The first time was that time, I remember, when you thought you had made a mistake?

Turned out you hadn't.

LOL

So is this the second or third time?

Second.

You were wrong about the first one being wrong, so that mistake about the first one was really the first wrong.

You're right. I was wrong.

 Quote: Michael_Wise

I guess I never knew how the biz worked.

I assumed that if a dog was the biting type that you informed the owners that you would no longer be grooming their dog, or request a muzzle at most.

I also assumed that barking was part of having 8 to 10 strange dogs in a small room.

I thought groomers were groomers and trainers were trainers.

Thanks for the correction. I was wrong once before. I guess this is my second time.:smile:

Uhhh...ditto what Michael said.


And, lisa, if it's basically the same as clapping your hands, then why not just clap your hands.

What is did look like to me (and, hell, I really haven't a clue) is that it is an aversion training system, so unles you plan to train all these dogs that you groom, I doubt that it will work to quiet them. For that matter, and I'm certainly not a dog trainer, why don't you just make a loud noise with nearly anything to get their attention.

I would think the result would be frightening the dog into listening and not barking. I just can't imagine this would work consistently and for a very long period of time. But, hey, what do I know. I just have a house pet.

But I do know that I won't intentionally place her in a position of being frightened into submission of ANYTHING.

Sorry, didn't mean to offend, but it looks like the problem/solution is architectural.

I LOVE children but knew I would end up in jail if I became a teacher... I know I could not handle a room full of the little sweet faces without losing it from time to time, so I became a landscape designer. When the birds and crickets get too loud, I come inside.

Lisa
Can you put up some curtains or partitions so that the dogs can't see you?

Can you put up the sound proof glass sooner?

Can you open up the storage area now, or is that part of the unfinished kennel?

Try leaving a radio or TV on so they are less likely to bark at the room noises.

 Quote: lisa harrison

Melissa,

I own my business. My grooming room is a 15 by 20 room with crates and 3 large grooming areas. I sometimes have 8-10 dogs in there at one time. I try to avoid having that many dogs in there at once but sometimes clients have to drop off before and pick up after work. I like to schedule one dog at a time and have it picked up immediately after it is groomed, but sometimes it is not possible.

So, Melissa, does that mean when a dog bites you, you don't correct it for doing so?

If by me saying "Hey you little sh!7!" Yes, that's the extent of my corrections. I have (knock on wood) never been bitten in the course of my job despite the once a month or so attempts. I use a variety of techniques to keep myself safe including muzzles (which I don't consider a correction), the cone of shame, and being comfortable in saying, you know dog... you're just not worth it, and I move on to the next part of the groom and inform the client that homework is needed to properly groom their beloved. I do have other protective things for problem dogs that I work with like a chain mail glove but I have right now only two dogs that bite for things like face grooms and ear pucking that require that level of work. A correction is just going to raise the dog's anxiety level, which is just going to make the groom worse, and the dog get ansy the next time they come in. I like to keep things happy, which means after the groom is done I let the dog down to let off some of their frustrations and even play a quick game of ball if my time allows and the dog is inclined.

I am however a VERY spoiled groomer. I am the only groomer at a very nice boarding and training facility.

I almost entirely cater to high end clients. Most of the people who visit my shop are members of the private dog park at the facility I work at which requires an obedience certificate to enter and a demonstrated recall under distraction. While this doesn't lead certainly to being angels on the groom table it does help keep out the unkept masses. I'm entirely ok with that. It sure beats wrestling dogs during assembly line grooms at Petco.

I am very fair about grooming. I sit down a groom a dog start to finish with no starts or stops (unless the dog requires one). This means I don't answer the phone, greet passersby, or have people walking through. It keeps the dog calm, it keeps me on task and it keeps my grooms very short. Start to finish most of the dogs I work on are 1 hr to 1 1/2 hrs including baths and dry time. In this sense I am very spoiled compared to most groomers because I have the boarding people make my appointments for me, I just call when I'm done.

I don't use crates, or cage banks at my job. I have dog runs available to me both inside and outside. So usually if one dog is more vocal or agitated than others (it happens) they can go outside to yap their head off and not bother anyone and still be secure. After all if I get amped up at them it's not going to help anything, they're already stressed out about getting a bath, being groomed, and the demon known as the blow dryer. Really, do i need them any more anxious?

I wish I could post pictures for you as far as setup and what I like about the place and what I would change if I could but I would be violating my contract.

eta: I guess what I'm trying to get at is that people don't pay me enough to train their dogs. Setup however was the key for me to have a calm workplace with a really excellent (and well tipping) group of clients. The old style of groom shop setups is just that... old. There are much newer styles which lend to calmer dogs, calmer groomers and sanity (wee!)

Edited by Melissa Thom (02/08/2010 03:51 AM)
Edit reason: eta

Melissa,

The dogs I groom, as I said, have never had any OB training or even manners. They don't even know what a OB certificate is. So right off the bat,it sounds like the dogs you groom at least have manners.

1/4 to 1/2 of the dogs I groom bite for nails. If I have a helper with me that day I will have them hold the dog and talk soothingly to them while I clip. My husband sings them songs he makes up using their name constantly, that really helps. If I don't have a helper,I use a muzzle. Many of the dogs are matted to the skin,so they are a shavedown with a 7 blade, so that doesn't help their cause for a pleasant, easy groom.

I have never turned a dog away for biting and misbehaving,I always finish the dog, and most of the time I do the dog from start to finish myself, taking about 1 1/2 to 2 hours as well. I never answer my phone either. If I did I would be on the phone all day long. And there is never time for play or ball afterward, I am too booked. I groom 12 hours a day. I don't wear gloves for protection. My clients are far from high end. I do have regulars that come every 6-8 weeks and there dogs of course are very nice. So we have a very different clientle.

If I know the dog and he has earned the right to be out, I do not crate them. A big part of my problem is my set up, which I am in the process of changing. I took an existing building and turned it into a grooming room, so I had to work with what I had.

My clients rarely tip, probably because I am the owner. I did get a $100.00 tip for Christmas though and lots of Christmas gifts

Michael,

What happens when you have a groomer/trainer?

Debbie,

I do put sheets over the crate and that helps for a short period of time.

I have a radio on all day long. The back part of the groom room is unfinished,so I have to finish the kennel first.