So my pup is a 15 month old cocker/poodle mix and today was his 3rd grooming appt. I took him to a new place but it's just like the other one I go to.

Horrible.

He was a little timid when we got there which is pretty usual, (he's pretty submissive and scared around new people and in enclosed areas) But he's always calmed down after a bit.

He had some mats on his ears and was nipping at the lady when she was trying to brush him. She told me that she woud just have to buzz his ears, no biggie, I figured this, his hair got really bad last weekend on a camping trip.

Anyways, I left and 2 hours later she calls me and says I need to come there right away. My pup was doing really good but all the sudden once she got up by his face and another dog yelped next to him, he FREAKED out (they think the other pup set him off)
...I guess he was nipping at the lady, he pooped all over the table, his anal glands came out and everything. He was just screaming! They got him off the table and he darted to a corner and wouldnt' let anyone near him. They had to get a bar thing to get him in a kennel. I got there and he was barking and scared shitless. He came right to me but another girl just put her hand out and he gave a low grumbly growl. I verbally corrected him.

We then put him back up on the table and they lady finished clipping his face. He was a little whiney at first but then fine. I was right there. He looked exhausted, his eyes were all red, he looked like he'd been through a lot.

Now what? He has never acted like this to anybody! He was totally in fear biting mode with those ladies! Is this the workings of an agressive dog. He's only 1!!! I'm totally freaked and feel so horrible about this whole situation How should I handle this?

I'm not sure why so many people immediately jump to the conclusion that a dog is aggressive when he goes through this type of trauma and reacts. I have to be honest and say that it kind of makes me want to say "oh PLEASE!".

I wouldn't have corrected him at all for the low little growl he gave. He was scared to death. I would take this whole situation to tell me never ever to leave my dog alone with someone he/she doesn't know, (and for that matter someone YOU don't know) no matter the circumstances. If I can't be there, then he won't be there until I can.

He reacted, no more, no less. He was afraid and you really have no clue what went on since you weren't there. I would definitely give the benefit of the doubt to your dog.

As concerns what you should do, never leave him alone with someone you don't know. Further than that, there's nothing to do about this anymore.

I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but a dog is not aggressive because he reacts to a situation he deemed very scary, a situation that was relayed to you by some other person. The dog can't talk so you really don't know what happened. A dog is a dog. They have teeth and instincts. They react, they're normal. People react worse to other people than dogs ever do.

Edited to add: I'm sorry your dog went through this. The fact that he calmed when you were there and let them continue speaks volumes for him. See that about him, that's amazing he was able to continue.

Edited by Sandy Moore (10/05/2007 03:58 PM)
Edit reason: additional thought

Thank you. And your words weren't harsh...they actually gave me some comfort. I didn't want to over react to this situation but when you have a groomer lady saying he needs some obedience training to be more confident and what he did was fear biting and bad bad bad...I just got nervous.

And my dog is very obedient with me and my husband. That's why I see now that I never should have left.

I know that my biggest mistake was taking him to this new place...and lets face it, the old place wasn't that great either. After this experience my friend told me about a great lady she takes her dog to that grooms out of her hom and that's where we're going next. And I will stay the whole time. Guess I'll chalk this one up to a learning experience.

I have never had a dog who required trips to the groomers for the "fine" cuts, but have always bathed and brushed my own dogs...cliped hair areas if necessary for injuries, etc.

Is it possible for you to get a good set of shears and clippers or whatever you need and you can learn to groom your own dog? Not only will he be much happier, but you'll probably save a bunch of money in the long run....JMO.

 Quote: amy_daws

After this experience my friend told me about a great lady she takes her dog to that grooms out of her hom and that's where we're going next. And I will stay the whole time.

Many of us on this board learned this from a VERY bad experience posted here. She went to a groomer who was "affiliated with" a vet (not even her own vet), and while the dog was being groomed, they vaccinated the dog.

This was absolutely on their own. She would not even have known, except that she was presented a BILL. When she freaked out, they had the ***ing nerve to say they wouldn't charge her, as if that made it all OK.

As I recall, this was a senior with health challenges...... but IMHO, the reaction should/would be the same no matter what.

But back to your own experience: I agree 100% with Sandy that your dog recovered very well. But how did he get groomed all the other times (3rd visit at 15 months)?

The next time, the less it can be like this time, the better (IMO). Just having you present will be good, and also not having other dogs nearby, possibly yipping and/or nervous/frightened....

The calmer and more matter-of-fact you can be, too, the better. You won't want the dog to perceive from your demeanor that there's anything to worry about.

 Quote: michele mcatee

I have never had a dog who required trips to the groomers for the "fine" cuts, but have always bathed and brushed my own dogs...cliped hair areas if necessary for injuries, etc. ....JMO.

I don't have the hand "pincher" strength to do the claws, so I have to have the groomer do that.

I used to have her do the bath, too, until I discovered a way to avoid lifting the dog, even in winter. (Summer and the hose are easy.)

I take the dog into the shower and pull the curtain. This keeps the mess and water contained, even when he shakes off, and I can wear just shorts and a t-shirt and not get my own clothes soaked. I do use a strainer-type thing on the drain for the dog hairs.

We don't open the curtain and come out until the dog is at least toweled a little bit.

This has changed my whole dog-bathing experience..... no more kneeling by the tub, or water shaken everywhere..... no lifting necessary......

Maybe some people would frown on dogs sharing their bathing facility, but I admit that isn't very high on my worry list.

I had some Yorkies that I clipped a few times. It is very easy to burn or cut the dog with the clippers or scissors. It is really difficult for the dog and the groomer if there are mats. My dogs were very patient with me and I know it had to wear on them with me pulling on their hair. If you mix matted hair, insecure dog, insensitive groomer, and other stressed noisy dogs in the room it is going to be very hard for a dog to maintain composure.
I would advise you to go to the home groomer and stay with your dog, or use scissors or clippers to do the job yourself. I found scissors to be easier.
I would say your dog recovered well given what he went through, you may not be so lucky if it happens again.

 Quote: connie sutherland

I don't have the hand "pincher" strength to do the claws, so I have to have the groomer do that.

You can use a dremel to file off their nails. Many groomers and armatures use them (with caution and desensitizing).

 Quote:

Maybe some people would frown on dogs sharing their bathing facility...

This made me smile. I think Quinton was a blonde in his previous life. About twice a month I’ll get ready to take a shower, turn around, and find him standing there in the shower just looking at me. He gets a quick rinse down (and maybe a little conditioner ) with a massage. Then he gets kicked out. Even worse, EVERY morning while using the hair dryer, he leans against my leg until I fluff his hair a bit. He loves it!

But back to the issue at hand, I learned to do a body clip on my horses with the help of a professional. A horse that I had would freak out at the sound of a clipper and it would take hours to get him settled enough to get a trace clip (a clip that takes 20 min on a calm horse,) and to keep the groomer there that long got to be quite expensive for me and annoying for her. She showed me how so I could do it on my time, for free and over the course of days, to keep the horse less stressed.

I say find a good groomer and watch a few times, then get yourself a set of your own. It will be so much less stressful for your pup and (after you screw up a bunch! ) you can brag that he looks great because you did it!

He will be getting these clips for the rest of his life, and each time it could get even traumatizing for him. It sounds like he is already anxious enough. Help him out while he is young and teach him that now that they can be stress free, one on one bonding time with mom.

P.S. If you can’t/won’t do it yourself, please stay there with him and explain to the groomer why. They deal with dogs like that every day and can schedule him on a slow day or early so that you can spend more time on him and go slowly.

As the others have said have a groomer come to the house or go to a different groomer (get references) nd stay with the dog at least until you know how the groomer works with the dog and he's used to and accepts the groomer. A good groomer can be worth her weight in gold.

Years ago our family had a Maltese who was, quite frankly, hell to groom. My mother finally found a good groomer and the dog absolutely loved being groomed by her (and no one else).