Making myself clear

[Raggs]

I am not bashing a petsomething. I just happened to be at one so I put it in there. If I was at a private salon I would have said I was at a private salon. Seriously people, calm down.

Next time if I every see someone grooming I'm not even going to mention where I was.

Also if people are going to get banned for picking on certain shops, shouldn't they also be banned if they don't make any posts other than to criticize and ridicule people? There's plenty of that going on too.

[diamienono]

well, now we all know instead of blah blah blah. just post I saw a groomer at unknown shop and unknown location. We all have a lot to learn, so let's keep it posative so we can continue to grow as friends, people, and professional dog wrestlers.

[pugnacious]

LOL I refuse to groom dogs in a wrestling singlet! Then I would have ZERO customers.

[mustluvdogs1]

I never thiought of it that way..but yes I guess I am a profeeeional dog wrestler sometimes..clever. I like pet stylist..but it never caught on.

[Helly]

May I respectfully point out that no one, including Stephen, singled out one person in regards to targeting Petsomethings for negative comments.

And may I also point out that none of us have seen the comments that Stephen sees and does not post. We have no way of knowing what goes on behind the scenes. And I think Stephen is perfectly justified to issue a blanket warning about the issue.

[Mary1980]

I do agree with Stephen, there is alot of Petsomething bashing going on in here. When I first started reading on this board, I got the impression if you work at one or learned from one your not a real groomer. Your uneducated, and you don't have proper training. Don't ask me who exactly but there were a lot of threads giving that impression.

So when I was offered a job at a Petsomething, I refused it. I took to heart most of what's said on here. So I decided to go to a school. I'm most likely going to work Petsomething once I'm done to be able to groom and get benefits.

I know you are all probably going to come down on me saying, you shouldn't listen to what everyone thinks. The point is though, there isn't many places to find information on this career, so this board really weighs heavily on a lot of peoples views and decisions especially newbies. I almost felt I should be embarrassed to say I started my career at a Petsomething.

I can't wait to be a full fledged groomer and not just a bather, and be able to fully share with the rest. This post has nothing to do with Raggs it's just my feelings in general and I hope no ones offended.

[keachy18]

I know how you feel, I have thought about grooming at petsomething, but the impression I get is that its not good. I went to school, and it is hard to get an apprenticeship or a starter job at other places, before I start my own shop. Maybe I will keep trying to get in there, I dont know though. Obviously, if its not a good place to work then I wont keep working there, but thats not because its a petsomething, its because, its not a good place to work, that principle applies no matter where it is. stereotyping in general is the problem.

[diamienono]

I don't think you are a bad groomer if you work for one of these stores. I just know that because you are in a fish bowl you are watched by all and everything you do or don't do will be seen. I personally could not work in a fish bowl. I get nervouse when people are watching me no matter what I am doing.

[rapuzzled]

Lisa, I agree. I wouldn't have a problem working at one either, but I couldn't work in a fish bowl type thing either! Too nervous!

[spaz]

Working at any shop

This is the first time since the new board has been up that I feel i should write.
I work at a Petsomething. We have a great staff, 10 groomers and 4 bathers. Our grooming manager is Great! We treat eachother fairly and we all get along. I look forward to going to work. I Love what I do.
I have been grooming 20 years and have worked at a vet. Great job!
A small private salon. Also great job!
Another private salon. Bad management. Quit after 2 weeks. I felt sorry i brought my clients there.
And now PetSomething and I have been there 6+ years.
I think as has been mentioned in the past there are badly run shops. Poor management at some places and so forth.
You will find good and bad everywhere and at every profession.

[eastwickecs]

Yes, I agree it would be hard to work with those huge windows, but I am more concerned for the dogs. I have dogs that get distracted if they see someone walk past my door. I cant imagine having to work on one that sees tons of people and other pets while it is supposed to be standing still. There are some dogs that it wouldnt bother but I know there are alot that would be constantly moving around trying to get a better look. I give credit to those groomers who not only have to worry about someone seeing every move they make but having to control and work on a moving target. At the one near me they have the small rodent animals right in front of the grooming window area. I know my own dogs would be straining to see what was going on over there.
Shannon

[Arrooh]

I liked the fish bowl

I liked having people see how good I was with their dogs and how cute the dogs looked. I liked the attention too I guess. (I like public speaking for instance). One of my favorite memories was putting a poodle in a show clip and I had a whole audience, including employees. It was good with some really good groomers till some changes in management. I'm still on their Cobra insurance plan.

[Terry]

I like it

Mary1980 and Keachy (and others)- I got a job at a Petsomething after finishing grooming school and I don't regret it at all. I'm sure there are stores with problems in the grooming dept, but at my store the grooming manager has been very supportive and helpful; both store managers have the attitude "do a good job instead of trying to do too many grooms," and the other groomers and bathers have at least been cordial, if not down right friendly!

Actually, I think that working there has been a very positive thing for me because there is such a range of conditions that you might not get in a small salon. In school we didn't have any matted messes because they were on a fairly regular schedule. At Petsomething, we take everyone at least once! So there is always something new for me to see and learn.

As far as I am concerned, most situations are what you make of them. If you go in with a positive attitude, things usually will work fine. I'm not saying there aren't exceptions to that, but there is always something to learn from every situation. (Even if it's to say "I won't ever do things that way!!!!")

Anyway, don't limit your options by ignoring the possibilities at Petsomething! Just do what you would before taking any job, and check out the situation and listen to your instincts.

BTW, the fish bowl was scary at first but now I don't mind. In fact, a few people have booked appointments with me because they liked how I handled the dog when they were watching.

[rapuzzled]

Yes, I agree it would be hard to work with those huge windows, but I am more concerned for the dogs. I have dogs that get distracted if they see someone walk past my door. I cant imagine having to work on one that sees tons of people and other pets while it is supposed to be standing still. There are some dogs that it wouldnt bother but I know there are alot that would be constantly moving around trying to get a better look. I give credit to those groomers who not only have to worry about someone seeing every move they make but having to control and work on a moving target. At the one near me they have the small rodent animals right in front of the grooming window area. I know my own dogs would be straining to see what was going on over there.
Shannon

And how about if there owners decide to stay and watch? That has to be distracting for the dog. I suppose that just like anything else though we would get used to it

[furrybestjob]

I think the problem is the need to say it was a "petsomething". No one would dare come on and post I saw this happening at "dog's a wag'n pet salon" (I hope no one has that name).

I can't believe the difference in reactions from when I said I was a groomer at Pet****, to now that I am a mobile groomer with my own business. I get comments from customers regarding petsomethings, and they are always surprised when I say I used to groom there. They try to get away with saying things bad, but I don't let it happen. I had one customer tell me that they put their dog in a cage and the dryer burned the dog, when I know, for a fact the corp. I worked for did not, and do not use heated dryers.

It's difficult being a groomer for a corp. You can't pick and choose, you have to bust your but, and, like being an employee for anyone, you have to work with their rules and their supplies. I would probably still be working there if I wasn't the kind of person that feels the need to try out all kinds of new products that are available, always searching for "a better way". I liked the people I worked with, developed relationships with customers and appreciated the financial benefits that I received. Working there gave me the experience, knowledge, and desire to become what I have today. Most of all working there gave me a chance.