Have I had enough????

[Pixie]

Today was one of those days I wonder WHY!!!!????? I only had 3 dogs and each one of them had to be muzzled for at least part of their groom. I've done these dogs before and it is always the same. I guess I was just really tired of it. None of them wanted to be groomed, they kept jerking their legs away from me, sitting down, turning their backs to me when I'm trying to do their faces (I can't use a groomers helper either, no place to hook it.). I was ready to pack up my clippers, scissors, dryers, everything and donate it to some other idiot who thought grooming was the way to go!!!
Today I had 2 Westies and a Shih. Tomorrow I have a Schn, Shih and a cocker. I'm really not looking forward to tomorrow. The cocker hasn't been done for 6 months probably grrrrrrrr.

I know tomorrow will look better than it does right now, I HOPE

Thanks for listening.

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

Diane, I had two dogs today that were VICIOUS when I did their nails. One of them I've groomed 7 times and it's only been the last two times (including today) that the dog has acted that way. He's a shar pei beagle mix, and the FURminator does WONDERS on this dog. But suddenly he turns VICIOUS for his nails. I'm not talking mad, or upset, he is vicious. But he was licking my face in the tub if I got close to him. I don't trust him any more though so no more face lickies.

The other dog was the same. Fine for pretty much everything, up until the nails, then turned pretty vicious.

Both dogs had to be hooked up snugly with the Groomers Helper. I always muzzle them too, it's a psychological comfort thing, lol, but I did BOTH dogs alone without a problem. All I can say is thank goodness I have that blessed piece of equipment. Diane, I honestly don't know how you do it. I am SURE tomorrow will be better. At least the cocker will probably be an easy shavedown, and not a pain.

[Shei77]

I think we can all empathize. Today I had 3 1 good, 1 fat and lazy lasa (scissor legs fried thin hair) 1 OLD Skanky nasty scabbie greesey grotesq MATTED foul ......I should stop.
The women I work with say:" You have to be insane to want to be a groomer" I agree, but I am not a threat to myself or others so they give me sharp pointy things to play with . I still do it. Those special dogsthat you connect with. I had an OLD gray (used to be black) poodle (I hate doing poos) Catarac sooo bad that her eys looked like the full moon a coat to die for. She was the most Beautiful dog that has ever come to our shop. So patishent with this fumbling newbie. I do it for those rare dogs The silver lining to our s*&^y days.

Better days to your tomorrows. Sorry I ramble....
Squeeeee

[Pixie]

No Tammy the cocker is a nut! He has never tried to bite but he just doesn't know he is suppose to stand still! He was such a cute puppy a couple of years ago but he STILL acts like a puppy, all wigglely wanting to put his front feet on my shoulders.

I know, maybe to end my crazy day I'll have to groom Toby. He is an easy groom.

[BeyondBlessed]

The women I work with say:" You have to be insane to want to be a groomer" I agree, but I am not a threat to myself or others so they give me sharp pointy things to play with

Teeheehee.....too much!

[KarlaSnyder]

Seems like it never rains but what it pours. Hope tomorrow is a better day. Might help if you only schedule one difficult dog in a day, then you'll have a few good guys to remind you why you really do love this biz.

[furrybestjob]

Sometimes I feel like they call each other and say "Ok, today let's all give the groomer a hard time".

[Tammy~]

Diane, We have all had those days...Here is to a better day tomorrow and keeping my fingers crossed that the cocker isn't as bad as you are anticipating...Tammy~

[RevWind]

I had a day like that a few days ago. I wanted to shoot all 4 dogs I had. I KNOW I'm going to have a lovely day when I start it with my favoritest of favorite *note smarmiest grin I can muster* Husky. She's small, but MAN can she scream and flail! Immediate cotton to the ears (mine) for teh rest of the day. I then had a cavalier who doesn't know teh meaning of the word stand. Then a Golden who learned from the same "stand" trainer as the cavalier, who also was very upset by my brushing his butt. Then a Cockapoo who I must have blocked from my memory. I couldn't place the name when my boss brought it up, but as soon as I got him to the tub, I remembered him. Happy as can be, but just as obnoxious, hyper and whiney as can be...yay...

[RevWind]

Sorry if I double post this, but I had a problem editing. I had that kind of day a few days ago. I started with my favoritest of favorite *note smarmiest grim I can muster* Husky. She's small but MAN can she scream and flail! Then I had a Cavalier who didn't pay attention in class when they taught "stand straight". She stood roachbacked or sat the whole time. The Golden I did after that must have been talking to the cavalier the same day. He wouldn't stand either. He also got upset when I brushed his rump. I ended with a cockapoo who I must have blocked from my memory. I couldn't place the name when my boss brought it up, but I sure did remember him when I got him to the tub. Just as happy as can be, but just as obnoxious, flaily and whiney as can be too...yippie...

[Fur Elite]

Lunar Cycles?

Could all this naughtiness and negligent clients coming out of the woodwork be based on the moon? I have had several shihs as of late whose owners fall into the category of "I get them groomed every 9 months whether they need it or not" and I guess it has been 9 months..... So, I feel I am the queen of wet shaves these past two weeks. Not my favorite, but it sure saves time and effort. Yesterday every single dog I had (5) tried to bite me. Thankfully they were all ancient and either blind and/or toothless, so their efforts were almost laughable. They sure are quick tho, for their decrepitness. Today...another matted mess and a poodle with 5 inch long hair that was a hand scissor (I had not planned on that). I was in the weeds, to say the least. Oh what will tomorrow bring, I am almost afraid to ask.

[pamperedpups]

I understand, but...

Edited.

[gally22]

Okay, call me a quitter but - I am to the point that if I am thinking about doing a dog for days before the appointment, and I am dreading it so bad that it enters my every thought - I don't do it. I really give it a good old try for a while, but, if there is no improvement and my stomach is in knots, good bye! I would rather do nothing, than spend 2 hours with an unruly canine that I cannot groom. I am usually not happy with the groom anyway...

[sheilabgroomer]

Diane, I hope you have a better day today!!! I understand where you are coming from as well. There are days when I just want to "throw in the towel"!! Thankfully these days are buffered by great days and great dogs!!

[bow_wow_wheels]

For those hard to handle pets have you tried reading Turrid Rugaas' book? Or anything by Bill Campbell? I have used the techniques learned from these two books and the ISCC Handling Problem Dogs symposium to basically turn around the biters, spinners, leg pullers, screamers and sitters. It takes some work and I do charge extra for the extra time but I have seen such improvement that I cannot discount what these books have taught me Good luck-I'm sure it shall get better!