I like to have my dog professionaly groomed a few times a year. Mostly because with a dryer and the appropriate set up the groomer can do a much better job of deshedding than I can do at home. Its a huge help at the change of seasons.

Also, the dog is much better behaved for nail trims when on a grooming table. Nail trims are a constant struggle. She hates it despite my efforts to make it pleasent and move slowly.

We have a groomer down the street who is wonderful. The dog loves her, she loves the dog. She does a great job and its affordable.

The only problem I have is that she allows the dogs to interact with each other too much. She has crates but doesn't use them. With my dog this could be a big problem.

The last time I brought my dog there I asked for a time that there wouldn't be any other dogs in the place and it worked out. But this groomer is really busy and its rare that she is that slow.

So my questions to the pro groomers on the board. Would it be out of line for me to ask her to come in early or stay late for my dog? I would be willing to pay more for this kind of service.

Do most shops operate this way? Where the dogs are loose and allowed to play between treatments? Is it worth it to just try to find a different place?

Lauren, You know I'm not a groomer, but my thought is that if she is not willing to keep the dogs crated while working on your girl, you have no choice but to look elsewhere. The opportunity for a problem breaking out is simply too great.

I'd talk to her at a quiet time, explain your concerns about your dog - not "her style" of operating her business, and ask how she can help you with this. If the "idea" comes from her, all the better. If not, I'd work it into the conversation, but in the end, if she won't crate the dogs for that period of time, I'd part as friends. She is entitled to run her business her way, but if it doesn't fit your dog's needs...

Good luck. I hope this works out!

We NEVER let the dogs interact. Its just too dangerous. Its never a good idea. Ever.

That being said, there are a bunch of extremely dog-aggressive dogs that we only schedule late evenings with no other dogs. Maybe you could ask her if she ever has late appointments available?

I would just have a frank conversation with her. Listen, my dog is a dominant female. I have been really having to manage her carefully around other dogs lately. I would be afraid for your safety and your clients if there were to be a problem. Is there a crate set up away from other animals where you could keep her? Or better options as far as hours where she's least likely to encounter other dogs?

If she doesn't seem to take that conversation seriously, then I would look for someone else.

Edited by Jessica Pedicord (03/07/2011 07:37 AM)
Edit reason: sp

Thanks for the advice guys.

Jessica, the way your place operates makes so much more sense to me. Its not like my dog is a completely aggressive beast, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't outright attack another dog. But someone puts a head over a shoulder and there could be a big problem before you know it. As we all know, there are a lot of dogs in the world who are like this.

Otherwise Leerburg wouldn't have so many pet owners looking for advice!

I'm sure the groomer has experienced at least a few dogs with dominance problems toward other dogs. She should understand.

Ill talk to her. She really is the person who I would like to work with.