for the last time. Unfortunately , she is getting closer to the end of her life. Even though she was with me all day, she had numerous breaks, and I did what I could with her laying down, she could not walk by the time we got home. She was just so tired.
As she has aged, I have modified her grooming to help her have an easier time when she’s getting groomed. I stopped shaving her feet several years ago. She gets a short haircut, nothing fancy so that I could push her grooming out further and further. Her once poofy “pom” poodle tail is now trimmed short to just a little tuft at the tip, to help keep her clean when she relieves herself. Darby gets what we call a “mercy groom”.
When your pet ages, you may find that we recommend modifying your dog’s haircut. Please don’t think this is because we don’t want to do what you like. We just want to make sure that your dog is having the best experience they possibly can when they are with us. This may mean we have to do a shorter trim, or a wider sanitary area. We may suggest your dog’s face gets taken down shorter, or sometimes shaved down close. Your pet may have to stay with us longer so that they get extra breaks. Or on the other hand, we may ask that you stay nearby, and do an in/out appointment so that they be here the least amount possible. Your dog’s haircut might come out uneven or choppy. We may at some point just tell you that your dog cannot handle being groomed anymore.
I have had clients not return after having this talk with them. Dogs are creatures of habit. They like familiarity. How sad is it that a dog that we have groomed for most, if not all of their life doesn’t come back because their owners think we do not want to do what they want? This is not due to us not wanting to groom your pet anymore, or that they are too difficult for us to work with. Your dog’s wellbeing is the upmost importance.
So what happens if your dog cannot handle a compete groom? We will work with you! We can still trim your dog’s face, nails, sanitary areas, etc. We can do just a bath, or just trim their feet. No 2 dogs are alike, and no 2 dogs’s grooms are the same. We will accommodate their needs.
If we tell you that your dog cannot handle grooming anymore, please know that we are saying this for the sake of your dog. Dogs are so special. We are so fortunate to be able to share our lives with them. We owe it to them. ❤️🐾